When exactly were the Topps sets from the 80s on back released?

Estil

I was just thinking about this and I was curious, is there anyway to know exactly when Topps sets from say, 80s on back were released? And especially in 1952-73, when did each series come out...is there anyway to know?

coinspacks

I thought the sets were dealer made from opening vending cases.

Estil

@coinspacks said:
I thought the sets were dealer made from opening vending cases.

Sorry I meant the packs as well.

Tibor

Most wax from the big three were out before Christmas. So,82 Topps, Donruss,
and Fleer were out before 1981 Christmas.
This schedule ran through the early 90's.
Vending, Rack and Cello starting in mid January.

BaltimoreYankee

I recall first series Topps baseball from my youth (early '70's) came out in March in Brooklyn, NY (can't be certain) and subsequent series came out every 6 weeks or so later.

olb31

@BaltimoreYankee said:
I recall first series Topps baseball from my youth (early '70's) came out in March in Brooklyn, NY (can't be certain) and subsequent series came out every 6 weeks or so later.

Yes I think the cards came out at about the same time as the season started. March sounds right to me for 70's stuff at least. as we get closer to 1990, the unopened packs would come out just before Christmas to just after Christmas. Especially with the advent of the Traded sets.

Estil

@BaltimoreYankee said:
I recall first series Topps baseball from my youth (early '70's) came out in March in Brooklyn, NY (can't be certain) and subsequent series came out every 6 weeks or so later.

So you got to be there when the famous black beauties of '71 and the psychedelic colorful giant set of '72 first came out!

PaulMaul

I am positive that the cards in the mid 70s first came out in late January. I was always haunting my local candy stores to make sure to get them as soon as they came out.

BaltimoreYankee

@Estil said:

@BaltimoreYankee said:
I recall first series Topps baseball from my youth (early '70's) came out in March in Brooklyn, NY (can't be certain) and subsequent series came out every 6 weeks or so later.

So you got to be there when the famous black beauties of '71 and the psychedelic colorful giant set of '72 first came out!

I bought my first wax packs in 1970. I remember in later years (say, 1973), going through all the rack packs in the store (they were on peg boards) as well as rummaging through the boxes of cello packs and buying the ones with the best players showing. Wish I never opened those! I don't remember seeing the cellos of 1971-72 with the cardboard boxes over them.

Estil

@BaltimoreYankee said:

@Estil said:

@BaltimoreYankee said:
I recall first series Topps baseball from my youth (early '70's) came out in March in Brooklyn, NY (can't be certain) and subsequent series came out every 6 weeks or so later.

So you got to be there when the famous black beauties of '71 and the psychedelic colorful giant set of '72 first came out!

I bought my first wax packs in 1970. I remember in later years (say, 1973), going through all the rack packs in the store (they were on peg boards) as well as rummaging through the boxes of cello packs and buying the ones with the best players showing. Wish I never opened those! I don't remember seeing the cellos of 1971-72 with the cardboard boxes over them.

The first packs I ever got as then nine year old me were 1989 Donruss and 1989 Topps so when I got to college in the early 2000s and was able to afford to get full sets as opposed to my teen years when all I could afford was a few packs once in a while, naturally those were among the first ones I wanted to get. My first goal at that time was to get all the 80s sets and then shortly after early 90s sets to match my childhood years (born 1980).

mintonlypls

I remember in early Spring when 1964 Topps Baseball wax packs 1st series were hitting stores.

mintonlypls

I tried buying in September 1963 Topps Baseball wax packs (7th series)…but “my” store was sold out for the season.

WeekendHacker

I hand collated many sets in the late 70's & early 80's. At that time, I didn't realize earlier releases were issued in different series. Topps Donruss & Fleer took all the 'fun' out of doing "that" tedious chore (actually enjoyed it) when they started releasing 'Factory Sets' in (I believe) 1984. Probably had something to do with Topps selling the "Traded" sets in the fall - that were only released as complete sets and not in packs & usually through a magazine advertisement. Those were the days!!!

estang

@Tibor said:
Most wax from the big three were out before Christmas. So,82 Topps, Donruss,
and Fleer were out before 1981 Christmas.
This schedule ran through the early 90's.
Vending, Rack and Cello starting in mid January.

