1970s Topps

Brand name printed on the merchandise in the 1970s

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. Major League Baseball added four new teams in 1969 and two in 1977; the National Football League added two teams in 1976; the National Basketball Association gained three in 1970, one in 1974, and the American Basketball Association 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 United Kingdom. Domestic soccer was not to be forgotten with a North American Soccer League sticker set in 1979. The following are trading card sets issued by Topps in the 1970s. All cards listed are standard size (2½ × 3½ inches). Exceptions are noted.

Baseball

Base sets

Year Set Quantity Size (in.) Distribution1 Notes
1970 Topps 720 2.5 × 3.5 Wax(10), Cello(33), Rack(54)
1971 Topps 752 2.5 × 3.5 Wax(10), Cello(30), Rack(54) 1st Topps set w/ photo on back
1972 Topps 787 2.5 × 3.5 Wax(10), Cello(), Rack(54) some card backs combine to form picture
1973 Topps 660 2.5 × 3.5 Wax(10), Cello(27), Rack(54) last set issued in series
1974 Topps 660 2.5 × 3.5 Wax(8,12), Cello(22), Rack(42) Factory set issued for 1st time
1975 Topps 660 2.5 × 3.5 Wax(10), Cello(18), Rack(42)
1976 Topps 660 2.5 × 3.5 Wax(6,10), Cello(24), Rack(42)
1977 Topps 660 2.5 × 3.5 Wax(10), Cello(18), Rack(39)
1978 Topps 726 2.5 × 3.5 Wax(14), Cello(21), Rack(39)
1979 Topps 726 2.5 × 3.5 Wax(12), Cello(18), Rack(39) Super Cello Pack (28)

1 Pack type(card quantity)

Supplemental Issues

Year Set Type Quantity Size (in.) Distribution1
1970 Posters Inserts Insert 24 8-11/16 × 9⅝
Topps Super Large 42 3⅛ × 5¼ Wax (3)
1971 Coin Inserts Insert 153 1½" diameter
Greatest Moments Highlight 55 2½ × 4¾ Wax
Topps Super Large 63 3⅛ × 5¼ Wax (3)
Bazooka Numbered Test 48 2 × 2⅝ Panel (3)
Bazooka Unnumbered Box card 36 2 × 2⅝ Panel (3)
1973 Blue Team Checklists Insert 24 2.5 × 3.5
1974 Traded Update 44 2.5 × 3.5
Team Checklists Insert 24 2.5 × 3.5
1975 Mini Parallel 660 2¼ × 3⅛ Wax(10),Cello(18)
1976 Traded Update 44 2.5 × 3.5
1977 Cloth Stickers Test 73 2.5 × 3.5 Wax (3)
1979 Topps Comics Food 33 3¼ × 3 Wrapper (1)

1 Pack type(card quantity)

Food/Retail

In the late 1970s, Topps produced promotional sets for Burger King fast food restaurants, Procter & Gamble and NBC.

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 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 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).

Licensed Sets

Football (American)

1970

1971

1972

1973

1974

1975

1976

1977

1978

1979

Basketball

During the 1970s Topps issued cards featuring the two professional basketball leagues active at the time, the American Basketball Association (ABA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA) until they merged in 1976.

1970-71

1971-72

1972-73

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

1973-74

1974-75

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

1975-76

1976-77

Base set 144 cards (NBA) Size: 3⅛ × 5¼ inches.

1977-78

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

1978-79

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

1979-80

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

Ice hockey

During the 1970s Topps issued cards featuring the National Hockey League in conjunction with their Canadian partner O-Pee-Chee who issued larger sized sets in Canada.

1970-71

1971-72

1972-73

1973-74

1974-75

1975-76

1976-77

1977-78

1978-79

1979-80

Football (Soccer)

In 1974, Topps bought out A.&B.C. Gum of London, England, a company which had been a long time producer English and Scottish soccer cards. A.&B.C. had a previous relationship with Topps by producing licensed versions of numerous non-sport sets. A.&B.C. also occasionally borrowed Topps cards designs for use on soccer sets. After the buyout Topps continued to produce soccer sets for distribution in the UK. Topps typically reused designs of US sets for the soccer cards. The design resemblances are mentioned below. In 1979 Topps produced a 33 card sticker sets of the North American Soccer League featuring primarily team logos.

1975

These sets share their design with 1975 Baseball.

1976

1977

These sets share their design with 1976 Baseball.

1978

These sets share their design with 1977 American Football.

1979

The English and Scottish sets share their design with 1978 American Football.

