I don't really like the 1982 set - never have. I can't really explain it - some darker and grainy images, a design that just never appealed to me, no team photos, too many In Action cards when so many of the images in the set already seem to be action shots (including some of the players featured...wait for it...on In Action cards!).
I can't remember now, but maybe my dislike of the set was one of the reasons I didn't buy packs, and instead just waited until the summer rolled around and ordered a complete set from Renata Galasso.
My only collecting memory of 1982, such as it is, is that when my complete set arrived, it had been put into reverse numerical order, meaning that I could thumb through the cards beginning with #792, Frank Tanana.
Card fronts featured a hockey stick-like dual-colored racing stripe along the left side which took the corner under the player's image and contains the position. The player's name and team name appear to the right in colors duplicating the stripe's.
For the first time (a nod to Topps' sophomore year competitors) the Topps logo appears on a card, at the bottom right corner of the image. The player's image contains a faux-autograph.
The backs were printed in blue and two shades of green. MLB factoids, one accompanied by a cartoon, appear along the top border.
"A" Sheet
"A" Sheet image needed
"C" Sheet
"E" Sheet
"B" Sheet
"D" Sheet
"F" Sheet
Topps increased its set's size from 726 to 792 in 1982. This had the effect of correcting the issue created when they went from 660 cards to 726 cards in 1978, namely the need to double print 66 cards. Beginning in 1982, the 6 sheets each contained 132 unique cards.
Wax packs contained 15 cards (along with a stick of gum) as well as a special preview version of one of that year's stickers. Packs sold for 30 cents each and were packed 36 per box, with cases containing 20 boxes each.
_edited.png)
_edited.png)
_edited.png)
Wrappers came with one of 4 advertisements - the traditional uncut team checklist sheet ($0.75 plus one wrapper), the always popular sports card locker ($5.75 plus 75 cents for shipping and a wrapper), a package of 5 Topps collecting boxes ($1.00 and a wrapper) and a pack of 10 Topps baseball card collector sheets ($2.00 plus 60 cents for shipping - but no wrapper). Each wrapper contained an advertisement for 1982's Topps Sticker set and its accompanying album, with the ads on the checklists and sheets wrappers being slightly different from those on the locker and boxes wrappers.
The card locker was the same model which had been available since 1975. 1982 would be the final year it was offered.
The collectors' boxes were stock remaining from 1980.
The team checklist sheet came tri-folded and was printed on white stock which was thinner (and flimsier) than regular cards. With 27 slots and only 26 team cards, the 27th space was taken by an collectors' box ad on the front and a card locker ad on the reverse.
48 different preview stickers were available in packs, 24 NL and 24 AL. Unlike their regular issue versions sold in packs, they contained "Coming Soon" advertisements on the reverse - the wording varied between the backs of the NL stickers and the AL stickers.
.png)
1982's grocery packs were initially issued in left-over 1981 blue plastic sleeves. When that stock ran out Topps switched to a yellow sleeve, which lacked a header section. Each contained 3 12-card cello packs (each with a stick of gum), and each included an ad for a sports card locker on the reverse.
Grocery packs were packaged 24 per display tray, and cases included 3 trays. Topps also issued special grocery cases containing 192 packs which could be used as store display stands.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Cello packs contained 28 cards (along with a stick of gum and a preview sticker) and retailed for 49 cents each. They were packaged 24 per box and 16 boxes per case.
.webp)
Rack packs held 51 cards and carried no MSRP. They were packaged 24 per box and cases contained either 3 or, in all likelihood, 6 boxes.
Racks came in 3 varieties - a stylized plastic header, a plain plastic header and a blank-backed cardboard header. Racks with either plastic header have an ad for the sports card locker on the reverse.
_edited.png)
_edited.png)
As usual, Topps also produced 500-count vending boxes which came 24 per case.
For the first time since 1974, Topps produced a factory-issued complete set. The majority view today is that it was offered through the 1982 J.C. Penny Christmas catalog. Few were issued and they are very rare today.
