1983 Topps

This a list with brief descriptions of Topps sports card products for 1983.

Baseball

Base Set

The 1983 Topps set had 792 cards issued in wax, cello and rack packs. It was also issued as a complete factory set in the J.C. Penney catalog or offered to Baseball Card Stores in a plain Brown Box. The cards featured, along with the action photo, a circular portrait inset in the lower corner on the front. Subsets include All-Stars, League Leaders, Record Breakers, Super Veterans, and Team Leader cards. Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

Traded Set

The Traded set totals 132 cards and was issued as a factory set and for the first time was printed in Ireland on white cardstock. The cards are identical in appearance to the base set except for the T in the numbering arranged alphabetically by player name. This set featured traded players and managers, and rookie cards. Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

Glossy Send-Ins

The Glossy set has 40 cards and were redeemable by mailing-away the game cards available in the 1983 Topps wax packs. The cards featured a glossy photo front and the back said All-Star Set Collector's Edition and included the players name, team, and position. Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

Foldouts

The Foldout set was distributed in 5 subsets each of which had 17 players for a total of 85 photos. The subsets included are Career Wins, Home Run Leaders, Batting Leaders, Relief Aces, and Stolen Base Leaders. Size: 3.5 X 5.3125 in.

Reprint 52

This set is a reprinting of the 1952 Topps set. The set includes 402 reproductions of the original 407 card set. It was available as a factory set. Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

Food Issues

United States

In 1983, Topps issued two sets for regional bakeries.

Drake's Big Hitters

For the third 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 x 3.5 inches

Gardner's Bakery Brewers

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 resemble the Topps cards. Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

Retail Issues

Perma-Graphics

For the second straight year, Topps issued two sets for Perma-Graphics. One set was an 18 card set of All-Stars while the other was 24 cards. Both sets were made of plastic and resemble credit cards Size: 2.125 x 3.75 inches

Parallel Sets

Canada

In 1983 Canadian candy manufacturer O-Pee-Chee produced a licensed version of the Topps set for the Canadian market. The set contained only 396 cards which featured lighter gray cardstock, bilingual backs, and added traded lines. Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

Football

Base set

The 1983 football set contains 396 cards, a reduction from the 528 card sets that Topps had bee producing since 1973. Subsets include Record Breakers, playoffs, league leaders, checklists, and Team Leaders cards. Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

ticker Inserts

This set contains 33 cards and was issued as an insert in the regular issue wax packs. The backs of the cards form one of three puzzles. Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

Hockey

References

* Beckett, Dr. James et al (2002). "Beckett Baseball Card Price Guide". Beckett Publications-Dallas, Texas ISBN 1-930692-17-X