The Topps Company began producing baseball cards in 1952 and has since become one of the most iconic brands in the sports card industry. Over the past 70 years, Topps has released hundreds of different baseball card sets that feature players, managers, and team logos from that respective season. While it’s impossible to narrow down the absolute best Topps cards ever made, here are 70 cards that stand out as particularly notable, valuable, or historically significant releases from the company.
1952 Topps #1 – Mickey Mantle: The very first card issued by Topps and it features one of the game’s all-time greats, Mickey Mantle. In pristine condition this rookie card can fetch over $100,000 at auction.
1952 Topps #311 – Willie Mays: Another iconic rookie card that is highly sought after by collectors. Like Mantle’s, a PSA 10 gem mint Mays ’52 can sell for well into the 5 figures.
1954 Topps #130 – Willie Mays: Features one of the most iconic photos ever used on a baseball card, with Mays leaping to make an incredible over-the-shoulder catch. Even low-grade copies hold value due to the photo.
1957 Topps #130 – Mickey Mantle: Known as the “Nodding Mantle” due to his head being tilted down slightly. It’s one of Mantle’s most visually striking cards from his prime years.
1960 Topps #500 – Roberto Clemente: The first card issued of the Hall of Famer, who tragically died in a plane crash at the young age of 38 while helping victims of an earthquake in Nicaragua.
1961 Topps #1 – Roger Maris: As the reigning single-season home run record holder, Maris led off Topps’ 1961 set in style. The card is iconic from one of baseball’s most storied seasons.
1962 Topps #1 – Maury Wills: Commemorates Wills breaking Ty Cobb’s single-season stolen base record with 104 thefts in ’62 for the Dodgers.
1963 Topps #130 – Sandy Koufax: Features one of the game’s most dominating pitchers in his prime with the Dodgers. Koufax’s cards from his record-setting 1965 season also hold great value.
1964 Topps #1 – Brooks Robinson: The defensive wizard at third base for the Orioles led off the ’64 set in style during the franchise’s early glory years.
1965 Topps #1 – Willie Mays: In the midst of one of his finest seasons, Mays’ powerful swing graced the front of the ’65 set during his time with the Giants.
1966 Topps #1 – Roberto Clemente: Topps honored Clemente with the prized #1 card position following his NL MVP season with the Pirates in ’65.
1967 Topps #1 – Sandy Koufax: Topps paid tribute to the Dodgers lefty with this #1 card after he retired following his third straight Cy Young/World Series MVP season in ’66.
1968 Topps #1 – Bob Gibson: Recognized Gibson with the top card in the ’68 set after he led the Cardinals to a World Series title while posting a modern-day record 1.12 ERA.
1969 Topps #1 – Willie McCovey: Features the powerful “Stretch” during his playing days with the San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park.
1970 Topps #1 – Johnny Bench: Topps gave the #1 card to Bench, who was coming off his first of two NL MVP seasons as Cincinnati’s young star catcher.
1971 Topps #1 – Hank Aaron: Honored Aaron as he closed in on Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record playing for the Atlanta Braves.
1972 Topps #1 – Johnny Bench: Bench earned the top card spot for the second time as he continued his dominance behind the plate for the Big Red Machine Reds.
1973 Topps #1 – Pete Rose: Rose, already a Topps legend, led off the ’73 set during one of his finest seasons as player-manager for the Reds.
1974 Topps #1 – Mike Schmidt: Introduced Schmidt to the baseball card world with this prized #1 card as he began his Hall of Fame career with the Philadelphia Phillies.
1975 Topps #1 – Johnny Bench: For the third time, Topps paid tribute to Bench by featuring him on the coveted #1 card.
1976 Topps #1 – George Brett: Highlighted Brett and the Kansas City Royals as they began climbing towards the franchise’s first postseason appearances and World Series titles.
1977 Topps #1 – Reggie Jackson: Topps honored “Mr. October” and his breakout ’76 season slugging three consecutive home runs in the World Series for the champion New York Yankees.
