1980 Topps
This a list with brief descriptions of Topps trading card products for 1980. All sets listed are standard size (2½ × 3½ inches) unless noted.
Baseball
Base Set
The 1980 Topps base set features 726 cards issued in wax packs, rack packs, and cello packs. Player cards have a facsimile autograph on the front. Subsets include Highlights, League Leaders, Future Stars, Checklists, and Team cards. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 inches, 6.35 × 8.89 centimeters
Topps Super
The 1980 Topps Super set contains 60 cards issued in cello packs. The cards feature a facsimile autograph on the players photo. The backs are white or gray and included the players name, team, and position. Size: 4 7⁄8 × 6 7⁄8 in., 12.38 × 17.46 centimeters
Team Checklist Sheet
This uncut sheet was available by mail-in offer on packs. The sheet features 26 team cards from the regular set on thinner stock.
N.Y. Yankees Proof
A blank backed card that shows Billy Martin as the Yankee manager. The regular issue shows Dick Howser as manager.
Stickers Prototypes
Five unreleased standard size cards that show a pair of player pictures stuck on cardboard with blank backs.
Test Coins
This test issue features three coins measuring 1⅜" diameter. The front has a player portrait and the backs shows personal data. There are bronze, silver, and gold looking variations.
Retail/Food Issues
1980 marked the final year for the Burger King promotional sets which began in 1977. Unlike the past two years, only one individual team set of Philadelphia Phillies was issued in the Philadelphia area. In the rest of the country, the Pitch/Hit/Run set was issued. Both sets featured Burger King logos on every card, unlike the past sets where the cards were basically identical to the Topps cards. As with the past sets, minor photo cropping variations exist between the Topps and Burger King cards when the same photo was used and in some cases the photo was changed.
The Pitch/Hit/Run set resembled the 1980 Topps regular issue cards with a red colored back as opposed to blue found in the Topps set. Some of the players had a different photo than their Topps counterpart. This Burger King set has 33 cards plus a checklist card. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 inches, 6.35 × 8.88 centimeters
The Phillies set resembled the 1980 Topps regular issue cards, with a Burger King logo on the back. Some of the players had a different photo than their Topps counterpart, included players not featured in the regular Topps set and a manager card of Dallas Green. This Burger King set has 22 cards plus a checklist card. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 inches, 6.35 × 8.85 centimeters
Pepsi-Cola All-Stars prototypes by Mike Schechter Associates and Topps was an unreleased promotional set. The cards share the design of the regular Topps issue with the use of the Pepsi logo and a color scheme change. The 22 cards were eventually released by Topps in 2005 through eBay.
Licensed sets
For the O-Pee-Chee set that resembled the Topps issue see List of O-Pee-Chee Sports Cards.
Football (American)
Base Set
The base set contains 528 cards of NFL players issued in 12-card wax packs including a stick of gum. Subsets include Record Breakers, league leaders, and playoffs. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 inches, 6.35 × 8.89 centimeters.
Topps Super
The Superstar Photo Football set contains 30 large size cards printed on white card stock similar to the Super baseball set. The cards were sold over the counter without Bubblegum at retail establishments. Size: 4 7⁄8 × 6 7⁄8 in., 12.38 × 17.46 centimetres
Team Checklists
The Team Checklist cards were only available from the company as a mail-in offer in uncut sheets. These cards are similar to their counterparts in the base set. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 inches, 6.35 × 8.89 centimeters (individually)
Basketball
Base Set
The 1980-81 Topps Basketball set contains 176 cards which are divided into three panels for a total of 264 individual players. The cards were available in 8-card wax packs. They are similar to the 1971-72 Trios sticker set with three players on one card. Each card has perforations for separating the panels. Subsets include Slam Dunk, All-Star, and Team Leader. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 inches, 6.35 × 8.89 centimetres or 1 2⁄3 × 2 1⁄2 inches, 4.24 × 6.35 centimeters (individually)
Team Posters
This set has 16 posters that were issued as inserts folded into the regular issue wax packs. They are printed on thin white paper and feature one of 16 NBA teams photos. The posters are the same design as the regular cards. Size: 4 7⁄8 × 6 7⁄8 in., 12.38 × 17.46 centimeters
Ice hockey
Base set
The 1980–1981 Topps National Hockey League hockey set is basically identical to the first 264 cards of the 396 card 1980–1981 O-Pee-Chee set issued in Canada. Unlike the Canadian cards, the fronts contain a puck (black ink) at the bottom right which can be scratched-off to reveal the player’s name. Annual statistics including minor leagues, a brief biography and a cartoon style hockey fact are featured on the back. Members of the U.S.Olympic team are also included. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 inches, 6.35 × 8.89 centimeters
Team Posters
The 1980-81 team posters were issued as folded inserts in hockey packs. The 16 numbered posters are in full color with a white border on thin stock. The posters feature posed shots (on ice) of the entire 1979-80 hockey team. The name of the team is indicated in large letters to the left of the hockey puck, which contains the designation 1979-80 Season. Size: 5 × 7 in.
