The 1981 Topps baseball card set was the 60th edition of Topps’ annual baseball card release. Some key things to know about the 1981 Topps set include:

Set Size and Production:
The 1981 Topps set includes 792 total trading cards. This includes photos of 752 major and minor league players, 32 manager/coach cards, and 8 league leader/record holder cards. The cards were produced at the Topps plant located in Duryea, Pennsylvania and had a standard size of 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches.

Design and Photography:
The design of the 1981 cards continued the basic layout that Topps had used throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s. Each card featured a vertical full body photo of the player in their uniform along with their name, team, and player stats below the photo. One difference from previous years was the reduction in border size around the photo, making the image slightly larger compared to the card overall. As was standard at the time, the photos were high quality black and white images capturing the players’ action poses.

Rookies and Notable Players:
Some of the top rookies and players featured in the 1981 set include Fernando Valenzuela, Willie Wilson, Joe Charboneau, Rickey Henderson, Keith Hernandez, Kent Hrbek, Carlton Fisk, and Steve Carlton among many others. Fernando Valenzuela quickly became one of the biggest stars from this rookie class, winning the NL Rookie of the Year and Cy Young awards while leading the Dodgers to the World Series.

Short Print Cards:
Topps included a limited number of “short print” cards in the 1981 set that were printed in lower quantities, making them harder to find and more desirable for collectors. Some of the key short prints from 1981 include the Roger Clemens rookie (#498), Dave Righetti rookie (#685), Bruce Sutter (#280), Eddie Murray (#425) and Ron Guidry (#594) cards. These short prints have increased significantly in value over the years.

Traded and Update Sets:
In addition to the base set, Topps also released smaller Traded and Update sets. The 40-card Traded set included players who switched teams via trades after the base cards were produced. Meanwhile, the 36-card Update set added any new players who made their debuts later in the season after the original issue.

Design Variations:
Topps produced the 1981 cards using a new printing process that led to minor design variations. Specifically, some Todd Worrell rookie cards mistakenly printed with his name spelled “Tood Worrell”. A small number of Dave Righetti rookie cards were mistakenly issued with a San Francisco Giants team logo instead of the proper Yankees logo. These variations are considered errors and have increased value to collectors.

Market and Prices:
In the early 1980s, the 1981 Topps set was very common and cards could be easily acquired through packs or at shops for just a few cents each. In the ensuing decades as the original collectors aged and the player pool retired, interest in vintage baseball cards sharply increased collectability and prices. Today, in top graded condition some of the key 1981 rookie cards can sell for thousands of dollars. Even common Hall of Fame player cards in good condition can sell for $10-20 each online. The 1981 set remains one of the most iconic and valuable releases from the early 1980s.

The 1981 Topps baseball card set commemorated another exciting year in Major League Baseball through its high quality player photography and inclusion of stars from a talented rookie class. Despite being very common issues at the time of its original release, increased collecting interest and rarity of top condition specimens has made the 1981 set a crucial part of sports card history appreciated by vintage enthusiasts.

The 1986 Topps baseball card set was the 65th year Topps had produced cards and featured 660 total cards in the base set. Some key things to know about the 1986 Topps set include:

Design – The design featured a player photo in color on the front and career stats and biographical information in multiple colors on the back. The team logo/name was in a colored banner at the top of the front of the card. The Topps logo was in the bottom left corner and the player’s name and position were typed in white lettering across the bottom. Topps used this basic design template for several years in the 1980s.

Rookies – Notable rookie cards included Roger Clemens (Red Sox), Barry Bonds (Pittsons), Greg Maddux (Chicago Cubs), and Tom Glavine (Atlanta Braves). All would go on to have Hall of Fame careers. Other rookie cards included Will Clark (Giants), Mark McGwire (Athletics), and John Smoltz (Braves).

Traded Players – For the first time, Topps included update cards showing players who had been traded to new teams after the initial cards were produced. For example, Rickey Henderson’s initial card showed him as an Athletic but he was later included with an Oakland A’s updated card after being dealt to the New York Mets. This set an important precedent for Topps to acknowledge trades throughout the season.

Short Prints – Topps featured several short printed cards that were rarer in packs than the standard base cards. Some of the most notable short prints included Ryne Sandberg, Wade Boggs, and Ozzie Smith. These scarcer cards are valued higher by collectors today.

