Topps is arguably the most well-known and storied brand when it comes to baseball cards. Since the early 1950s, Topps has dominated the baseball card market and helped popularize the collector culture around baseball memorabilia that exists today. While many other companies have attempted to enter the baseball card space over the decades, Topps has truly stood the test of time as the premiere brand for MLB trading cards.
Topps began producing baseball cards in 1951 after losing the monopoly held by Bowman Gum over the previous decades. That first Topps set included all 16 teams that were active in the American and National Leagues at the time. Some notable rookie cards from that inaugural 1951 Topps set include future Hall of Famers Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Roy Campanella. While the design of those early Topps baseball cards seems quite basic by today’s standards, they helped fuel the growing collector market and passion that baseball card enthusiasts still have to this day.
Throughout the 1950s, Topps continued to grow its baseball card business and sets became more extensive, including larger checklists of players and more visual designs on the cards. Rookie cards of Mickey Mantle in 1952 and Roberto Clemente in 1955 are extremely coveted by collectors today from these classic vintage Topps sets. By the late 1950s, Topps had completely taken over the baseball card market and established themselves as the dominant brand. They began experimenting with innovation like the famous “Record Holder” cards spotlighting statistical achievements in 1957.
The 1960s saw Topps baseball cards reach new heights in terms of design, stats and information included on the cards. Famously, the 1962 Topps set featured a serialized record-keeping element on the back of the cards that inspired similar innovations in future decades. Rookie cards of future Hall of Famers like Tom Seaver, Johnny Bench and Rod Carew debuted in iconic Topps designs during this era as well. Perhaps most notably, the 1968 Topps set featured the famous “Astrodomers” design promoting the brand new Houston Astrodome. This reflected Topps’ savvy at capitalizing on major news events in MLB through creative card designs.
During baseball’s popularity boom decades of the 1970s and 1980s, Topps released mammoth record-setting annual sets and truly capitalized on the collector frenzy around the hobby. Iconic rookie cards such as George Brett in 1973, Eddie Murray in 1977 and Dwight Gooden in 1984 were released in premium high-quality Topps cardboard. In 1980, Topps even broke tradition by including players’ eyebrow-raising statistics on salaries on the back of selected cards, reflecting baseball’s changing financial landscape at the time. The success of Topps led other companies like Donruss to attempt to compete, but none matched Topps’ dominance during this “Golden Era.”
In the 1990s, increased competition arrived from companies like Upper Deck and Score which utilized cutting-edge printing techniques. But Topps maintained its market leadership through innovative insert sets, parallel parallel variations and partnerships that enhanced set checklists. The iconic chipmunk logo also debuted on Topps cards at this time. Historic rookie cards of Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Chipper Jones came in Topps packs during this decade as well. The Ken Griffey Jr. Upper Deck rookie card may be the most famous single card, but Topps remained king.
As the 21st century dawned, Topps produced the mammoth 700+ card release in 2000 that included the likes of Andruw Jones, Billy Wagner and Bobby Abreu. While Upper Deck, Playoff and others continued to challenge Topps, no other set surpassed the prestige, nostalgia and size that Topps 2000 represented. Since then, Topps has pioneered new variations like Refractors, Parallels and 1/1 serial numbering. Landmark anniversary logos have celebrated huge milestones in 2012 and 2022. Along with licensing MLB, Topps also licenses other sports but baseball cards remain their true crown jewel.
Though Topps has endured ups and downs like the financial troubles that led toUpper Deck purchasing them in 2007, they were acquired by fan investment company Fanatics in 2022. This deal ensures Topps’ commitment to baseball cards will continue into the future. Vintage rookie stars and current day phenoms will keep finding new fans through the timeless medium of Topps cards. Whether in the form of coveted vintage designs or innovative modern parallels, Topps has stood as the king of capturing MLB history and talent like no other brand in the collecting world. Their legacy spans over 70 years and established baseball cards as a beloved memorabilia tradition.