Football (Soccer)
Footballers
In 1980, Topps issued a 66 card set in the United Kingdom featuring soccer players. The cards fronts are basically identical to the 1980 Topps basketball cards issued in the United States and have the same three player detachable panel format. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 inches, 6.35 × 8.89 centimeters (individually)
Football Posters
Topps issued a second set of 18 posters.
Non-sport
Bugs Bunny Roadrunner Tattoos
Two tattoos were printed on the interior of the wrapper of this gum product. There were three wrapper types each with 16 different tattoo pairs for a total of 96. Two Bugs Bunny wrappers, one yellow and one lavender, and a red Roadrunner wrapper. The tattoos are unnumbered and bear no captions. Size: 1 1⁄4 × 2 7⁄16 inches
Empire Strikes Back
This movie set featured 352 cards and 88 stickers and was produced in three series. First series cards have gray borders with red framed color pictures and yellow bordered stickers. Second series cards have gray borders with blue framed pictures and blue bordered stickers. Third series cards are yellow bordered with green frame lines and green stickers. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 inches
Empire Strikes Back Super
Topps made a second set for Star Wars' second installment. This set includes 30 giant photo cards. The cards feature glossy color scenes from the movie. The backs show one of two checklists which show black-and-white photos of either cards 1-15 or 16-30. A test version of the set appears identical on the front but the 'test' back has small drawings of 16 characters surrounding a text box. Size: 4 7⁄8 × 6 7⁄8 inches
Wanted Posters
This is the third time Topps has issued the Wanted Posters series. This reissue has the same artwork for the 24 posters but are done in a larger format than the two previous occasions(1967 and 1975) and have different numbering. The captioning for this edition says 'Class Bully'. Size: 12 × 20 inches
Weird Wheels Stickers
This set of 55 artwork designs depict an assortment of monsters wreaking havoc while driving and feature a pun caption. The cardboard backs have peel-off directions, checklist or puzzle pieces. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 inches
Creature Feature
This set is actually a reissue of the 'You'll Die Laughing' series produced on two previous occasions(1959 and 1973). This version totals 110 cards. The black-and-white photos are from Universal Studios monster movies decorated with monster-art frames in various colors. The backs are the same but are done in a red, green, and yellow combination. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 inches
Sources
- Beckett, Dr. James et al. (2002). "Beckett Baseball Card Price Guide". Beckett Publications-Dallas, Texas ISBN 1-930692-17-X
- Lemke, Robert F. (2006). "Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards". KP ; Newton Abbot-Iola, Wisconsin ISBN 0-89689-372-3
- Beckett, Dr. James et al. (2005). "Beckett Football Card Price Guide". Beckett Publications-Dallas, Texas ISBN 1-930692-41-2
- "Tuff Stuff 2005 Standard Catalog of Football Cards". Krause Publications-Iola, Wisconsin ISBN 0-87349-866-6
- Beckett, Dr. James et al. (2004). "Beckett Basketball Card Price Guide". Beckett Publications-Dallas, Texas ISBN 1-930692-37-4
- "Tuff Stuff 2003 Standard Catalog of Basketball Cards". Krause Publications-Iola, Wisconsin ISBN 0-87349-474-1
- Beckett, James (2004). "Beckett hockey card price guide & alphabetical checklist". Beckett Publications-Dallas, Texas ISBN 1-930692-36-6
- Benjamin, Christopher et al. (1988). "The Sport Americana price guide to the non-sports cards". Edgewater Book Co.-Cleveland, Ohio ISBN 0-937424-36-6
- Murphy, Mark (2002). "Unopened Pack, Wrapper & Display Box Guide". Mark Murphy-Stamford, Connecticut
- "Cigarette Card Values". Murray Cards(International) Ltd.-London, England ISBN 0-946942-29-3