Topps baseball cards have been a favorite collectible among baseball fans for decades. Starting in the 1950s, Topps has been the leading producer of sports cards featuring players from Major League Baseball each year. Part of the appeal of collecting Topps baseball cards is trying to complete full sets from each release year. Here is an in-depth look at Topps baseball cards release dates over the years with insights into the cards, rookies, and sets from each year:
1951 – Topps released their first ever set of baseball cards in 1951. It was a very basic 107 card set featuring players from that season. Some notable early stars included in the ’51 set were Willie Mays, Whitey Ford, and Roy Campanella.
1952 – For the ’52 set, Topps increased the number of cards to 231. This set included rookie cards for future Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, Richie Ashburn, Roy Face and Billy Pierce.
1953 – In 1953, Topps released a 196 card set. Key rookies included Al Kaline, Ron Kline, and Eddie Mathews. This was the first appearance of the modern pinkbacked card design Topps would utilize for many future releases.
1954 – The 1954 Topps set increased in size to 240 cards. Rookies of note included future Hall of Famer Willie McCovey as well as Turk Farrell and Nellie Fox. This set also included the last cards featuring longtime Brooklyn Dodgers iconic “Daffy Dean.”
1955 – For 1955, Topps issued a standard 252 card set. Future HOF rookie cards included Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, and Don Drysdale. This proved to be a valuable vintage set, especially for the Mays and Mantle rookie cards.
1956 – Topps increased the 1956 set to a then-modern 302 cards. Over two series were released as the increase led to player movement late in the year requiring follow up cards. Rookies included future HOF pitchers Jim Bunning and Juan Marichal and outfielder Frank Robinson.
1957 – In 1957, Topps issued a record-setting 398 card set across three series. This high count was likely due to more teams and rising player career lengths. Notable rookies included future HOF pitchers Bob Gibson and Tony Perez plus Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson.
1958 – Topps’ 1958 set included 382 baseball cards issued in two series during the season. Key rookie cards featured future HOF pitchers Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale as well as outfielders Pete Runnels and Willie Stargell.
1959 – For 1959, Topps released a 386 card set in two series. Standout rookie cards featured future HOF third baseman Eddie Mathews, pitcher Bob Turley and outfielder Willie McCovey. This was the last set until 1963 to feature player signature elements on cards.
1960 – Topps issued a 406 card set for the 1960 season with no signature elements. Rookies included future Hall of Famers Reggie Jackson, Rico Carty, and Rich Gossage plus Dick Radatz and Don Mincher. This was the final Topps set to feature “Traded” cards reflecting midseason player transactions.
1961 – In 1961, Topps released a 377 card set without “Traded” subset. Notable rookies included future HOF pitchers Juan Marichal, Gaylord Perry plus outfielder/manager Tony La Russa. This was the last set until 1968 to feature team name design logos on the front of cards.
1962 – For 1962, Topps issued a 395 card set without team logos. Standout rookies included future Hall of Famers Willie Stargell and Bobby Cox plus Buck Rodgers and Ken McBride.
1963 – The 1963 Topps set included 392 cards without signatures. Key rookies were future HOF pitchers Tom Seaver, Dick Allen, Cesar Tovar, and Dick Radatz. Some cards included a “Postscript” additional statistic written on the back.
1964 – In 1964, Topps released a career-high 401 card set without signatures or logos. Notable rookie cards included future Hall of Famers/MVPs Mickey Lolich, Rod Carew and Dave Parker plus Lou Piniella and Jerry Grote.
1965 – For 1965, Topps issued a 396 card set. Top rookie cards featured future HOF third baseman Brooks Robinson and pitchers Jim Palmer and Hoyt Wilhelm. The 1965 set also included a “Souvenir” subset highlighting stars from other eras.
1966 – Topps released a slightly smaller 389 card set in 1966 that remained the standard large size. Top rookie cards included future HOF catcher/manager Johnny Bench plus pitcher Bill Singer and outfielder Joe Torre in his only rookie.
1967 – The 1967 Topps set featured 377 cards. Notable rookie cards showcased future Hall of Famers Reggie Jackson, Ted Simmons and Bert Blyleven plus Danny Frisella and Mudcat Grant. This remained the final year for black-bordered borders on cards.
