The Topps Company is an American company best known for producing trading cards, stickers, and other collectibles. Since 1954, Topps has released annual baseball card sets chronicling each Major League Baseball season. Their 1999 release marked the 46th year of Topps baseball cards. The 1999 Topps set featured cards of over 800 different baseball players and managers. Here are 99 of the top cards from the 1999 Topps baseball set that any collector would be thrilled to own:
Ken Griffey Jr. (#1) – One of the game’s all-time great players, Griffey was still in his prime in 1999 and was the face of the Topps set. His card remains one of the most iconic and valuable from the 1990s.
Mark McGwire (#11) – McGwire’s pursuit of Roger Maris’ single-season home run record dominated baseball headlines in 1998. His card from 1999 remains one of the most popular from that era.
Sammy Sosa (#12) – Sosa gave McGwire a serious challenge in the 1998 home run chase and was one of the game’s top stars. His card is a key piece for any collector.
Greg Maddux (#17) – One of the best pitchers of his generation, Maddux was in his prime with the Braves in 1999. He won the NL Cy Young Award that season.
Cal Ripken Jr. (#19) – “The Iron Man” had broken Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games played record in 1995 and was still a force for the Orioles. His career accomplishments make his card a prize.
Pedro Martinez (#25) – Already a star with the Red Sox, Martinez’s card captured him in the midst of a career year where he won the AL Cy Young Award.
Tony Gwynn (#29) – A career .338 hitter, Gwynn was in his last season with the Padres in 1999. He remains one of the best pure hitters in baseball history.
Jeff Bagwell (#33) – The Astros’ star slugger, Bagwell was coming off a season where he hit .304 with 44 home runs and 150 RBIs.
Chipper Jones (#37) – As the young star third baseman for the Braves’ dynasty, Jones’ rookie season was in 1995 but he was already emerging as a superstar by 1999.
Ivan Rodriguez (#38) – “Pudge” Rodriguez was the premier catcher in baseball and a 10-time Gold Glove winner. He was a mainstay for the Rangers.
Frank Thomas (#43) – “The Big Hurt” was in his prime with the White Sox, coming off five straight seasons hitting over .300 with 30+ home runs.
Mike Piazza (#47) – Already a star with the Dodgers, Piazza was traded to the Mets prior to 1999 and went on to have huge power numbers in New York.
Barry Larkin (#48) – The Reds’ shortstop was a 12-time Gold Glove winner and the 1995 NL MVP. He provided consistency and excellence for over a decade in Cincinnati.
Randy Johnson (#53) – Already a legendary power pitcher, “The Big Unit” was in his fourth season with the Mariners and on his way to even bigger accomplishments.
Tom Glavine (#54) – A masterful lefty and one of the best pitchers of the 1990s and 2000s, Glavine was a stalwart of the Braves’ staff.
Derek Jeter (#55) – As the young star shortstop for the powerful Yankees, Jeter was already emerging as a fan favorite and team leader by 1999.
Roger Clemens (#57) – After several great seasons with the Red Sox, “Rocket” was pitching lights-out for the Blue Jays and well on his way to a record seven Cy Young Awards.
Craig Biggio (#58) – The Astros’ leader played both catcher and second base and was a perennial All-Star and Gold Glover throughout the 1990s.
Jeff Kent (#59) – An underrated star, Kent hit over .300 with 25+ home runs for the Giants in 1999 on his way to the NL MVP Award in 2000.
John Smoltz (#61) – One of the best pitchers-turned-closers of all-time, Smoltz was in his prime as the ace of the Braves’ staff. He won the 1996 Cy Young.
Nomar Garciaparra (#62) – The young Red Sox star shortstop burst onto the scene in 1997 and was the new face of the franchise, winning the batting title in 1999.
Mike Mussina (#63) – One of baseball’s most consistent pitchers of the late 1990s and 2000s, Mussina was in his prime years with the Orioles.
Kenny Lofton (#67) – A speedster who stole over 60 bases four times in the 1990s, Lofton was a dynamic force for the Indians.
Edgar Martinez (#68) – As the DH for the Mariners, Martinez was one of the best pure hitters in baseball throughout the 1990s, hitting over .300 seven times.
Rickey Henderson (#69) – In his late 30s but still stealing bases, Henderson was a legend who transcended the sport. He played for the Padres and Mets in 1999.
Mo Vaughn (#73) – After winning the 1995 AL MVP with the Red Sox, Vaughn provided thump in the middle of the Angels’ lineup in 1999.
Jim Thome (#75) – Already a prodigious power hitter, Thome smashed 40+ home runs four times for the Indians in the 1990s.
Roberto Alomar (#76) – A career .300 hitter and one of the best all-around second basemen ever, Alomar was a star for the Orioles in 1999.
Todd Helton (#77) – The young Rockies star first baseman hit over .300 in each of his first three MLB seasons from 1997-1999.
Andres Galarraga (#79) – “The Big Cat” was a force in the middle of the Rockies’ lineup, hitting over .300 with 30+ home runs in 1998-1999.
Jeff Conine (#80) – A versatile player who hit over .300 four times, Conine was a valuable role player for the Marlins.
Larry Walker (#81) – One of the game’s most complete players, Walker hit over .300 with 30+ home runs and 30+ stolen bases for the Rockies in 1997-1999.
Wade Boggs (#82) – In the twilight of his career, Boggs was still hitting over .300, now for the Yankees and Devil Rays in the late 1990s.
Roberto Alomar (#83) – Alomar’s rookie card from 1988 is one of the most iconic and valuable of all-time. His brother Sandy also had a card in the 1999 set.
Ozzie Smith (#84) – A 15-time Gold Glove winner at shortstop, “The Wizard” was in his final season in 1999 still providing magic for the Cardinals.
Darren Daulton (#85) – The longtime Phillies catcher was a leader on their 1993 World Series team. He played his last season in 1997.
Mike Piazza (#86) – Piazza’s card in a Mets uniform, reflecting his blockbuster 1998 trade from the Dodgers. He went on to have huge power numbers in New York.
Kenny Rogers (#87) – The crafty lefty was in his prime years with the Rangers, pitching a perfect game in 1994 and winning 20 games twice.
Luis Gonzalez (#88) – Before emerging as a star for the Diamondbacks, Gonzalez was a steady outfielder for the Astros, hitting over .300 in 1997-1998.
Craig Counsell (#89) – A versatile infielder, Counsell was a valuable role player who hit over .300 three times in the late 1990s for the Rockies, Dodgers and D-backs.
David Wells (#90) – “Boomer” bounced around but found success wherever he went, including a perfect game for the Yankees in 1998 and 20-win seasons for the Blue Jays and Padres.
David Cone (#91) – After arm issues, Cone reinvented himself as a crafty veteran and won the NL Cy Young with the Royals in 1994 and a World Series with the Yankees.
Scott Rolen (#92) – The young third baseman was already an elite defender and the Phillies’ best player, hitting .290 with 25 home runs in 1998.
Darren Dreifort (#93) – The Dodgers’ ace had a breakout season in 1995 at age 23, going 13-6 with a 2.95 ERA and making the All-Star team. Injuries derailed his career.
Javy Lopez (#94) – The young Braves’ catcher emerged as one of baseball’s best power hitters, smashing 42 home runs in 1998 at age 26.