From Mantle to Ohtani: How Topps is celebrating 75 years of baseball cards

"Topps' first foray into baseball cards in 1951 was largely considered a commercial and aesthetic failure. But the release of 2026 Topps Baseball Series 1 on Wednesday not only marks the company's 75th anniversary, but also its most ambitious undertaking yet. Topps put together a "75 Years of Topps" panel to vote on the top 75 baseball cards in its history, including Fanatics Collectibles' CEO Michael Mahan, president of trading cards David Leiner and senior vice president of global product development Clay Luraschi."

""There was a healthy amount of spirited debate on things, but ultimately we got to some very good outcomes," Mahan said. "What becomes the right way to celebrate those cards? How do you give somebody the opportunity to pull a '52 Mickey Mantle or a '52 Willie Mays out of a pack? Well, let's give people the opportunity to do that." Fanatics is offering PSA-graded versions of all non-one-of-one-numbered cards that made the list as redemption cards inserted throughout Topps 2026 baseball products. Topps has released the full list of Iconic Topps Buybacks, with the top four rounded out by a 1952 Mantle and Mays, a 1954 Hank Aaron rookie card and a 1952 Jackie Robinson."

"Leiner told ESPN that, across Fanatics Collectibles, baseball brought in $1.1 billion in sales in 2023 and $1.6 billion in 2024."

Topps' 2026 Baseball Series 1 marks the company's 75th anniversary and comprises an ambitious release featuring historic-card buybacks and broad promotional redemptions. A curated "75 Years of Topps" panel made up of industry executives, historians, media figures and collectors selected the top 75 cards. Fanatics will insert PSA-graded redemption versions of the non-one-of-one cards from the list into Topps 2026 products. Topps released the Iconic Topps Buybacks list, led by the 1952 Mantle and Mays, the 1954 Hank Aaron rookie and the 1952 Jackie Robinson. Prize redemptions include All-Star and Home Run Derby tickets, substantial Topps and Fanatics gift cards, and team gameday experiences. Fanatics Collectibles reported baseball sales of $1.1 billion in 2023 and $1.6 billion in 2024, indicating accelerating demand among collectors.

Read at ESPN.com