What are some of the more rare/scarce Topps baseball factory sets?

esquiresports

I started with the idea of collecting a factory set from 1986-present. Then it got a little crazy. I decided to try to get one sealed example of EVERY Topps non-Tiffany factory set from 1982 to the present, so long as it is a nice color box (because I display them).

I realized I needed to define the parameters of my request because of all the team variations that Topps puts out (e.g., Cardinals, Yankees, boxes). From 1993-1995, there are two primary variations. From 1996 (I believe) to present, there are hobby, retail and HTA variations. I have four variations from 2010. I believe I have all the sets with the Mickey Mantle card visible on top. There were no color boxes available in 1983 or 1984. 1985 came only in red, white and blue as far as color goes.

There are some other sets that are not team variations but more unusual. Below are examples I know of. Team specific sets and sets coming in more than one package (e.g., cereal box, series 1 and 2 separate) are not listed.

1993 Topps Rockies/Marlins special editions
1994 Topps Bilingual (I don't have this one)
1998 Devil Rays/Diamond Backs special editions
2001 Topps Employee set
2007 Topps All-Star Edition factory set (I don't have this one)
2010 Topps 50th Anniversary

If you know of any unusual sets not listed, please let me know so I can try to finish my collection. I have space for about six more sets. Thanks!

digicat

I'm curious, why are you excluding Tiffany sets while including stuff like the 1993 Topps Rockies/Marlins special editions?

Largentcollector

I think 82 and 83 had special employee sets also.

maddux69

I am with the above, I wouldn't exclude the Tiffany sets. The main reason for this is because you have one of the lowest print runs in the 1991 Topps Tiffany. It is said to have a print run less than 5,000 where the Rockies and Marlins print runs were 10,000 and 6,000 respectively.

esquiresports

You guys are going to cost me a couple grand more by including the Tiffany sets! hah. I left them out because I started with just regular sets. I expanded to the 1993 and 1994 Rockies/Marlins/Rays/Diamondbacks sets because they were still regular factory sets, but with embossing. Splitting hairs. I'm sure Tiffany will be up next.

Thanks for the print run info on Rockies and Marlins sets.

ydapd

not sure if they meet your parameter, but 92 & 93 had the Micro factory sets, and 2001 had the Gold factory set

also if your doing Tiffany's I'd rec. doing the 74 set too.

mygotta

i would imagine a 1974 topps factory set would be very scarce.

mtcards

Yeah the 2001 Topps Gold Factory set was a surprise for me. I bought a collection this week that had one in it....when I got all the stuff home and looked up the price, I was surprised to see this going for as high as $75 on the bay

handyman

agree