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Topps: Stadium Club

My Topps: Stadium Club Collection (Updated December 28th, 2021)

The problem with Topps' 2nd tour of duty with its Stadium Club title was that it looked very similar to its initial release, (See the 1992 Topps Stadium Club "Mo Lewis" #119 right). The quality was still there, but a slight change from year to year is needed. It doesn't have to be a major overhaul,

1991 Topps Stadium Club: “James Lofton” #89

1992 Topps Stadium Club: “Mo Lewis” #119

1994 Topps Stadium Club: “Eric Hill” #41

1993 Topps Stadium Club: “Todd Scott” #164

In '93, which was the 3rd release of the Stadium Club title, Topps stayed true to the current design. It was the 3rd year for this design, (See the 1993 Topps Stadium Club "Todd Scott" #164 left). At least Topps got their monies worth. This was also the 3rd straight year that the Stadium Club title had over 500 cards in it's set. Definitely a set from days past. The '93 Club set also increased the insert set count to 3. The "Master Photos I and II" insert sets were a thing of beauty. Any time card manufacturers use

1995 Topps Stadium Club: “Robert Porcher" 344

In 1994 Stadium Club finally gave their cards a face-lift. And after complaining about how the card fronts didn't change for 3 years, the new look in '94 just didn't cut it. I didn't like it, (See the 1994 Topps Stadium Club "Eric Hill" #41 right). I just thought that the player's position and name were just too hard to read. The good news was that the Stadium Club sets were still huge; this year the set size ballooned to 630 cards. The bad news....this was the first year that Topps introduced the "Members Only" insert parallel junk sets that confused everybody!! Why do I say junk? Because the "Members Only" parallel insert sets were worth a portion of the main insert sets and very few people could tell the difference. I can't tell you how many times I bought an insert set and when I got it, it was the "Members Only" parallel. Very frustrating. I don't understand why card manufacturers create those sets. I believe it's just laziness.

 

The '95 Stadium Club release was a bit better, you could read the player's name and their position, (See the 1995 Topps Stadium Club "Robert Porcher" #344 left). With that being said, the base set card backsides were not good. The fans along the bottom just looked silly, (See the 1995 Topps Stadium Club "Marshall Faulk" #388 (Back) right). In reality, this is a hobby for kids, right? But still, it looked ridiculous. The '95 set was also the first set to dip below the 500-card plateau. The 6 insert sets that were included in the '95 release were really cool even though they did have their "Members Only" junk brethren accompanying them again.  

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1995 Topps Stadium Club: “Marshall Faulk" 388 (Back)

To combat the new boys in town, (aka, Upper Deck), in 1991, Topps unveiled it's newest "Super Premium" title to its arsenal; Stadium Club. Topps did not miss on this one. The Topps Stadium Club title was a strong, solid, and very competitive brand that lasted through the very hyper-competitive 90s.  The initial Stadium Club release was a major hit while competing with the likes of titles such as Fleer's Ultra and the initial Upper Deck release. Topp's initial Stadium Club release was a huge 500-card release, (See the 1991 Topps Stadium Club "James Lofton" #89 left). I thought the '91 release had an awesome card stock and excellent photography. The initial release didn't have any insert cards, but with a 500-card set, you probably didn't need any.

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but what Topps' did in '92 was too small. The Stadium Club release in 1992 did have 2 insert sets included with it; the QB Legends and #1 Draft Pick inserts. Insert sets honoring legends and high prospects, respectively. 

photos for their cards that are exclusive to them, (ie, not used for any other manufacturer), that's always a plus.

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Stadium Club was back to being cool after the '96 release. After two very sub-par releases, the '96 set was awesome!! The front design and photography were amazing, (See the 1996 Topps Stadium Club "Aeneas Williams" #51 left). The number of cards dropped for the second straight year to 360-cards, which is still a very respectable number. The '96 release also had a very solid number of insert sets; 9. However, with that being said, the same old "Members Only" cards were back again causing confusion all around. In my opinion, the '96 release was the start of a very good run for Topps' "Stadium Club" title. 

 

1997 Topps Stadium Club: “Kenny Holmes” RC #32

1996 Topps Stadium Club: “Aeneas Williams” #51

1997 Topps Stadium Club: “Simeon Rice / Jeff Lageman” Co-Signers #CO-98

The 1997 Stadium Club set was amazing!! It dropped again in the # of cards to 340, but it was still a very respectable size in '97.  The rookie cards were awesome and I just loved how the player's name and position were shown, (See the 1997 Topps Stadium Club "Kenny Holmes" Rookie #32 above right). The insert sets were still at a solid 9 and the '97 release included Stadium Club's first autograph set, (See the 1997 Topps Stadium Club "Simeon Rice/ Jeff Lageman" Co-Signers #CO-98 left). Although the "Co-Signers" set was Stadium Club's first autograph set, all wasn't right in suburbia, the autographs weren't both on the front side; one was on the front and one was on the back. Just not a good set to display if you ever wanted to do that. Also, the '97 release had a really cool insert set called "Never

1997 Topps Stadium Club: “Reidel Anthony” Never Compromise RC #NC14

Compromise #NC14 above right). The photography used for these cards was simply stunning and exclusive to the Stadium Club title.

