1984 Topps

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1984 Topps Beny Ayala 1984 Topps Beny Ayala.jpg
1984 Topps Beny Ayala

This a list with brief descriptions of Topps trading card products for 1984. All sets listed are standard size (2½ × 3½ inches) unless noted.

Baseball

Base set

The 1984 Topps Base set totals 792 cards and was issued in wax and rack packs or as a complete set available in the J.C. Penney catalog. The cards featured a player action photo with a square portrait inset in the lower corner on the front. Subsets include Highlights, League Leaders, All-Stars, Active Career Leaders, Team Leaders, and Checklist cards. Player cards had a white background with the Topps logo in the upper-right corner, the team name in color down the left side, a head shot of the player within a colored box in the lower-left corner and the player's name and position in color in the lower-right corner. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 in.

Traded set

The Traded set totals 132 cards issued as a factory set and was printed in Ireland on white cardstock. The cards are identical to the base set except for the alphabetical ordering and the T in the numbering. The set features traded players in their new uniforms and extended rookie cards. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 in.

Glossy send-in

This set contains 40 cards which were available by mailing in the game cards found in the 1984 Topps wax packs. The cards feature glossy fronts and have All-Star Set Collector's Edition on the back along with the players name, team, and position. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 in.

Glossy All-Stars

This set totals 22 cards and was available as an insert in 1984 Topps rack packs. The backs state that it is the All-Star Game Commemorative Set and include the players name, position and league. There are 11 cards each representing the American and National League teams from the 1983 All-Star game. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 in.

Topps Super

This set is a large size parallel version of the base set featuring 30 cards of star players. Other than the size, only the numbering is different. Size: ​4 7⁄8 × ​6 7⁄8 in.

Other sets

Traded Darryl Strawberry Bronze Metal replica of his 1st Topps card available to dealers who purchased a Topps Traded case. Size: 1¼ × 1¾ inches.
Proofs (66) These cards are blank backed and the mini photo portraits do not extend beyond their frame. standard size
Darryl Palmer This card was made as a prop for the movie 'The Slugger's Wife' of actor Michael O'Keefe. standard size
Gallery of Immortals (12) This set is metal replicas of regular issue cards in 1/4 scale. There are two variations: bronze and silver. The Tom Seaver card has a third variation in pewter given to dealers who bought the set. The sets were issued in a velvet lined case. There exist counterfeit 'Pewter Gallery Ingots'.
Rub Downs (32) While there are thirty-two rub down sheets the set features 112 different players. The player images as well as the other baseball equipment images can be transferred to another surface by the backs. Size: 2⅜ × 3-15/16 inches (sheet).
Stickers (386) The full color photos have stars in each of the corners and are numbered on both sides. The back has info about the album and an offer to order stickers by mail. Size: 1-15/16 × 2-9/16 inches.
Sticker Boxes (12) 'The Super Bats' set was printed on the sticker boxes. Each box had two hitting leaders for a total of 24 players. The cards are blanked backed and the player's name appears in a bat above the photo. standard size.
1977 Topps Dale Murphy Aluminum This card is a full-size replica 1977 Topps card #476 authorized by Topps for a fundraiser for Huntington's Disease research. The fronts have crude black etchings of the portraits while the back has a serial number. standard size
7-Eleven/Pepsi Sheets This was a test issue localized in the midwest. The sheets have 128 regular issue Topps cards on them with a 5 × 7 in. panel at the lower right with the sponsor's logos. Size: 28½ × 43 inches.

Parallel sets

Topps Tiffany

In 1984 Topps issued Tiffany sets of the base set and the Traded set in limited quantities only available as Factory sets. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 in.

Nestlé

Candy maker Nestlé released an identical 792-card set to the Topps base set in uncut sheets as a send away premium. Many of these cards were cut into the standard 2.5 × 3.5-inch (89 mm) size and sold individually in the aftermarket.

Licensed sets

For the O-Pee-Chee set that resembled the Topps issue see List of O-Pee-Chee Sports Cards.

Retail/Food Issues

In 1984, Topps issued several sets in conjunction with other companies.

Drake's Big Hitters

For the fourth straight year, Topps produced for Northeastern regional bakery Drake's a promotional set of 33 cards. The cards issued in boxes of Drake's Cakes and featured position players and no pitchers. The front of the cards have a design that differs from the Topps set while the backs resemble the Topps cards. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 in.

Gardner's Bakery Brewers

For the second straight year, Topps produced for Wisconsin bakery Gardner's Bakery a promotional set of 22 cards of Milwaukee Brewers players. The cards were issued with the company's baked goods. The front of the cards have a design that differs from the Topps set while the backs are identical the Topps cards. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 in.

Nestlé Dream Team

Candy maker Nestlé issued a 22-card set issued in chocolate bars. Backs resemble the Topps regular issue cards. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 in. Rarest in the series is the Ron Guidry/Jim Rice All Stars Nestle Panel. PSA has only graded 1 at 10. 2015 value is $625.00

Ralston-Purina

Cereal maker Ralston-Purina issued a 33-card set produced by Topps. It was similar to the Topps Cereal Series set, which was also issued by the cereal concern. The main difference being the presence of the Ralston-Purina logo as opposed to the Topps logo. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 in.

Topps Cereal Series

The Topps Cereal Series set included 33 player cards plus 1 checklist card and was available as a premium in Ralston-Purina cereals or via mail order. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 in.

