Online Retailers: Without a doubt, one of the easiest and most convenient places to find Topps baseball cards is online through retail websites. Some top options for purchasing both new and vintage Topps cards online include eBay, Amazon, COMC (Cardboard Connection), and Steel City Collectibles. eBay is especially good for finding older and rare cards from vintage sets as there is a huge marketplace of individual collectors selling cards. You can find just about any Topps card ever made on eBay if you’re willing to search auctions. Amazon also has a large selection of newer Topps products available, though vintage singles are less common. COMC and Steel City are good options for building sets as they have huge antique card inventories that can be searched.
Local Card Shops: While not as widespread as they once were, many cities still have local brick and mortar card shops that are excellent places to browse for Topps cards. Local shops will have new wax boxes and packs along with hundreds of vintage commons and stars available in individual sleeves. These shops are ideal for just spending a few hours looking through piles in search of hidden gems. They also provide a social experience where you can talk shop with other collectors and shop owners. Some large national chains like Dave & Adam’s and Steel City Collectibles also have storefront locations in addition to their online presence.
Card Shows: Regional and national sports card conventions known as “card shows” are events that take place periodic throughout the year where hundreds of card dealers set up tables to sell individual cards and complete sets from all manufacturers including Topps. These are almost like comic-con for sports card collectors where you can spend the whole day digging through boxes in the hopes of finding a valuable rookie card or rare parallel from years past. Prices are sometimes negotiable at shows too since dealers want to move product. Shows are listed on online event calendars well in advance.
Card Binder Apps: With the rise of smartphones, some useful apps have emerged that allow collectors to search other collector’s binders from anywhere. On apps like Trading Card Database and Collector’s Arsenal, people meticulously catalog all of their card collections digitally with pictures. You can then search their virtual binders for specific Topps cards you need and potentially work out a trade direct with that person. It widens the possible pool of sellers beyond your local area.
Group Break Sites: Group break websites like BlowoutCards.com host “breaks” where people purchase random team/player slots that are then broken open on live stream. Inside new packs (mostly from Topps) cards are organized by team/player and shipped to participants. It adds a fun communal element and is a way to potentially get scarce serial numbered parallels or autographs for generally a more affordable price than buying singles.
Sport Card Conventions: The largest and most prominent sports card conventions in the US for networking and big buying/selling are the National Sports Collectors Convention (NSCC) held annually in different cities each summer and the Winter Sports Card Show held each January in Cleveland, Ohio. Top vendors from across the nation attend with entire rooms of inventory spanning the entire history of Topps sets available for digging. Prices are higher than local shows but selection is unparalleled. These should absolutely be on any serious collector’s calendar each year.
Hopefully this overview of the various in-person and online venues provides a helpful guide for tracking down Topps baseball cards new and old. With diligent searching across these channels, any holes in collections or want lists can be filled over time. Happy hunting in the never-ending hobby of completing Topps sets! Let me know if any part of the answer needs more details or clarification.
