1979 Topps

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This is a list with brief descriptions of Topps sports card products for 1979.

Baseball

SetDescriptionCards in SetSize
Base set7262.5 x 3.5 inches

Parallel Sets

United States

SetDescriptionCards in SetSize
Burger King Phillies232.5 x 3.5 inches
Burger King Yankees232.5 x 3.5 inches

In 1979, only two parallel sets were produced by Topps. Both were for the Burger King fast food chain, which had had Topps produce promotional sets for its outlets. The offering for 1979 was reduced from the four teams which had set the previous year to two teams - the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies. Again the cards were virtually identical to the 1979 Topps regular issue cards for distribution at outlets in the home areas of the teams. Some of the players had a different photo or photo cropping variation than their Topps counterpart and the card number on the back was in a different typeface. The Burger King sets has 22 cards plus a checklist card. Several cards reflected players changing teams, most notably Pete Rose (Phillies) and Tommy John (Yankees).

Team Checklist Sheet

This uncut sheet was available by mail-in offer on packs. The sheet features 26 team cards from the regular set on thinner stock.

Canada

Since 1965, the Canadian candy company O-Pee-Chee produced virtually identical, but smaller, sets identical to the Topps issue of the same year. The Canadian printed cards were printed on gray cardstock and featured French and English text on the reverse and O-Pee-Chee logo on the obverse in place of the Topps logo.

SetDescriptionCards in SetSize
O-Pee-Chee3742.5 x 3.5 inches

Football

In 1979, Topps issued two Football sets featuring the National Football League.

SetDescriptionCards in SetSize
Base set5282.5 x 3.5 inches

The entire 528 card set was produced with gray colored backs, as well as lighter 'cream colored' backs. The cream colored backs seem to be slightly rarer, but do not command a premium price-wise over the gray card back versions

Team Checklists282.5 x 3.5 inches

Hockey

Topps issued one set featuring the National Hockey League for the 1979-1980 season.

SetDescriptionCards in SetSize
Base set2642.5 x 3.5 inches

This set is noteworthy as it contains the first card of Wayne Gretzky, currently the all-time leading scorer in NHL history. It also contains the final card of Gordie Howe, the previous record holder.

Basketball

Topps issued one set featuring the National Basketball Association for the 1979-1980 season.

SetDescriptionCards in SetSize
Base set1322.5 x 3.5 inches

Soccer

In 1979, Topps issued two sets in the United Kingdom featuring soccer players and one sticker set in the United States featuring logos of the North American Soccer League (NASL). The United Kingdom cards fronts are basically identical to the 1978 Topps football cards issued in the United States.

SetDescriptionCards in SetSize
English FootballersBlue back3962.5 x 3.5 inches
Scottish FootballersRed back1322.5 x 3.5 inches
NASL Stickerslogo stickers332.5 x 3.5 inches

Related Research Articles

Baseball card

A baseball card is a type of trading card relating to baseball, usually printed on cardboard, silk, or plastic. In the 1950's they came with a stick of gum and a limited number of cards. These cards feature one or more baseball players, teams, stadiums, or celebrities. Baseball cards are most often found in the U.S. mainland but are also common in Puerto Rico or countries such as Canada, Cuba and Japan, where top-level leagues are present with a substantial fan base to support them. Some notable baseball card producing companies include Topps, Upper Deck Company, and Panini Group. Previous manufacturers include Fleer, Bowman, and Donruss. Baseball card production peaked in the late 1980s and many collectors left the hobby disenchanted after the 1994-95 MLB strike. However, baseball cards are still one of the most influential collectibles of all time. A T206 Honus Wagner was sold for $2.8 million in 2007.

This a list with brief descriptions of Topps trading card products for 1980. All sets listed are standard size unless noted.

1981 Topps

This a list with brief descriptions of Topps trading card products for 1981. All sets listed are standard size unless noted.

1982 Topps

This a list with brief descriptions of Topps trading card products for 1982. All sets listed are standard size unless noted.

1984 Topps

This a list with brief descriptions of Topps trading card products for 1984. All sets listed are standard size unless noted.

1987 Topps

This a list with brief descriptions of Topps trading card products for 1987. All sets listed are standard size unless noted.

1990 Topps

This a list with brief descriptions of Topps trading card products for 1990. All sets listed are standard size unless noted.

1991 Topps

This a list with brief descriptions of Topps trading card products for 1991. All cards listed are standard size. Exceptions are noted.

1960s Topps

Despite a brief attempt by Fleer to sign baseball players in 1963, Topps continued its reign as the only major baseball card manufacturer in the United States. On the other hand, Football had more than one professional league in operation, allowing for competing companies to co-exist by producing a major national set for each league. Topps was able to produce National Football League sets from 1960 to 1963 while Fleer issued American Football League sets. Topps then began producing AFL sets from 1964 to 1967 while Philadelphia Gum issued NFL sets. Before the end of the decade Topps revived their basketball issue after a ten-year hiatus. The following is a list with brief descriptions of Topps sports card products for the 1960s. All cards listed are standard size(2½ × 3½ inches). Exceptions are noted.

1970s Topps

The 1970s saw Topps go largely uncontested in the sports card market. The decade featured full runs of baseball, football, basketball, and hockey. Aside from issues like Kellogg's cereal premiums which ran throughout the 70s there was not much in the way of major national card manufacturers to compete with. Topps maintained its license agreement with O-Pee-Chee in baseball and hockey. The company would have significantly more ground to cover given the growth of the professional sports leagues during the decade. Major League Baseball added four new teams in 1969 and two in 1977; the National Football League added two teams in 1976; the National Basketball Association gained three in 1970, one in 1974, and the American Basketball Association picked up one in 1972; the National Hockey League acquired two teams in each of 1970, 1972, and 1974. Soccer also made the Topps roster in the 70s, producing English and Scottish 'Footballers' for distribution in the United Kingdom. Domestic soccer was not to be forgotten with a North American Soccer League sticker set in 1979. The following are trading card sets issued by Topps in the 1970s. All cards listed are standard size. Exceptions are noted.

1992 Topps

This a list with brief descriptions of Topps trading card products for 1992. All cards listed are standard size. Exceptions are noted.

This is a list with brief descriptions of Topps sports card products for 1971.

This is a list with brief descriptions of Topps sports card products for 1972.

This is a list with brief descriptions of Topps sports card products for 1973.

This is a list with brief descriptions of Topps sports card products for 1974.

This is a list with brief descriptions of Topps sports card products for 1975.

This is a list with brief descriptions of Topps sports card products for 1976.

This is a list with brief descriptions of Topps sports card products for 1977.

This is a list with brief descriptions of Topps sports card products for 1978.

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