Milton Bradley

Game maker Milton Bradley issued a set of 30 cards for its Championship Baseball game. The game was not licensed by Major League Baseball, which required removal of franchise logos by airbrushing. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 in.

Football

Base set

The 1984 football set contains 396 cards and was issued in wax packs, rack packs, and factory sets. Subsets include record breakers, playoffs, league leaders, team leader, checklists, and Instant Replay cards. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 in.

Glossy inserts

This is an 11 cards set issued as an insert in rack packs. The backs state that it is the 'NFL Star Set' and feature players that led their conference in various statistical categories. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 in.

Play cards

These 27 cards were inserted one per wax pack and are basically game instructions. Each card had a value of any number of yards gained. Upon gaining enough yards the cards were redeemable for a mail away set of cards from Topps. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 in.

Glossy send-in

This 30 cards set was available by mail using the 'Play cards' above. As indicated the cards feature glossy fronts while the backs state that it is the 'NFL Football Stars Collector's Edition'. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 in.

USFL

The USFL set contains 132 cards issued as a factory set. The fronts say 'Premier USFL Edition' and the backs feature both NFL and USFL statistics while rookies have college stats. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 in.

Stickers

This set totals 283 stickers. Unlike previous years some of the stickers came in pairs. There are also four foil subsets of All-Pros and Super Bowl XVIII. Size: ​1 15⁄16 × ​2 9⁄16 inches

Ice hockey

The 1984–85 Topps hockey set somewhat resembles the 1983 Topps baseball issue featuring a player action photo with a smaller circular portrait at the bottom right. The color coordination of the cards is determined by team which is designated at the lower left along with the player's name and position. The backs have complete career statistics. There are 165 cards in the set which includes a larger representation of US-based teams than Canadian. The set is ordered alphabetically by team. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 inches (89 mm).

Non-sport

Baby

This 77-card set is based on the 'Great New Adventure Movie' Baby as the wrapper slogan states. There are 65 cards, 11 stickers, and one checklist. The cards are red bordered photos below which is the card caption in black and movie title in yellow. The backs are printed in blue on green and feature series title, text, and the card number. The stickers are done in black border without captions. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 inches (89 mm)

Gremlins

Topps made a 93-card set based on the Spielberg film Gremlins. The set contains 80 cards 11 stickers, one title card and one checklist. The cards feature color photos of movie scenes with brief text on back. The stickers are die-cut pictures of Gizmo, Stripe and other Gremlins. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 inches (89 mm)

Gremlins Album Stickers

A 180-count sticker set was produced by Panini for Topps based on the Warner Bros. movie Gremlins. Typical of Panini sticker issues there is an album available to place the stickers in; the Gremlins album is 24 pages. Size: ​2 1⁄8 × 3 inches (76 mm)

Indiana Jones and The Temple Of Doom

The Temple of Doom set totals 99 cards. There are 86 story cards with red borders and yellow captions with text on the backs along with a drawing of Indiana Jones. The 11 stickers have captioned photos on white background with puzzle backs. The set is completed by a title card and one checklist. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 inches (89 mm)

Masters of the Universe Eternia Rocks

Masters of the Universe was the theme of the 'Eternia Rocks Bubble Gum' issue by Topps. There are six different characters from the series depicted on the blue packages of this product. Size: ​2 7⁄16 × ​3 3⁄8 inches

Masters of the Universe

The second Masters of the Universe product by Topps is a 109-card set. The first 87 cards follow the adventures of Prince Adam/He-Man with card #88 featuring a checklist. The 21 stickers are split into action scenes(1–10) and characters(11–21). The sticker backs combine to form one of two different puzzles. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 inches (89 mm)

Michael Jackson

Topps issued a 132-card set of Michael Jackson in two series. Both series featured 33 cards and 33 stickers. The card back have different facts about Michael's career while the sticker backs combine to form large puzzles. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 inches (89 mm)

Michael Jackson Super Stickers

An all-sticker set produced in Topps' 'Super' format was also made. This set has 13 large stickers on black backgrounds with the back showing all 13 photos in the set. The stickers were packed one to a large cello bag wrapper without gum. Size: ​4 7⁄8 × ​6 7⁄8 inches

Smurf Album Stickers

The Smurfs, a creation of Belgian cartoonist Peyo, are depicted in this 180-sticker set produced by Panini for Topps. The color artwork stickers can be placed in a 32-page album. Size: ​2 1⁄8 × 3 inches (76 mm)

Supergirl

The Supergirl set totals 44 cards. The first 33 cards have story fronts while the remaining cards have puzzle fronts. The backs of all 44 cards have die-cut stickers. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 inches (89 mm)

Trivia Battle

This 145-card set features question cards, stickers and game cards. The 132 question cards have two panels for a total of 264 individual question cards and with six questions each there are 1584 different questions in the game. There are questions for six different categories as well as rules for one and two players. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 inches (89 mm)

Sources

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1950s Topps

The company 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. 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. In the autumn of 1951, Woody Gelman and Sy Berger, then a 28-year-old veteran of World War II, designed the 1952 Topps baseball card set on the kitchen table of Berger's apartment on Alabama Avenue in Brooklyn. The 1957 Topps set featured dimensions of 2½ by 3½ inches which has become known as the standard card size. Below is a list with brief descriptions of Topps trading card products for the 1950s.

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.

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