The 1968 Topps baseball card set was released during one of the most tumultuous years in modern American history. With civil unrest, anti-war protests, and racial tensions reaching a boiling point across the country, Topps approached designing the 1968 set with an eye towards simpler, brighter designs compared to previous years. There were still many notable players and moments captured in the 660-card series.

The 1968 Topps checklist featured future Hall of Famers Roberto Clemente, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Mickey Mantle on the front. This would be the last card produced for Clemente, who tragically passed away in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve 1972 while attempting to deliver aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. Clemente was only 38 years old at the time of his death but had already built a superb career including 4 batting titles and 12 Gold Glove Awards in his 18 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Other notable future Hall of Famers included in the 1968 Topps set were Willie McCovey, Juan Marichal, Brooks Robinson, Tom Seaver, Al Kaline, Reggie Jackson, Gaylord Perry, and Bob Gibson. Gibson would have one of the most dominant pitching seasons ever in 1968, winning the National League MVP and posting a modern-era record 1.12 ERA. Gibson’s fearsome competitive fire and dominance on the mound made him one of the sport’s early superstars.

Topps also found ways within the seemingly simplified 1968 design to still spotlight major storylines and breakout stars from the ’67 season. Third-year Cardinals pitcher Bob Gibson’s card boasted “23-7 World Series Record” to highlight his dominant postseason performance in 1967 that helped lead St. Louis to a World Series victory. Rookie sensations Reggie Jackson and Tom Seaver both received attractive ‘Rookie Star’ decorated cards as well to draw attention to their high-caliber debut campaigns.

The 1968 checklist also memorialized several all-time great players who were in the twilight of their careers or had recently retired. Yankees legend Mickey Mantle received what would be his final Topps card at age 36 after battling numerous injuries. Chicago White Sox first baseman Dick Allen made the checklist in his breakout ’67 season where he led the league in home runs and won the AL Rookie of the Year award. However, Allen’s tumultuous relationship with Phillies management and fans led to his trade to St. Louis after only one season in Chicago.

The 1968 design used a mostly white border around each player photo with their team logo prominently displayed on the upper left. Each player’s batting and pitching stats from 1967 were neatly lined up on the bottom third of the card alongside their uniform number. Topps continued with functional black and white photos of the players in action shots or team posed portraits. While lacking some of the artistic flair of prior years, the simpler design allowed the talent and personalities of the players to shine through.

Some other notable cards and milestones highlighted in the 1968 Topps checklist included Nolan Ryan’s rookie card appearing late in the set around card #600 as he broke in with the New York Mets. A freshly minted 20-year old Ryan had shown dominant raw stuff in his brief MLB debut in 1967 with a 100 mph fastball. Atlanta Braves first baseman Orlando Cepeda also received an attractive ‘Diamond Kings’ designation card for his outstanding play and reign as the 1967 NL MVP.

With a massive 660 total cards, Topps’ 1968 baseball set remains one of the largest checklists in the classic pre-1970 era. It provided a glimpse at the state of the game during one of America’s most turbulent years while memorializing the accomplishments of baseball’s greatest stars, both established legends and rising talents. Even with simpler aesthetics than prior years, the ’68 Topps checklist shined a light on the raw ability and charisma of players that brought joy and national unity to fans during difficult times.

The 1983 Topps baseball card set is one of the most iconic issues in the hobby’s history. It marked the 25th anniversary of Topps’ legendary baseball card production and contained special retro designs to commemorate the occasion. The base set included 792 total cards and featured every Major League player as well as managers and coaches. Some of the key details about the 1983 Topps checklist include:

The design was inspired by the look of cards from the late 1950s/early 1960s era. The black and white photo borders with team logo headers paid homage to this nostalgic aesthetic. At the lower left of each card was the “25th Anniversary” logo along with “1958-1983” to salute Topps’ silver jubilee distributing baseball collectibles. The back of the cards retained the classic horizontal layout with stats and biography but were completely reformatted with new fonts, colors and graphics for the anniversary theme.

Rookies featured in the set included Hall of Famers Ryne Sandberg, Wade Boggs, and Tony Gwynn. Other notable first year players showcased were Darryl Strawberry, Don Mattingly, Keith Hernandez, and Dwight Gooden. Mattingly’s card in particular skyrocketed in value as “Donnie Baseball” emerged as a fan favorite and force at the plate for the Yankees. Gooden’s had strong appeal too due to his impressive rookie campaign capped by winning National League Rookie of the Year honors.

The manager/coach cards debuted 4 additional subsets compared to previous Topps issues. One focused specifically on managers alone, while separate subsets spotlighted American League coaches, National League coaches, and those who served in a joint AL/NL capacity. This allowed the brand to creatively expand roster inclusions within the constraints of the set’s overall card count.

