The 1989 Topps Baseball Cards Traded Set marked the 25th edition of Topps’ annual traded card series highlighting some of the biggest trades and transactions from the 1988 MLB season. The 132 card set featured many of baseball’s top stars who were dealt to new teams leading up to and during the 1988 campaign.

Some key details about the noteworthy players and deals depicted in the ’89 Topps Traded set include:
Kirk Gibson was featured on the cover card after being acquired by the Los Angeles Dodgers from the Detroit Tigers in a midseason trade. Gibson went on to win the 1988 National League MVP award and hit one of the most famous home runs in World Series history to lead the Dodgers to a championship.

Future Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan returned to the Houston Astros via a trade with the Chicago Cubs. Ryan spent 1988-89 back with Houston before finishing his career with the Texas Rangers. He was one of the most prominent pitchers included in the set given his status as a future Cooperstown inductee.

Eric Davis was another superstar outfielder on the move in 1988. He was traded from the Cincinnati Reds to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Davis had two cards in the set, one depicting his time with the Reds and another with his new Dodgers uniform. He went on to have an All-Star caliber season with LA in 1988.

Veteran slugger Bobby Bonilla was part of a six-player deal that sent him from the Pittsburgh Pirates to the New York Mets. Bonilla emerged as a centerpiece player for the Mets during his stint with the club from 1988-1990. He received a prominent card in the ’89 Traded set reflecting his status on a contending Mets team.

Former National League rookie of the year Bob Horner found himself dealt from the Atlanta Braves to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1988. Once a budding young star, injuries hampered Horner but he received recognition with a card in the Traded set.

Relief pitcher Bruce Sutter was another player jumping ship midway through 1988, going from the Atlanta Braves to the Chicago Cubs. The Hall of Famer and former NL Cy Young award winner added important depth to the Cubs bullpen down the stretch.

slugger Dave Parker also saw himself traded twice in one season, first going from the Oakland A’s to the Cincinnati Reds before ending up with the Detroit Tigers. Parker, past his prime but still a presence, received cards depicting his time with all three clubs in ’88.

Beyond stars, the 1989 Topps Traded set also highlighted numerous role players and depth pieces that were shuttled between teams. In total, over 50 different trades were acknowledged through card images and descriptive text wtitn on the back of each card. This provided collectors insight into the major transactions that shaped contenders and rebuilt franchises throughout baseball.

Overall design of the 1989 Topps Traded cards were in line with the standard Topps base set released earlier that year. A team logo appeared prominently on each card along with the player’s first and last name. Uniform photos showed the athletes in their new uniforms to denote the team change. Statistics from 1988 were listed on the back of each card next to information about the trade that brought the player to his new club.

When released in early 1989, the 132 card Topps Traded set retailed for $1.50 per pack with 11 cards inside each sealed wax package. While not quite as coveted as the base set, Completed Traded sets still hold value today among vintage collectors. Key cards of stars like Gibson, Ryan, Bonilla and Parker regularly commands the highest prices. The 1988 season moves and their recognition in card form continue to be appreciated by hobbyists decades later.

In summarization, the 1989 Topps Traded baseball card set endures as one of the most memorable non-base issues ever created by the pioneering card manufacturer Topps. Featuring over 50 tradesfrom 1988, it provides a useful historical accounting of the many transactions that season which altered pennant and divisional races. Key stars, role players and memories of their switch to new uniforms live on through the durable cardboard images over 30 years later.