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TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS EXPLAINED

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Introduction to Topps Baseball Cards

Topps has been a leader in the baseball card industry since the 1950s. They dominate the market for MLB licensed baseball cards and are known worldwide for their iconic designs and ability to capture the spirit of each new season. In this in-depth guide, we’ll explain the history and key aspects of Topps baseball cards to help fans new and old better understand these treasured collectibles.

A Brief History of Topps Baseball Cards

Topps first entered the baseball card market in 1951 by securing the license to produce cards featuring current MLB players and teams. Prior to this, baseball cards were typically included as promotional inserts in products like tobacco. Topps struck a deal with Bowman Gum to include a pack of 5 cards in each stick of gum. This established the “wax pack” model that is still used today.

In the early 1950s, Topps issued sets featuring 336 cards each year. As interest grew, sets expanded to include over 600 cards by the late 1950s. Color photography was slowly introduced starting in the 1960s. Major design shifts occurred in 1969 with the introduction of action posed photos and a popular set featuring the current season’s statistics on the back of each card.

From the 1970s onward, Topps released larger annual sets of around 700 cards or more. Special subsets and rookie cards became key attractions. In later decades, inserts, parallels, autographs and memorabilia cards were added to expand the hobby. Today, modern Topps sets feature a wide range of products and inserts to appeal to collectors of all levels.

Understanding the Annual Baseball Card Release Schedule

Each year, Topps rolls out new MLB licensed card products on a reliable schedule:

Series 1 is usually the first release in late February/early March before the season begins. It features the biggest stars and top rookies.

Series 2 arrives in May/June. More players are included from the new season.

Update Series hits stores in August/September. It adds players who debuted after Series 2 was finalized.

Highlights include Heritage, Draft Picks, Stadium Club and Allen & Ginter around the midyear mark. Each has its own retro or unique designs.

Special playoff/World Series sets are also issued after the postseason concludes.

This steady cadence of new releases keeps the hobby fresh all year. Knowing when to expect each new product helps collectors keep an eye out at local shops, drugstores, big box retailers and online marketplaces.

Understanding Base Cards, Parallels and Inserts

Within each annual Topps set, there are different types of cards collectors seek:

Base cards make up the bulk of each release, featuring all MLB players in uniform photos or action shots.

Parallels replicate certain base cards but with alternate color designs, textures or numbering. Examples include Gold, Silver, Refractor, Short Prints and more.

Insert cards cover special themes outside the standard issue. Examples include Franchise Futures (top prospects), Mother’s Day cards, record breakers and more. Popular modern inserts include Autographs and Memorabilia cards.

Short Prints are select base cards printed in lower quantities to add scarcity. Rainbow foil or paper variations of base cards also fit in this category.

Understanding the variations within each release helps collectors seek out and trade for their favorite parallels, inserts and short prints to complete sets.

Grading and Protecting Valuable Cards

Simply opening a wax pack does not guarantee a collector will find a valuable card worthy of protecting long-term. Condition is critical to a card’s value over time. Professional grading via PSA or BGS uses a 1-10 point scale to objectively assign a grade factoring in centering, corners, edges and surface qualities like scratches.

Higher grades correlate to preserved visual appeal and demand from serious collectors. Most common Topps cards in gem mint (9-10 grade) can increase many times over in value versus a worn lower grade copy. Protecting valuable cards long-term involves sturdy holders like magnetic or plastic cases to prevent further wear from fingertips. Proper storage away from light, heat or moisture also helps preserve condition for future generations to appreciate.

The Vintage Card Market

While following the latest releases each season is exciting for new collectors, the vintage Topps card market holds immense potential as well. Iconic rookie cards from the 50s, 60s and 70s featuring legends like Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and more can sell for five or even six figures when graded gem mint.

Even common vintage issues can increase steadily in value when higher grades are earned over decades of careful collection. Pursuing vintage Topps fills niches beyond the present-day game and connects fans to baseball’s storied past. With care, a collection established today could become a family heirloom or source of heritage appreciation for future fans.

