From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Topps joined the sports cards market in the 1950s becoming a rival to Bowman. After competing with each other for five years Topps bought out Bowman in 1956. Competition still remained however, in the form of Parkhurst hockey cards. Topps produced cards of the United States based National Hockey League teams while Parkhurst covered the Canadian teams. Topps had produced multi-sport photo cards prior to 1950, namely the 1948 Topps Magic Photos but each set was very small and not considered a major set [1]. This trend was consistent with their first baseball and college football issues: the 1950 Feltbacks resembled college pennants; 1951 Magic football included a scratch-off game on the reverse; Red/Blue Backs intended to be a card game; Connie Mack/Current All-Stars are foldable stand-ups. It was in 1952 that Topps released their first truly major card set. Below is a list with brief descriptions of Topps sports card products for the 1950s.
[edit] Baseball
| Year |
Set |
Description |
Cards in Set |
Size |
Notes |
Image |
| 1951 |
Blue Backs |
|
52 |
2 x 2.625 inches |
|
 |
| Red Backs |
|
52 |
2 x 2.625 inches |
|
 |
| Connie Mack All-Stars |
|
11 |
2.0625 x 5.25 inches |
|
|
| Current All-Stars |
|
8 |
2.0625 x 5.25 inches |
|
|
| Team Cards |
|
9 |
2.0625 x 5.25 inches |
|
|
| 1952 |
Base set |
|
407 |
2.625 x 3.75 inches |
|
 |
| Master set |
|
487 |
2.625 x 3.75 inches |
|
| 1953 |
Base set |
|
274 |
2.625 x 3.75 inches |
|
 |
| 1954 |
Base set |
|
250 |
2.625 x 3.75 inches |
|
 |
| Canadian |
|
50 |
2.625 x 3.75 inches |
|
| 1955 |
Base set |
|
206 |
2.625 x 3.75 inches |
|
 |
| Double Header |
|
66 |
2.0625 x 4.875 inches |
|
|
| 1956 |
Base set |
|
340 |
2.625 x 3.75 inches |
|
 |
| Pins |
|
60 |
1.1875 diameter |
|
|
| 1957 |
Base set |
|
407 |
2.5 x 3.5 inches |
|
 |
| 1958 |
Base set |
|
494 |
2.5 x 3.5 inches |
|
 |
| Master set |
|
534 |
2.5 x 3.5 inches |
|
| 1959 |
Base set |
|
572 |
2.5 x 3.5 inches |
|
 |
| Bazooka |
|
23 |
2.8125 x 4.9375 inches |
|
|
[1]
[edit] Parallel Sets
| Year |
Set |
Description |
Cards in Set |
Size |
Notes |
Image |
| 1959 |
Topps Venezuelan |
|
198 |
2.5 x 3.5 inches |
|
|
[edit] Football
| Year |
Set |
Description |
Cards in Set |
Size |
Notes |
Image |
| 1950 |
Felt Backs |
|
100 |
0.875 x 1.4375 inches |
College football |
|
| 1951 |
Magic |
|
75 |
2.0625 x 2.9375 inches |
College football |
|
| 1955 |
All-American |
|
120 |
2.625 x 3.625 inches |
College football |
|
| 1956 |
National Football League |
|
120 |
2.625 x 3.75 inches |
|
|
| 1957 |
National Football League |
|
154 |
2.5 x 3.5 inches |
|
|
| 1958 |
National Football League |
|
132 |
2.5 x 3.5 inches |
|
|
| Canadian Football League |
|
88 |
2.5 x 3.5 inches |
|
|
| 1959 |
National Football League |
|
176 |
2.5 x 3.5 inches |
|
|
| Canadian Football League |
|
88 |
2.5 x 3.5 inches |
|
|
| Bazooka |
|
18 |
2.8125 x 4.9375 inches |
|
|
[edit] Basketball
| Year |
Set |
Description |
Cards in Set |
Size |
Notes |
Image |
| 1957-58 |
NBA Base set |
|
80 |
2.5 x 3.5 inches |
|
|
[edit] Hockey
[edit] References
