The Topps Company, Inc. is an American sports and entertainment trading card and confectionery company. While they are known for producing various types of collectibles, their flagship product has always been baseball cards. Topps baseball cards have become deeply ingrained in American pop culture and remain a beloved hobby for collectors worldwide to this day.
Topps was founded in 1938 by brothers Ira and Joseph Shorin as a chewing gum company called the Topps Chewing Gum Inc. Their focus would shift to trading cards in the 1950s. In 1952, Topps was granted the exclusive license by the baseball players’ union to produce collector cards with images of current MLB players and statistics on the back. This ended Bowman Gum’s multi-year run as the sole maker of these cards.
Topps’ first baseball card series was issued in 1952 and featured designs very similar to what Bowman had done previously. The cards immediately became popular with collectors. Perhaps the most notable card from that debut set was the Mickey Mantle rookie card, one of the most valuable baseball cards ever printed. Over the next decade, Topps gained a monopoly over the baseball card market and created innovative new ideas to keep collectors interested yearly.
By the mid-1950s, Topps had moved from dedicated gum to wax packaging to protect the cards inside. The 1956 Topps set marked the first time a player’s career statistics appeared on the back of the card. In 1957, Topps gained the exclusive rights to use team logos and uniforms on their cards. Sets from this era also began featuring players autographs and short biographies on the back of select cards. The late 50s also saw the rise of pocket-sized cards due to changes in printing and packaging technology.
In the 1960s, Topps continued their streak of annual innovation. Color photography was introduced to cards in 1961. Traded and team issue sets began in 1964. 1965 saw the first mini cards and 1966 had the first bubble gum cards. 1967 stands out as one of the most iconic sets ever produced by Topps, featuring vivid colored borders and all-new player poses and photographs. The late 1960s also brought the addition of minor league and Negro league players to sets for the first time.
The 1970s were a golden age for baseball cards, due in large part to Topps. New subsets like action cards and record breaker cards kept the excitement alive. Popular sets like 1971, 1972, and 1975 are considered some of the finest ever produced. The airbrushed painted borders and team logo designs of the mid-70s are still fan favorites today. Towards the late 1970s, Topps began introducing oddball promotions like 3-D cards or cards with puzzles on the back. The rise of high-priced boxes and wax packs hurt availability.
Despite remaining baseball’s sole card manufacturer into the 1980s, Topps faced new challenges ahead. The 1981 player strike led to them using non-unionized minor leaguers that year. Fleer and Donruss also received licenses to produce competing sets in 1981, ending Topps’ multi-decade monopoly. The early 80s saw the rise of style over substance as garish designs diminished the photography. The 1986 Topps set however is considered one of the greatest of all time and was the last to feature any player wearing an Expos uniform.
In the 1990s, factory sets declined while inserts and parallels rose in popularity. Licensing agreements also allowed sets featuring retired players for the first time. Sets like 1991 Stadium Club Premium and 1992 Ultra brought back the photography-focused style of older issues. Dwindling availability and quality control issues became concerns. In the late 90s, companies like Upper Deck, Leaf, and Pinnacle released high-end niche sets that increased competition further.
The 2000s saw Topps remain the largest card company despite more competition. New initiatives included Archives retro reprints, limited HOF autograph sets, and licensed non-sports issues covering movies, TV, and pop culture. Insert sets like autographed jersey cards and prime patches drew in investors. Declining player signing bonuses led to less signed memorabilia cards later in the decade. The Great Recession forced Topps to restructure debt and streamline their business for survival.
Despite facing tough challenges in their industry over recent decades, Topps has worked hard to stay relevant among collectors old and new. Digital initiatives in the 2010s like online redemption tracking and virtual trading apps expanded their fanbase. Classic set reprints from the 1980s and earlier in the Heritage brand have sold extremely well. New concepts like The National sports card blend a documentary style with collectibles. Topps also ventured into new non-sports licenses like NHL and NFL trading cards.
No other company can match Topps’ illustrious legacy in the baseball card industry. Decades of milestones, innovations and iconic sets have made them synonymous with America’s pastime. Even as the collectibles space changes, Topps baseball cards remain central to the rich tradition and history of the hobby. With perseverance and creativity, Topps continues to connect new generations with players both past and present. Their cards showcase moments from baseball’s greatest eras, serving as miniature time capsules of the game itself.