Some of the biggest star athlete cards included Mike Schmidt, Robin Yount, Eddie Murray, and Ryne Sandberg. Schmidt, the reigning National League MVP, was featured prominently on the very first card in the set as the league’s top player at that time. Yount and Murray were strong American League position player options as two of the circuit’s top hitters entering 1983 as well.

The back of the cards maintained stat categories comparable to previous Topps releases such as batting, home runs, runs batted in and stolen bases. Pitching stats for the reverse side were revamped significantly. New columns detailed earned run average, wins, losses, saves, games pitched and innings thrown. This provided collectors with more in-depth year-to-year statistical comparisons for hurlers than prior issues.

Among the most valuable and desired cards in the set are the limited edition special photo variations. These featured pictorial compositions or croppings substantially differing from the base issue parallel. Examples include a short printed Darryl Strawberry where he is shown batting left-handed and a scarce Nolan Ryan portrait with an alternate head position versus the standard issue. Other highly coveted short prints showcased Fernando Valenzuela and Cal Ripken Jr.

One innovative aspect of the 1983 Topps checklist was the inclusion of “Topps All-Star Rookies” subset. Featuring 15 rookie standouts poised to make an early mark in the big leagues, these had retro-styled designs evoking the look of the original 1957 Topps Rookie Cup subset. Names in the inaugural Topps All-Star Rookies collection included Dwight Gooden, Darryl Strawberry, Tony Gwynn, and Don Mattingly among others, establishing this as an exciting predictor of future MLB greatness.

The 1983 Topps set sold tremendously well upon release and remains one of the most popular vintage issues collected today. Its vintage aesthetic combined with stars of the era like Schmidt, Gooden, and Mattingly ensure this 25th anniversary checklist endures as a benchmark Topps baseball card set revered by hobbyists. Key rookie cards, action shots, and elusive short prints continue to entice collectors and drive interest/prices for this memorable baseball memorabilia release over 35 years later.

The 1994 Topps baseball card checklist featured 660 total cards issued in sets ranging from the base issue to special team and league subsets. It was the 73rd year of production for the iconic Topps brand and included many rookie and star player cards that remain highly popular with collectors today.

The base set included 330 cards that featured major and minor leaguers from the 1993 season. Notable rookies included Derek Jeter, Jason Giambi, and Paul Molitor in his final season before retirement. Molitor would go on to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009. Star players featured in the base set included Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr., Cal Ripken Jr., and Frank Thomas.

Additional inserts in 1994 Topps included Gold parallels of select cards, pictured with gold borders instead of the traditional white. Other inserts included Manager cards for all 26 big league skippers, Topps All-Time Fan Favorites cards featuring legendary players, Stadium cards highlighting ballpark history and facts, and Team Leaders cards recognizing statistical categories for each club.

Deeper subset insert sets included Turn Back The Clock, saluting past players and seasons long ago. The popular Traded set tracked 39 deals made during the 1993 season. Special All-Star cards honored both leagues’ mid-summer classics from 1993 as well. Additional inserts included Team Checklists recapping rosters by franchise.

Some retailers offered exclusive team or league subsets. The Tiffany franchise featured 52 glossy cards highlighting National League players and teams. Other retailer exclusives came wrapped in foil packs and plastic capsules instead of traditional wax wrappers. These included the Pacific Bell Series 1 featuring American League stars.

In terms of overall design, the 1994 Topps cards featured player headshots on a colorful yet simple team logo background. Fun facts, stats and career highlights were printed on the back. Uniform designs, especially the logo uniforms trend of the early 90s, were showcased prominently in photos. The clean and classy classic Topps design made the cards timeless additions to any collection.

Two special subsets featured large format cards beyond the traditional baseball card size. The Turn Back The Clock Flashback format cards highlighted 10 season legends and stats from their prime years. Meanwhile, the Dynamic Duos subset paired two players who achieved notable success together, such as Nolan Ryan and Jeff Bagwell or Cal Ripken Jr. and Eddie Murray. These larger cards stood out attractively in collections.

The six-card World Series Greats and League Championship Series Heroes inserts highlighted heroes from the 1993 postseason. Topps also produced special 459-card extended sets focusing solely on playoff and World Series stats, photos and highlights from that year. Collectively, these captured the full excitement of October baseball on cardboard.

Among the most iconic rookie cards from 1994 Topps was Derek Jeter’s, which featured a close-up shot of the young Yankee in the batting cage ready to embark on a surefire Hall of Fame career. With its classic design and capturing Jeter on the verge of stardom, it is one of the most iconic and desirable baseball cards ever made. Jason Giambi also came out strong with his 1994 rookie card showing promise of thunderous power.

