1984 Topps

This a list with brief descriptions of Topps sports card products for 1984.

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 X 3.5 inches

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 X 3.5 inches

Glossy Send-Ins

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 X 3.5 inches

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 eleven cards each representing the American and National League teams from the 1983 All-Star game. Size: 2.5 X 3.5 inches

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: 4.875 X 6.875 in.

Parallel Sets

United States

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 x 3.5 inches

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 3.5 x 2.5 inch size and sold individually in the aftermarket.

Canada

In 1984 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

Food Issues

United States

In 1983, Topps issued two sets for regional bakeries and one for candy maker Nestlé.

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 x 3.5 inches

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 x 3.5 inches

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 X 3.5 inches

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 cerial concern. The main difference being the presence of the Ralston-Purina logo as opposed to the Topps logo. Size: 2.5 X 3.5 inches

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 X 3.5 inches

Retail Issues

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 X 3.5 inches

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 X 3.5 inches

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 X 3.5 inches

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 X 3.5 inches

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 X 3.5 inches

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 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