Most iconic card for every MLB team?

[Skipscards]

Originally Posted by rats60

Angels- 2011 Topps Update Trout
Astros- 1965 Topps Morgan
Athletics- t206 Plank
Blue Jays- 1997 Chrome Halladay
Braves- 1954 Topps Aaron
Brewers- 1975 Topps Yount
Cardinals- 1948 Bowman Musial
Cubs- 1954 Topps Banks
Diamondbacks- 2008 Chrome Update Scherzer
Dodgers- 1949 Leaf Jackie Robinson
Giants- 1951 Bowman Mays
Indians- 1933 Goudey Lajoie
Mariners- 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. RC
Marlins- 2000 Chrome Cabrera
Mets- 1967 Topps Seaver
Nationals- 2010 Bowman Chrome Strasburg
Orioles- 1957 Topps Brooks Robinson
Padres- 1983 Topps Gwynn
Phillies- t206 Sherry Magie
Pirates- t206 Wagner
Rangers- 1989 Upper Deck Nolan Ryan
Rays- 2008 Update Longoria
Red Sox- M101-4/5 Babe Ruth
Reds- 1968 Topps Bench
Rockies- 2013 Topps Update Arenado
Royals- 1975 Topps Brett
Tigers- t206 Cobb/Ty Cobb back
Twins- t206 Walter Johnson
White Sox- 1990 Topps Frank Thomas NNOF error
Yankees- 1952 Topps Mantle

/endthread

[ThePumaLives]

Astros- 1989 Topps Craig Biggio or 1991 Fleer Ultra Update Jeff Bagwell
Rangers- 1989 Upper Deck Nolan Ryan (tossing the football)
Athletics- 1986 Donruss Jose Canseco
Orioles- 1989 Fleer Billy Ripken FF
Team USA- 1985 Topps Mark McGwire

[NickM]

Braves- 1954 Topps Aaron
Brewers- 1975 Topps Yount
Dodgers- 1955 Topps Koufax
Giants- 1952 Topps Mays
Mariners- 1989 Upper Deck Griffey Jr.
Mets- 1968 Topps Ryan/Koosman
Padres- 1983 Topps Gwynn
Pirates- t206 Wagner
Red Sox- 1954 Bowman Williams
Royals- 1975 Topps Brett
Tigers- T206 Cobb green portrait
Yankees- 1952 Topps Mantle

[Tones]

We should have honorable mentions/close seconds, feel like there are some cards it would be hard not to list.

I.e. Yankees - 1952 Topps Mantle (2. 1993 UD SP Jeter)

[CharlieHustle]

A's - 1986 Donruss Jose Canseco
Angels - 2011 Topps Update Mike Trout
Nationals - 2010 Bowman Chrome Prospects Stephen Strasburg
Orioles - 1982 Topps Traded Cal Ripken Jr
Yankees - 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle

[Sportnut08]

Marlins 2000 Topps Chrome Traded Miguel Cabrera

[rats60]

Originally Posted by MRSPORTSCARD

Agreed but Rickey Henderson Topps 1980 a close second.

Neither are even in the discussion. The t206 Eddie Plank is one of the most iconic baseball cards ever. He is a 300 game winner, he was a key member of their early championship teams and the card is pushing 100k in PSA 3. Just like the t206 Wagner or 1952 Mantle it is a must card on the list. The runner up would be the E90-1 Joe Jackson rookie card. Reggie Jackson, Rickey Henderson and Jose Canseco are iconic Rcs, but they aren't in the class of those 2.

Another must card is the 1933 Goudey Lajoie for the Indians. If you are going to have a most iconic list, it must cross all generations of cards. Excluding the most iconic prewar cards would be no different than excluding the 89 UD Griffey or 2011 Topps Trout because they are too new. One could easily pick the E135 or M101-6 card of Joe Jackson for the White Sox instead of the Thomas, but those really aren't as well known.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by Tones

We should have honorable mentions/close seconds, feel like there are some cards it would be hard not to list.

I.e. Yankees - 1952 Topps Mantle (2. 1993 UD SP Jeter)

If you are going to do that it would look like this
Yankees 1952 Mantle (2. 1925 Exhibit Lou Gehrig). You seriously aren't going to put Jeter ahead of Gehrig's RC are you? I wouldn't even have that as a top 5 Yankees card. You have to have at least 1 Ruth, a DiMaggio although there is no clear RC and Mantle's 51 Bowman RC before you get to Jeter. I understand the Jeter is more iconic than many cards that would be on the list, but it is the Yankees and you are going to have to list a bunch of cards if we are doing that.