I don't think this is anywhere near correct.

I recall the cards coming out in Mid-March to early April of the year of their release in the early 1980s.

Tibor

Emailed a couple of friends and one confirmed the pre
Christmas release because his wife bought him boxes
of Topps and Fleer as Christmas gifts, mid to late 80's.
I bought Donruss, Topps and Fleer from Georgia Music
and sold them at the flea market. Some of their product
came from Central Ohio, late 80's early 90's.

craig44

at least by the late 80s i was getting wax boxes for christmas.

paulb71

Friday april 13th 1980, was the 1st day I saw a wax box of 1980 topps at the circle K next to my house. I can remember this day like yesterday, november of 78 is the 1st time I started buying wax packs, but by this time baseball was done and I was buying football, star wars, and basketball, I can not remember the day 1st seeing for 79 baseball, but because it was Friday the 13th of 1980 that day sticks with me as friday the 13th is a great day.

Estil

@paulb71 said:
Friday april 13th 1980, was the 1st day I saw a wax box of 1980 topps at the circle K next to my house. I can remember this day like yesterday, november of 78 is the 1st time I started buying wax packs, but by this time baseball was done and I was buying football, star wars, and basketball, I can not remember the day 1st seeing for 79 baseball, but because it was Friday the 13th of 1980 that day sticks with me as friday the 13th is a great day.

I wasn't even a month old at the time! Yet card #1 of that 1980 set commemorates Yaz getting his 3000th hit the previous year and my late wife (we had a bit of an age gap/difference you see) was at that game!!

Harnessracing

60’s and early 70’s it was late Feb early March and a new series 4-6 weeks later. I grew up in Sunset Park literally across the street from the Topps plant

PaulMaul

@Harnessracing said:
60’s and early 70’s it was late Feb early March and a new series 4-6 weeks later. I grew up in Sunset Park literally across the street from the Topps plant

Maybe the timeline changed once they went to all cards in one series. Because I started buying in Brooklyn in 1974 and it was always late January.

paulb71

@Estil said:

@paulb71 said:
Friday april 13th 1980, was the 1st day I saw a wax box of 1980 topps at the circle K next to my house. I can remember this day like yesterday, november of 78 is the 1st time I started buying wax packs, but by this time baseball was done and I was buying football, star wars, and basketball, I can not remember the day 1st seeing for 79 baseball, but because it was Friday the 13th of 1980 that day sticks with me as friday the 13th is a great day.

I wasn't even a month old at the time! Yet card #1 of that 1980 set commemorates Yaz getting his 3000th hit the previous year and my late wife (we had a bit of an age gap/difference you see) was at that game!!

that is great she was actually at the game of yas #1 card !!! In my 1st pack I opened I got a tom paciorek card and the mariners had the new helmet with the white triangle and trident, so colorful

olb31

@Harnessracing said:
60’s and early 70’s it was late Feb early March and a new series 4-6 weeks later. I grew up in Sunset Park literally across the street from the Topps plant

awesome - where ever able to tour it or go in it?

Harnessracing

We had family work there. My aunt was the Executive Secretary to one of the big shots there, she passed in the 80’s. She gave me a 1963 Topps Presentation set when I was young. It’s long gone now but it was pretty cool to have

Estil

@Harnessracing said:
We had family work there. My aunt was the Executive Secretary to one of the big shots there, she passed in the 80’s. She gave me a 1963 Topps Presentation set when I was young. It’s long gone now but it was pretty cool to have

How can you tell which sets are Presentation sets? Do they get a distinctive box or something?

Harnessracing

I think they did them from 1961 thru 64. The 63 came in 5 boxes

Harnessracing

Just spoke to my brother, he said 59-63 and he still has the 1961 set our aunt gave him