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. Baseball added four new teams in 1969 and two in 1977; the NFL added two teams in 1976; the NBA gained three in 1970, one in 1974, and the ABA picked up one in 1972; the NHL acquired two teams in 1970, 1972, and 1974. Soccer also made the Topps roster in the 70s, producing English and Scottish 'Footballers' for distribution in the UK. Domestic soccer was not to be forgotten with an NASL sticker set in 1979. The following are trading card sets issued by Topps in the 1970s.

Baseball

Base sets

Burger King

In 1977 Topps produced a set featuring the New York Yankees for New York City area Burger King fast food restaurants. The cards were identical to the 1977 Topps regular issue cards and were distributed as part of a promotion at the company's outlets in the region. Some of the players had a different photo than the their Topps counterpart. This Burger King set originally had 22 cards plus a checklist card, but a Lou Pinella card was added after the promotion began along with a revised checklist. Only the checklist card featured any Burger King branding.

The next year, Topps produced for Burger King issued sets of New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, and Texas Rangers for distribution at outlets in the home areas of the teams. The cards were almost identical (the photo area is slightly larger) to the 1978 Topps regular issue cards Some of the players had a different photo than the their Topps counterpart including some who have changed teams, most notably the Yankees Goose Gossage. Also of note are single rookie cards for the Tigers Jack Morris, Alan Trammell, and Lou Whitaker, who all appeared on multiple player rookie cards in the Topps set. As with the previous year, only the checklist card featured any Burger King branding.

In 1979, the promotion was reduced to two teams, the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies. Again the cards were virtually identical to the 1979 Topps regular issue cards for distribution at outlets in the home areas of the teams. Some of the players had a different photo or photo cropping variation than the their Topps counterpart and the card number on the back was in a different typeface. The Burger King set featured 22 cards plus a checklist card. Several cards reflected players changing teams, most notably Pete Rose (Phillies) and Tommy John (Yankees).

NBC

In 1976, Topps produced a promotional business card for NBC featuring former baseball player and then Today Show host Joe Garagiola. The front of the card resembles the 1973 Topps baseball set with Garagiola being listed as a member of the "NBC All Stars."The reverse resembles the 1976 set, but is printed in black instead of green. Garagiola's career statistics are featured, as well as his contact information at NBC.

Zest Soap

In 1978, Topps produced for Procter & Gamble's Zest brand soap a set of five cards as a promotional item. The cards were basically identical to the 1978 Topps set, but they featured bilingual English/Spanish backs, and only five players, all Hispanic, were featured. [http://www.super70s.com/Super70s/Sports/Memorabilia/Cards/Baseball/1978/]

"For the O-Pee-Chee sets that resembled the Topps issue see" 1970s O-Pee-Chee.

Football (American)

1970

*Base set 263 cards Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches
*Glossy Inserts 33 cards Size: 2-1/4 X 3-1/4 in.
*Posters Inserts 24 posters Size: 8 X 10 in.
*Topps Super 35 cards Size: 3-1/8 X 5-1/4 in.

1971

*Base set 263 cards Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches
*Game Inserts 53 cards Size: 2-1/4 X 3-1/4 in.
*Posters Inserts 32 posters Size: 4-7/8 X 6-7/8 in.
*Bazooka 36 cards/12 panels of 3 Size: 2-5/8 X 5-7/8 in.(1-15/16 X 2-5/8 individually)

1972

*Base set 351 cards Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches
*Bazooka Official Signals 12 cards Size: 6-1/4 X 2-7/8 in.

1973

*Base set 528 cards Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches
*Team Checklists 26 cards Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

1974

*Base set 528 cards Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches
*Parker Brothers Pro Draft 50 cards Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches
*Team Checklists 26 cards Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

1975

*Base set 528 cards Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches
*Team Checklists 26 cards Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

1976

*Base set 528 cards Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches
*Team Checklists 30 cards Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

1977

*Base set 528 cards Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches
*Holsun Packers/Vikings 22 cards Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches
*Team Checklists 30 cards Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches
*Topps Mexican 528 cards Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

1978

*Base set 528 cards Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches
*Topps Holsum 33 cards Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches
*Team Checklists 28 cards Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

1979

*Base set 528 cards Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches
*Team Checklists 28 cards Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

Basketball

1970-71

*Base set 175 cards (NBA) Size: 2-1/2 X 4-11/16 in.
*Topps Poster 24 posters Size: 8 X 10 in.

1971-72

*Base set 233 cards (NBA/ABA) Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches
*Topps Trios 26 stickers Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

1972-73

Base set 264 cards (NBA/ABA) Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

1973-74

*Base set 264 cards (NBA/ABA) Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches
*Team Stickers 33 stickers Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

1974-75

Base set 264 cards (NBA/ABA) Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

1975-76

*Base set 330 cards (NBA/ABA) Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches
*Team Checklist 27 cards Size: 7-1/2 X 10-1/2 in. (panel)

1976-77

Base set 144 cards (NBA) Size: 3-1/8 X 5-1/4 in.

1977-78

Base set 132 cards (NBA) Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

1978-79

Base set 132 cards (NBA) Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

1979-80

Base set 132 cards (NBA) Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches

Hockey

1970-71 Topps
1970-71 Topps Sticker Stamps
1971-72 Topps
1971-72 Bazooka
1972-73 Topps
1973-74 Topps
1974-75 Topps
1975-76 Topps
1976-77 Topps
1976-77 Topps Glossy Inserts
1977-78 Topps
1977-78 Topps Glossy
1978-79 Topps
1978-79 Topps Team Inserts
1979-80 Topps
1979-80 Topps Team Inserts

Football (Association)

Non-sport

Confections

References

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