Topps Series 1 Baseball Autographs
Of course, there are hits to be found in 2021 Topps Series 1 Baseball, including debuting 70 Years of Baseball Autographs and 70 Years of Baseball Dual Autographs . Single-player parallels include Black , Gold , Red and Platinum .
There’s also the on-card 1986 Topps Baseball Autograph line, with Black , Gold , Red and Platinum versions.
Collectors can revisit the 2020 season in the Postseason Performance Autograph and World Series Champions Autograph sets. These include Red and Platinum parallels.
Other choices include 70 Years of Topps Baseball Autographs , Stars in Service Autographs and Topps Platinum Players Die-Cuts Autographs , plus Cut Signatures .
Best 2021 Topps Clearly Authentic Baseball Cards
Lets take a look at the top-rated 2021 Topps Clearly Authentic baseball cards from an investment perspective.
As an ascendant player, collectors have an opportunity to invest in KeBryan Hayes early in his career. They should consider this 2021 KeBryan Hayes Topps Clearly Authentic Auto RC.
Though the base Topps Clearly Authentic design isnt especially unique from other Topps sets, the lack of a border is a different touch. It allows the image of Hayes to shine.
Speaking of the image, Hayes dons a sleek, black, V-necked Pittsburgh Pirates uniform as he tosses his bat towards the dugout barrel-first. He wears a face-covering around his neck .
The cards partially transparent border is a defining feature, as is the blue autograph scribbled upon the image of Hayes right kneecap.
A nameplate runs diagonally across the cards bottom-right corner. A Pirates P logo rests in the same corner.
Various parallels exist in limited print runs. They include Green , Black , Red , Blue , Purple , Orange , and Gold .
The Throwback cards from the 2021 Topps Clearly Authentic set are a nod to the . Someone gave Acuna the memo, as he rocks large-framed shades that belong smack-dab in 1986.
The design of this card is straight fuego, with the blue-and-black Braves banner up top setting a timeless tone. That top banner infringes upon a grey lower border.
This is one of the true standouts from the 2021 Topps Clearly Authentic Set.
Best Mike Trout Baseball Cards To Collect 2021
Mike Trout will be entering his second decade as the games dominant force. While Trout has experienced many individual accolades, hes still searching for a meaningful run in the playoffs. That said, Trout has shown no signs of slowing down. This leads us to believe that at some point well see the perennial MVP contender shine on the big stage. Or at least be given the opportunity to do so for crying out loud. Here are some cards that would be worth owning if he turns the playoff corner next year!
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What Has Stayed The Same In 2021 Topps Series 2 Vs Series 1
The design. For many collectors, this is not a plus. They are not the most popular design Topps has ever featured, and I agree they are pretty unattractive.
Like the previous release, 2021 Topps Series 2 has inserts inspired by the classic 1986 Topps release. That was a beautiful set, so their inserts remain a welcome addition.
The short print format is basically identical. The format includes SPs, SSPs, and SSSPs.
Just like the previous series, there are 25 Unique Topps Experience cards available as well. These cards are usually a ticket to a Topps event, often involving major league stars of the past and present.
Here are the parallels for Series 2:
- Rainbow Foil 1:10 hobby
- Printing Plates 1/1
- 70th Anniversary 1/1
The only difference is that in Series 2, the Gold Foil parallels are hobby exclusives. Thats about it.
You can also expect the return of the fun Home Run challenge cards, with 30 new ones available.
Topps #223 Luis Robert
Estimated Base PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $20
After a rookie debut with the White Sox in 2020 that saw Luis Robert take home a Gold Glove and finish second in the Rookie of the Year vote, he looked to turn things up a notch in 2021.
Unfortunately, thanks to a torn hip flexor in May, he only played 68 games on the year.
Thankfully, Roberts return in August proved there were no lingering effects from his injury, and he ended the year slashing .338/.378/.567 with 13 homers and 43 RBI to help the White Sox to a 93-69 first-place finish in the AL Central.
The young centerfielder has honed his free-swinging approach at the plate and is much better able to identify the fastball versus breaking ball that frequently stumped him during his rookie season.
Firmly established as a central figure in the White Soxs plans moving forward, expect Robert to work hard this offseason to play an entire season in 2022, where expectations for the Cuban slugger will be sky-high.
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The Resale Price Of 2021 Topps Series 2 Vs Series 1
The card market is softening right now, and the Topps flagship series seems to be dropping in price daily. Serie 1 was released at the height of the card bubble and enjoyed some excellent prices and resale value.
Series 2 is coming out just as prices are dropping. I saw Jumbo Hobby Boxes pre-listing for $250, and now they are listing at around $215 even though they are brand new. Even the Series 1 Jumbo Hobby Boxes are worth more right now, which is surprising.
The resale values are good news for set collectors but bad news for investors and flippers.
Topps Series 1 Baseball Cards In Review
I love the 2021 Topps Series 1 base set design as it flashes a modern look and feel to it without being too over the top.
