1990 Topps

This a list with brief descriptions of Topps sports card products for 1990.

Baseball

Base Set

The 1990 Topps set totals 792 cards and was issued in wax, rack, jumbo packs, vending boxes or factory sets. Subsets include Nolan Ryan Salute, Record Breakers, Turn Back The Clock, All-Stars, First Draft Picks, Checklists, and Manager cards. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.

Traded Set

The Traded set totals 132 cards and was issued in wax packs or as a factory set. The cards are identical in appearance to the base set with two exceptions. The traded set uses a different color palate for the gradient design than is found in the base set and the factory set card were printed in Ireland on white cardstock in Ireland while the Pennsylvania printed cards from the wax packs were printed on a gray backed cardstock. 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 1990 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 1990 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 88 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 33 cards and was available as an insert in 1990 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. Size: 2-5/8 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 1990 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.

Topps Debut '89

This Major League Debut set had 152 total cards and was issued as a factory set. The cards chronicle a player's first appearance and are otherwise similar in appearance to the regular issue. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.

Bowman

*The 1990 Bowman set has 528 cards and was issued in wax packs and factory sets. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.
*The 1990 Bowman Art Inserts were 11 cards found in the Bowman wax pack featuring drawings of 11 superstars. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.

Parallel Sets

*In 1990 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 1990 Bowman set.
*In 1990 O-Pee-Chee printed a virtually identical 792 card set complete with the Topps logo. The only differences between the two are the bilingual reverse sides and the copyright line. The majority of the cards were printed on grey cardstock, similar to that used by Topps for its American issue. The less abundant variation are cards printed on a thinner white cardstock. The latter cards tend to command a premium, as they were distributed at about a 1:5 ratio compared to the former ones.
*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 All-Stars 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.
*Hills Hit Men 33 card box set. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.
*K-Mart Superstars 33 card box set. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.
*Kay-Bee 33 card box set called Kings of Baseball. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.
*Topps TV All-Stars 66 card factory set available through television offer. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 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

This years' football set was increased to 528 cards and was issued in wax packs and factory sets. Subsets include Record Breakers, Super Bowl, League leaders, checklists, and Team Action cards. 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 1989 season. The cards are lettered A-P. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in. (individually)

1000 Yard Club

This set totals 30 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.

Parallel sets

1990 Topps Tiffany 528 cards glossy version of base set on white card stock issued as a factory set.

Hockey

References

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