In the years since, the 1994 Topps set has stood the test of time as one of the greatest and most collectible issues ever produced. It captured the stars and stories from a pivotal year in baseball history while also introducing collectors to future legends like Jeter just before they took the sports world by storm. Today, complete sets, particular stars and inserts remain highly prized and valuable among traders, investors and fans. The key rookie cards especially command top dollar and define an amazing year for Topps baseball collectibles.

The 1994 Topps baseball card checklist highlighted the stories, players and team from the 1993 season through a classic set design and compelling inserts spotlighting special categories, players and performances that year. Iconic rookie cards launched collector interest that continues today, cemented by amazing photography capturing peak talent from the era. The balanced checklist, great presentation and perfect timing telling the sport’s history make it a beloved issue amongst traders and enthusiasts alike.

The 1987 Topps baseball card set is one of the most iconic and valuable releases from the late 1980s. It was the 66th series issued by Topps and featured 660 total cards including base cards, manager/coach cards, and rookie/star cards. Some of the biggest names in baseball at the time like Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens, Ozzie Smith, and Rickey Henderson graced the fronts of packs. While it may not be the flashiest or most sought after vintage set, 1987 Topps holds a special place in the hearts of many collectors for capturing a unique moment in the game.

The design of the 1987 Topps cards had a classic yet understated look featuring a solid color background with white borders on the front. Player names and positions were printed in all capital letters above their photo. Team logos appeared on the upper left while the card number was found on the lower right. On the back, stats from the previous season were provided along with a short career recap. One of the standout aspects was the inclusion of team colors as accent shades around the borders and text. It had a clean and straightforward aesthetic that allowed the photos to shine.

Some notable rookies found in the 1987 Topps set included Mark McGwire, Barry Larkin, Greg Maddux, and Tom Glavine. While they may not have been the biggest stars yet, collectors knew they had potential Hall of Famers on their hands. McGwire’s iconic home run prowess would later be on full display. Larkin brought smooth defense and timely hitting to Cincinnati for years. Maddux and Glavine anchored rotations that led the Braves dynasty of the 1990s. Even lesser known rookies like Lenny Dykstra and David Cone had value as they developed into quality major leaguers.

Managers, coaches, and executives were also featured for the first time in 1987 Topps. Icons in the dugout like Whitey Herzog, Tommy Lasorda, and Earl Weaver received their own cards. It was a nod to their important roles in the game and provided a fun retrospective for fans. Dick Williams, who led the A’s dynasty in the 1970s, was included despite not actively coaching in 1987. The manager/coach cards created an expanded checklist and sense of completeness for the set.

Some key high number and insert cards that add value and excitement for collectors include the #660 Ozzie Smith MVP Award winner card, #659 All-Star Game card featuring starters and reserves, #658 Rookie All-Stars card highlighting top first year players, and #657 League Leaders statistical achievement cards. There were also special photo variation cards of stars like Wade Boggs, Rickey Henderson, and Roger Clemens. The inserts provided highlights and honored top individual accomplishments from the previous season.

In terms of player distribution across the teams, the Cardinals, Mets, and Dodgers led the way with over 50 cards each devoted to their rosters and minor leaguers. The Expos, Mariners, and Rangers had among the fewest representations with under 30 cards per club. It reflected the competitive balance and market sizes of each franchise at that time. Regional favorites also received hometown boosts with cards like the #1 Tim Raines for the Montreal Expos and #10 Kirby Puckett for the Minnesota Twins.

In the three decades since its release, the 1987 Topps set has grown in esteem and monetary worth. Rookies of future Hall of Famers like McGwire, Larkin, Maddux, and Glavine are highly coveted. Star cards for sluggers like Boggs, Henderson, and Clemens command top dollar. Even commons of workhorse players from the era can sell for $10-20 in graded gem mint condition. The affordable prices and availability of the base cards make it an accessible vintage set for collectors just starting out. Meanwhile, its historical significance as a snapshot of 1980s baseball ensures the 1987 Topps checklist will remain a foundational part of the hobby for years to come.

While not as flashy as some of the sets before or after, 1987 Topps captured a special moment between the eras of stars from the 1970s and 1990s. Rookies that would shape the next decade of the game received their proper introductions. Meanwhile, veterans still in their primes like Boggs, Smith, and Dwight Gooden graced the cardboard. The clean, understated design let the photos and players shine. Between the stars, prospects, and contextual details, it provided an entertaining and informative journey for fans through that season. The 1987 Topps baseball card set deserves its place among the most revered vintage releases for collectors even decades later.

