The rise of online marketplaces in the 1990s opened up new frontiers for collectors of sports and non-sports memorabilia. No platform capitalized on this opportunity more so than eBay. Since its founding in 1995, eBay has become a mecca for collectors looking to buy, sell, and trade items like baseball cards. Of all the major baseball card manufacturers throughout the decades, perhaps no brand is more iconic on eBay than Topps.
Topps has been the dominant force in the baseball card industry since the 1950s. Some of the most coveted and valuable vintage cards were produced by Topps, like the iconic 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie card. As collectors from the baby boom generation aged and started selling off parts of their collections, eBay provided the perfect digital marketplace. Topps cards from the 1950s quickly became some of the hottest selling items on the site.
Vintage Topps cards from the 1950s that were in high demand included stars like Mantle, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and more. Complete sets from the 1950s regularly sold for thousands on eBay. High-grade vintage rookie cards could fetch five-figure prices or more depending on condition. The popularity of 1950s Topps cards helped drive interest in the brand and established it as a blue-chip holding for investors.
Through the 1960s and 1970s, Topps continued to dominate baseball cards and build its brand. Rookie cards of future Hall of Famers like Tom Seaver, Reggie Jackson, and Mike Schmidt became highly sought after on eBay. The 1970s are when the modern era of collecting began, spurred by the rise of superstar players after the expansion era. Complete sets and star rookie cards maintained strong values.
In the 1980s, the arrival of Fleer and Donruss as competitors challenged Topps’ long-held monopoly. However, Topps adapted and produced some of its most iconic designs during this decade. Sets like 1981 Topps, 1987 Topps, and the flagship Topps Traded set kept the brand strong. Rookies of Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, and others were hot eBay items. The 1980s also saw the rise of the modern memorabilia card with embedded swatches.
The 1990s is when the modern sports card boom took off, driven partly by the success of Upper Deck. Michael Jordan’s card popularity crossed into other sports. Topps responded with innovative sets like Finest, Stadium Club, and Topps Chrome. Rookie cards of stars like Ken Griffey Jr., Chipper Jones, and Derek Jeter set new record prices. Complete high-grade sets from the 1990s can sell for thousands on eBay.
In the 2000s and 2010s, eBay became ingrained in the sports card industry ecosystem. Blowout Cards, COMC, and other online card shops used eBay as an outlet. Modern parallels, autographs, and memorabilia cards found a large and active marketplace. Topps products remained strong with licenses for MLB, Star Wars, and WWE. Popular modern rookie cards include Bryce Harper, Mike Trout, and others.
As eBay celebrates over 25 years in business, it has had a profound impact on the collectibles marketplace. No brand has benefited more than Topps. From 1950s rookie cards to today’s latest parallels and relics, Topps products remain some of the most in-demand items on eBay. Whether buying or selling, eBay provides collectors worldwide with access to the Topps cards they seek to add to their collections or investment portfolios. As new generations discover the hobby, eBay ensures Topps cards remain a vital part of the sports collecting landscape.
