The Topps Company, Inc. is an American maker of chewing gum, candy, and collectibles. Topps is best known within the hobby of collecting sports and entertainment trading cards. They are considered the standard and innovator in the modern baseball card industry, having produced sets continuously since 1951.
Topps’ first foray into the baseball card market came in 1951 with the release of their Series One cards. These showed player photos on one side and stats on the reverse. While rudimentary compared to later issues, they captured the imagination of kids and sparked the trading card craze. Some of the stars featured included Mickey Mantle, Roy Campanella, Willie Mays and Ted Williams. These early Topps cards from the 1950s are highly coveted by collectors today.
In 1952, Topps upped the ante by issuing cards in color for the first time. The 1952 Topps set featured vivid hues and emphasized action shots over posed studio portraits. Standouts include the Mickey Mantle having his picture taken in the batting cage. Topps also began including more complete player stats on the back, further enhancing the educational appeal of the cards. This set established the blueprint Topps would follow for decades.
The 1954 Topps cards introduced the modern card size and design still used today—2.5 x 3.5 inches with a photo on the front and stats on the flip side. Notable rookies debuted like Hank Aaron and Frank Robinson. For 1955, Topps added even more stats and career highlights. The 1956 issue experimented with sepia-toned photography before returning to color photography in 1957. This decade solidified Topps as the Sports Illustrated of their time in terms of capturing the storied events on the diamond.
The 1960s saw Topps continue refining their formula with innovations like foil-stamped surfaces for high numbers. The 1961 design is revered for its team-colored borders and portrait photos. Rookies from this era like Roberto Clemente further increased interest in buying packs. In 1965 Topps stunned fans by moving the player image to the bottom half of the card and enlarging it, resulting in one of the most visually appealing sets ever created.
Experimentation resumed in the 1970s with concepts like action photos, team checklists, and mini cards mixed in with the standard issue. Meanwhile iconic rookies were introduced like Reggie Jackson. The early ‘70s decade also saw new competitors emerge, namely Fleer Gum and the Japanese Calbee company, though Topps still dominated American baseball card sales. They gained the official MLB/MLBPA license in 1981, cementing their exclusive right to include active Major League players.
The 1980s triggered a return to nostalgia with reprints of vintage stalwarts like Ted Williams and Babe Ruth on the fronts of cards. Updating stats on the back resurrected heroes from another era. Paramount’s acquisition of Topps in 1984 led to new premium issues like Diamond Kings. Rookies like Cal Ripken Jr. and Darryl Strawberry joined the ranks of future Hall of Famers featured. By the end of the decade, the first modern baseball card boom was in full swing.
Into the 1990s and 2000s, Topps branded sets with names like Stadium Club Select and Opening Day. Insert cards with parallel issues were introduced. Also premium products like Gold Label Signature Series added autographs and memorabilia to raise the stakes. Even with competition from Upper Deck, Donruss, and Fleer, Topps maintained their leading position. Modern rookies including Ken Griffey Jr., Chipper Jones and Derek Jeter took their place in card portfolios.
In 2007, The Topps Company was acquired for $385 million and has since faced declining physical card sales. They have expanded into the digital realm and still hold the MLBPA license. Their vintage offerings are more popular than ever with collectors seeking affordable classic cardboard. Sets from the 1950s like the iconic 1952 and 1954 Topps issues remain highly coveted as representative of baseball card history. In short, for over seventy years Topps reigned supreme chronicling America’s pastime through the accessible and engaging medium of trading cards.
