What Topps Baseball Cards Are Worth Money?

Find out what Topps baseball cards are worth money by following these best practices.

Pre-War Cards

Topps baseball cards from the pre-war era are some of the most valuable cards in the world. Cards from this era are rare and highly sought-after by collectors. If you have a pre-war Topps baseball card, it is likely worth a lot of money.

The Goudey Gum Company

The Goudey Gum Company was one of the most prominent manufacturers of chewable gum and candy during the early twentieth century. The company was founded in 1890 by Charles Friedel and Jacob Lehman in New York City. In 1909, the company was purchased by the American Chicle Company, which was later bought by Topps in 1963.

Goudey is best known for producing baseball cards from 1933 to 1941. These cards are some of the most valuable and highly sought-after collectibles in the hobby. The most famous Goudey set is the 1933 issue, which features 240 cards and includes such legends as Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, and Lou Gehrig.

Other popular Goudey sets include the 1934 set (192 cards), which features players from all 16 Major League teams; the 1936 “Fine Paper” set (96 cards), which were printed on thinner paper than other sets of the era; and the 1938 “Horrors of War” set (24 cards), which depicted scenes from World War II.

In addition to baseball cards, Goudey also produced a series of “Bazooka” Bubble Gum wrappers that featured cartoon characters such as Bazooka Joe and Pvt. Jabboo. These wrappers are also highly collectible and can be worth thousands of dollars each.

The Play Ball Gum Company

The Play Ball Gum Company was one of the first companies to produce baseball cards. They began production in 1909 and continued through 1911. In 1912, the company was bought out by the American Tobacco Company and became part of the “T” card series. These cards are some of the most valuable pre-War cards.

Post-War Cards

Post-war Topps baseball cards from the years 1948-1955 are worth money. These cards feature legends such as Jackie Robinson, Yogi Berra, and Hank Aaron. The most valuable post-war Topps baseball cards are from the years 1948 and 1949. These cards can be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

The Topps Chewing Gum Company

The Topps Chewing Gum Company was founded in New York City in 1938. The company got its start selling an early form of bubble gum called “Bazooka.” In the early 1950s, Topps began producing baseball cards as a way to promote their gum. The first Topps baseball cards were released in 1952, and they have been produced every year since then.

Topps cards from the 1950s are highly sought-after by collectors. The most valuable card from this era is the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle, which is worth tens of thousands of dollars in mint condition. Other valuable 1950s Topps cards include those featuring star players such as Duke Snider, Yogi Berra, and Sandy Koufax.

Topps baseball cards from the 1960s are also quite valuable, particularly those featuring star players like Roberto Clemente and Hank Aaron. The most valuable card from this era is the 1963 Topps Pete Rose rookie card, which is worth several thousand dollars in mint condition. Other popular 1960s Topps cards include those featuring Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, and Harmon Killebrew.

Topps cards from the 1970s are not as valuable as those from earlier decades, but there are still some that are worth a significant amount of money. The most valuable card from this era is the 1976 Topps Robin Yount rookie card, which is worth hundreds of dollars in mint condition. Other popular 1970s Topps cards include those featuring George Brett, Reggie Jackson,and Mike Schmidt.

The Bowman Gum Company

The Bowman Gum Company was founded in Philadelphia in 1932 by John Bowman. originally specializing in candy, the company shifted its focus to bubble gum with the introduction of Bowman’s bubbles in 1933. Topps Gum Company purchased a majority stake in Bowman Gum in 1956, and the two companies merged in 1963. The Topps Company has been headquartered in New York City since 1955.

During WWII, Topps focused on producing gum for the military as well as other products like Slinkys and wax lips. It wasn’t until after the war that they resumed production of baseball cards. In 1948, Topps released their first post-war set of baseball cards known as the “Bazooka” set which included All-Stars like Bob Feller, Yogi Berra, and Jackie Robinson.

The 1950s were considered the golden age of baseball cards with many sets becoming highly collectible today. Some of the most iconic sets from this era include the 1952 Topps set which was the first Topps set to include player photos on the front, and the 1954 Topps set which is considered one of the most aesthetically pleasing sets ever produced.

Topps Sets from following decades are also highly sought after by collectors including:
-The 1965 Topps Set which featured future Hall-of-Famer Willie Mays on the cover
-The 1969 Topps Set which featured then-record holder Hank Aaron on the cover
-The 1972 Topps Set which was designed by Dick Perez and features some of his most iconic card designs

Modern Cards

Topps baseball cards have been around since the 1950’s and are a classic part of Americana. The most popular and sought-after cards are from the 1950’s and 1960’s, with the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card being the most valuable. However, there are a few modern cards that are worth quite a bit of money as well.

The Topps Company, Inc.

The Topps Company, Inc. is an American company that manufactures chewing gum, candy, and collectibles. Based in New York City, Topps is best known as a leading producer of baseball cards, football cards, basketball cards, and other sports trading cards. It is also the current exclusive provider of MLB licensed baseball trading cards. In addition, Topps produces entertainment trading cards, including Star Wars and other Marvel properties. The company began as Topps Chewing Gum Company in Brooklyn in 1938 and was founded by Abram and Joseph Shorin.

The Upper Deck Company

The Upper Deck Company is an American sporting goods company specializing in trading cards and collectibles. Its headquarters are in Carlsbad, California, United States. The company was founded in 1988 by Richard McWilliam, a sports fan who noticed the trend of sports memorabilia as a valuable commodity. After establishing several successful partnerships with sports leagues and athletes, the company became the exclusive provider of MLB cards from 2004 to 2009. In 2010, the NFL partnered with Topps to produce football cards.