Target continues to be a premier destination for collectors seeking baseball cards from Topps. As one of the largest retailers in the United States, Target stores stock a wide variety of trading cards and sports memorabilia. Their trading card selection caters to both casual readers looking to relive memories of favorite players as well as serious collectors pursuing rare and valuable cards.
The history of Target’s partnership with Topps dates back to the early 1950s when Topps began producing modern baseball cards as we know them today. Soon after launching their successful new line of bubblegum cards featuring current major leaguers, Topps sought out major retailers to stock their products on store shelves nationwide. Target was an ideal partner given their growing presence across the country. Throughout the 1950s and 60s, Target stores became reliable sources for kids to purchase the newest Topps series at affordable prices.
As the speculative boom in vintage baseball cards took hold in the 1980s, Target saw an opportunity to appeal to older collector demographics as well. In addition to stocking the latest Topps series released each year from the 1980s onward, Target also began carrying repack products containing assortments of cards from previous decades mixed together in each pack. These “wax box” repackages exposed new collectors to vintage designs while offering chances to pull valuable older stars. Target also offered retail exclusive boxes and blaster packs featuring throwback designs to further capture nostalgic collectors.
In the late 1990s and 2000s, Target doubled down on their commitment to the baseball card and memorabilia market. Important releases like Topps Finest, Allen & Ginter, and Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects began hitting Target shelves annually starting in 1997. Target also established baseball card aisle end caps and display shelves to further promote the hobby to potential new customers. During sport card conventions throughout the late 90s and 2000s, Target was regularly one of the premier booth spaces for collectors to peruse.
As the 2010s rolled around, Target found continued success stocking release after release from Topps including their flagship “Series 1, 2, Update” pattern as well as subsets highlighting retired legends through Archives and Stars of the Game. Target was also among the first national retailers to carry exclusive blaster and hobby boxes for popular internet releases like Topps Chrome and Allen & Ginter. In 2011, Target began their own “Target Series” exclusive baseball card inserts honoring All-Star players which were inserted one per pack that season. They also produced exclusive red bordered short prints which became highly sought after by collectors.
In more recent years, Target has kept pace with evolving collector trends. As interest in modern rookie cards and prospects skyrocketed leading up to the record-breaking sales of stars like Mike Trout and Ronald Acuña Jr., Target ensured ample supplies of Topps Series 1, Bowman, and Bowman Draft for consumers. Beginning in 2018, Target introduced “Orange Parallel” exclusive short prints numbered to 199 copies to capture the high-end collector market. They also began stocking cases of Topps Inception and Topps Tribute at MSRP to stay ahead of rising secondary market demand. Target’s buying power allows them to maintain large allotments of these “closed” hobby products.
Through the boom and bust cycles seen over the decades in the baseball card market, Target has proven itself a reliable partner to Topps. They regularly stock each new release at MSRP and ensure fair allocation to stores nationwide. While Target’s online card selection may not match specialized card shop inventory, their brick and mortar presence across America continues fulfilling the hobby needs of collectors near and far. Going forward, Target intends to keep the baseball card experience accessible and engaging for fans of all ages by maintaining their partnership with the sport’s leading manufacturer – Topps. Countless memories and lifelong collectors remain rooted in the discovery of Topps cards first found on Target shelves.