The diagonal nameplates can sometimes make it slightly tedious to make out the player’s name and position info, but it’s not too big of a deal.
While there weren’t really any blockbuster rookies that preceded the release of this set, time will tell if some of these guys develop into superstars that could send prices of their rookies soaring in future years.
Still, the rookie class is decent enough and there are plenty of big-name stars and future Hall of Famers to collect within the 330-card checklist.
If you’re looking for subsets, there are a few traditional ones, including:
- World Series Highlights
And as usual, there are plenty of parallels, variations, autographs, and memorabilia cards to keep you busy chasing down some of those more exciting pulls.
Overall, I think Topps did a great job with this set.
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Bowman Chrome Baseball Gold Border Parallel
The 2021 Bowman Chrome collection will feature a sleek design that includes different colored borders for each parallel and a shaded effect throughout the cards. The Gold parallel has a print run of 50 so should end up somewhere in the area of a mid-range investment. In addition to the Gold, there will be more common parallels of Acuna that should put less of a dent in your bankroll.
Topps Series 2 Vs Series 1
Just when all of us baseball collectors vowed we would never get another blaster of Topps Series 1, they dropped Series 2. You probably have questions like: is it worth getting if you invested in Series 1? Is there even a significant difference? We examine 2021 Topps Series 2 Vs. Series 1 for you.
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Topps Series 1 Baseball Inserts
Moving to the inserts, most of the choices are new, as well. Featuring current players and retired legends, 70 Years of Topps Baseball covers seven decades of designs in the 70-card set.
The History of Topps turns the focus to Topps itself via 10 cards that look back at key moments and subjects from Topps’ past. In addition, Topps Through the Years works in 25 stars on some of the most iconic designs from the Topps portfolio.
Yet another cardboard celebration is on tap with 1986 Topps Baseball‘s 35th anniversary.
Part of a 70-card continuation line, the Topps Platinum Players Die-Cuts insert aims to identify the 70 greatest players on Topps cards. Series 1 has the first 25 players in the set.
However, it’s not all about the action on the field. Stars in Service features top players who also give back.
These five inserts come as Blue, Black , Platinum Anniversary , Red , and Gold parallels.
Taking inspiration from the 1990 Topps Double Header cards, Topps Double Headers pairs the rookie card and final Topps card for 25 key names.
And, finally, collectors can dive into the new season of Home Run Challenge with one card per Hobby/Jumbo box.
Just For Fun: Topps Series 1 Spring Training Cap Logo Patches
These cards will feature a cap patch worn in spring training and can also have an on-card autograph depending on the player. Theyre not going to be the most valuable cards to look at but pretty cool nonetheless. However, the autograph parallels will only have a print run of 10 so if Soto pops out of one it could actually be worth some money!
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Topps #321 Casey Mize Rookie Card
Estimated Base PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $40
Though his 7-9 record may not look like it, Detroit Tigers youngster Casey Mize turned in a solid year on the mound during his second year in the Majors.
The Tigers’ organization hopes that pitching coach Chris Fetter can eventually turn their promising former number one pick into one of the top aces in the league.
But, they’ve been careful with their future star during a down year in which the Tigers finished third in the AL Central with a 77-85 record.
Often limiting his innings to preserve his arm for the long haul, especially during the later part of the year, Mize notched 150.1 innings over 30 starts.
His 3.71 ERA will certainly drift lower in the future, but he still turned in a solid 1.137 WHIP and 118 strikeouts.
The future is bright for Mize and hopes in the Motor City couldn’t be higher for the budding future ace out of Auburn.
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Topps Series 1 Baseball Flagship Design
Still skewing to a more modern style, the Jo Adell rookie card mock-up showcases the return of a full border for the first time in several years. While there have been partial borders in recent series, the last full border came in 2015.
Collectors will also likely notice the 70-year logo in silver in place of the standard Topps logo.
At first glance, the diagonal nameplate does make it a little tough to pick out the name.
Naturally, we are curious about the back, as well, but that image was not provided.
If you are wondering how the design compares to previous styles, check out the Topps flagship gallery from 1951 to 2021 to get a full rundown of the many looks used by Topps over the years.
Do you have any thoughts about the 2021 design? Tell us what you think in the comments.
Release Date: February 10, 2021Hobby Configuration: 14 cards per pack, 24 packs per box, 12 boxes per caseHTA Jumbo Configuration: 46 cards per pack, 10 packs per box, 6 boxes per case
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Best 2021 Topps Clearly Authentic Baseball Cards: Summary
Topps Clearly Authentic has a unique feel and appearance, and the promise of autographs makes it a set that collectors covet.
The partnership with Allen & Ginter results in several artistic cards, including the Soto and Griffey cards weve listed.
Limited print runs and autographs generally make for expensive cards. Based on this fact, the 2021 Topps Clearly Authentic set is actually more affordable than you might think.
