The 2000 Topps baseball card set was released at the start of the new millennium and marked Topps’ 53rd year as the exclusive producer of Major League Baseball cards. The set contains 792 total cards and features every MLB player from the 1999 season. Some key things to know about the 2000 Topps complete set include:
Design and Production: Topps went with a clean and simple design for the 2000 cards. The front features a large action photo of the player along with their name, team, and positional information at the bottom. On the back, stats from the previous season are provided along with a short career summary. As with most modern sets, the cards use glossy stock paper and are of standard size/dimensions. The set was produced through Topps’ printing plants in Ohio and Canada.
Rookies and Rookies: Some top rookie cards found in the 2000 Topps set include Jason Giambi (Card #1), Carlos Beltran (Card #110), and Alfonso Soriano (Card #123). All three would go on to have stellar MLB careers making their rookie cards quite valuable today, especially for Giambi and Beltran. Other notable rookies included Mark McLemore (Card #116), Brad Lidge (Card #166), and Jason Schmidt (Card #211).
Short Prints and Variations: While there were no true “short prints” in the 2000 Topps base set, there were a few variations to be aware of. Cards #765 and #766 feature a photo from the previous season rather than 1999. Cards #767 and #768 feature players in minor league uniforms who did not actually play in the majors that year.
Insert Cards: In addition to the base 792 card set, Topps included several insert sets within factory packs. The most notable were “Topps Finest Refractors” featuring parallel refractors of star players, “Topps Gallery” black and white photo inserts, and “Topps Traded” update cards for midseason trades.
Highlights of the Set: Some standout cards from the 2000 Topps set include the #1 Jason Giambi rookie, #66 Ken Griffey Jr. in his Cincinnati Reds uniform, #99 Roberto Alomar’s final card as a Toronto Blue Jay, #150 Pedro Martinez in a Boston Red Sox uniform, #369 Cal Ripken Jr.’s final career card, and #500 Derek Jeter’s card marking his first All-Star appearance.
Condition and Grading: As with any vintage set, condition is key when determining a card’s true value. Heavily played examples of even star cards may only be worth a few dollars. Near mint to mint rookie cards of players like Giambi and Beltran can fetch hundreds of dollars or more in graded gem mint condition. Top-graded examples may sell for over $1,000 given the star power of those two rookies.
Completing the Set: With nearly 800 total cards, completing a 2000 Topps set from scratch is a sizable undertaking and investment. Unopened boxes in good condition sell for $150-250 depending on availability. Individual common cards can usually be acquired for 10-25 cents each, while star cards may range from $1-10 depending on condition. Top rookies will easily run $20-100+ each. Dedicated collectors often work on the set over several years through trades and marketplace purchases.
While not one of the most valuable vintage sets, the 2000 Topps baseball card release remains a fun and iconic set for collectors to pursue. Featuring future Hall of Famers and star rookies from the turn of the century, it provides a snapshot into the game at that point in time. For those willing to put in the effort, completing the 2000 Topps set can be a very rewarding experience.
