Top 20 PSA Best Looking Baseball Cards of All-Time - Flashback Champs

Top 20 Best Looking Baseball Cards of All-Time

After weeks of viciously debating, aggressively arguing, and disputed contentions, we have finally agreed on our Top 20 Best Looking Baseball Cards of All-Time. A number of factors we took into account are:

Iconic Cards have nothing to do with being the Best Looking Cards.
We agreed to only review from 1951 to 2000 and nothing after the 2000 sets and no refractors.
The significance and population of the card played a judging factor as lesser known cards that are considered Great Looking have dramatically increased in price with circulation playing a role.
We know one thing is for certain, we will very well agree to disagree.

20. 1978 Topps #60 Thurman Munson

Why Is This Awesome?

What? Really? Over Munson’s 1973 Topps and 1971 Topps All-Star Rookie Card Black Border Set? There’s a lot of great cards in the 1978 set, a really beautiful set, but with The light brown chest gear and helmet inn hand along with team orange team overlay, the color contrast is perfect. And the orange knee pads along with Munson ‘stache goes perfect. The black name overlay sits well with the back shin guard and navy long sleeves and cap. It’s a perfect balanced card and Thank goodness it’s affordable and plentiful.

With 514 in circulation on the PSA 9, centering shouldn’t be a problem. With the PSA 10 GEM MINTs also housing 38 in population, it makes picking up this card even more possible for Yankee fans but also collectors of the best looking cards out there.

19. 1962 Bell Brand Dodgers #32 Sandy Koufax

Why Is This Awesome?

It’s hard to believe that the greatest left hander of All-Time doesn’t have an in-actions Topps or Bowman card. All Pose shots from 1955 to 1966. It’s clear Bell Brand Foods knew what they were doing when they produced the Koufax card design. The closest in-action shot Topps has is the famous horizontal 1964 Topps #136 Koufax Strikes Out 15 card. But this Bell Brand card really nails it. Besides obvious dedicated photography set up for this shot, the color contrast with the sky blue along with the right handed peek out glove really brings this card to life.

With a population of 22 circulating on the PSA 8, your best bet is a PSA 7, and even that only has a population of 31. This card isn’t only the hardest to find, it demands a premium for putting Sandy on the mound in top notch focus and all around color. We have yet to see poor centering even on the PSA 7s or 8s, so that says a lot about the overall quality and card design by Bell Brand.

18. 1973 Topps #627 Luis Alvarado

Why Is This Awesome?

Everyone, and we mean, EVERYONE loves this card. Some can’t justify buying it unless they’re attempting to complete the ’73 Topps Set. Reality is, most people have trouble finding it because it’s a GEM of a card at PSA 8 and above. This card has little to do with Luis Alvarado and everything to do with the White Sox playing with a car parking lot in the background. The White and Red White Sox uniform also adds to the beautiful coloring on this card with the predominant car in the parking lot also matching suit. For a horizontal action shot, this card brings a lot of glory.

There’s a ton of cardboard appreciation out there as this card continues to increase in value for it’s flair and uniqueness. PSA 8 is your best bet since there’s a mere 130 in circulation. Good luck with the PSA 9 with only 48 in population and a GEM MINT with only 1 out there in the deep unknown.

17. 1956 Topps #135 Mickey Mantle

Why Is This Awesome?

Absolutely everyone goes ape shit over the 1951 Bowman #253, the definitive Mantle rookie card, or the 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle. Even the 1961 Topps #300 Mantle garners a lot of attention because it embodies an entire season. However, this list isn’t about the most iconic, but the best looking cards of all time and 1956 one makes the cut. Not only does this card define the entire set, but even at 60/40 centering on a PSA 8, this card looks INCREDIBLE whereas a lot, and we mean A LOT, of off-centered PSA 8 1956 Cards completely distract from the image itself.

The coloring is incredible on Mantle and the background catch play. We also feel it’s true to form in depicted what Mantle actually looked like opposed to the 1951, 1952, and 1953 cards.

We start at PSA 8 because there’s a fighting chance of 50/50 Centering. With a small population of 356, we ignore the PSA 9 with a circulation of 39, and only 4 PSA 10 GEM MINTS in population.

16. 1963 Topps #540 Bob Clemente

Why Is This Awesome?

