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1989 TOPPS SENIOR PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL CARDS

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The 1989 Topps Senior Professional Baseball card set was released at the beginning of the 1989 baseball season to celebrate players who were entering or had recently entered retirement from Major League Baseball. The 198 card set featured older players who were fan favorites and had career achievements of note. Some key things to know about the 1989 Topps Senior Professional Baseball card set include:

The Set Design – The design of the 1989 Topps Senior Professional Baseball cards paid homage to the players’ career achievements while in retirement. Each card featured the player in a classic on-field photo from their playing days in Major League uniform. Below the photo was a banner listing the teams the player was a member of over their career. At the bottom was information on their career statistics and accomplishments. The cards had a classic white border around the edges to give them a clean, vintage baseball card look and feel.

Notable Inclusions – Some of the most prominent players featured in the set included Hank Aaron (754 career home runs), Willie Mays (660 career home runs), Mickey Mantle (536 career home runs), Willie McCovey (521 career home runs), Brooks Robinson (16 Gold Gloves at 3B), Bob Gibson (Won Cy Young and World Series MVP in 1968), Juan Marichal (Dominant pitcher from 1960-1973), and Harmon Killebrew (573 career home runs). Many of these players were living baseball legends that were only a few years removed from their Hall of Fame careers.

Player Requirements – To be eligible for inclusion in the 1989 Topps Senior Professional Baseball card set, players needed to have officially retired from Major League Baseball play. There were some exceptions made for players who were still occasionally participating in old-timer’s games or had entertained potential comeback attempts close to the set’s release date. Most players featured had wrapped up their MLB careers between 2-10 years prior.

Parallels to Veterans Committees – The concept of honoring older, recently retired baseball legends in card form paralleled how the Baseball Writers’ Association of America Veterans Committees operated at the time in reviewing players for induction in the National Baseball Hall of Fame who were no longer eligible for consideration by the BBWAA ballot. Both aimed to preserve the legacy and achievements of iconic players of past eras.

Commercial Success – The 1989 Topps Senior Professional Baseball card set performed well both critically and commercially upon release. Card collectors enjoyed owning pieces featuring their childhood heroes as well as learning more about the careers of legendary players that had only been names from their parents’ era. The set helped drive interest in baseball history and generated nostalgia for the classic uniforms and eras represented.

Influence on Future Releases – Inspired by the popularity of the 1989 edition, Topps went on to produce additional Senior/Legend/Alumni style sets in 1994, 1997, and 1999 focusing on retired MLB greats. Other card manufacturers like Fleer and Donruss also joined in on the trend. The concept became an accepted niche within the broader baseball card market landscape dedicated to honoring the accomplished careers of retired players.

Longevity of the Players – Tragically, within a few years of the 1989 set release several of the players featured would pass away, including Hank Aaron in 2021 at age 86 and Willie Mays in 2009 at age 86. Icons like Willie McCovey, Juan Marichal, Harmon Killebrew and Bob Gibson all lived well into their 80s. The cards served as a tribute to their greatness while they were still around to appreciate the recognition.

Modern Appraisal – When in good condition, chase cards from the1989 Topps Senior Professional Baseball set featuring the biggest stars frequently sell for $50-100 on modern marketplaces. Commons can often be found for $1-5. The set endures as a collectible appreciating baseball history from fans both contemporary to the players featured as well as newer generations still learning about the legends of the game.

The 1989 Topps Senior Professional Baseball card set was a hallmark release that paid homage to iconic players who were transitioning to retirement. It complemented how the Hall of Fame recognized greats of the past. The concept proved popular enough to spawn subsequent sets celebrating accomplished MLB alumni. While the players honored have now all passed, the cards remain a tangible connection to appreciate their careers and preserve their legacy for future fans of America’s pastime. The 1989 set stands as an influential early example of this hobby niche within the broader sports card market.

NIPPON PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL CARDS

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Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), known in Japan as Nihon Yakyū (日本野球), is the highest level of professional baseball in Japan. Much like Major League Baseball in North America, NPB consists of two leagues – the Central League and the Pacific League. Since 1950, the winner of the annual Japan Series faces off against the winner of the Korean Series for the Asia Series title.

