The Topps Company is virtually synonymous with sports trading cards in America. Since their inception in 1938, Topps has been the dominant force in the baseball card industry for generations of collectors. Some of the most legendary players in MLB history first gained widespread notoriety and memorabilia through their appearance on classic Topps baseball cards.
Topps got their start primarily as a confectionery company, producing chewing gum and candy. In the post-WWII era of the late 1940s and 50s, the advent of Color photography and improved printing techniques inspired Topps founders Joel Shorin and Eugene Hart to expand into colorful photo illustrated cards packaged with chewing gum. Their first modern baseball card set was released in 1951 and was an instant hit among kids and collectors.
Sets from the golden era of the 50s and 60s featured the biggest stars of the day like Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and more. Topps secured exclusive licensing deals with both the players association and Major League Baseball, allowing them to use official team logos and player likenesses. This helped Topps cards quickly become the preferred and authentic product for baseball memorabilia seekers.
One of the most iconic Topps cards ever is the iconic 1954 Mickey Mantle. Showcasing the Yankee slugger’s picture on the front along with stats on the back, it represents the template that Topps used for decades and helped establish Mantle as a baseball legend. The ’52 Topps Willie Mays and ’65 Sandy Koufax rookie are other landmark cards that rocketed those players to increased fame.
The 60s saw the ascendance of stats on the back of cards along with player signatures and information boxes providing career highlights and fun facts. Rookies of future Hall of Famers like Roberto Clemente, Reggie Jackson and Tom Seaver garnered huge followings. The 1969 Topps set is especially coveted today for rookie cards of Nolan Ryan and Johnny Bench.
Through the colorful designs and photographic improvements of the 70s, Topps continued to be the must-have brand for any kid or collector wanting cards showcasing the biggest names in the game. Sets paid tribute to Hank Aaron’s historic home run record, featured the dominant Oakland A’s dynasty and immortalized Oakland slugger Reggie Jackson’s three home run performance in the 1977 World Series.
In the 1980s, the arrival of more aggressive competitors like Fleer and Donruss pushed Topps to get more creative with their designs. Embossed logos, oddball traded player variations, and odd-sized “tall boy” cards mixed it up. Rookies of stars like Cal Ripken Jr, Wade Boggs and Ozzie Smith began to gain collector attention as future Hall of Famers.
The junk wax era saw a glut of mass produced cards in the late 80s and early 90s that has dampened the allure of some sets from that time. But Topps remained dominant with seminal issues like the vintage 1983 set and star attractions like the Ken Griffey Jr. Upper Deck rookie that ignited the modern collecting frenzy.
In 2007, The Topps Company regained the exclusive MLB player license after a brief loss, solidifying their place atop the baseball card world. Modern sets still feature the game’s top talents like Mike Trout, Christian Yelich, Cody Bellinger and more. Parallel and shortprinted “hit” cards add to the excitement of the modern hobby.
Through eight decades, Topps Baseball Cards have helped define eras, create legends and preserve moments in time from baseball’s storied history. Iconic rookie issues, record-breaking achievements and unforgettable performances have been commemorated in the yearly releases that millions of fans still eagerly await each spring. Topps truly stands alone as the most collectible and integral brand linked to the MLB memorabilia experience.