Factory sets would become anticipated annual offerings beginning 3 years later in 1985.
Out of 792 total cards, the set contains 664 basic player cards.
Again in 1982, the set did not recognize members of the previous season's All Star Rookie team with small gold cups or trophies. The 1981 Topps All Star Rookie team as it might have been designated in the 1982 set consisted of:
191 - Tim Wallach, Expos 1B
464 - Juan Bonilla, Padres 2B
21 - Cal Ripken, Jr., Orioles SS
494 - Hubie Brooks, Mets 3B
244 - Rufino Linares, Braves OF
70 - Tim Raines, Expos OF
143 - Mookie Wilson, Mets OF
138 - Tony Pena, Pirates C
459 - Bruce Berenyi, Reds RHP
510 - Fernando Valenzuela, Dodgers LHP
Cards 161-168 depict AL and NL leaders in 8 statistical categories from 1981. The top ten from each category are listed on the reverse.
Cards 1-6 feature highlights from the 1981 season, with a newspaper-like account on the reverse.
Cards 337-347 depict the NL starting 9 all stars from 1981, as well as a prominent opposite-armed starter and a closer from the squad.
Cards 547-557 depict the AL starting 9 all stars from 1981, along with a prominent opposite-armed starter and a closer from the squad.
Scattered throughout the set are 40 In Action cards, each depicting a prominent player in game action on the front and highlight's from that player's 1981 season on the reverse.
Unlike the last time Topps offered dedicated In Action cards, in 1972, the effect is lost here. So many basic player cards (including several of these 40 players) offer game action shots already that there's really nothing special with these.
Since 1956, with the sole exception of 1969, Topps sets had included team photo cards. Since 1975 they had featured team checklists on the reverse.
In 1982, for reasons unknown, Topps abandoned the team photos in favor of team leader cards with a checklist reverse.
The lack of these kid-favorite team shots is one reason, I think, that the 1982 set seems a bit drab.
26 "Future Stars" cards, one for each club, appear throughout the set. Each depicts 3 young players with little or no MLB experience that Topps felt had promise.
6 checklist cards mark the set off in increments of 132: 1-132, 133-264, 265-396, 397-528, 529-660 and 661-792.
A full checklist of the 1982 set, including printable formats, can be found at the Trading Card Database HERE.
Hall of Famers Lee Smith (452) and Cal Ripken (21) make their debuts in the 1982 set.
Also appearing for the first time were Chili Davis (171), Dave Stewart (213), George Bell (254), Steve Sax (681) and Kent Hrbek (766).
Hall of Famer Willie Stargell (715), hero of the Pirates' 1979 championship club, makes his final appearance in 1982.
Also taking bows were Danny Ainge (125), J.R. Richard (190) and Bobby Bonds (580).
The 1982 set features several variations.
Pascual Perez (383) exists with and without the position indicated in the colored banner.
George Foster's All Star card (342) can be found with and with and without the faux autograph (All Star cards were not supposed to have them).
Finally, cards from the A, B and C printing sheets were produced accidentally lacking black ink before the error was realized and the process corrected. These so-called blackless cards are quite rare and demand a high premium.
Scholastic's 'Dynamite' magazine again offered small uncut strips of Topps cards to its readers in their April edition.
.webp)
This sell sheet for 1982 Topps wax packs makes it plain that Topps was feeling the pressure from Donruss and Fleer.
Topps again produced a 132-card boxed Traded set late in the season to reflect those players who had changed teams, rookies not included in the base set and, as with Von Hayes here, youngsters who were included in the base set, but only as 1/3 of a Future Stars card.
Card stock remained similar to that of the base set, but featured red backs rather than green. And, unlike in 1981, the cards were numbered 1T-132T (as they would be for years to come) rather than simply picking up where the numbering of the base set ended.
Sets were available only via dealers, and were packed 100 per case.
Former A's star Joe Rudi (102T) made his final appearance in the 1982 Traded set.