There’s a number of excellent Clemente Cards all well deserving of their value, but it always comes down to the 1963 Topps Set or the infamous black border 1971 Topps set with Clemente holding the bat. 1963 For The Win. Much like the 1956 Topps Mantle on this list where centering doesn’t distract from the beauty of that card, the case can be made for 1963 Topps Set exclusively in regards to this card. The background offset brings Clemente to life and lets the lower hand overlay pop of Clemente shine with its red rounded circle housing. Those familiar with the 1963 set can identify this card from across a museum floor.

Scoring a PSA 10 is near impossible with only 2 in circulation. You have a fighting chance of landing a PSA 9 with a population of 35, however, paying a premium of above a $1000 dollars. The saving grace where centering is literally all-over the place is the PSA 8 with 385 in population and that’ll squeeze in around the $800 mark.

15. 1981 Topps #125 Andre Dawson

Why Is This Awesome?

How does an Andre Dawson Card make the list? Not only the set, perfectly done and possibly the best card in the set next to 1981 Topps Tim Raines Rookie Card. However, this one wins. Let’s begin with the obvious, the lower hunter green title overlay introducing Andre Dawson goes incredible well with the green dugout wall backdrop. The Expos Cap overlay in the bottom left hand corner brings the uniform to life making the color contrast perfect compared to the rest of the 1981 Topps Set. Don’t get us wrong, 1981 is a great Topps Design Set, but this card stands as the beauty mark on the set. Tim Raines comes close, but the white Expos uniform doesn’t bring the right level of POP to the card.

Besides this being a hell of a season for Dawson, with Silver Slugger & Gold Glove awards, he did come in 2nd on the MVP ballot. The PSA 10 has 65 in circulation, not making it impossible to find, but 50/50 centering so critical for this card that we suggest at least the PSA 9 with 153 inn population.

14. 1980 Topps #580 Nolan Ryan

Why Is This Awesome?

For someone who played 27 years in the majors and pitched 7 no-hitters, there’s no shortage of great Nolan Ryan Cards. 1980 brought in a new Topps styled card design to cardboard wax and boy, does this card POP! Granted, whereas others have the high knee wind-up, this card just works when it comes to the uniform color contrast with the pink Pitcher Overlay and the light blue Angels overlay swirling across the lower right hand side.

We go back and forth a lot on the 1980 Nolan Ryan vs. the 1972 Flagship Nolan Ryan Angels Card which had a bit of a psychedelic look, but finally decided that this being Nolan Ryan’s final time in an Angels Uniform before becoming an Astro, this was one hell of a card to go out with a bang. With a card population of 775 for a PSA 9, and 35 in circulation when it comes to a PSA 10, this edged out all other Nolan Ryan Cards for the overall card design and color contrast and that’s bold being that this is the set defined by Rickey Henderson Rookie Card.

13. 1973 Topps #133 Dave Roberts

Why Is This Awesome?

Oh, we definitely argue about this one all the time. If it was not for the all-star cup on the lower left hand corner with the gold orange Name overlay, this wouldn’t have made the list. The 1973 Set as a whole looks really washed out with a real bad choice of a then Instagram filter. The uniform taking front and center with the brown panel in the ever green outfield walls of Wrigley Field makes this card gorgeous to look at. It’s also a solid reason why the PSA 9, with a remarkable low population of 50, commands approximately a 120 dollar mark. With a single PSA 10 floating around out there, scoring that is wishful thinking.

With a batting average of .286 and on base percentage of .472, this is Dave Roberts best season which isn’t saying much. Nonetheless, gorgeous card with the right amount of color contrast to make this a must-have in the best looking cards of All-Time category.

12. 1976 Topps #240 Pete Rose

Why Is This Awesome?

There are a number of great Pete Rose Cards. The 1964 Topps All-Star Rookie Card shows the hopes of young player coming just happy to even be in the Big Leagues. We even love the 1974 Topps Pete Rose Card where he’s dropping a bunt, doing everything he can to get on base and the coloring on that is special, but nothing brings Pete Rose to life like the 1976 Topps Pete Rose here where all you see is determination in his eyes. The flipped blinders along with the color zoom on his rosey face offset by the cap makes this a real beautiful card to admine.

The 1976 Set for the most part sucks in our opinion, after all, there’s definitely better Topps set designs before and after, but in terms of best looking card of all-time, this card not only defines the set but an era. Scoring a PSA 9 is affordable and not out of the question with a 139 in circulation. Most settle for the PSA 8 for the large quantity of 50/50 Centering available. With only 3 GEM MINTS in circulation, good luck scoring that but worth every penny if Pete Rose is your guy.

