CONTACTS:
Cathy Jessup, CFO
The Topps Company, Inc.
212.376.0466
    or
Betsy Brod/Jonathan Schaffer
Brod Group, LLC
212.750.5800


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE TOPPS COMPANY, INC. ANNOUNCES QUARTERLY CASH DIVIDEND


New York,  NY, October 8, 2003 - The Topps Company,  Inc.  (Nasdaq:  TOPP) today
announced  that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of
$0.04 per share,  payable  on  October  31,  2003 to  shareholders  of record on
October 17, 2003.

Founded  in  1938,  Topps is a  leading  creator  and  marketer  of  distinctive
confectionery and entertainment  products.  The Company's  confectionery  brands
include Ring Pop, Push Pop, Baby Bottle Pop and Juicy Drop Pop lollipops as well
as Bazooka  bubble gum.  Topps  entertainment  products  include  trading cards,
sticker  and  album   collections,   and  collectible   games.   For  additional
information, visit www.topps.com.

This release  contains  forward-looking  statements  pursuant to the safe harbor
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although the
Company believes the expectations  contained in such forward-looking  statements
are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be
correct.  This information may involve risks and uncertainties  that could cause
actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors
that could cause or contribute to such differences  include, but are not limited
to,  factors  detailed  in the  Company's  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission
filings.