Best Baseball Cards To Collect 2021 On Ebay
The new season is finally here so what better time than now to take a look at best baseball cards to collect in 2021. Just like in 2020, were sure to see plenty of great cards released from the industrys top sets. While the 2021 Topps Series 1, Bowman Baseball, and Topps Heritage are the biggest names released so far, the mega-stars like Bowman and Topps Chrome will soon be making a huge impact again. Therefore, well focus on cards you can expect from some of the most talented young players in the league from all of the top sets. And Mike Trout. Sorry Mike youre a spring chicken no longer.
Related Content: They dont offer the glitz, glam, or value of the best baseball cards to collect in 2021. Still, theres nothing wrong with scooping up some of the funniest baseball cards of all time.
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Topps Series 1 Baseball Buybacks / Sketch / Topper
In addition, collectors can find rare buyback and sketch cards in 2021 Topps Series 1 Baseball. With one card each from all 70 years, the one-of-one History of Topps Baseball Buyback cards come encased. Hand-drawn versions include standard Sketch cards and Shaped Sketch cards. The shaped edition is limited to 70 total cards that are exclusive to Hobby/Jumbo boxes.
Among the other odds and ends, Hobby Jumbo boxes are home to the 1951 Topps Major League All-Stars Box Toppers. These feature 25 players, while the on-card Autograph parallel is numbered to 10 or less.
Topps Series 1 Baseball Variations: Codes To Know
Looking for the fastest way to know whether you have a 2021 Topps Series 1 Baseball variation? Flip the card over to the back .
That block of text at the bottom with all the copyright info and legal stuff? Theres something helpful. The CMP code at the end changes based on the card type. Think of it like a tag. Use the last digits of the string to tell different types of cards apart.
When it comes to telling base, SP, SSP and Ultra card types, these are what you need:
- Super Short Print 231
- Ultra Short Print 232
Other inserts have different codes, but theyre not important here.
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Rookies In 2021 Topps Series 2 Vs Series 1
Topps Series 1 is printed well before opening day . This year it was released in February. Therefore, the rookie class featured is limited to those likely to appear on rosters in April.
Topps is also in the habit of holding back coveted rookie cards for Series 2 and even Topps Update. This strategy allows the company to drum up interest for their releases later in the season.
Indeed, the blue-chip rookies are very often the ones called up during the season. For example, Fernando Tatis Jr. had his first rookie card in the 2019 Series 2.
This year the series has no less than 59 brand new rookie cards. We will be dropping an article rating them here on Cardlines very soon, so keep an eye out for that.
Most Valuable 2021 Topps Series 1 Baseball Cards
More…
With the release of its 2021 Topps Series 1 baseball card set, the company officially celebrated the 70th anniversary of its flagship design as a staple in the hobby.
As a way to commemorate the special milestone, you’ll notice Topps included a foil logo on each of its cards with a “70” above the Topps brand name.
But, Topps didn’t just stop there with a commemorative logo as a way to look back…
They also included tons of great inserts that feature current and former stars on several Topps designs from years past.
Aside from the inserts and the 330-card base set in this release, you’ll also find plenty of variations, parallels, autographs and memorabilia cards to keep you busy chasing.
This set quickly grew on me and I’ve become a huge fan.
And, in this list, I will take a look at the 20 most valuable Topps Series 1 cards in the checklist.
Let’s jump right in!
Before I get started, I just want to clarify some of the criteria I used in creating this list.
Given all of the variations, parallels, autograph, and memorabilia cards included in the Topps Series 1 release, developing a definitive “most valuable” list can be quite difficult at this time.
So, to build this list, I only focused on the base cards for now.
And I attempted to estimate their current values when graded in PSA 10 condition so their “raw” or ungraded values may be wildly different.
Now that we got that out of the way let’s get started…
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Print Run Of 2021 Topps Series 2 Vs Series 1
While Topps doesnt release the numbers for their print runs, there is little doubt that the company printed a ton of Series 1. Honestly, Topps greatly overprinted that product.
Traditionally, series 2 is a smaller release, and there is no way Topps will repeat the massive numbers it printed for Series 1. Especially now, with the card market softening and Target not selling sports cards.
Best Juan Soto Baseball Cards To Collect 2021
Although still young, Soto is now established as hands down one of the best players in baseball. He already has a World Series under his belt and last year won the batting title by hitting an impressive .351.
At the age of just 21, Sotos path to stardom is already complete so you can bank on him being a huge fixture in the league for years to come. Here are a couple of his upcoming cards were looking forward to.
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Th Anniversary Celebration Limited Edition Factory Set
A special “Limited Edition” factory set was distributed exclusively to attendees of a special event which took place in New York City February 5th, 2022. Fifty invitations were randomly inserted into packs of 2021 Topps Series One and Series Two. Those who pulled an invitation were given two tickets to attend a “Topps 70th Anniversary Celebration.” Each attendee would receive a special “70th Anniversary Celebration Limited Edition” factory set. 100 sets were produced.
All 660 base cards have the Topps 70th Anniversary logo design along their borders and are foil-stamped “LIMITED EDITION.” Each set contains only the 660-card base set and no other bonus cards .