The 1989 Topps baseball card set celebrated the sports nostalgia of the past by literally “turning back the clock.” Topps decided to pay tribute to classic baseball cards of earlier eras by mimicking the styles and designs that were popular when the players first broke into the major leagues. For many collectors and fans, the 1989 Topps set stands out as one of the most creative and fun concepts ever implemented by the card company.
Topps worked with teams of researchers and historians to pinpoint the appropriate year to design each player’s card after. Some of the flashbacks went as far back as the late 1940s and early 1950s. While team logos, uniforms, and photography had certainly evolved considerably over the ensuing decades, Topps aimed to recreate the “vintage look” as authentically as possible through illustration and graphic design choices. Rather than using modern action shots, most cards depicted the players in more posed batting or fielding stances similar to early tobacco cards.
A few examples of specific players included Nolan Ryan’s card taking inspiration from his 1968 Topps rookie design with cartoon-style pinstripes and an almost cartoonish portrayal of the fireballer. Ozzie Smith’s card paid tribute to the unique styles of the late 1950s with an illustrated backdrop and a posed posing of “The Wizard” ready to field a ground ball. Don Mattingly’s card transported collectors back to 1977 Topps with a pennant waving in the background behind a mustachioed batting Mattingly. Though not a “vintage” player by 1989, Ken Griffey Jr.’s explosive talent warranted honoring his early days with a 1980s Mariners throwback card showcasing his sweet swing.
Perhaps no player better exemplified the nostalgia of the set more than Pete Rose, who was chasing baseball’s all-time hits record in 1989. His card transported fans back to a 1963 Topps style with an illustrated crowd scene and an iconic black-and-white photo of baseball’s hits king swinging for the fences wearing red stirrups and batting gloves high up on his arms. Rose would smash Ty Cobb’s hallowed mark late that season, capping one of the most storied careers in baseball history. His 1989 Topps card froze that magical moment in time with 1963 flair.
While focusing on established veterans made up the bulk of the cards pulling from the past, a few rookie cards also received vintage treatments. Gregg Jefferies’ rookie paid tribute to a 1955 Topps design with cartoon pinstripes on his Mets uniform and strong, illustrated shadows. Chipper Jones got the 1960s treatment for his first Bowman card appearance with cartoonish action poses and a retro Phillies script across the front. Even younger players like Frank Thomas received vintage nods, with his rookie card resembling 1964 Topps in its posed, action style.
In addition to the player cards, team cards also followed the vintage blueprint. Rather than the standard team logo or headshot collections of the late 80s, 1989 Topps portrayed full team lineups with staged action shots more reminiscent of the 1950s. Managers also received a nostalgic nod with cards mimicking the late 1940s leaf design featuring headshots in front of illustrated dugouts or fields. Stadium cards even turned back the clock to illustrate ballpark scenes invoking their earliest eras of play during the deadball period.
While utilizing classic card art and photography styles from decades past, 1989 Topps still found ways to inject modern elements. Set information was overlaid on most cards to identify stats and basics for the current season. Trading card logos were still prominently displayed as well.Gum wrappers contained the standard bubblegum piece inside but with retro wrapper designs from different eras added to the nostalgic theming.
Upon its release, the 1989 Topps set was an immediate hit with both new and old-school collectors. By abandoning a purely modern approach, the set cleverly bridged multiple generations of fans through its historical acknowledgements and period-accurate recreations of how their favorite players first appeared in card form years prior. For many, it remains one of the most inventive annual issues in the long and storied history of Topps baseball cards. By simply “turning back the clock,” the 1989 set endures as a beloved tribute to baseball history that continues to surprise and transport collectors of all ages decades later.