My list is missing some great cards, maybe we should list a second card for the original 16 teams since they have an extra 60+ years of hobby history. He would be mine

Yankees 1925 Exhibit Gehrig
Red Sox 1939 Play Ball Williams
A's E90-1 Joe Jackson
Tigers 1954 Topps Kaline
White Sox E135 Joe Jackson
Indians 1949 Leaf Paige
Orioles 1982 Traded Ripken
Twins 1984 Fleer Puckett
Dodgers 1955 Topps Koufax
Giants 1914 Cracker Jack Mathewson
Pirates 1955 Topps Clemente
Cardinals E135 Rogers Hornsby
Cubs t202 Tinker Evers Chance
Phillies 1973 Topps Schmidt
Reds 1963 Topps Rose
Braves 1952 Topps Mathews

[thePit]

Originally Posted by SaveMeTheGum

Red Sox gotta be the Babe Ruth Sporting News rookie card. Ted Williams ‘39 PB a close second.

I'd choose the beautiful 1941 PlayBall Ted Williams over the ugly B&W 1939 Williams any day. And the Ruth shouldn't even rate a mention in this discussion, IMO.

[TraderJake]

I think for the Nats it would actually be the 2010 Bowman autograph of Strasburg. Because it preceded the Bowman Chrome release for a while, it got to bask in all the Strasmania and drove the price of 2010 Bowman wax through the roof. Also, no disrespect to Stan the Man but I think the 2001 Pujols Chrome is a far more "iconic" card in terms of its impact on the hobby.

[Wade Mulroy]

I know a few have mentioned the 48 Bowman Musial for the Cardinals, but I think a strong argument could be made for the 01 Bowman Chrome Pujols auto. Not only is it the most significant rookie of the greatest modern-day Cardinals player, but it completely revolutionized the rookie card market on the baseball card hobby as a whole.

[Cubsfanp]

Originally Posted by MoreToppsPlease

The list should either completely consist of autos or have no autos at all.

OK, Boomer

[smalltown]

No disrespect to Brett. But cards don't get any more iconic than this:

[Cubsfanp]

Originally Posted by smalltown

No disrespect to Brett. But cards don't get any more iconic than this:

I thought one from the same set was more iconic...the Bo Breaker.

[callou2131]

I didnt put any t206 cards on, because honestly i dont think even most collectors would recognize some. If i saw eddie plank t206, next to 1980 henderson. Most would instantly know the rickey, while the plank they would have to pick it up, read the name to know who it is etc.

[THE(NEXT)LEVEL]

Would be a great poll question for some of these teams with multiple good choices...

[JayEvans813]

My opinion as a Rays fan would be Longorias 2006 Chrome auto.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[gmarutiak]

Even though this thread quickly turned into a list of rookie cards, I'd like to argue that, for the Orioles, Billy Ripken '89 Fleer is more iconic than any card of his brother.

[smalltown]

Originally Posted by gmarutiak

I'd like to argue that, for the Orioles, Billy Ripken '89 Fleer is more iconic than any card of his brother.

It 100% is.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by TraderJake

I think for the Nats it would actually be the 2010 Bowman autograph of Strasburg. Because it preceded the Bowman Chrome release for a while, it got to bask in all the Strasmania and drove the price of 2010 Bowman wax through the roof. Also, no disrespect to Stan the Man but I think the 2001 Pujols Chrome is a far more "iconic" card in terms of its impact on the hobby.

I think we are all talking about the Chrome version of the base card in the same product. Not really interested in getting into autos or other parallels. What version of the Trout update are we going to pick then ? It is the same card, just one is a chrome rookie and one is the paper auto.

The BC Pujols auto used to be iconic. I feel that it has lost its position because he left the Cards and has been pretty mediocre since. I would take the Musial RC or the Hornsby RC. Those guys are top 10 all time players with the edge to Musial because he was a Cardinal his whole career. Also, 2001 Bowman Chrome may of changed the hobby, but many of us quit or really slowed down collecting modern because of it. I don't think it was a positive for the hobby, more of a cash grab for Topps to make collectors spend more money to collect the cards they want.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by callou2131

I didnt put any t206 cards on, because honestly i dont think even most collectors would recognize some. If i saw eddie plank t206, next to 1980 henderson. Most would instantly know the rickey, while the plank they would have to pick it up, read the name to know who it is etc.