Design Variations – A few cards had minor design differences compared to the standard issue cards. For example, Jesse Barfield’s photo is slightly wider than the typical size. A small number of cards are printed on a slightly thicker stock of cardboard as well. These variations add to the collecting challenge.

League Leaders – Topps included statistical leaders from 1985 at the end of the base set. Leaders were noted for Home Runs (Don Mattingly), Batting Average (Wade Boggs), Wins (Bert Blyleven and Dwight Gooden), and Strikeouts (Roger Clemens).

Stained Glass – For the 9th consecutive year, Topps included “Stained Glass” parallel insert cards showcasing a player photo within a stained glass design. These parallel cards are rarer than the standard base cards.

Mini Cards – Topps also included over 100 mini cards (roughly half the size of a standard card) featuring players and managers in the waxed paper packs. These unusual inserts add appeal to completing the full oddball and insert checklist.

High Numbers – The base set ran consecutively through card #660. However, Topps produced additional “high number” cards from #661 onwards to account for additional players and new call-ups throughout the season. These high number cards carry the same design but are considered less common than the standard base issues.

Checklist – The complete 1986 Topps checklist includes:

660-card base set (cards #1 – #660)
Traded/Update cards (un-numbered variations)
Stained Glass insert cards (un-numbered parallels)
Mini cards (un-numbered oddities)
High Number cards (#661 and above)
League leaders (un-numbered wrap-up cards)

Condition Issues – The 1986 Topps set had some issues with card quality control that cause condition problems today. Some cards are prone to staining, edge wear, and centering issues due to the thin cardboard stock used for production. Mint specimens can be challenging to obtain for popular stars.

Legacy – while not the flashiest design compared to some other Topps sets of the 1980s, 1986 Topps cards established some key concepts like traded updates that are still utilized today. The impressive rookie class and scarcer insert cards give collectors enduring reasons to seek out complete 1986 Topps sets decades later. With Hall of Famers on almost every team, the 1986 set showcases the depth of talent that drove Major League Baseball in the mid-1980s.

The 1986 Topps baseball card set is considered a classic among collectors for good reason. Its memorable rookie crop, parallel and oddball inserts, checklist variations, and pioneering approach to traded updates established key precedents that are still used by card makers today. While condition challenges exist, completing a 1986 Topps set remains appealing due to the historic talent featured from that era of MLB. The design is sturdy if simple, focusing collector attention rightly on enjoying the players, stats and stories preserved from a great baseball season of the past.

The 1987 Topps baseball card set was released during a historic season in Major League Baseball that saw many noteworthy events and milestones. This was the 75th anniversary set released by Topps and contained a total of 792 cards including solo portraits of all players along with team, league leaders, rookie, and manager cards.

The 1987 season saw Don Mattingly of the New York Yankees capture the American League batting title by hitting .327. In the National League, Tim Raines of the Montreal Expos led the league with a .334 batting average. Raines also stole a league-leading 90 bases that year. Another notable season was had by Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Roger Clemens who went 24-4 with a 2.48 ERA while leading the league in wins and strikeouts.

Some memorable rookie cards from the 1987 Topps set included Ben McDonald of the Baltimore Orioles, John Smoltz of the Atlanta Braves, and Mike Piazza of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Piazza in particular went on to have a Hall of Fame career primarily with the Dodgers and New York Mets as one of the greatest hitting catchers of all time. The 1987 Topps set also featured the rookie cards of Barry Larkin, Fred McGriff, and David Wells who all had impressive MLB careers.

On the baseball history front, the 1987 season saw San Francisco Giants outfielder Bobby Bonds become the 10th player in MLB history to hit 300 career home runs. Two other notable milestones were reached as Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Steve Carlton notched his 300th career win and Oakland Athletics slugger Reggie Jackson hit his 500th career home run.

Defending World Series champion New York Mets featured some star players showcased in the 1987 Topps set including catcher Gary Carter, first baseman Keith Hernandez, and pitchers Dwight Gooden and Ron Darling. Gooden in particular was coming off a dominant 1986 season where he won the NL Cy Young award by going 24-4 with a 1.53 ERA and 268 strikeouts in 276 innings pitched.

