The Forever Topps Binder Project: Page 4 (1978 - 1986)

We are now up to the fourth page of my Forever Topps Binder Project.  If you missed any of my previous posts about the project, the basic idea is that I am putting together a binder that will have exactly one card from each Topps set from 1951 up through the current year.  Most of the cards that you see in the binder thus far are from a blog contest I won years ago. I do hope to continue to upgrade and change the featured cards to better options as time goes on.  For now, I'm simply trying to build a "first draft" of the binder, if you will!

The Forever Topps Binder Project
Page 4 (1978 - 1986):

1978:

Current card in binder:  #496 Jim Clancy

Goal card(s):  #400 Nolan Ryan

Here's a hot take:  The 1978 set reminds me of a slightly less interesting 1989 set design.  You get the team name in script, but the photo selection in the '89 set is generally more interesting.  

1979:

Current card in binder:  #170 Don Sutton

Goal card(s):  #220 Cesar Geronimo, #420 Ken Griffey

While I listed a pair of Reds as possible goal cards, I'll admit to being perfectly content having that Don Sutton card in my binder.  I love the many dudes in the background of the photo, though it looks to me like Sutton might have been "photoshopped" into that particular scene.  I should note that most of the "good" Reds in the set have the All-Star banner added to their cards.  As I've started writing these posts, I've decided that I want to try and focus on getting only "regular" base cards for my Forever Topps Binder Project, I want each card to truly represent that particular year's base set (I'll make the exception for a couple of the superstar rookie cards from tehe 60s and 70s but that's it)!

1980:

Current card in binder:  #373 Dan Petry

Goal card(s):  #100 Johnny Bench, #482 Rickey Henderson, #650 Joe Morgan

I suppose most would say that the Rickey Henderson card should be the only goal card for 1980, but truthfully, I'd be just as happy with the Bench or Morgan.  Also, it's now worth pointing out that I do have a box full of "vintage" cards that I haven't sorted through in years.  There is a fairly good chance I might have some of my goal cards (especially if they are Reds) once I get that box sorted.  My future plan is to sort through that box and then update my Forever Topps Binder Project accordingly!

1981:

Current card in binder:  #531 John Curtis

Goal card(s):  #220 Tom Seaver, #375 Dave Concepcion

I love the baseball hat with the position and team name; it's a fun addition to the overall card design for the '81 set. Generally, I like it when Topps leans into the baseball theme for card designs.  I also like the clean look of the back of the cards in the '81 set, though I imagine plenty of other people dislike the black text on red background that Topps used.  

1982:

Current card in binder:  #290 Ken Singleton

Goal card(s):  #90 Nolan Ryan, #400 Johnny Bench

We've officially reached the year of my birth.  I must admit that I don't love the design of the '82 set much, it always reminded me of hockey sticks, a concept that most definitely does not scream "baseball" to me.  

1983:  

Current card in binder:  #49 Willie McGee

Goal card(s):  #60 Johnny Bench, #482 Tony Gwynn

I have the full 1983 set built already, so whatever card ends up in this slot will be a duplicate within my overall collection.  I think for sets that I have fully built, I should go through page by page and simply try and figure out my favorite card in the set (photo, player, team, etc.).  Once I do that, I will probably change my goal cards, but for now,  you can't go wrong with a Gwynn rookie card!  That said, the McGee card above is also quite nice.  I especially love the Expos banner on the outfield wall.  The only real problem with the card is that McGee is a Cardinal (and who wants yucky Cardinals in their Forever Topps Binder Project)?!   (Sorry, Kerry.)

1984:  

Current card in binder:  #525 Willie Wilson

Goal card(s):  #182 Darryl Strawberry, #470 Nolan Ryan

I can thank my dad for most of my complete sets from the 1980s.  There were several Christmas's in a row where he gifted me a particular complete set.  One year, that gift was the 1984 set - so much like '82 and '83, I need to go back through my binder with some time and care to pick out the single best card to acquire again for my Forever Topps Binder Project.  For now, I'll leave my two goal cards as the Strawberry rookie or the Nolan Ryan (a card I've always liked).

1985:

Current card in binder:  #645 Damaso Garcia

Goal card(s):  #627 Eric Davis

My complete set run of Topps goes from 1981 through 1989, so much like most of the other sets on this page, I really need to go through my set binder to pick out the perfect card to chase after for the binder page.  That said, I can't go wrong with an Eric Davis rookie card.

1986:

Current card in binder:  #506 Bill Russell

Goal card(s):  #1 Pete Rose

I have to imagine that I have at least one of those Pete Rose cards lurking within one of my unsorted card boxes.  Obviously, this is only phase 1 of my Forever Topps Binder Project.  In fact, in some ways this is Phase 0 where I'm simply trying to assemble something for each slot in the binder.  The real fun comes when I get to start upgrading cards within the project binder!

Page 4:

And with that, we have finished off four pages worth of Topps sets.  As it turns out, this is a perfect "breaking point" since 1987 is the first year of Topps that I remember actually collecting as a kid.  From here on out, Topps sets are going to have a lot more of a personal connection to me and my childhood!