1989 Topps

This a list with brief descriptions of Topps sports card products for 1989.

Baseball

Base Set

The 1989 Topps set, Called "Wave" by collectors, totals 792 cards and was issued in wax, rack, jumbo packs, vending boxes or factory sets. Subsets include Future Stars, Topps All-Star Rookies, Record Breakers, Turn Back The Clock, All-Stars, Team Leaders, First Draft Picks, Checklists and Manager cards. Player cards had a thin colored line separating the white border and action photo, and the upper-left corner of the action photo is rounded off. The team name appears in a cursive font in the lower-right corner, with the player name appearing below it within a ribbon-like area. For the third year in a row, the player's position does not appear on the front of the card. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.

Traded Set

The Traded set totals 132 cards and was issued as a factory set. The cards are identical in appearance to the base set except for the lighter colored back. This set featured traded players and managers, and rookie cards. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.

Glossy Send-Ins

This set totals 60 cards and was available by mailing in the special offer cards found in 1989 Topps wax packs. The fronts have a glossy player photo while the backs say All-Star Set Collector's Edition and include the players name, team ,and position. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.

Glossy All-Stars

This set totals 22 cards and was available as an insert in 1989 Topps rack packs. The back says All-Star Game Commemorative Set and includes the players name, position and league. There are 11 cards each for the American and National League All-Star teams. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.

Mini Leaders

The Mini set includes 77 cards and were available in wax packs. The cards vaguely resemble the base set and featured players that led various statistical categories. Size: 2-1/8 X 3 in.

Glossy Rookies

This set totals 22 cards and was available as an insert in 1989 Topps jumbo packs. The back says Rookies Commemorative Set and includes the players name, position and team. The cards slightly resemble the Glossy All-Star set. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.

Batting Leaders

This 22 card set was issued as an insert in K-Mart blister packs and featured the top active career batting leaders. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.

Topps Big

This set totals 330 cards issued in three series of 110 cards and was available in wax packs. Comic style career highlights are featured on the back. This set included Olympic team members. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-3/4 in.

Wax Box Cards

The "Box Bottom" cards were featured 4 to a box on the bottom of the wax pack boxes of 1989 Topps of which there were 4 different boxes for a total of 16 cards. They resemble the base cards except for having a career milestones on the back instead of full statistics. The set is lettered A-P rather than numbered. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in. when individually cut out.

UK Minis

This United Kingdom set had 88 total cards and was issued in wax packs for the UK. The backs featured explanations of plays and definitions of baseball terminology. Size: 2-1/8 X 3 in.

enior

The Topps Senior Professional Baseball Association set has 132 cards issued as a factory set. The set contains retired players and manager cards, a checklist plus one card of SPBA Commissioner Curt Flood. The cards have wood grain borders similar to the 1987 Topps base set. In the top left corner of the player photos it is stated that the set is the 'Premier Edition'. The backs are pink and white with one line each for Major League Career Toals, Career Bests, and SPBA statistics. A small subscription card for Topps magazine was included in the box. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.

Bowman

*The 1989 Bowman set has 484 cards and was issued in wax, rack, or cello packs, and factory sets. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-3/4 in.
*The 1989 Bowman Reprint Inserts were 11 cards found in the Bowman wax pack featuring reprints of classic Bowman cards. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-3/4 in.

Parallel Sets

*In 1989 Topps issued Tiffany sets of the Base set and the Traded set in limited quantities only available as Factory sets. A Tiffany set was also available of the 1989 Bowman set.
*In 1989 O-Pee-Chee printed an identical, save for O-Pee-Chee branding, set with only 396 cards which featured lighter gray cardstock, bilingual English/French backs, and added traded lines on some cards. O-Pee-Chee also printed bilingual versions of the Wax Box Cards.

Retail/Food Issues

These are sets issued by other companies in conjunction with Topps.
*Ames 20/20 33 card box set. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.
*Bazooka Shining Stars 22 cards issued in boxes of gum. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.
*Cap'n Crunch 22 cards issued in cereal boxes. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.
*Hills Team MVP's 33 card box set. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.
*K-Mart 33 card box set called Dream Team. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.
*Kay-Bee 33 card box set called Superstars of Baseball. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.
*Baseball Talk/LJN 164 large size souncards for use with record player. Fronts resemble 1989 Topps regular issue. Size: 3-1/4 X 5-1/8 in.
*Toys R Us Rookies 33 card box set. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.
*Woolworth's Baseball Highlights 33 card box set. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.

Football

Base set

The 1989 football set contains 396 cards and was issued in wax packs and factory sets. Subsets include Team leaders, Record Breakers, league leaders, Super Bowl, and checklists. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.

Box Bottoms

The box card set has 16 cards that were found on the bottom of regular issue wax packs boxes as a four card panel. The cards feature two players per card of the offensive and defensive players of the week for the 1988 season. The cards are lettered A-P. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in. (individually)

1000 Yard Club

This set totals 24 glossy cards and were issued as inserts in the football wax packs. The 'members of the club' are players who gained 1000 yards or more during the season by rushing or receiving. The back of the cards list the total yardage gained by the player in each game of the season. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.

Traded set

The traded set contains 132 cards and was issued as a factory set. The players featured in this set are rookies or traded players on their new team. The cards are similar to the regular issue except for the white card stock and the T suffix in the numbering. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.

Topps American/UK

The UK set contains 33 cards and was issued in the United Kingdom as a factory set. They are similar to the regular issue cards except for the white card stock. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.

Football Talk

This 8 card set was distributed by LJN toys in four card blister packs. These cards are similar to the Baseball Talk cards mentioned above and are used with the sportstalk record player. Size: 3-1/4 X 5-1/8 in.

Hockey

References

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