Some interesting quirks featured in the 1987 Topps design included a die-cut diamond shape with gold accents surrounding each photo. The team logo appeared at the top of each card along with the player’s first and last name printed vertically. Statistics from the previous season were listed on the back along with a short biography. Topps continued its traditional design elements of blue and gray color scheme along with the company logo at the bottom.

Some key rookies featured in the 1987 Topps set included shortstop Ozzie Smith of the St. Louis Cardinals, who was taking over as the team’s starting shortstop that season. Others were slugger Mark McGwire of the Athletics and pitcher David Cone of the New York Mets. McGwire in particular went on to have one of the most prolific home run hitting careers in baseball history, smashing 583 career home runs primarily with Oakland and St. Louis.

The 1987 season saw several notable events including Baltimore Orioles first baseman Eddie Murray breaking the all-time record for home runs by a switch hitter, surpassing Mickey Mantle’s total of 156. Another achievement was San Diego Padres pitcher Gaylord Perry notching his 300th career victory that year. On September 13, 1987, struggling pitcher Dick Ruthven of the Philadelphia Phillies achieved perhaps the rarest of pitching stats by tossing a no-hitter despite walking a record-setting 13 batters.

In the 1987 postseason, the Minnesota Twins defeated the St. Louis Cardinals four games to three in the World Series. The deciding Game 7 went 11 innings before the Twins won 1-0 on a walk-off single by lifelong Twin fan Dan Gladden. Stars of that Series included Twins pitcher Frank Viola, who was named World Series MVP, and Cardinals slugger Jack Clark. This concluded another memorable season in MLB history well represented by the great players and talents featured in the 1987 Topps baseball card set.

The 1987 Topps baseball cards provided an excellent snapshot of that baseball season through the solo player photos and key statistics found on each card. The rookie cards from that set of future Hall of Famers like Piazza, Larkin, and McGwire are still highly sought after today. Collectors enjoyed following their favorite players and teams through the annual Topps releases. This made the 1987 Topps set a very memorable and valuable collectible for fans and hobbyists even now over 30 years later.

The 1989 Topps baseball card set was a significant release that documented the MLB season from the year before. It marked the company’s 52nd year producing baseball cards and contained cards featuring players and teams from the 1988 season. Some of the key things collectors remember about the 1989 Topps set include the diverse selection of rookie cards, the inclusion of league leader and award winner cards, and the traditional design elements carried over from previous years.

Topps produced a standard 792 card set in 1989 that included all players, managers, and coaches active in the major leagues in 1988. The designs stayed largely consistent with Topps’ established template at the time. Each card featured a color photo on the front with white borders around the image and a graphic of the team logo in the bottom left corner. Player names, positions, and team names were printed horizontally along the bottom. On the backs, career stats and a blurb of biographical information appeared above the standard Topps paragraph and the “T” logo.

Some notable rookie cards found in the 1989 Topps set included Ken Griffey Jr. of the Seattle Mariners, Eric Davis of the Cincinnati Reds, Jack McDowell of the Chicago White Sox, and Gregg Jefferies of the New York Mets. Griffey’s rookie is widely considered one of the most iconic and valuable of all time. His promising debut season showcased the talent and skills that would make him a future Hall of Famer and one of the greatest players of all time. Eric Davis also had an outstanding rookie campaign in 1988 that earned him the National League Rookie of the Year award.

In addition to rookie cards, the 1989 Topps set featured special “Leader” and “Award Winner” cards to highlight statistical accomplishments and honors from the previous season. Danny Jackson’s 1988 American League ERA Leader card and Kirk Gibson’s 1988 National League Home Run Leader card were examples of these specialized insert cards. Gibson had also been awarded the 1988 NL MVP honors for his outstanding season, so his card also noted that achievement. Examples like these helped document the top individual performances from the 1988 baseball year.

Some other key players who had prominent cards in the 1989 Topps set included Orel Hershiser, who won the Cy Young and led the Los Angeles Dodgers to a World Series title in 1988. His achievement was recognized with special Logan’s Run parallel issue cards by Topps. Other stars well-represented included Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, Rickey Henderson, and Ozzie Smith. Top rookie cards of future Hall of Famers such as Tom Glavine, Gregg Maddux, and John Smoltz were also included despite their limited MLB playing time in 1988.