 

1998 Topps Stadium Club: “Brian Simmons” #169

2000 Topps Stadium Club: “Yancey Thigpen" #26

The 1998 Topps Stadium Club release was a continuation of the superb design and photography that appeared in the '97 set. I loved everything about the front of the '98 release, (See the 1998 Topps Stadium Club "Brian Simmons" #169 left). If you look hard enough you'll notice that the pictures are NOT real game footage. They are rookie photo-shoot pictures super-imposed into live game footage. The Brian Simmons picture actually looks really good, but there are others where you can really tell. The only bad thing about the '98 set, it was only 198-cards. Topps started the set size decline in '95 and it continued all the way down to 198 cards in 1998. There was the one really good thing about the '98 release....no more of those damn "Members Only" cards. Good riddance.  Also, Topps did the 2nd edition of the "Co-Signers" cards right, both signatures were on the front. 

 

The 1999 Topps Stadium Club release was another winner.  Topps again delivered an exceptional Super Premium product. I loved everything about the front of the '99 release as well, (See the 1999 Topps Stadium Club "Karsten Bailey" Rookie #171 right). The '99 set was another solid release with a great crop of rookie cards. And Topps stopped the free-fall in '99 by adding 5-cards to the base set to make the '99 set a smooth 200-cards. Regardless, of the base set size, the insert sets were still cool and the "Co-Signers" autograph set returned for its 3rd season. A small, yet awesome 6-card set. The "Never Compromise" insert set also came back after a one-year hiatus.

 

1999 Topps Stadium Club: “Karsten Bailey” RC #171

The awesome card designs continued in 2000 with another solid release. The 2000 release was only 175 cards, but it was still amazing, (See the 2000 Topps Stadium Club "Yancey Thigpen" #26 left). As you can tell, the "action" shots were used by card manufacturers almost exclusively at this time. The Stadium Club release in 2000 had 9 insert sets which one of those being the 4th installment of the "Co-Signers" autograph set.  The other autograph set included in the 2000 release was the first offering of the "Lone Star" autographs. The 2000 Stadium

Club release also included its first memorabilia set, the Pro Bowl Jerseys insert set which also included an autograph parallel set and a combo jersey parallel set, as well. The 2000 release had everything a collector could want, even if the Pro Bowl and its jerseys might not garner much interest.

 

In closing, the "Topps: Stadium Club" brand was just an awesome title with the only real downer being those damn pesky "Members Only" cards. Worthless junk. I mean, people can't distinguish them when they are selling them. Huge mistake, Topps. The insert sets were awesome and the "Co-Signers" autograph sets were a classic, the '97 "Co-Signers" set wasn't the easiest to display, but the set size made up for that. So the "Topps: Stadium Club" title was an awesome title with just about everything a hobbyist would love, (minus memorabilia), so if you're a collector you can't go wrong with this title.

I have complete sets:
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Topps Stadium Club:

1) 1991 Topps Stadium Club Set

 2) 1992 Topps Stadium Club Set

    A) QB Legends Insert

    B) #1 Draft Pick Insert

3) 1993 Topps Stadium Club Set

    A) Master Photos I Insert

    B) Master Photos II Insert

    C) Super Teams Insert

4) 1994 Topps Stadium Club Set

    A) Bowman's Best Insert

    B) Dynasty and Destiny Insert

    C) Expansion Team Redemption (Jacksonville) Insert

    D) Expansion Team Redemption (Carolina) Insert

    E) Frequent Scorer Points Upgrades Insert

    F) Ring Leaders Insert

5) 1995 Topps Stadium Club Set

     A) Medalists Insert

     B) MVPs Insert

     C) Nemeses Insert

     D) Nightmares Insert

     E) Power Surge Insert

6) 1996 Topps Stadium Club Set

     A) Brace Yourself Insert

     B) Contact Prints Insert

     C) Cut Backs Insert

     D) Laser Sites Insert

     E) Namath Finest Insert

     F) New Age Insert

     G) Pro Bowl Insert

7) 1997 Topps Stadium Club Set

     A) Aerial Assault Insert

     B) Bowman's Best Previews Insert

     C) Co-Signers Insert - Incomplete ( 55 / 105 )

     D) Never Compromise Insert

     E) Offensive Strikes Insert

     F) Triumvirate 1 Insert

8) 1998 Topps Stadium Club Set

     A) Chrome Preview Insert

     B) Double Threat Insert

     C) Leading Legends Insert

     D) Prime Rookies Insert

     E) Triumvirate Luminous Insert

9) 1999 Topps Stadium Club Set

     A) Chrome Previews Insert

     B) Emperors of the Zone Insert

     C) 3X3 Luminous Insert

     D) Never Compromise Insert

10) 2000 Topps Stadium Club Set

    A) Capture the Action Insert

    B) Goal to Go Insert

    C) Lone Star Autographs Insert

11) 2001 Topps Stadium Club Set - Do Not Have

    A) Highlight Reels Insert

    B) Lone Star Autographs Insert - Incomplete ( 8 / 23 )

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Topps Stadium Club Chrome:

1) 1999 Topps Stadium Club Chrome Set

     A) Clear Shots Insert

     B) Eyes Of The Game Insert

     C) Never Compromise Insert

     D) True Colors Insert

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