11. 2000 Topps Gallery Heritage #TGH14 Ken Griffey Jr.

Why Is This Awesome?

With so many iconic Ken Griffey Jr. Cards like the 1990 Topps #336 All-Star Rookie Card that defines the 90s, this card is artistically perfect. This card isn’t just the best looking card in the 2000 Topps Gallery, it’s the greatest looking card across all of the Topps Gallery and Topps Heritage sets to date. Nothing prior comes close. It also pays homage to the 1954 Topps Set, a classic set which struggles to find the right color contrast and scheme across the board for every player on every team.

Everyone remembers Griffey as a Mariner, but his Reds years isn’t anything to scoff at. It’s his first year on the Reds and an All-Star year before taking a long hiatus until 2004. With the PSA 10s having a limited circulation of 3, there is a single slab of the PSA 9 that’s been graded.

10. 1983 Topps #580 Tom Seaver

Why Is This Awesome?

Really? Tom Seaver as a Red makes the list? Tom Seaver has a ton of iconic cards, but believe it or not, this is the only card over the course of his 20 season career where Seaver’s knee is captured hitting the mound. A lot of cards come close to the knee-to-mound plant, but none display it as such. The 1974 Topps #80 horizontal Seaver Card comes close, but nope, no cigar. We actually dislike entire the 1983 set except for this card. Once again, color contrast along with the knee on the mound really drives home the explosive delivery Tom had from the mound.

With a 175 PSA 10 GEM MINTs in circulation, there’s a reason why this card has skyrocketed in price and we believe it has everything to do with Seaver’s delivery and knee plant and little to do with his 5-14 record with the Reds.

9. 1952 Topps #261 Willie Mays

Why Is This Awesome?

Ok, so this does happen to be an iconic card from an iconic set, but over the last 20 year or so years, this card is considered the Warhol of Baseball Cards, a defining mark of post-war era. It’s also the only card that looks better with imperfections. Bent corners, off-centering, dark spotted borders: the more beat-up and vintage this card looks, the more gorgeous it gets. It’s a piece of history like a burned Monet that’s been preserved and kept in display to admire.

This Card in any grade, rests in a single tabletop holder on executive desks hangs in the living rooms of rich folks as painted canvas and as frame posters in home offices. The 1952 Mantle is a dead-giveaway, but no one considers that to be “art,” they consider it his rookie card.

Reprints of this card are popular because well, it’s excellent in color distribution and contrast. The faded midnight blue background lets the San Francisco Giants cap pop out on Mays. The Theater Overlay with Willie Mays signature drives the card home. The PSA 7 with a circulation of 99 is a great vintage card and the wear makes it illustrious. We would even recommend a PSA 5 over the PSA 7, since there’s 315 in population and still commands about $3,000 dollars.

8. 1987 Topps Tiffany #653 Kevin Mitchell

Why Is This Awesome?

Kevin Mitchel isn’t a Hall of Famer, and his best year is unquestionably 1989 as a San Francisco Giant where he pulls off the MVP and Silver Slugger Award. But cWOW. This card value continues to gain steam and it’s not because this was his only as a Met. The incredible dust-up at home plate imagery almost feels like the entire set along with his oak border was designed specifically for this card.

With 36 PSA 10s in circulation and only 8 slabs graded as PSA 9s, the exquisite find makes it a sought after addition for any collector on the hunt for best looking cards of all-time.

7. 1977 Topps #277 N.L Championship

Why Is This Awesome?

If you’re wondering how on Earth does this make the list, take a closer. Besides the beautiful coloring, the photography catches the essence of the game. #14, Pete Rose blowing passed #10 Phillies Larry Bowa stretching a triple. This is the definitive Charlie Hustle moment on wax. Excellent coloring, contrast with the N.L Championship Gold Orange header really brings this card to life.

With the PSA 9 coming in with a mere 216 in population, and we feel 50/50 centering is key on this horizontal, this card holds a tight spot as one of the best looking cards of all-time with an affordable price tag. A PSA 10 GEM MINT is a different story with only 33 in circulation.

6. 1985 Donruss Box Panels Hand Cut #PC1 Dwight Gooden

Why Is This Awesome?

