Series 1 baseball cards refer to the first series of baseball cards released each year by the largest trading card manufacturers, typically Topps and Bowman. Prior to the 1880s, baseball cards did not really exist. In the late 19th century, cigarette and tobacco companies began printing images of baseball players on collectible cards that were included in packs of cigarettes as a marketing promotion. It was not until the modern baseball card era began in the 1950s that the traditional model of yearly series and sets took shape.

In 1952, Topps purchased the rights to produce gum and sticker cards featuring major league players. Their inaugural 1952 Topps baseball card set contained 74 cards and launched the modern era of baseball cards and collecting. From that point forward, Topps released new complete baseball card sets each successive season. They labeled the first series of cards each year as “Series 1.” Thus began the tradition of Season 1 cards being the initial main card release by Topps in a given year.

Some key things to know about Topps Series 1 baseball cards include that they typically contained the most base cards (cards depicting a single player) compared to the other series released that year. In the early years from the 1950s through the 1980s, a standard Topps Series 1 set would include around 525 cards made up of current MLB players, managers, team logos, and other special “oddball” cards.

The photography and visual style of Topps Series 1 cards also set the tone for the entire season’s releases. Given they were the opener, considerable effort was put into making sure Series 1 cards had professionally shot, high quality player images and design aesthetics representative of that current year. Production values and card stock quality could vary more in later series released as the season progressed.

Through the decades, Topps Series 1 sets documented not just annual roster and stat changes but also documented larger cultural and design shifts over time. Early 1950s issues featured a simple rectangular format and team-centric photos. Later ’60s and ’70s sets exhibited a lively pop-art flair that captured the era. Still more modern 21st century Series 1s adopt contemporary trends in photography while maintaining classic cardboard nostalgia.

In addition to their historic value, Topps Series 1 cards typically hold higher demand and command top dollar among collectors. This is because they were the first larger cards of notable players and rookie cards available each year. Also, Topps holds the MLB license, so their Series 1 issues have always been considered the “official” cards putting them at a premium. With first-off-the-line status, Series 1s are prized as the cornerstone set by avid collectors and investors alike.

Other key memorable subsets and chases associated with Topps Series 1 releases through the decades include the annual team leader cards showcasing the previous season’s statistical champions, the fan-favorite “Turn Back The Clock” unretouched vintage reprints, rookie cards of future Hall of Famers like Ken Griffey Jr, Cal Ripken Jr, and Chipper Jones, and special parallel and autographed “short prints” inserted randomly.

While Topps reigned as the flagship card maker through most of the 20th century, competitors like Bowman, Fleer, and Donruss would also release Series 1s of their own each year starting in the ’50s. However, Topps maintained its position as the marquee Series 1 due to its longer history and MLBPA licensing. Bowman has seen a resurgence in popularity since being revived in the 1990s and remains one of the top modern alternatives to Topps alongside new competitors like Panini.

In conclusion, Topps Series 1 baseball cards have become an iconic institution within the long tradition of baseball card collecting, acting as a doorway into each new season of releases. For over 65 years they’ve functioned as the standard bearers that other series and manufacturers measure themselves against. Whether depicting all-time greats or up-and-coming stars, Series 1s capture the magic of America’s pastime in a cardboard time capsule each spring.