Topps Baseball Cards Pictures by Year: A Brief History from 1951 to 2020

Topps Chewing Gum, Inc., better known simply as Topps, has been producing baseball cards since 1951. Here is a look back at Topps baseball cards over the decades, highlighted by representative images from each year.

1951 (Debut Year): Topps issued its first baseball card set in 1951, just a few years after the Bowman Gum Company discontinued production of baseball cards during World War II. The 1951 Topps set included 206 cards featuring players from that year. Notable rookie cards included Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle.

(Image: Hank Sauer ’51 Topps card)

1952: The 1952 Topps set included 240 cards. Color was added to the borders and backs of the cards for the first time. The card fronts remained black and white photos. Notable rookie cards included rookie cards for Whitey Ford and Frank Robinson.

(Image: Johnny Mize ’52 Topps card)

1953: In 1953, the Topps set expanded to 242 cards but color was still only used for borders and backs. Rookie cards included future Hall of Famers Eddie Mathews and Billy Pierce.

(Image: Al Rosen ’53 Topps card)

1954: A total of 242 cards made up the 1954 Topps set. Color photos were still not used on the fronts of cards. Notable rookies included future stars Bob Gibson, Hank Aaron, and Willie McCovey.

(Image: Vic Wertz ’54 Topps card)

1955: Finally in 1955, Topps introduced color photos on the fronts of cards for the first time with its 255-card set. This was a major innovation that made the cards really pop visually. Rookies included Hall of Famers Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, and Sandy Koufax.

(Image: Roy Campanella ’55 Topps card)

1956: The 1956 Topps set included 264 cards. All cards now had color photos on the fronts. This established the modern baseball card aesthetic. Top rookie cards debuted for Hall of Famers Brooks Robinson and Jim Bunning.

(Image: Ted Kluszewski ’56 Topps card)

1957: Topps produced 270 cards in 1957. The design and photo quality remained very similar to the previous year’s issue. Top rookies included future 300-game winner Don Drysdale and Hall of Famer Lou Brock.

(Image: Hoyt Wilhelm ’57 Topps card)

1958: For 1958, Topps released 242 cards that continued the now-standard color photography look. Notable rookie cards that year featured future stars Bob Gibson and Bill White.

(Image: Nellie Fox ’58 Topps card)

1959: The 1959 Topps set included 234 cards, also sticking to the formula established in the 1950s. Top rookie cards debuted future Hall of Famers Pete Rose and Carl Yastrzemski.

(Image: Roy Sievers ’59 Topps card)

1960: Topps issued 240 baseball cards for the 1960 season that looked very similar to previous years aesthetically. Notable rookies included future stars Dick Allen and Tom Seaver.

(Image: Norm Siebern ’60 Topps card)

1961: For 1961, Topps produced 231 cards. Card designs remained conventional but rookie cards featured future aces Juan Marichal and Ron Santo.

(Image: Johnny Temple ’61 Topps card)

1962: Topps distributed 242 cards in 1962. Designs were standard but top rookies included Rod Carew and Gaylord Perry.

(Image: Norm Cash ’62 Topps card)

1963: The 1963 Topps set totaled 233 cards. No major design changes occurred but rookie cards debuted Hall of Famers Reggie Jackson and Tom Seaver.

(Image: Bob Friend ’63 Topps card)

1964: Topps issued 249 baseball cards in 1964 continuing the established black border and color photo design. Top rookie cards featured future stars Joe Morgan and Steve Garvey.

(Image: Ken Boyer ’64 Topps card)

1965: For 1965, Topps produced 243 cards. No noteworthy design modifications. Hall of Fame rookie cards included Dick Allen and Carl Yastrzemski.

(Image: Ed Bailey ’65 Topps card)

1966: In 1966, Topps distributed 252 cards. The design scheme held steady. Top rookie cards featured future stars Reggie Jackson and Joe Torre.

(Image: Hal Lanier ’66 Topps card)

1967: Topps included 246 cards in its 1967 set. Iconic design aspects continued. Future stars Thurman Munson and Bobby Grich debuted as rookies.

(Image: Jim Bouton ’67 Topps card)

1968: For 1968, Topps released 242 cards. Classic design was unchanged. Top rookie cards featured future Hall of Famers Johnny Bench and Carlton Fisk.

(Image: Ken Boyer ’68 Topps card)

1969: In 1969, Topps distributed 242 cards and design styles were still familiar. Hall of Fame rookie cards included Tom Seaver and Rod Carew.

(Image: Eddie Bressoud ’69 Topps card)

1970: Topps included 243 cards in 1970. Standards remained steady. Notable rookie cards featured future all-time hit king Pete Rose and Hall of Famer Lou Brock.

(Image: Tim McCarver ’70 Topps card)

To be continued in a second comment…