Topps

Beginning in 1951, the Topps card brand emerged with a focus on baseball cards. Now a fixture of the collecting world, MLB cards are just one part of Topps’ cardboard empire that includes various sports and non-sport properties.

Nevertheless, Topps is still best known for its flagship Topps Baseball card set, issued annually since 1952. The current flagship lineup consists of Series 1, Series 2 and Update Series. Other popular offerings include Allen & Ginter, Archives, Chrome, Finest, Heritage, Stadium Club, and more.

Topps acquired former card rival Bowman in 1956, later retooling the brand as a key outlet for MLB prospects, such as Bowman Baseball, Bowman Chrome, Bowman Draft, and Bowman’s Best.

In addition, Topps has issued licensed NBA, NFL, Formula One, UFC, WWE, Bundesliga, MLS, UEFA Champions League, and US Olympic Team cards. There are also official collegiate cards via NIL licensing.

Noted entertainment releases from Topps include Garbage Pail Kids, Mars Attacks, Star Wars, and Wacky Packages, among others.

Throughout the existence of Topps, the Shorin family remained in control of the popular card manufacturer despite pursuing private investors and a public offering in the 1970s and 1980s. However, that changed when the Tornante Company, led by Michael Eisner, and Madison Dearborn Partners purchased Topps for $385 million in 2007. These investment groups later sold Topps to Fanatics for $500 million in 2022 after Fanatics acquired the exclusive rights to produce MLB trading cards.