The 1983 Topps ASA set is considered one of the more sought-after baseball card issues for collectors of the 1980s. This was the third and final set produced as part of Topps’ short-lived agreement with the American Sports Analytic (ASA) company. ASA was a fledgling company that aimed to provide statistical analysis of sports players which Topps hoped would add value to their cards.
Topps decided to incorporate ASA statistics and analysis onto the backs of select cards in their 1981, 1982, and 1983 sets. While not a commercial success at the time, increased interest in ASA cards from collectors in later decades has elevated their popularity and prices today. The 1983 set stands out due to rarity, design aesthetics, and the inclusion of rookie cards for future Hall of Famers.
Some key details that make the 1983 Topps ASA cards a highlight for collectors and investors include:
Size of set: The 1983 Topps ASA set contains 297 total cards. This is smaller than the base Topps set of that year which was over 700 cards. The limited print run makes individual ASA cards harder to find in top condition.
Design elements: The fronts of the 1983 ASA cards feature colorful action photos and a black border around the edges with a Topps logo at the bottom. The backs have a white center with ASA statistical analysis accompanied by cartoon-style illustrations. This style was praised by reviewers at the time for its unique look compared to other issues.
Rookie cards: Future Hall of Famers Cal Ripken Jr. and Wade Boggs have their ASA rookie cards in this set from their debut seasons in 1981 and 1982 respectively. Other notable rookies include Dwight Gooden, Don Mattingly, and Darryl Strawberry. Finds of these rookies in good condition can hold substantial value.
Statistics included: As part of Topps’ agreement with ASA, the back of each card contains statistical analysis from ASA related to performance metrics, scouting reports, and salary projections among other data points. While primitive by today’s advanced analytics, this added informational value for collectors at the time.
Low print numbers: It’s estimated production of the 1983 Topps ASA set was only around 1/3 of the size of the base Topps issue that same year. With fewer packs opened due to the wider set not being as widely distributed, high grade ASA cards survive in far fewer quantities.
Popularity rise: While initially overlooked, interest in ASA cards has greatly increased in the vintage market over the past two decades. The innovation they brought to the hobby with analytical content on the card backs is now more appreciated by collectors. Prices have risen along with notoriety.
Top graded population: Based on the population report from grading leader PSA, only 167 PSA 10 GEM MINT copies exist of 1983 Topps ASA Cal Ripken Jr. The entire set is extremely difficult to acquire in top grades due to their fragile vintage cardboard stock.
With the low issue numbers, beautiful design work, inclusion of all-time great rookie cards, and added statistics/analysis that made them ahead of their time – the 1983 Topps ASA baseball card set stands out as a true Holy Grail for vintage collectors even nearly 40 years later. Examples that show impressively at auction are primarily out of reach except for the most elite accumulators in the hobby. The set cemented Topps ASA’s place as one of the most innovative, rare, and desirable oddball releases in cardboard catalog history.
