Introduction
Topps baseball cards are the most popular and recognizable brand of baseball trading cards in the world. Based in New York City, The Topps Company, Inc. has held the exclusive license to produce popular trading cards featuring Major League Baseball players, teams and logos since 1952. In that time they have released hundreds of different baseball card sets chronicling over 70 years of America’s pastime.

History
The Topps Company was founded in 1938 by brothers Ira and Joseph Shorin as a chewing gum manufacturer. In the early 1950s, entrepreneurs saw the potential of inserting trading cards into their gum and candy products to increase sales. In 1952, Topps signed the MLBPA (Major League Baseball Players Association) to an exclusive license, allowing them to use player names and images on their cards. Their first true baseball card set that year was a massive success. In subsequent decades they published some of the most iconic and valuable sets like 1953 Topps, 1957 Topps, 1974 Topps, and 1998 Topps Chrome Update Refractor.

Card Design and Innovation
Over the decades Topps employed many notable card designers like Woody Gelman, Joe Skousen and Dick Perez to come up with fresh concepts and layouts year after year. Iconic sets like 1966 Topps featured borderless cards and player pose photos. 1969 Topps introduced the horizontal “bar” design still used today on many standard card backs. Topps also pioneered innovations like the “extended” 1979 Topps Traded set, cardboard “Photo Pak” sets in the 1980s, and premier inserts like 1986 Topps Traded Fred McGriff. In 1991 Topps gained popularity with insert sets like Desert Shield Tribute and technology advances like 1998 Topps Chrome Refractors.

Trading Card Value
Certain vintage Topps cards from the 1950s and 1960s have reached record prices at auction today due to rarity, star players featured, and condition. A pristine 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie card recently sold for over $5 million. Other highly valuable cards include the 1963 Topps Pete Rose, 1952 Topps Billy Martin, and 1955 Topps Sandy Koufax rookie. Among modern cards, rare parallel refractor parallels and autograph/memorabilia rookie cards from sets like Bowman Chrome, Topps Prospects, and Topps 5 are highly sought after by collectors. The resale market for graded Topps cards at Professional Sports Authenticator and Beckett Grading Services has grown tremendously in the 21st century.

International Growth
Beginning in 1979, Topps produced branded baseball sets for distribution outside North America such as Topps International, Marukai Trading Card, and Fleer Panini brands. They expanded into European soccer/football cards through the 1990s. In 1998, Topps sold part of their company for $385 million to media mogul Michael Eisner to form The Topps Trading Card Company. This partnership led to more global releases of American and international sports sets under brands like Topps WWE, Match Attax, Topps NHL, and Topps MLS.

Competing Brands
Though few have been able to hold a candle to Topps in dominance of the MLB license, giants like Fleer and Donruss produced respected rival sets for many years. Other notable brands that have shared MLB rights at times include Pacific, Upper Deck, Bowman, Leaf, Playoff, Score and Panini America. Limited specialty sets have also come from companies like Rittenhouse Archives, Triple Crown, Leaf Metal Universe and Allen & Ginter. Upper Deck purchased Donruss/Fleer in 2000, but Topps has generally maintained at least 60-70% domestic MLB market share through innovative designs and marketing.

Collectors Resources
To connect with the vast baseball card collecting community, Topps operates Topps.com featuring news, checklists, vintage reprints and e-commerce. Notable card blogs, magazines and podcasts also help educate fans including Beckett Media, Sports Card Radio and Blowout Cards. Companies like PSA/DNA, SGC and BGS provide Third Party Grading services to authenticate, encapsulate and grade vintage Topps cards to maintain or increase value over time. Annually anticipated Topps releases include Series 1, 2, Update, Archives and high-end products which have fueled the market for 70+ years.

Conclusion
Over several generations, Topps baseball cards have chronicled baseball legends from Babe Ruth and Ted Williams to Ichiro Suzuki and Mike Trout. They remain an iconic part of baseball nostalgia and culture in America. Whether pursuing complete vintage sets or chasing the next big rookie card, Topps will likely hold its position as the preeminent name in MLB trading cards for the foreseeable future. Massive card shows, online communities and auction houses ensure that collecting Topps will remain a popular hobby for years to come. The archive of baseball history captured in their colorful cardboard continues to fascinate both casual and serious collectors worldwide.