Founded in Brooklyn in 1938, Topps had early success with an innovative product, Bazooka Gum. Next, it went head-to-head with Bowman Gum, and started producing baseball cards in 1951. After five glorious years of trying to out do one another, the two companies became one when Bowman was sold to Topps after the 1955 season. Thus began Topps' dominance of the baseball card market, which continues to this day, although the company is set to lose its exclusive MLB deal in 2025. The cards pictured here were all made in Duryea, Penn. They were sold in wax packs that came with bubble gum, and in cellophane packs and vending machines that didn't. Along the way, they became an essential part of childhood for several generations of kids.