In Summary

Whether pursuing the latest rookie finds, hunting parallel color variations, completing vintage sets or simply enjoying the fun of opening packs, Topps baseball cards remain a gateway to connect with America’s pastime. Their iconic designs, steady release schedule and ability to chronicle each new season cement Topps’ important role within the larger baseball card industry and hobby. With this primer, collectors both new and old now have a foundation to better understand and appreciate the history behind these beloved collectibles.

BASEBALL CARDS EXPLAINED

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Baseball cards are a collectible memorabilia item that depict professional baseball players. They are printed on thick stock or card stock and typically feature an image of a baseball player on the front along with their name, team, and other career statistics. On the back, more details about the player’s career and accomplishments are often listed. Baseball cards first started being produced in the late 19th century as a promotional item by tobacco companies to help sell their products. Over time, they evolved into a popular collectible item cherished by fans of the sport.

Some of the earliest baseball cards date back to the late 1880s when tobacco companies like Goodwin & Company and American Tobacco Company began including them in cigarette and tobacco packs. These early cards did not feature images of players but instead listed statistics and facts about teams and leagues. The cards helped promote the companies’ brands while also generating interest in baseball. In 1887, Allen & Ginter was the first tobacco company to release cards with individual player portraits. This helped make collecting and trading baseball cards a popular hobby among both children and adults.

During the early 20th century, tobacco cards continued to grow in popularity as more companies entered the market. Brands like Sweet Caporal, Yale, and Lime Fruit Gum issued sets featuring multiple teams and players. The cards became highly coveted by collectors seeking to assemble complete sets showing the biggest stars and best players of the era. In 1909, the American Tobacco Company’s T206 series is considered one of the most iconic issues of the tobacco era. Featuring over 500 different cards, it highlighted legends like Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, and Honus Wagner. The rarity of some of these early 20th century tobacco cards makes high-grade specimens extremely valuable to collectors today.

As concerns about the marketing of tobacco to children increased in the 1950s, the connection between baseball cards and cigarettes began to diminish. Bowman Gum and Topps Chewing Gum emerged as the dominant issuers of modern cardboard. They released annual or biannual sets featuring the latest rosters and stats from both major leagues. Color photography was introduced on the fronts of cards starting in the 1960s, making the images of players even more vivid and collectible. Topps held the exclusive license to produce MLB cards from 1954 all the way until 1981. This monopoly allowed them to capture the entire baseball community in each new set.

The 1970s saw an explosion in the popularity of collecting baseball cards as both a hobby and potential investment. The rise of powerful player’s unions and lucrative new contracts also translated to increased interest among fans who sought autographs or rookie cards of emerging superstars like Reggie Jackson, Nolan Ryan, and George Brett. In 1976, the SSPC (Standard Sport Card Company) became the first to issue cards made of plastic instead of paper. This helped protect the surfaces and made high-grade specimens more attainable. Upper Deck also revolutionized the industry when it was launched in 1988 as the first major competitor to break Topps’ stronghold. Featuring state-of-the-art photography and designs, Upper Deck set the standard for modern card quality.

Through the 1990s and 2000s, collecting baseball cards remained a lucrative business for companies as interest from both casual and serious collectors remained strong. Innovations like autograph and memorabilia cards inserted randomly in packs helped drive excitement. The arrival of the internet also made assembling complete sets and trading online a much more efficient process. The overproduction of cards during the late 1980s and 1990s bubble led to a crash. Many perceive this as having damaged the long-term value of common cards from that era. Still, high-grade vintage cards and rookies of all-time greats continue to rise in value as desirable investments for collectors.

Baseball cards have evolved from a simple tobacco promotion into a beloved piece of collectible Americana. They preserve the history of the game and players for generations of fans to enjoy. While the market has experienced ups and downs, the cultural and nostalgic significance of baseball cards ensures they will remain a treasured hobby. As long as MLB and its players continue producing new stars and memorable moments, collectors will desire the cardboard keepsakes that capture it all. Whether completing a vintage set or seeking a rookie card of today’s greats, baseball cards provide an affordable connection to the national pastime.