This is by far the TOUGHEST find of the 70s and 80s. We hate hand cut cards, so it is the only hand cut card on our list, but nothing else comes close in unique, stunning photography. Gooden in the classic mid-80s Mets Uniform in empty seats behind home plate, tossing a ball with the Shea Stadium scoreboard revealed in the background. The overlay

22 in Circulation for a PSA 5, 6 slabs for a PSA 6, only a single slab on Earth for a PSA 7, and good luck landing one of the the 8 available for PSA 8, or 9 respectively available for the PSA 9.

God, we love this card because nothing has ever come close! And what a great year for Doc where he wins the only Cy Young Award of his career.

5. 1976 Topps #300 Johnny Bench

Why Is This Awesome?

This card makes almost every best looking card list and deservingly so. If you’re a Reds fan, you pretty much either own this card or thought about buying this card because it’s legendary on the sheer photo alone. 1976 could’ve been an awful year for Bench and you would still put this up there next to his all-star rookie card. Good thing that this wasn’t a bad year at all for Johnny Bench as he waked away with the Gold Glove.

It’s also the second year straight the Reds would win the World Series, over a top notch Yankees team, sweeping them 4-0 where Bench walked away the World Series MVP hitting .533. Like what?!

PSA 9 takes the win because nearly all of them have 55/45 or 50/50 Centering and with 252 in population, in highly sought after card, and not for the season Bench had but for the dust up by the knee pads and great photography of this card. Good luck scoring a PSA 10, with only 35 in circulation, we haven’t found one in 2 years so collectors aren’t just throwing this one around.

4. 1953 Bowman Color #99 Warren Spahn

Why Is This Awesome?

Where do we start? Only two cards have Spahn as a Boston Braves: The 1953 Topps #147 which is more cartoonish, and the entry live photo set by Bowman, 1953 Bowman Color. What makes this card awesome, and there’s a number of great cards in this set, is the color contract and close up focus on Warren Spahn is the Native American with the headress logo on the right sleeve, which even for the 50s, was a very well executed logo brand.

Beginning at PSA 7 makes this card even somewhat affordable. Centering being a key issue on the PSA 7s and tough-finds for 50/50. The PSA 8 has a population of 64 and a decent selection of centering, while the PSA 9 merely has 6 in population becoming near impossible to find and absolutely no PSA 10 GEM MINT in circulation.

3. 1977 Topps #640 Carlton Fisk

Why Is This Awesome?

Carlton Fisk is on everyone’s Top 10 Catchers of All-Time List, but what makes this card special is the dead-on focus and coloring contrast of the fans mixed with Fisk blocking home plate. 1977 has 3 Stand-out Cards and this is arguably the finest in the set.

1977 is undoubtedly regarded as Fisk’s best year in Boston when he hit .315 with 26 home runs and 102 runs batted in. With a population of 127 for the PSA 9, it’s highly rare card as there are only 10 graded PSA 10s which not only makes it a tough find, but near impossible which is why the PSA 9 demands a premium.

Collectors do not sell this card, they cherish it.

2. 1974 Topps #212 Rollie Fingers

Why Is This Awesome?

Before Mariano, there was Rollie Fingers. This takes our #2 spot because besides the gorgeous coloring on a 1974 Topps set that included a series of blurry in-action shots, this one is crisp. Not only does it highlight the infamous ‘stache which isn’t as visible on the 1975 or 1976 Topps Rollie Finger Cards, the full form with the stirrups and wind-up really drive the legendary pose home.

Oh and let’s not forget the PSA 10 is a hard-sought after card considered the Topps decade’s hardest find with only 13 graded as a GEM MINT.

Only dropping Game 2 to Los Angeles Dodgers in the Word Series, Rollie Fingers save in Game 4 and 5 to close out the series comes down as his strongest performance. This wasn’t an Enter Sandman Moment, but the fact the Dodgers knew the game was over the moment Rollie Fingers entered to qualify for the Save.

1. 1982 Topps #435 Robin Yount

Why Is This Awesome?

Before Jerek Jeter, there was Robin Yount when it came to clutch. Besides the PSA 10 having a dramatically low population of 25, and the PSA 9 having also a low Population of only 174, this is Robin Yount most significant card. The uniform on display along with the coloring is spot-on gorgeous and brings the entire 1982 Word Series to life. It’s clear that Robin has left the dugout and grabbed a bat and in the 1982 Word Series,

With a Slugging Percentage of .621 with On Base Percentage of .452 for the series, a defining the defining game 5 in a 7 game series set the tone with Yount getting 4 hits including a solo shot.