1978 Topps #1 – Pete Rose: Rose’s #1 card for the ’78 set came during his record-breaking season with the Reds where he set the all-time MLB hit mark.
1979 Topps #1 – Dave Parker: Parker was coming off back-to-back NL Batting Title wins for the Pittsburgh Pirates and was recognized on the ’79 set’s prized first card.
1980 Topps #1 – Mike Schmidt: For the second time, Topps featured Schmidt as the game’s premier power hitter on the #1 card after another MVP season in ’79.
1981 Topps #1 – Nolan Ryan: Highlighted Ryan during one of his most dominant seasons, where he struck out a single-season record 383 batters pitching for the Houston Astros.
1982 Topps #1 – Mike Schmidt: Schmidt’s third appearance on a Topps #1 card honored his third NL MVP award in ’81 while leading the Phillies.
1983 Topps #1 – Cal Ripken Jr.: Introduced Ripken to the baseball card world with this prized rookie card, foreshadowing his future Hall of Fame career with the Baltimore Orioles.
1984 Topps #1 – Ryne Sandberg: Sandberg’s breakout ’83 season that won him the NL MVP award earned him the #1 card for Topps’ 1984 set.
1985 Topps #1 – Don Mattingly: Topps paid tribute to the young Yankees slugger Mattingly, who was coming off his first All-Star and AL Batting Title season in ’84.
1986 Topps #1 – Roger Clemens: Highlighted Clemens and his Cy Young season of ’84 where he led the AL with a 2.48 ERA pitching for the Boston Red Sox.
1987 Topps #1 – Roger Clemens: Clemens earned a rare second appearance on a Topps #1 card after posting another Cy Young season with a 2.97 ERA for the Red Sox in ’86.
1988 Topps #1 – Ozzie Smith: The Wizard was featured on the ’88 set’s first card following a season where he won his first of a record 13 consecutive Gold Gloves at shortstop for the St. Louis Cardinals.
1989 Topps #1 – Kirk Gibson: Topps paid tribute to Gibson’s legendary 1988 World Series MVP performance, where he homered in Game 1 of the Fall Classic despite severe injuries to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to the title.
1990 Topps #1 – Nolan Ryan: Ryan’s record-setting seventh and final no-hitter in ’91 earned him a second appearance on a Topps #1 card late in his Hall of Fame career with the Texas Rangers.
1991 Topps #1 – Ken Griffey Jr.: Introduced Junior to collectors on this prized rookie card at the start of his incredible career with the Seattle Mariners.
1992 Topps #1 – Cal Ripken Jr.: Ripken’s consecutive games played streak had reached epic proportions by ’92, earning him a second Topps #1 card during his stellar run with the Orioles.
1993 Topps #1 – Barry Bonds: Bonds’ breakout ’92 season that won him the NL MVP and led the league in home runs for the Pittsburgh Pirates earned this #1 card recognition.
1994 Topps #1 – Ken Griffey Jr: Griffey’s superstar status was cemented by ’93, warranting a second consecutive Topps #1 card during his playing days with the Mariners.
1995 Topps #1 – Frank Thomas: The Big Hurt’s AL MVP season of ’94, where he led the league in homers and RBIs for the Chicago White Sox, was highlighted.
1996 Topps #1 – Ken Griffey Jr: Griffey became just the third player with three Topps #1 cards, joining Bench and Clemens, after another huge season leading the Mariners.
1997 Topps #1 – Derek Jeter: Introduced Jeter to collectors with this prized rookie card at the start of his Hall of Fame career with the New York Yankees shortstop.
1998 Topps #1 – Mark McGwire: Honored McGwire as he shattered the single-season home run record that had stood for 37 years, slugging 70 total for the St. Louis Cardinals.
1999 Topps #1 – Sammy Sosa: Sosa’s neck-and-neck chase with McGwire to break Maris’ record in ’98 earned him the #1 card in Topps’ 1999 set.
2000 Topps #1 – Pedro Martinez: Martinez’s otherworldly ’99 season
