Topps Baseball Set Run 1973-2012 (26,197 cards)

Bidding

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/8/2013

A remarkable 40-year set run of Topps Baseball, starting with 1973, the last year that Topps issued cards in series. The 1973 set here is basically Ex to Nr-Mt, with some cards falling below that, even to Good and Fair. The 1974 Topps set is essentially Nr-Mt, with some of the Hall of Famers closer to Ex-Mt; also included with 1974 is the 24-card Red Checklist insert set (some are marked) and the 44-card Traded set. The 1975 Topps set is a super clean and consistent Nr-Mt set, with some below, with bright, colorful borders and clear, sharp photos, with virtually no chipping. The 1976 set is largely VG to Ex-Mt, with some above and below and the emphasis on VG-Ex, with most of the HOFers and stars falling with the broader range; 14 of the team cards have been marked on the backs in the check boxes and three of the Checklist cards (Nos. 362, 392 and 526) have pen and pencil marks on the boxes. There are two 1977 Topps Baseball complete sets, both basically Nr-Mt sets; the 1978 Topps set is largely Ex to Nr-Mt, with the HOFers and stars generally falling within the broader ranges (Exceptions 400 Ryan – Good, 292 Yankees Team – Very Good, 300 Morgan – VG, 540 Carlton – Fair, 530 Winfield – Good; Expos and Orioles Team cards have been marked on the back). The 1979 set is largely Ex to Nr-Mt, with some below and stars mostly within the range (Exceptions: 24 Molitor – Good, 115 Ryan – VG, and 116 Ozzie Smith – VG m/c. There are two (2) 1980 Topps sets – one is a solid Ex-Mt to Nr-Mt and the other is a blazing Nr-Mt to Mt, with Nr-Mt Henderson rookies in both. The 1981 set is a nice uniform Nr-Mt; there are two (2) 1982 sets – one is a nice uniform Nr-Mt set with perhaps a handful below, and the second is Ex-Mt to Nr-Mt, with the emphasis to the upper end of the scale. There are two (2) 1982 Topps sets are sparkling Nr-Mt to Mt, with bright colors and wonderful focus and photo registration. Topps sets from 1984 and 1985 are consistent Nr-Mt sets; the 1986 set is basically Nr-Mt, with perhaps a couple of dozen or so reaching Ex-Mt because of the condition-sensitive black borders. The sets from 1987, 1988 and 1989 are Nr-Mt sets. Starting in the 1990’s, all of the sets listed are factory sets, sealed and in most instances with the cellophane intact. There are no sets from 1991, 1993, 2001 and 2002. All others – 1992, then 1994-2000 and 2003-2012 – are factory sets, sealed and with cellophane in almost all instances.