1988 Topps Big Baseball

The 1988 Topps "Big" baseball card set design was loosely based on the 1956 Topps baseball cards, and are the same size as vintage 1956 Topps cards, measuring approximately 2.75"x3.75", slightly larger than the standard size used on most modern sports card sets today. Some collectors consider 1988 Topps Big to be the first real "retro-themed" baseball card set.

1988 Topps Big is a 264 card set, and the checklist is loaded with superstar players and hall-of-famers such as Nolan Ryan, Mike Schmidt, Barry Bonds, Ryne Sandberg, Kirby Puckett and many more.

This was also the first time that a card company released two major sets of baseball cards in the same year. Topps did it by releasing it's regular set as well as the 1988 Topps Big baseball card set.

The 1988 Topps Big baseball set was released in 3 different series, each containing 88 cards. The packs were issued in cellophane wrappers.

The only known variation card in the set is #39 Terry Steinbach, which has two variations, being found with the Topps logo in either black or white.

1989 Topps Big Baseball

Topps repeated their "Topps Big" sets in 1989, with a slightly different design, but still based on the original 1956 Topps baseball set. Once again the set was issued in 3 different series, but this year the set was larger, with each series containing 110 cards, to make a 330 card set.

Below is some scans of what the 1989 Topps Big cards and packs look like. Click on the image for a larger view.

1989 Topps Big 1st SERIES pack (cellophane wrapper)

1989 Topps Big DON MATTINGLY (New York Yankees)