In terms of design and production, the 1989 Topps base set cards maintained the traditional look that the company had established over prior decades. The photo quality and centering consistency was good overall compared to levels in previous Topps sets as printing technology continued to improve. Issues did still sometimes occur with off-centered or crooked images on occasion. The thin cardboard stock of the 1980s was also prone to dings, creases or wear over time compared to the more durable card materials used in modern sets.

When the 1989 Topps cards were released, the vibrant MLB baseball card collecting hobby was nearing its peak of popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Sets from Topps, Donruss, and Fleer were hotly anticipated each year and finding sought-after rookie cards or stars was part of the excitement of opening fresh wax packs. While the skyrocketing values of vintage cards from the 1950s were still unknown at the time, the 1989 Topps cards marked another fun annual vintage documenting one of the most iconic eras in the hobby’s history. Today, cards from sets like 1989 Topps remain nostalgic keepsakes prized by collectors around the world.

The 1989 Topps baseball card set maintained the classic Topps design style while capturing another year of MLB baseball history. Rookies like Ken Griffey Jr., leaders, award winners, and star players from the 1988 season were all featured in the standard 792 card checklist. While production quality had improved, the 1980s cardboard stock remains prone to wear compared to modern cards. Regardless, the 1989 issue remains a highly collectible vintage set commemorating a peak time for both the hobby and the players included in the set from over 30 years ago. Its array of young future stars and established veterans alike make it a favorite of collectors today.

The 1989 Topps baseball card set was the 58th series produced by the Topps Company, Inc. and featured 660 total cards issued in wax packs, rack packs and factory sets. Some key things to know about the 1989 Topps baseball cards include:

Design and Production: Topps designers changed up the look for the 1989 cards, moving away from the simple white border cards of recent years in favor of a more colorful “futuristic” design. The borders featured various patterns and shades and each card rotated through a color palette of reds, oranges, yellows and blues. For the first time, Topps included silver signatures on high number rookie cards as a security feature to deter counterfeiting. The cards were also produced on a thinner, higher quality cardboard stock compared to previous years.

Rookies and Rookies: One of the biggest storylines of the 1989 season was the emergence of young star players and the 1989 Topps set featured rookie cards of many future Hall of Famers. Ken Griffey Jr’s coveted rookie card headlined the set as card #1 and became one of the most sought after baseball cards ever due to his amazing career. Other top rookie cards included Andy Benes (#366), Gregg Olson (#411), Tom Glavine (#436), and Mark Grace (#547). The set also had rookie cards for future stars like Barry Larkin (#111), Randy Johnson (#209), and David Cone (#258).

Highest Numbered Cards: The 1989 Topps set featured 660 total cards, making it one of the larger standard issues in the modern era. The highest numbered cards were #660 for minor leaguer Randy St. Claire and #659 for pitcher Fernando Valenzuela in his final Topps issue before retiring. Other notable high numbers included #658 Alvin Davis and #657 Darren Daulton, both playing in their last MLB seasons.

Prominent Veterans: While the rookies stole much of the spotlight, the 1989 Topps set also paid tribute to veteran superstars still plying their trade. Nolan Ryan’s impressive fastball was featured on card #1 and he would go on to notch his 5,000th career strikeout that season. Other aging but still productive stars included Ozzie Smith (#15), Rickey Henderson (#39), Wade Boggs (#58), and Don Mattingly (#66).

Team Marketing Cards: Topps included special oversized team-focused “rookie” cards mixed in factory sets to help market specific clubs. The New York Mets (#661) and Oakland A’s (#665) received these large commemorative cards highlighting their young talent. Other inserts with statistical breakdowns on individual teams were also included.

Parallels and Inserts: Early Topps sets generally contained only the 660 main cards without additional parallels, refractors, or inserts. However, 1989 Topps did include several minor parallel variations including “Photo Spectra” blue-tinted photo variations of select short print cards. Factory sets also contained statistical breakdown inserts for each league and division.

Design Flaws and Printing Errors: While a quality set overall, the 1989 Topps issue did have some production flaws noted by collectors. A noticeable miscut affected the entire print run of Nolan Ryan’s card making it instantly identifiable. Other alignment and centering issues popped up in random places throughout the sets. A glaring error was card #66 Don Mattingly mistakenly listing him as a Yankee despite being photographed in Dodger blue.