Non-sport

1970

Bobby Sherman Plaks (?/35) Size: 3⅛ × 5¼ inches
Bugs Bunny Tattoos (15) Size: 2-7/16 × 3-7/16 inches
Comic Cover Stickers (44) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Disgusting Disguises reissue (51) Size: various
Flags of the World (77 flags) (5 dictionary) (17 money) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Funny Doors (24) Size: 2½ × 4-11/16 inches
Funny Lil Joke Books (44) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Hee Haw (55) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Mini-Toons aka Magic Rub-Offs (12) Size: 3⅛ × 5¼ inches
Racing Track Cards/Soda Fountain Cards (21/12) Size: 2 × 3⅝ inches
Stacks of Stickers (44) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Valentine Foldees (55) Size: 2½ × 4-11/16 inches
Valentine Postcards (33) Size: 3⅛ × 5¼ inches
Way-Out Wheels (57) Size: 3⅛ × 5¼ inches

1971

Bobby Sherman 'Getting Together' (55) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Brady Bunch (88) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Gum Berries Lids (55) Size: 1⅞" diameter
Nasty Valentine Notes (30) Size: 2½ × 4¾ inches
Nice or Nasty Valentines (33) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Partridge Family (198) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Partridge Family Posters (24) Size: 9-7/16 × 18 inches
Pop Guns (12) Size: irregular
Winners (#) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches

1972

Fun Projects (12) Size: 3 × 6¼ inches
Mod Initials (#) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
US Presidents (43) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches

Campaign Posters (15) Size: 4⅞ × 6-15/16 inches

1973

Batty Buttons (24) Size: 2" diameter
Kung Fu Test (60) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Kung Fu (60) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Monster Initial Stickers (141) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
The Rookies (44) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Ugly Stickers (110) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Wacky Packages Posters (24) Size: 9⅝ × 18-7/16 inches
Wacky Packages Stickers Series 1,2,3,4 (30,33,30,32) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Wacky Packages Tattoos (57) Size: 1-9/16 × 3½ inches
Waltons (50) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Creature Feature (128) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches

1974

Evel Knievel (82) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Far-Out Iron-Ons (24) Size: irregular
Six Million Dollar Man (55) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Speed Wheels (24) Size: 4¼ × 5½ inches
Wacky Packages Stickers Series 5,6,7,8,9,10,11 (32,33,33,30,29,30,30) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches

1975

Bay City Rollers (66) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Big Bad Buttons (24) Size: 2¼" diameter
Comic Book Heroes Stickers (49) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Fancy Pants (31) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Good Times (76) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Hysterical History (66) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Monster Tattoos (#) Size: 1-9/16 × 3½ inches
Planet of the Apes (66) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Shock Theater test (50) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Wacky Packages Stickers Series 12,13,14,15 (27,30,30,30) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Wanted Posters (24) Size: 9-7/16 × 18-1/16 inches
Wanted Stickers (42) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Zoo's Who (58) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches

1976

Autos of 1977 (119) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Dino-Mite Facts (#) Size: 3½ × 6½ inches
Happy Days (55) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Happy Days A Series (55) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
King Kong (66) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Mad Ad Foldees (33) Size: 3⅛ × 5¼ inches
Marvel Super Heroes Stickers (40) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Star Trek (110) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
TV Cartoon Tattoos (16) Size: 2-7/16 × 3-7/16 inches
Ugly Stickers (110) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Wacky Packages Stickers Series 16 (30) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Welcome Back Kotter (53) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches

1977

Charlie's Angels (297) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Monster Legends (#) Size: 3½ × 6½ inches
Star Wars (385) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches

1978

Battlestar Galactica (154) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Close Encounters (77) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Grease (154) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Jaws 2 (70) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Marvel Comics (34) Size: 3-5/16 × 3¼ inches
Mork & Mindy (121) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Star Wars Movie Photo (56) Size: 2⅞ × 3-5/16 inches
Superman The Movie (193) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Three's Company (60) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches

1979

Alien (106) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Black Hole (110) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Buck Rogers (110) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Crazy Stick-Ons (48) Size: 1⅛ × 3⅜ inches
Incredible Hulk (110) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Marvel Comics (33) Size: 3 × 3¼ inches
Monstickers (68) Size: 2 × 4¾ inches
Moonraker (121) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Rocky 2 (121) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Star Trek (110) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Superman (4) Size: 2½ × 3⅝ inches
Scratch-Offs (~6) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Wacky Packages reissue (264) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches

Sources

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