Comprehensive Guide to Topps Tiffany Baseball Cards
Topps Tiffany baseball cards offer collectors a more upscale option for many sets from the Junk Wax Era. Between 1984 and 1991 Topps made a relatively limited number of factory sets that came with better production values. Secondary values of Topps Tiffany cards are much stronger than their regular Topps counterparts.
Topps Tiffany cards are instantly recognizable in-person because of their white card stock. Regular Topps cards from the era traditionally used a grey stock. Card fronts also have a glossy finish, giving them a slick feel.
Factory sets come with relatively plain packaging. Most have a solid-color box with gold font and an elegant border. None refer to the name "Topps Tiffany." Rather, that was a nickname given to the cards later on. Box sets also have a gold seal, which can help collectors tell if a set has been opened. Many of these sets were originally only offered to hobby shop owners and dealers. Topps did offer some direct through ads in specialty sports publications as well.
These cards rose in popularity as professional grading exploded in the late 1990s. Collectors became more aware of their scarcity and accepted them as something more than an oddball card.
With the massive print runs of base sets from the 1980s and early 90s, Topps Tiffany cards are an excellent alternative for those looking for high-end collectibles. It's unlikely the 1986 Topps Traded Barry Bonds or 1984 Topps Don Mattingly rookies will ever come close to their heights they once held. However, the comparatively limited availability of Tiffany versions could appreciate nicely over time. Collectors often look for the best card of a player. For the most part, Topps Tiffany represents that for 1980s baseball cards.
Topps stopped making Tiffany sets following 1991 Topps Traded. The company did bring them back similarly styled sets in 2001 and 2002.
Below is a breakdown of all Topps Tiffany Baseball sets released between 1984 and 1991. We've included key cards and, where available, print runs. You can click on the set name to shop for cards on eBay. We've also linked to several of the best Topps Tiffany baseball cards.
1984 Topps Tiffany Baseball
Print Run: 10,000
Key Card:
1984 Topps Traded Tiffany Baseball
Print Run: not available
Key Cards:
- Dwight Gooden #12T
- Bret Saberhagen #104T
1985 Topps Tiffany Baseball
Print Run: 5,000
Key Cards:
- Mark McGwire #401
- Roger Clemens #181
- Kirby Puckett #536
1985 Topps Traded Tiffany Baseball
Print Run: not available
Key Cards:
- Ozzie Guillen #43T
- Rickey Henderson #49T
1986 Topps Tiffany Baseball
Print Run: 5,000
Key Card:
- Nolan Ryan #100
1986 Topps Traded Tiffany Baseball
Print Run: 5,000
Key Cards:
- Barry Bonds #11T
- Jose Canseco #20T
- Will Clark #24T
- Bo Jackson #50T
1987 Topps Tiffany Baseball
Print Run: 30,000
Key Cards:
- Barry Bonds #320
- Mark McGwire #366
- Rafael Palmeiro #634
- Barry Larkin #648
1987 Topps Traded Tiffany Baseball
Print Run: 30,000
Key Cards:
- Greg Maddux #70T
- Matt Williams #129T
1988 Topps Tiffany Baseball
Print Run: 25,000
Key Card:
- Tom Glavine #779
1988 Topps Traded Tiffany Baseball
Print Run: not available
Key Cards:
- Roberto Alomar #4T
- Jay Buhner #21T
- Mark Grace #42T
- Tino Martinez #66T
1989 Topps Tiffany Baseball
Print Run: 25,000
Key Cards:
- Randy Johnson #647
- Gary Sheffield #343
1989 Topps Traded Tiffany Baseball
Print Run: 15,000
Key Cards:
- Ken Griffey Jr. #41T
- Randy Johnson #57T
1990 Topps Tiffany Baseball
Print Run: not available
Key Cards:
- Frank Thomas #414
- Sammy Sosa #692
- Bernie Williams #701
1990 Topps Traded Tiffany Baseball
Print Run: not available
Key Card:
- Dave Justice #48T
1991 Topps Tiffany Baseball
Print Run: not available, although relatively scarce
Key Card:
1991 Topps Traded Tiffany Baseball
Print Run: not available
Key Cards:
- Jason Giambi #45T
- Jeff Bagwell #4T
- Ivan Rodriguez #101T
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John
My God why is this so hard. Topps traded. All that I have are on White stock. You say that the ** On the back are definitive. DEFINITIVE OF WHAT? Definitive that they ARE the Tiffany versions? Or definitive that they are NOT the Tiffany version?
Please someone answer.