Legacy and Collectibility: Fueled by rookie stars like Griffey Jr. and excellence from veterans, the 1989 baseball season was memorable. Topps’ cards captured the action and personalities on accurate cardboard. Despite some flaws, the 1989 set has remained popular with collectors decades later. Key rookies hold value and condition sensitive stars remain pricey. The colors and design have held up well versus other ’80s issues too. For capturing a great year and introducing future legends, 1989 Topps earned its place among the best baseball card sets ever made.

The 1989 Topps baseball card set will forever be remembered as one the set that introduced collecting legends like Ken Griffey Jr. to the hobby. Despite some production flaws, the colorful futuristic design, photographic quality, and abundance of talented players have ensured the set remains a favorite for collectors even over 30 years later. The combination of high-level rookies, veteran stars, and historical significance cement 1989 Topps among the most iconic releases in the long and storied history of baseball cards.

The 1952 Topps baseball card set was the first issued by the Topps Chewing Gum Company and marked the debut of modern baseball cards as we know them today. Where predecessors like sets from Bowman Gum in the 1940s and 1950s featured team photos or posed action shots, the 1952 Topps set broke new ground by focusing squarely on individual player portraits. It was an innovative approach that Topps would ride to dominance of the trading card market for decades to come.

The set contains 106 total cards and features all 16 Major League teams from that season. The cards featured colorful lithographic printed designs on a thicker, higher quality card stock compared to previous gum company offerings. The front of each card contained a solo photo of a player in uniform from the waist up. Their name, team, and position were printed prominently below. The back of the cards contained no stats or biographical information, just the Topps logo and copyright.

Topps acquired the rights to use player photos from the Major League Baseball Players Association. They photographed the players themselves at spring training sites. The process marked one of the earlier instances of mainstream sports figure likeness rights and licensing. It set a precedent that is still largely followed today across the modern sports card industry.

Distribution of the ’52 Topps set was handled through convenience and drug stores, a groundbreaking model that allowed the cards to reach many more potential young collectors than previous distribution through vending machines alone at soda shops and five and dime stores. The cards retailed for just a penny apiece or could be redeemed for prizes by mailing in wrappers from Topps chewing gum. This dual promotional model of collectible cards and candy proved enormously successful.

Certain key cards from the pioneering ’52 set have become quite valuable today. The Mickey Mantle rookie card is one of the most sought after cards in the entire hobby. In pristine gem mint condition examples have sold at auction for over $2 million, making it amongst the most valuable sports cards ever. Another highly coveted rookie is the Willie Mays card. In top grades, it has reached the $500,000+ range. The complete set in excellent condition can bring over $20,000 on the collector market.

Beyond the obvious star rookies, the ’52 Topps set contains many other notable and interesting cards. The Jackie Robinson card is a key piece of sports collectibles history as one of the earliest available portraits of the man who broke MLB’s color barrier. Future Hall of Famers like Hank Aaron, Whitey Ford, and Eddie Mathews had their first trading card appearances as well in this set. The design stood out from cards produced by competitors like Bowman in those early post-war years.

The ’52 issue helped turn Topps into the dominant force in baseball cards over the next few decades. Their laser focus on individual players and attractive photo centric design became the standard approach across the sports card category. The company would remain the sole issuer of baseball cards through 1980. Their monopoly allowed them to sign licensing deals with other major sports like football and basketball as interest in collecting cards boomed through the 1950s and 60s.

Given its massive influence, many subsequent Topps sets released into the 1970s paid homage to elements of the ’52 pioneer design. As recently as 2017, Topps produced a “1952 Topps Tribute” insert set for its flagship modern baseball line that reprised the classic photo style of that first Topps issue 65 years prior. Experts argue no other single set had as large an impact on defining the look and feel of the modern baseball card during the early post WWII era of collecting enthusiasm and growth among the nation’s youth.

In the decades since, the ’52 Topps set has grown to take on an almost mythic reputation among vintage collectors. Its simple but innovative focus on individual player photos in uniform, distributed through stores to reach a mass market of potential collectors, helped propel baseball cards from a promotional novelty inserted in gum and C-rations to a beloved national pastime. While production values and information included on cards would greatly expand in the ensuing decades, the DNA of the modern baseball card itself can be traced squarely back to that pioneering first Topps set from 1952. For its immense influence on the entire sports card category then and now, it remains one of the true seminal issues in the entire history of trading cards.