Topps baseball cards are considered by most collectors to be the most iconic and recognizable brand in the hobby. While their standard size cards from the 1950s onward receive the bulk of attention from enthusiasts, Topps also produced several runs of much larger cards during the late 1960s and early 1970s that have developed a passionate following amongst a dedicated subset of collectors. These oversized cards, sometimes referred to as “giants” due to their much larger dimensions compared to a standard card, showcased vivid full color images of players and provided more detailed statistics and biographical information.
The first true large size Topps baseball cards were issued in 1968. Dubbed the “Photograph Series”, these cards were significantly larger than the standard 2 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ size Topps used at the time. The 1968 Photograph cards measured approximately 3 3/4″ x 5 1/2″, offering roughly double the surface area for imagery and text compared to regular issues. All players included were depicted with large headshot style photographs in full color on the front. Biographical data and career stats occupied the back of the card. Although numbering was sparse and inconsistent across the different subsets, the 1968 Photograph set is believed to have contained approximately 120 total cards.
Despite their inflated dimensions and photo centric design, the 1968 Topps Photograph series saw limited distribution and production. Many speculate this was due to the challenge of fitting the abnormally sized cards into traditional wax packaging and card boxes. The large cards were also more costly to produce which may have dissuaded a wider release. As a result, 1968 Photographs have grown to become one of the more difficult and valuable vintage Topps issues to collect in top grade. Near mint examples in recognized star players routinely sell for hundreds of dollars or more today.
Encouraged by the novelty and popularity of the oversized 1968 Photographs, Topps revisited the large card concept with several additional series in subsequent years. In 1969 they issued the “Poster” set which maintained the same basic 3 3/4″ x 5 1/2″ dimensions but with a different graphic presentation focused more on action photography rather than headshots. Numbers jumped up significantly with the 1969 Posters containing around 350 total cards across different subsets. Distribution was also improved by packaging the posters in sealed cello bags instead of traditional wax packs.
Perhaps the most iconic of Topps’ large size baseball efforts were their 1970 and 1971 issues described as “Giant” cards on the packaging. These expanded the format even further to colossal measurements of 4 1/4″ x 6 1/4″ – giving each single card an extraordinary footprint larger than a standard postcard. Striking full color action photography again took center stage on the fronts surrounded by a thin white border. Stat tables and bios occupied both the back and a small portion of the fronts below the images. Numbering ranged between 350-450 individual cards across the 1970 and 1971 Giant sets combined.
While still limited in circulation compared to their standard issues, the giant 1970 and 1971 Topps cards saw much wider availability than the earlier large photograph and poster experiments thanks to their inclusion in special vending machines designed for their oversized dimensions. These vending machines, found mostly in candy and hobby shops, marketed the opportunity to obtain “giant baseball cards” for a quarter through a gumball style mechanism. The novelty and excitement of acquiring the mammoth cards from vending machines undoubtedly helped drive interest and sales during their original release.
Despite the inherent appeal of huge colorful baseball cards for young collectors, the economic realities of the early 1970s brought Topps’ giant card production to an end after 1971. Inflation, rising production costs, and the overall decline of the baseball card market led Topps away from further mega-sized card releases. While short lived, the 1960s-early 1970s large sized photo and giant card series from Topps have gained an enthusiastic cult following with the passing of time. Many modern collectors seek out original examples to showcase and admire the awe-inspiring photography and graphics afforded by their enlarged scale. Near complete high grade original sets can sell for several thousands of dollars given their status as some of the most visually impressive vintage trading cards ever produced.
While rare and highly valued in their original forms, the landmark Topps large photo and giant cards of the 1960s-70s have also seen notable resurgence in recent years through premier reprint efforts. In 2007, Heritage Auctions produced a limited reprint run of the entire 1968 Topps Photograph set which allowed a new generation of enthusiasts an affordable means to experience the historic oversized classic designs. Building off renewed interest in the 1970-71 Giants, Leaf Brands released an upscale high end limited numbering reprint series of both under the Leaf Greatest Moments brand in 2014 and 2015 respectively. Featuring all the original photographs and stats replicated on thicker cardstock with modern color vibrancy, the Leaf Giants reprints paid homage while breathing new collector life into the hallowed Topps original giants of the past.
While the standard size sets will likely remain the most widely collected Topps baseball issues in the long run, the short runs of oversized large photo and giant cards produced in the late 1960s and early 1970s stand as singularly unique efforts that pushed creative boundaries and size limitations. For those willing to search hard and pay top dollar, original examples from the 1968 Photograph, 1969 Poster, and especially the beloved 1970-71 Giant series provide a true sense of the visual impact and spectacle Topps aimed to achieve through maximizing card dimensions of the era. Their allure and rarity continue growing stronger with nostalgia as reminders of when baseball cards were allowed to become simply enormous.