The 2017 Topps Baseball card set is the 56th annual release from the flagship baseball card company Topps. As with each year, Topps released a variety of products in 2017 including Series 1, Series 2, Chrome, Allen & Ginter, Heritage, Stadium Club and Update Series among others. This article provides an in-depth look at the primary checklist of cards from the 2017 Topps Baseball base set and some of the special parallel and insert cards collectors can find.

The 2017 Topps Series 1 cards were released in late February/early March with a checklist of 332 total cards. This included base cards numbered 1-332 for all 30 MLB teams. Some of the notable rookies included in Series 1 were Corey Seager, Trevor Story, Andrew Benintendi, Tyler Glasnow, Michael Fulmer and A.J. Reed. Veteran stars featured prominently as well with cards of Mike Trout, Clayton Kershaw, Buster Posey and others.

The design of the 2017 Topps base cards took on a classic look with a solid color frame surrounding each player photo. Statistics, team logos and borders were featured in a simple style. The most obvious change from recent years was the placement of the foil sticker autograph on the lower right side of the card rather than centered below the photo. Parallel versions of the base cards included the traditional ‘Gold Label’ parallels numbered to 50 or less as well as Orange and Blue Refractors that added bursts of color among the checklist.

Topps Series 2 was released in late May/early June with a checklist of 204 cards continuing the rookies and stars from Series 1. New rookie additions included Cody Bellinger, Dansby Swanson, Austin Meadows and Chad Kuhl among others. The Series 2 base design largely repeated the classic look from Series 1 but added extras like team banners above the name plates. Parallels in Series 2 included the Traditions photo variations, Platimum parallels and Green /Orange Refractors at reduced print runs.

A key insert set spanning both Series 1 and 2 was the ‘Topps Now’ real-time moments cards. These captured exciting and historical single-game performances immediately after they occurred. Players featured included Aaron Judge’s MLB debut home run and Tommy Pham’s cycle among many others. The Topps Now cards helped chronicle a memorable 2017 regular season in near real-time.

Topps Chrome was released in late August continuing the popular refractors theme. The base design adopted a cleaner look compared to the heritage feel of the base series. Stars on the checklist included rookie standouts Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger plus veterans Mike Trout, Kris Bryant etc. The crown jewel parallels in Chrome were the prizm parallels available in purple, orange, green and red color variations at extremely low print runs.

Allen & Ginter made its return as Topps annual high-end release in July. The checklist combined current MLB players with other subjects including actresses, authors and historic figures. Rookie phenoms like Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger still received base cards but the true chasing cards were the mini autographs and memorabilia cards serially numbered to899 copies or less. The retro design sense and allure of hit cards made Allen & Ginter one of the most coveted sets again in 2017.

Topps Heritage was released in two series spanning March to June capturing the retro design styles of the 1960’s-1970’s era. The checklist combined both active players and team designs from that time period. Rookies accompanied star veterans under the vintage logos and colors in designs paying homage to the 1967, 1969 and 1972 designs among others. Parallel versions included gilded foil, sepia and green parallel subsets in the tradition of the original designs. Heritage became a fan favorite way to mix both the old and new in 2017.

Topps Stadium Club debuted in late September with its high-end photography approach to cards. The design stripped away all unnecessary clutter to let the large crisp player photos take center stage. Members of the 2017 rookie class such as Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger looked impressive alongside veterans like Mike Trout and Clayton Kershaw. The premiere hit cards involved dual and triple memorabilia and autograph combinations serially numbered to 10 copies or less. Stadium Club delivered the best photo quality cards of the year capped off by 1/1 Platimum parallel relic autos.

One of the final mainstream releases of 2017 came in November with Topps Update Series. It featured rookie debuted from the second half of the season such as Shohei Ohtani plus update cards for players who switched teams or roles. Parallels incorporated various color variations and printing plate autos. Despite coming late, Update delivered one of the most anticipated rookies while wrapping up team checklists for the season.

Throughout the year Topps also released mini-collections tied to specific themes or events including Stadium Club’s Record Breakers highlighting Aaron Judge’s home run chase. Final flagship products arrived in December with both the high number Series 2 cards and ending the year with Topps Transcendent recognizing Mike Trout’s greatness.

In total, Topps released over a dozen baseball card products in 2017 touching on nearly every possible collector niche or interest. Between the flagship releases, parallels, inserts, hit cards and more there was no shortage opportunity to build sets or find collecting thrills along the way. The rookie class was one of the strongest in years headlined by Aaron Judge while stars like Trout and Kershaw continued leading the way. For both new and seasoned collectors, 2017 offered a memorable year for Topps baseball cards.