Topps Chewing Gum, Inc. is an American confectionery company and playing card publisher. It is best known as the leading producer of sports cards, particularly baseball cards. Topps began producing modern baseball cards in 1952 and introduced the modern format that is still used today. The company has enjoyed tremendous success and brand recognition due to its iconic baseball cards over the decades.

Topps began as the Brooklyn-based American Leaf Tobacco Company in 1938, producing gum and chocolate primarily as a means of candy distribution. In 1947, the company was re branded as Topps Chewing Gum and began branching into other confections and licensing collectibles. In 1952, Topps landed the baseball card license, which was previously held by Bowman. This marked the beginning of modern baseball cards as we know them today.

Some key details and facts about early Topps baseball cards:

The 1952 Topps baseball card set featured all 16 teams from that season. Each pack contained a stick of gum and 5 random cards. The cards featured vibrant color photographs on the front and player statistics on the back.

From 1952 through 1967, Topps had the baseball card market completely to themselves as the lone licensee. Their monopoly allowed them to define the template that continues to this day – colorful fronts with stats on the back.

Some iconic rookie cards from the 1952-1967 era include Mickey Mantle, Sandy Koufax, Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, and dozens of other all-time greats. Finding vintage cards from this “Golden Age” in good condition can fetch massive sums at auction today.

The design of the early Topps cards varied slightly each year but generally included a team logo at top, player name under photo, with career stats and career highlights on the reverse. Color quality improved steadily throughout the 1950s.

Notable subsets from the early years included “Teammates” (1966), which paired players together, and “Super” stamps (1959-1962), which highlighted a player’s most valuable seasons.

While Topps had the baseball card market to themselves for over 15 years, competition arrived in 1968 when Fleer was granted a license. This began what is considered the “Modern Era” of licensed sports cards from 1968 onward. Here are some Topps highlights from this new competitive period:

Facing Fleer for the first time in 1968, Topps included extra incentives like puzzle pieces and poster inserts to entice collectors. Their larger photo size also became the new standard.

The 1969 set is arguably one of the most iconic in hobby history. Featuring the “Year of the Pitcher,” it included rookie cards of future Hall of Famers Tom Seaver, Reggie Jackson, and Joe Morgan.

Through the 1970s, Topps churned out highly collectible sets each year. Notable additions included action photos, team checklists, manager/coach cards, and statistical leaders cards. Designs grew progressively busier.

In 1974, Topps introduced the first annual Traded set, focusing on players who switched teams within the past season. This became an annual tradition.

Competition heated up again in 1981 when Donruss entered the fray. Topps responded with innovative additions like mini/traded sets, annual Hall of Fame issue cards, and oddball parallel subsets.

Topps had another game-changing rookie class in their 1987 set, including Ken Griffey Jr., Mark McGwire, andTom Glavine. This fueled collector interest for years after.

Topps continued to push boundaries through the late 20th century with inserted autographs, virtual reality cards, embossed logos, and parallel/premium releases alongside their traditional annual issues. Some of their most valuable modern releases have come from obtaining unique athletes for sports other than just baseball as well.

In the 21st century, Topps has responded to the digital card collecting boom. Notable is their partnership with MLB beginning in 2021 to produce official NFT baseball cards. Their traditional paper issues endure as the cornerstone of the sports card world. Topps baseball cards have entertained generations of collectors for over 70 years and will likely continue to do so for decades more. Their iconic brand, unmatched historical role, and constant innovation ensures Topps’ place in hobby history for years to come. The company’s baseball cards are true pop culture artifacts that transport fans of all ages back to memorable players and seasons from baseball’s rich past.