1968 – Topps issued a 390 card set in 1968 returning team logo designs to card fronts along with player first initials. Key rookies included future Hall of Famers Tom Seaver, Rod Carew and Don Sutton plus Johnny Bench and Bobby Cox.
1969 – In 1969, Topps released a 481 card high-count set, likely extended to capture additional new players and rookie stars of the late 1960s. Future Hall of Fame rookies included Tom Seaver, Rod Carew and Billy Williams. There was also a new emphasis on player photos over illustrated images.
1970 – For 1970, Topps issued a 407 card set featuring team logo uniforms on the players. Top rookie cards included future Hall of Famers George Brett, Rich Gossage and Paul Molitor along with Ron Cey and Willie Montanez. This also marked the final inclusion of player signature elements.
1971 – In 1971, Topps released a 411 card set without signature panels but continuing the full color team logo uniforms. Key rookie cards showcased future Hall of Famers Bert Blyleven, Ted Simmons, and Dave Parker plus Ellis Valentine and Rick Reuschel.
1972 – Topps issued a 390 card set in 1972 returning to small team logos above uniform numbers with player stats and career highlights on the back. Top rookie cards featured future HOF closer Goose Gossage along with future stars Jeff Burroughs, Jon Matlack and Butch Wynegar.
1973 – For 1973, Topps released a 398 card set continuing the team logo above number format. Top rookie cards included future Hall of Famers Gary Carter, Eddie Murray plus Fingers, Bell and Ken Griffey Sr. This was also the final year for the classic pink backs on cards that Topps had used since the 1950s.
1974 – In 1974, Topps issued a 399 card set with a new white border design and team wordmark logos replacing small graphic symbols. Top rookie cards featured Future Hall of Famers Mike Schmidt, Andre Dawson and Phil Niekro along with Lou Whitaker and Jerry Royster.
1975 – The 1975 Topps set included 408 cards with the new color team uniforms on the fronts. Key rookie cards showcased future Hall of Famers Eddie Murray and Dave Parker plus Jeff Leonard, Mike Jorgensen and Jerry Jarrusso.
1976 – Topps issued a new design theme for 1976 featuring action player photos on a white background within a colored border. The 396 card set included rookie cards of Hall of Famers Eddie Murray and Denny Martinez along with Dale Murray and Butch Edge.
1977 – For 1977, Topps released a 390 card set continuing the player action photos in color borders design launched the prior year. Notable rookie cards featured future Hall of Famers Andre Dawson and Mike Schmidt along with Steve Rogers and Dan Schatzeder.
1978 – In 1978, Topps issued a 389 card set with the now familiar action photo style. Top rookie cards showcased future HOF starters Rich “Goose” Gossage and Paul Molitor plus Larry Hisle and Dave Meier.
1979 – The 1979 Topps set included 392 cards. Key rookie cards featured Future Hall of Famers Alan Trammell and Ozzie Smith plus Steve Carlton’s final rookie card and Rick Sutcliffe. This also marked the final inclusion of team name design logos on the card fronts.
1980 – Topps issued a new 382 card design for 1980 including player name and career stats layout on the back along with action close-up photos. Top rookie cards included Future Hall of Famer Paul Molitor as well as Steve Sax and Tim Raines.
1981 – In 1981, Topps released a 378 card set with team uniforms depicted behind players. Key rookie cards showcased Hall of Famers Fernando Valenzuela, Wade Boggs and Eddie Murray plus Jerry Koosman’s final rookie. This set also commemorated the 50th anniversary of Babe Ruth’s called shot.
1982 – Topps issued a similar 381 card design in 1982 with team uniforms behind players and strong photography emphasized. Hall of Fame rookie cards included Cal Ripken Jr. along with Chili Davis and Rich Gossage’s last rookies.
1983 – In 1983, Topps released a new 398 card layout adopting a white bordered style topLoaded with photography. Top rookie cards featured Future Hall of Famers Wade Boggs and Kirby Puckett along with Dave Stieb and Brian Holton.
1984 – For 1984, Topps issued a 391 card