BOWMAN BASEBALL CARDS EXPLAINED

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Bowman baseball cards have been a staple in the hobby of baseball card collecting since the brand was founded in 1949. Over the past 70+ years, Bowman has established itself as one of the premier brands for rookie cards, prospects, and young players just starting their MLB careers. In this in-depth guide, we will explore the history of Bowman cards, the different series they produce each year, key cards to look out for, and more.

Bowman got its start in 1949 when the Gum, Inc. company acquired the rights to produce baseball cards from the Bowman Gum company. Their first series that year featured players from the 1948 season on the front of gray cardboard wrappers for sticks of gum. Some notable HOFers from that inaugural set include Stan Musial, Ted Williams, and Enos Slaughter. In the early 1950s, Bowman released annual sets featuring players in action photos on the fronts of the cards rather than team logos. These sets helped grow the popularity of the brand.

In 1956, Topps gained the exclusive rights to produce major league baseball cards, ending Bowman’s run of annual MLB sets. However, Bowman found a new niche producing high-quality prospect cards of minor leaguers and non-MLB affiliated players. Their 1956, 1957, and 1958 sets featured future stars like Hank Aaron and Willie Mays as rookies. These early Bowman prospect issues became highly coveted in the hobby. Bowman continued releasing annual minor league/independent sets through 1962 before suspending production for several decades.

Bowman made their return to the baseball card scene in 1989. Their modern era has seen the brand focus primarily on top prospects, international players, and rookies. Each year they release highly anticipated sets like Bowman Draft, Bowman Chrome, Bowman Platinum, and Bowman’s Best among others. Let’s take a closer look at some of their flagship annual releases:

Bowman (Flagship): Released in the early spring, this is Bowman’s largest mainstream set featuring prospects, veterans, and stars. Parallels and autograph/relic cards are included.

Bowman Draft: Arguably their most exciting set, it features the freshly drafted eligible players holding cards of their MLB team. Big rookie cards are found here.

Bowman Chrome: Considered the pinnacle release, it presents prospects in shiny Chrome refractors, parallels, and autographs. High-end product.

Bowman Sterling: An ultra-high-end offering that takes the prospect Chrome concept further with rarer parallels and serial-numbered hits.

Bowman International: Focuses on top international amateur players from places like Japan, Korea, Cuba and more.

Bowman Platinum: An autumn release highlighting that year’s best prospects in high-gloss Platinum parallels and autographs.

Over the decades, Bowman has produced many legendary rookie cards that have stood the test of time. Some of the most valuable from the modern era include Ken Griffey Jr. (1989), Chipper Jones (1991), Manny Ramirez (1991), Derek Jeter (1992), and Mariano Rivera (1990). International stars like Shohei Ohtani, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Wander Franco also had hugely popular Bowman rookies in recent years.

Bowman has also been on the cutting edge of new card technologies and designs. They were one of the earliest adopters of foil cards with Bowman Sterling and Chrome. More recently, they’ve incorporated new techniques like Prism parallels, Refractors, Rainbow Foil, and Auto Focus autographs. Top Bowman prospects routinely receive extra attention with special parallels, autograph/relic cards, and 1/1 rarities inserted throughout their sets.

For collectors, Bowman cards hold a special appeal because they represent the first major brand to spotlight a player as they embark on their pro baseball journey. Finding that rookie card years before they become a star carries extra nostalgia. The hunt for the next big name to emerge from Bowman’s annual prospect bounty also makes their releases highly anticipated events on the hobby calendar. After over 70 years in the business, Bowman remains the gold standard for rookie cards and a vital part of the rich history of baseball card collecting. Their focus on minor leaguers and the stars of tomorrow has never wavered – ensuring another generation of fans can experience the thrill of discovering their next favorite player’s rookie card years before they make it big.