This release marks the end of the regular season, and features players changing teams, All Stars, and a number of rookies making their debut. It follows the normal pattern, so there aren’t really a lot of surprises. You see some manufactured relics, some All Star relics, and various autographs. There are also the usual number of parallels. The biggest surprise to me is the size of the set. After years of a 330 card set, Topps started changing it the last few years. This year, the set has shrunk to a total of 300 base cards.
The jumbo box contains 10 packs of 50 cards each, while advertising 1 Autograph and 2 Relic cards per box.
Once again, this release comes along as essentially an update set for the Heritage cards released earlier in the year. They’re packed out in packs, rather than limited edition boxed sets. They are able to feature some roster updates, although many of those are for off season signings, since the base Heritage release is so early in the year. It does contain the first Heritage cards for many of the rookies debuting during the season.
There really aren’t any big surprises, although it does make for a nice finish for the Heritage line. The base set is numbered 501-700, with 701-725 SPs. You get an assortment of possible color changes, action photos, errors, and throwback jerseys. The hobby box contains 24 packs of 9 cards, and advertises one autograph or relic per box.
Topps is starting to get in to the business of National Baseball Card day. Six card packs were given away at hobby stores, as well as a bonus Kris Bryant card with a certain purchase. The full set consists of 49 cards, but the packs also include random autographs as well. There’s not much too it, but for free, you can’t really complain. It’s a bit of a different design, and seems a little out of character for Topps. It’s a nice change of pace, though.
This is a new release for Topps, and I don’t think many people really knew what to expect. Bunt is a fairly successful app in which the user can buy virtual packs of cards, while they collect and trade these cards. It features a combination of free packs, but a dedicated player can also spend real money to buy virtual packs and even boxes to get themselves greater chances at the cards they want. Some of these virtual cards are even bought and sold for real money, but they’ve always remained virtual. Now, Topps is making a physical card set to go around with this release.
The Topps Chrome release has long been an alternative parallel to the flagship Topps set, but this one seems to take it even a little bit further. The base set is only 200 cards, but then you also see inserts matching the regular base set inserts, as well. I’m not sure if that’s really necessary. There are also a lot fewer inserts and parallels than from recent years. This lack of parallels leaves you with a question of value. Base cards don’t really seem to get a lot of respect, and now you get more of them.
The jumbo boxes advertise five autographs per box, but there isn’t much else. The boxes contain 12 packs of 13 cards.
