The 1989 Topps Big Baseball card set was one of the most unique and collectible baseball card releases of the late 1980s. Following the success of their oversized football cards known as Bigs in 1987 and 1988, Topps debuted their first ever large-sized baseball card set in 1989 that featured super-sized 3.5 x 5 inch card dimensions. While most standard baseball card releases at the time were 2.5 x 3.5 inches, the Big format allowed for significantly more visual real estate to showcase eye-catching photography and stats on each card. With only 144 total cards in the set compared to the usual 600+ in Topps’ standard baseball releases, the 1989 Topps Big set achieved instant collector popularity with its limited scope tailored focusing on major league stars and rookies from that season.
Inside each pack of 1989 Topps Big Baseball cards, collectors could find 9 total cards with 1 memorabilia or autographed insert possible per pack as well. The dramatic oversized card stock presented incredible high-resolution action photography in vivid color on each player card. Crisp team logo artwork and team name banners appeared along the top of the visual real estate to frame each image. Player names appeared above in standard white font with black outlines. An ornate banner across the bottom highlighted positions and highlighted statistics from the 1988 season. Turning each card over found more traditional career stats and biographical info across the stiff, high-quality cardboard stock.
Some notable rookie cards featured in the 1989 Topps Big Baseball set included Ken Griffey Jr. of the Seattle Mariners, Gregg Olson of the Baltimore Orioles, Bobby Witt of the Texas Rangers, and Gary Sheffield of the Milwaukee Brewers. Griffey’s iconic rookie smiling in his Mariners’ uniform would become one of the most desired cards in the history of the hobby. Superstars like Oakland Athletics slugger Jose Canseco, New York Mets pitcher Dwight Gooden, and Cincinnati Reds first baseman Tony Perez also had prominent rookie cards as the set highlighted rising young talent as well established veterans. Memorabilia cards in 1989 Topps Big included autographed pieces from Don Mattingly, Cal Ripken Jr., and Ozzie Smith embedded within the card stock.
Continuing a trend they established with football, Topps made their Big Baseball cards a true high-end collector product by limiting print runs. While standard 1989 Topps baseball cards had mainstream distribution at mass retailers, the Big cards were strictly produced in much smaller quantities and distributed solely through approved hobby shops and baseball card specialty stores. Each sealed wax box contained just 12 packs with 9 cards apiece for only 144 total cards. This artificial scarcity helped drive demand and maintain the Big set as a true collectible rather than just everyday trading cards. Even in the late 1980s, unopened boxes regularly resold for well over the original $20 MSRP price paid at the time of release.
The large scale and premium focus of Topps Big cards also resulted in superior quality control compared to mass-produced standard releases. With limited print runs, each card received more careful inspection and survived far less wear and tear from collectors. As a result, nearly pristine Mint and Gem Mint condition examples remain obtainable today of even the most common players, a rarity for 30+ year old cards. The thick, glossy coated stock remains intact without warps or soft corners after decades. Topps Big cards simply uphold their visual appeal much better over time versus typical thinner cardboard that bends and creases more easily in collectors’ hands and binders.
Continued reception and secondary market inflation solidified Topps Big Baseball as one of their premier collector sets of the late 20th century. While some early speculation soured the market by the early 1990s card crash, long-term appreciation has been significant. Key rookie cards like Ken Griffey Jr. routinely bring thousands at auction today while complete sealed wax boxes change hands for well over $1000. For dedicated team and player collectors, the oversized spectacular presentation of Topps Big allows players to truly stand out among their broader collections. Even common veterans take on enhanced visual pop at this larger scale. Now over 30 years later, Topps Big Baseball cards from 1989 remain a true high point in the company’s vast baseball card output and one of the iconic specialized releases that helped develop the modern sports collecting hobby.
