What years did Topps make baseball cards?
Topps was founded in 1938 and began producing baseball cards in 1951. It’s current deal with MLB as exclusive license holder of league-backed cards extends through 2025. Topps produced the 1952 Mickey Mantle card that sold for $5.2 million last January.
What was the first Topps card?
In 1951, Topps produced its first baseball cards in two different sets known today as Red Backs and Blue Backs. Each set contained 52 cards, like a deck of playing cards, and in fact the cards could be used to play a game that would simulate the events of a baseball game.
Are old Topps baseball cards worth anything?
Normally, the older a baseball card is the more likely it will have higher value. For example, common 1909 T206 cards are worth something while many common cards printed in the 1980’s are not. A 1963 Topps Pete Rose is worth more than a 1983 Topps Pete Rose. And so on.
How do you tell the year of a Topps baseball card?
It’s often easy to figure out the year of the card. For this one, it’s right there on the front of the card next to the logo. Usually you have to look on the back in the copyright info. If the card back has stats, you can usually add a year to when they were cutoff to know what year the card came out.
When did Topps start making cards?
1949
1949 – The First Topps Cards.
What happened to Topps baseball cards?
Topps, the industry-leader for baseball cards for 70 years, will soon no longer have the rights to print Major League Baseball cards. The league and the players’ union made a deal with Fanatics Inc. That deal expires after 2025, and MLB’s deal with Fanatics, a source confirmed, begins in 2026.
When were baseball cards first made?
In 1886, Goodwin Tobacco (owner of Old Judge and Gypsy Queen cigarettes) created what has become known as the first official baseball card set (aka the N167 set).
Are Topps baseball cards rare?
In 1952, Topps debut its very first baseball cards and they are among the hobby’s most valuable pieces. The rarest Topps cards are worth hundreds, even millions of dollars today and this list contains some of the rarest/most valuable Topps baseball cards ever.
What Topps baseball card is worth the most money?
The most valuable Topps baseball card is the 1952 Mickey Mantle Topps rookie card selling for $5.2 million in February of 2021.
When did Topps stop making baseball cards?
2025
In a major shake-up to the trading cards industry, MLB has agreed to move on from Topps when their licensing agreement ends after 2025. The new official trading card company for MLB and its players’ union will be created and overseen by sports-merchandise giant Fanatics.
Will there be Topps baseball cards in 2022?
2022 Topps Series 1 Baseball Base / Parallels Again offering 330 cards in the base set, 2022 Topps Series 1 Baseball features top players, League Leaders and team cards along with the rookies and Future Stars. The parallel lineup includes the new Platinum (1/1) edition.
What was the very first baseball card?
It is here that they wrote the first baseball card was from 1863: “The Grand Match at Hoboken” Harry Wright card. From their article: Picturing Wright, the father of baseball, in a full-length studio pose, this card was created to promote attendance, and the sale of admissions,…
When was the first baseball card made?
The history of the first baseball card is contested, and searching for the answer will give you largely different results. Here’s what we found: According to the PSA lingo guide (where we originally found our answer), the first baseball card was issued in 1886.
Who owns the Topps Company?
On October 12, 2007, Topps was acquired by Michael Eisner’s The Tornante Company and Madison Dearborn Partners. Under Eisner’s direction, Topps began to expand into the entertainment and media business with plans for a Bazooka Joe movie.
What is a Topps card?
Based in New York City, Topps is best known as a leading producer of American football, baseball, basketball, ice hockey, soccer, and other sports and non-sports themed trading cards . It is currently the only baseball card manufacturer with a contract with Major League Baseball.