Since the early 1950s, Topps has included secret codes on the backs of their baseball cards that only the most dedicated collectors would take the time to decipher. These codes provide insights into Topps’ internal production processes and card designs that the average fan would never realize exist.
The first codes started appearing in the 1952 Topps set and were simply numeric codes printed in the bottom right corner of the reverse side. These early codes corresponded to the card’s position within the full 502-card set. For example, the code “127” would indicate that card was the 127th in the series. Topps used numeric codes through the late 1950s, with the numbers increasing each year to match the size of the expanding sets.
In 1960, Topps switched to a alphanumeric coding system that provided more detailed insights into the card’s production. The new codes contained three or four characters that indicated the card’s set (A, B, C, etc.), series within the set (01, 02, 03, etc.), and sequence within the series (001, 002, 003, etc.). So a card with the code “A02-005” would be set A, series 2, and the 5th card in that series. This new system allowed Topps greater organization as baseball card sets continued growing each year.
The 1960s saw Topps expand their codes even further to include clues about future sets and new card designs in development. Codes in the 1967 set, for example, contained references to action cards and 3D cards that wouldn’t be officially released until 1969. Savvy collectors who understood these “secret messages” within the codes were able to predict upcoming set themes before they were publicly announced.
In the 1970s, Topps codes evolved yet again and began directly naming future stars who had not even reached the majors yet. The 1974 codes, for instance, included references to Donnie Moore, Jerry Don Gleaton, and Steve Trout – all of whom went on to have MLB careers, but had not debuted at the time the 1974 set was produced. Topps was essentially “spoiling” their own future releases through these hidden clues to keen-eyed collectors.
The 1980s saw the rise of limited edition and insert cards within Topps’ main baseball sets. To help track parallel versions, refractor parallels, and other specialty cards, Topps assigned unique alphabetic suffixes to the codes. A base card may have a code ending in an “A”, while a limited red refractor of the same player could have a code ending with “R.” This allowed for easy identification of scarce parallel and insert cards within a given year’s set.
In the 1990s, digital printing and computerization allowed Topps to include even more metadata within their coding systems. Four-character codes from this era contained not only the card’s print order, but also clues about photo negatives used, borders, image orientations, and other production specifics. A savvy collector could examine codes and start to piece together the various planes and photographers involved in Topps’ photo shoots each year.
As holograms, autographs, memorabilia cards, and other specialty inserts took off in the 2000s and 2010s, Topps’ codes grew longer still – sometimes exceeding 10 complex characters. The modern codes contain reams of data about parallel versions, print runs, special materials, autograph authenticators, and other details that allow for extremely precise identification and tracking of even the most rare and elusive cards.
While the average baseball card collector may pay little attention to the strings of numbers and letters on the backs of their cards, for dedicated Topps researchers the codes represent a hidden digital history spanning decades. By studying the evolution and increasing complexity of Topps codes over the years, it’s possible to gain new insights into the technological progress and innovative tendencies of America’s largest baseball card manufacturer. For those in the know, the codes hold secrets that give a whole new perspective on the beloved hobby of collecting Topps cards.
The secret codes that Topps has included on their baseball cards since 1952 tell a fascinating untold story about the company’s organizational structures, creative planning, technological advances, and dedication to serving even their most analytical collectors. Though subtle and seemingly inconsequential to the casual fan, the codes represent an intriguing micro-history that sheds new light on Topps and the enduring appeal of their iconic cardboard collectibles.
