The 1989 Topps Big baseball card set was a larger format subset release by Topps as part of their flagship ’89 base set. Containing an insert card in about 1 in 6 regular wax packs, the Big cards stood out with their oversized 3.5″ by 5″ dimensions compared to the standard 2.5″ by 3.5″ size of base cards at the time. Limited to just 162 cards covering all Major League teams and players, the ’89 Topps Big set had numerous distinctions that attracted collectors both then and now.
Right off the bat, the extra large size of Big cards made for a very visual and dramatic presentation of players. Subjects appeared almost life-sized rather than the smaller, closer crops on regular issue cards. This larger scale allowed for more extensive artwork and photo reproduction compared to the confines of standard card stock. More intricate uniforms, field backgrounds, and facial features could be portrayed. Topps took advantage of the expanse by utilizing colorful action photos often bleeding off the edges of the cardboard. The vibrantly illustrated style guides Topps commissioned really popped on the oversized stock as well.
In terms of aesthetics, 1989 marked the first year Topps incorporated team-colored borders framing the photos rather than simply boxing them in with white or gray. This helped further distinguish Big cards as special pieces and tied the images more distinctly to specific ballclubs. Similarly, Topps debuted yellow and blue tinted rear borders on the ’89 set fronts which were carried forward for later Big issues as well. Finishing touches like embossed logos, foil stamping, and extra thick cardstock also reinforced the premium nature of these exclusive collector’s items.
Subject matter wise, the 1989 Topps Big checklist read like a who’s who of baseball at the late 80s peak of popularity. Future Hall of Famers like Nolan Ryan, Wade Boggs, Ozzie Smith and others were all represented along with rising young stars like Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, and Ken Griffey Jr. Legends in the twilight of their careers such as Pete Rose and Steve Carlton made the cut as well. Beyond star power, the set achieved a baseline completeness by covering each MLB franchise even if some lesser known role players populated the blue and gold fringed rosters.
In addition to standard player photos, action shots and posed portraits, Topps Big cards introduced some novel compositional approaches. Multi-image collages placed two or more pictures side by side within the frame. Ken Griffey Jr. and Cal Ripken Jr. had cards showing them as kids reflecting their Hall of Fame fathers’ footsteps. Action scenes spliced together freeze frames of successive movements. Some cards even utilized creative artistic license by envisioning historically-minded “what if” situations such as Nolan Ryan pitching for the Cubs.
While mass produced as inserts, the scarcity inherent to their one-per-pack distribution guaranteed the ’89 Topps Big set a place in the hearts of completionist collectors from the beginning. With reasonable print runs of around 10,000 units or so according to industry experts, mint conditioned examples hold substantial value today. Graded Gem Mint 10 Big cards can sell for hundreds of dollars apiece online. Even well-preserved common players sign for at least $20-$30 each. When a star player autograph or rare parallel variation surfaces, prices escalate exponentially into the thousands of dollars range. Condition sensitive as they are, ungraded examples in average shape likely still trade hands for $5-10 a pop or more depending on condidtion and player popularity.
Beyond their sheer physical size and artistic execution, what has sustained nostalgia for the 1989 Topps Big cards is their ability to distill the late 1980s peak of baseball’s golden age onto premium pieces of cardboard. Boasting hall of famers, stars of the day and creative compositions, the set is a visual time capsule perfectly capturing the sport’s popularity at that moment in history. For dedicated collectors and baseball fans of any era, the 1989 Topps Big cards represent an oversized piece of nostalgia and an impressive focal point for any collection.
