1982 Topps
This a list with brief descriptions of Topps trading card products for 1982. All sets listed are standard size (2½ × 3½ inches) unless noted.
Baseball
Base Set
The 1982 Topps base set contained 792 cards, 66 more than the previous year. Topps would continue to produce 792 card sets until 1994 (with the exception of the 825 card 1993 set) The cards were issued in wax packs, rack packs, and cello packs. The cards feature a facsimile autograph on the front and have green backs. Subsets included Highlights, League Leaders, All-Stars, Super Action, and Team Leader cards. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 inches
Topps Traded
The Traded set has 132 cards and are identical to the base set except for having red backs and their numbering includes a T suffix. The set was issued as a boxed factory set. Unlike the previous year, this set features traded players as well as future stars. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 inches
Stickers
This set totals 260 full color photos with a subset of foil All-Stars. They were designed to be placed in an album. The stickers are numbered on front and back. The AL players have a red border while the NL players have a blue border. Size: 1 15⁄16 × 2 9⁄16 inches
Sticker Variations
This sticker set included 48 cards. They had either red or blue borders and featured the players name and position on the back. The numbering was done on the front and back however it was not consecutive. The 'variations' were inserted in wax packs as a means to promote the regular sticker set. Size: 1 15⁄16 × 2 9⁄16 inches
Team Leaders Sheet
The 26 batting and pitching leader cards from the base set were available on an uncut sheet by mail-in offer. Size: 10.5 × 23 inches.
Food/Retail Sets
In 1981, Topps issued several promotional sets, primarily for regional food and beverage companies.
Coca Cola Reds
A 23 card set of the Cincinnati Reds was issued in conjunction with Coca-Cola in the Cincinnati area. The set is similar in design to the 1982 Topps set, but had the Brigham's and Coca-Cola logos on the front. The reverse was basically identical to the Topps issue, but it was red instead of green and replaced the Topps logo with the Coca-Cola logo. The set contained 22 players and an advertising card. Most of the photos were identical to those used in the Topps set, despite some cropping variations. Other variations from the Topps base set reflected traded players. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 inches
Brigham's-Coca Cola Red Sox
A 23 card set of the Boston Red Sox was issued in conjunction with New England ice cream parlor Brigham's and Coca-Cola. The set was of similar design to the 1982 Topps set, but had the Brigham's and Coca-Cola logos on the front. The reverse was basically identical to the Topps issue, but it was red instead of green and replaced the Topps logo with the Brigham's logo. The set contained 22 players and an advertising card. Most of the photos were identical to those used in the Topps set, despite some cropping variations. Other variations from the Topps base set reflected traded players. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 inches
Drake's Big Hitters
Topps produced for Northeastern regional bakery Drake's a promotional set of 33 cards. The cards were issued in boxes of Drake's Cakes and featured position players and no pitchers. The front of the cards have a design that differs from the Topps set while the backs resemble the Topps cards. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 inches
K-Mart Anniversary
Topps produced for retailer K-Mart a 44 card boxed set for the 20th Anniversary Celebration of the store. The cards featured reproductions of the Topps cards of the Most Valuable Players of both leagues for previous twenty years. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 inches
Perma-Graphics
For the second straight year, Topps issued two sets for Perma-Graphics. One set was an 18 card set of All-Stars while the other was 24 cards. Both sets were made of plastic and resemble credit cards Size: 2 1⁄8 × 3 3⁄8 inches
Squirt
For the second straight year, Topps produced for soft drink company Squirt a promotional set of 33 cards. The cards were issued in 22 panels attached to bottles of soda. The front of the cards have a design that differs from the Topps set while the backs resemble the Topps cards. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 inches
Licensed sets
For the O-Pee-Chee set that resembled the Topps issue see List of O-Pee-Chee Sports Cards.
Football
Base Set
The 1982 football base set contains 528 cards issued in wax packs. This was the first time team logos appeared on the cards with Topps having acquired a licensing agreement with the NFL. Subsets include Record Breakers, playoffs, league leaders, brothers, Team leaders, checklists, and In Action cards. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 inches
Team Checklists
This set contains 28 cards and were made available by mail-in offer. The cards feature several team leaders on the front and a checklist on the back. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 inches
Stickers
With sticker 222A, there are 289 stickers in this set numbered to 288. The borders are yellow and there are several foils subsets. The first two stickers combine to form a picture of the San Francisco 49ers while stickers 3 and 4 combine to form a Super Bowl trophy. Size: 1 15⁄16 × 2 9⁄16 inches
Coming Soon Stickers
These stickers were inserts in football wax packs. This set has only 16 cards and share the same numbering as the regular stickers hence the skip numbering. The fronts are gold-bordered foil while the backs say 'Coming Soon'. Size: 1 15⁄16 × 2 9⁄16 inches
Non-sport
Annie Album Stickers
These 120 stickers were made by Panini for Topps and feature color photos of the film Annie directed by John Huston from Columbia Pictures. The stickers are red bordered and are numbered for their respective places in the sticker album. Size: 2 1⁄8 × 3 inches
Donkey Kong
This set totals 36 cards and is based on the Nintendo arcade game. The majority of the set (32 cards) are stickers the backs of which combine to form one of two puzzles. The remaining four cards are game cards that resemble an arcade screen. The games involve scratching off dots which reveale 'game moves'. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 inches
E.T.
Topps made a 99 cards set about the popular movie of 'The Extra-Terrestrial in his adventures on Earth'. The set is divided into 87 cards and 12 stickers. The cards have a movie scene in a starry blue border with caption at the bottom and a silhouette of Elliott and E.T. on a bike crossing in front of the moon. The backs of the cards explain the scene. The stickers have E.T. close-ups, scenes from the movie, and two sheets of mini stickers. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 inches
E.T. Album Stickers
A second E.T. set was produced by Panini for Topps, this one all stickers, totaling 120 in all. Only about a quarter of the set feature full scenes. The remaining stickers complete the larger scenes when placed in the proper slots in the album. Size: 2 1⁄8 × 3 inches
Smurf Supercards
This large size set of 56 cards is similar to Topps' previous 'plaks' issues in design. The artwork is set against a wood style background and include a funny caption. The backs of the cards have the set name and card number. Size: 2 1⁄2 × 4 7⁄8 inches
Smurf Tattoos
This Smurf set has 288 tattoos. There were 12 sheets of 24 tattoos each produced. The packaging for this set indicates that they are made with 'food approved colors'.
Wacky Packages Album Stickers
Topps produced numerous series of Wacky packages since 1967 and on this occasion Panini produced a series of 120 stickers for Topps in their usual smaller format with accompanying 24-page album. Size: 2 1⁄8 × 3 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
- 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