In 1989, Topps decided to experiment with a smaller baseball card size known as the minis or smalls series. At just under 2 inches wide by 2.5 inches tall, these small cards were meant to capture the nostalgia of the vintage tobacco era cards while providing a different collecting experience compared to the standard size cards of the time. While not hugely popular upon release, the 1989 Topps smalls have developed a cult following in the decades since for their unique size, visual aesthetic, and historical significance as one of the rare instances Topps strayed from their standard card dimensions.
The 1989 Topps smalls marked the third time Topps had released a subset in a different size, after 1948 Topps Magic and 1951 Topps Hobby. Previous examples were still larger than a standard trading card. The 1989 minis truly shrunk the footprint of a baseball card down to a miniature scale. This miniaturization posed challenges for Topps designers and production teams of the time who had to reimagine how card stats, imagery, and branding could fit into such a confined space. Through experimentation, they landed on a clean and simple two-tone design with player photos dominating much of the real estate.
Inside the minis series were 660 total cards covering all 26 MLB teams from 1988. While not a complete set like Topps flagship issues that season, it did include major stars of the era like Ozzie Smith, Wade Boggs, Nolan Ryan, Kirby Puckett, and Roger Clemens. Rated rookies like Gregg Olson also got the mini treatment. The front of each card showed the player in action or posed individually. On the back was a stats recap and a sentence or two of career highlights. Unlike larger vintage sets from the same year, no gum was included.
When first released in 1989, the minis were seen as a novelty by most collectors who were accustomed to the standard Topps card sizes. They also lacked the competitive allure and affordability of the larger flagship and Traded sets released at the same time. As a result, the smalls were overlooked and many examples ended up in bargain bins or flea markets in the late 80s/early 90s. It wasn’t until the baseball card vintage boom of the mid-1990s that people began to rediscover and appreciate the minis for their nostalgic, bite-sized charm compared to the inflated card multi-packs of the era.
Prices for 1989 Topps smalls today range dramatically depending on the player and condition. Common ungraded examples in played condition generally sell in the $1-5 range. Top rookie cards like Gregg Olson have increased in value to $15-25 due to his popularity and the scarcity of the minis overall. Graded examples of stars command considerable premiums – a PSA 10 Ozzie Smith recently sold for over $150. The scarcest cards like Nolan Ryan graded mint can reach well into the triple digits. While not as iconic or valuable as flagship issues from the same year, the minis fulfill a niche collecting market for those who enjoy the miniature dimensions and visual aesthetic of late 1980s Topps design crammed into a postage stamp-sized package.
As one of the smallest card sets ever issued by Topps, the 1989 smalls hold an unusual place in the history of the company and the hobby. They were an experiment that was ahead of its time, attempting a fun, shareable card format that wouldn’t see mass adoption until future tech like smartphones. While largely forgotten upon initial release, the minis have developed a cult following among vintage baseball collectors who appreciate their novelty, attention to detail considering the size constraints, and historical significance in Topps’ eight decade run as the dominant baseball card maker. As the years pass, interest and values seem likely to gradually increase as these bite-sized pieces of 80s cardboard continue to charm new collectors with their nostalgic charm.