Similar to MLB, NPB has a rich history of producing collecting cards featuring players, teams, and leagues. Trading cards have been an integral part of baseball culture in Japan dating back to the late 1800s/early 1900s when teams first started forming. As the sport grew in popularity throughout the 20th century, so too did the market for baseball cards. Today, NPB cards remain a major niche in the international collectibles industry.

Early NPB Card Issues (1950s-1970s)

Some of the earliest notable NPB card issues came in the post-World War 2 era as the leagues were reestablished. Calbee snack foods produced simple sticker cards of players from the 1950s through the 1970s. Cracker Jack also had short runs of NPB cards inserted in their product in the 1960s and 70s. The true “golden age” of vintage Japanese baseball cards didn’t fully take off until the late 1970s.

Two major companies drove the boom in NPB collectibles during this period – BBM and Konami. Broderbund Media (BBM) issued large sets highlighting both leagues from 1977-1979. Their colorful cards featured snapshots of players in action along with stats and bios on the back. Around the same time period, toy and game-maker Konami began producing sticker and paper card sets as promotions. These early issues by BBM and Konami established the foundation for NPB cards that still exists today.

1980s-1990s Era of Expansion

Riding huge increases in the sport’s tv ratings and stadium attendance in Japan, the 1980s saw NPB cards truly explode onto the collecting scene. BBM cemented itself as the top producer, issuing expansive annual sets well over 100 cards in size. Their photography and dynamic designs were cutting edge. Parallel sets highlighting rookie classes also became popular.

Other notable 1980s-90s brands included Sports Card Magazine, Takara, Sigma Seven, and Score Board. These companies experimented with innovations like oddball parallel issues, premium box toppers, and giveaways. NPB stars like Oh, Ochiai, and Matsui achieved superstar status in Japan – and their best rookies cards from this era are key chase cards for collectors today.

International interest in NPB also grew considerably during this time. Companies like Donruss and Fleer acquired licensing to make Japanese league insert sets in the late 1980s-90s for inclusion in their American releases. Exports of original BBM Japanese issues to the US also became more common.

Modern Era (2000s-present)

Entering the new millennium, BBM had cemented its position as the heaviest hitter in Japanese baseball cards. Their annual “Baseball Hero” and other sets routinely featured collections numbering 1000+ cards. Insert sets highlighting subsets like uniforms, stadiums, and league logos also became staple parallel products.

In the 2000s, other manufacturers attempted to challenge BBM’s dominance. Konami returned with large box sets, while companies like Epoch, Calbee and Kono issued affordable sets. In the 2010s, the increased popularity of online breakers/breakers and Japanese trading card sites like Cardrush also fueled new interest from collectors overseas.

Today, BBM continues to lead the way in NPB cards with releases commonly topping 2000+ cards per season. Premium parallel sets highlighting gems like autographs and serial number 1 cards aid in moving product. Although digital cards now compete for collectors’ dollars, physical NPB cards remain strong with die-hard fans in Japan and worldwide. The culture and history imbued in these issues ensures they will have a dedicated following for years to come.

Desirable NPB Rookie Cards

Some of the most desirable rookie cards in NPB card history include:

Ichiro Suzuki 2001 BBM Baseball Heroes – Often considered the holy grail of NPB cards.

Shohei Ohtani 2016 BBM Nippon Series – Captured Ohtani in his final NPB season before moving to MLB.

Daisuke Matsuzaka 1999 BBM Baseball Heroes – Matsuzaka’s dominant rookie year put him on the map.

Hideki Matsui 1993 BBM Baseball Heroes – Matsui achieved superstardom after coming to MLB in 2003.

Kenta Maeda 2010 BBM 1st Version – Maeda’s rookie campaign foreshadowed his MLB success.

Koji Uehara 1997 BBM Baseball Heroes – Uehara’s breakout rookie cards are key for NPB collections.

With NPB’s rich history and devoted following both domestically and abroad, its cards continue to gain value and popularity among collectors. BBM remains the premier producer, but the entire market enjoys stable growth. NPB cards ensure fans can appreciate and commemorate the stars and legends of Japanese baseball for years to come.