I disagree. T206 is the most collected set in the hobby. If most collectors wouldn't recognize that set then what does that say for the rest of the hobby? Plank is like a grail to most t206 collectors because they will never be able to afford 540k for a Wagner with 3 sides cut off in an A holder, but can do 25-30k for a beater Plank. I think you are underestimating the number of vintage collectors and investors in the hobby.

The top 5 cards in the hobby are the t206 Wagner, t206 Plank, t206 Magie, 33 Goudey Lajoie and 52 Topps Mantle. They are the foundation of the hobby with the 1st four having their position since the hobby's beginning in the 1930s and Mantle becoming the post WAR icon in the 70s. You can add modern cards like Griffey or Trout, but you can never replace those five. I would hope that every serious collector would learn to appreciate the hobby's history just like every prewar or vintage post war collector should give respect to modern cards and not just dismiss them all.

[dodgerfanjohn]

For Dodgers it’s 1955 Koufax. Wierd cause it’s a Brooklyn card and he wasn’t any good for like 5-6 more seasons, but that’s what it is. The Robinson Rookie doesn’t come close in recognition.

For the Royals I agree on the score Bo Jackson. Not worth anything but that is one huge card.

For the A’s it’s the Reggie or Henderson rookie. I see several people saying 1986 canseco, but that’s not even close. Reggie won several ws and was a national sensation. It doesn’t matter that it happened before you were born. The Henderson rookie is the card of Gen X and the first real booming rookie of the first expansion of card collecting.

For the Orioles it’s the Ripken traded. I never thought of the FF card as anything other than a novelty.

[Cubsfanp]

Originally Posted by rats60

I disagree. T206 is the most collected set in the hobby. If most collectors wouldn't recognize that set then what does that say for the rest of the hobby? Plank is like a grail to most t206 collectors because they will never be able to afford 540k for a Wagner with 3 sides cut off in an A holder, but can do 25-30k for a beater Plank. I think you are underestimating the number of vintage collectors and investors in the hobby.

The top 5 cards in the hobby are the t206 Wagner, t206 Plank, t206 Magie, 33 Goudey Lajoie and 52 Topps Mantle. They are the foundation of the hobby with the 1st four having their position since the hobby's beginning in the 1930s and Mantle becoming the post WAR icon in the 70s. You can add modern cards like Griffey or Trout, but you can never replace those five. I would hope that every serious collector would learn to appreciate the hobby's history just like every prewar or vintage post war collector should give respect to modern cards and not just dismiss them all.

Right, wrong, or indifferent - most non vintage collectors wouldn't be able to name the athlete on the t206 cards if shown the image.

Most collectors, vintage or not, could identify the Jose Canseco 1986 Donruss even if the name wasn't printed.

[ToddW]

Originally Posted by rats60

I disagree. T206 is the most collected set in the hobby. If most collectors wouldn't recognize that set then what does that say for the rest of the hobby? Plank is like a grail to most t206 collectors because they will never be able to afford 540k for a Wagner with 3 sides cut off in an A holder, but can do 25-30k for a beater Plank. I think you are underestimating the number of vintage collectors and investors in the hobby.

The top 5 cards in the hobby are the t206 Wagner, t206 Plank, t206 Magie, 33 Goudey Lajoie and 52 Topps Mantle. They are the foundation of the hobby with the 1st four having their position since the hobby's beginning in the 1930s and Mantle becoming the post WAR icon in the 70s. You can add modern cards like Griffey or Trout, but you can never replace those five. I would hope that every serious collector would learn to appreciate the hobby's history just like every prewar or vintage post war collector should give respect to modern cards and not just dismiss them all.

I agree with you as I collect vintage as well. But the demarcation in the hobby between vintage and modern (or more specifically pre-war, post-war through the 80s, and 90s to modern) is pretty significant across the board, even at LCS. Also remember that more so with modern than the other categories, there are far more "investors" and "flippers" than collectors and the other two groups. So the focus is different.

[ToddW]

Originally Posted by dodgerfanjohn

For Dodgers it’s 1955 Koufax. Wierd cause it’s a Brooklyn card and he wasn’t any good for like 5-6 more seasons, but that’s what it is. The Robinson Rookie doesn’t come close in recognition.

I think attainability (both price and quantity) have a lot to do with that. The Koufax is "easy," comparatively. Every single LCS in the area has one, if not many.

And I would say the 53' Bowman Pee Wee Reese is one of the most iconic baseball cards ever. So throw that into the mix for consideration.