The 2002 Topps baseball card set was released at the start of the 2002 MLB season and featured cards of players, managers, and teams from the 2001 season. As with every Topps release, there were several key cards that stood out and captured the attention of collectors both for their subject matter and scarcity. Some of the top key cards from the 2002 Topps set included:
Barry Bonds (#1) – Barry Bonds had one of the greatest individual seasons of all time in 2001 when he hit 73 home runs to break Mark McGwire’s single season record. His accomplishment was hugely significant and newsworthy at the time. Not surprisingly, Topps made Bonds the #1 card in the set to highlight his record-setting season. His card has always been one of the most sought after and valuable from the set due to the subject’s status as one of the game’s all-time great sluggers combined with the card being the flagship #1 in the set. Over the years, the Bonds #1 has maintained strong collector demand.
Ichiro Suzuki (#69) – Ichiro was already a huge star in Japan but 2001 was his rookie season in Major League Baseball with the Seattle Mariners. He was an instant sensation by breaking the MLB rookie hits record with 242 on the season. Topps wisely chose to feature Ichiro prominently by giving him the #69 card in the set as a reference to his hit total. The Ichiro rookie became a highly coveted card for collectors interested in one of the game’s most unique players and biggest international stars. It remains a key piece in any collection from this era.
Roberto Alomar (#150) – Roberto Alomar was a 10-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove second baseman who was one of the best players of the 1990s. In 2001, he was traded from the Cleveland Indians to the New York Mets. His #150 card from the 2002 Topps set stands out not just because of Alomar’s excellent career but because the photo shows him in his Mets uniform, making it one of the more visually distinctive cards in the set as a player in a new uniform. The photo also captures Alomar in the act of throwing, accentuating his defensive skills.
Kerry Wood (#284) – Kerry Wood electrified the baseball world in 1998 as a rookie with the Chicago Cubs by striking out 20 Houston Astros in a single game. It was one of the most dominating pitching performances in history. Wood battled injuries in the coming years but was still a high talent when Topps featured him on card #284 in the 2002 set, reminding collectors of his amazing potential. The card remains popular with Cubs fans interested in one of the franchise’s most exciting young stars from their past.
Roberto Clemente (#375) – Roberto Clemente was already a Hall of Famer when he tragically died in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve 1972 while attempting to deliver aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. Topps paid tribute to the Pirates legend on card #375 in the 2002 set, the 30th anniversary of his passing. The “Thank You Roberto” inscription at the bottom added extra emotion and significance to the card, which became a must-have for collectors wanting to honor Clemente’s legacy. It’s one of the most poignant and well-designed cards in the entire set.
Cal Ripken Jr. (#400) – Cal Ripken Jr. had already established himself as one of the game’s all-time greats but in 2001 he broke Lou Gehrig’s iconic record of 2,130 straight games played. Topps captured the historic moment on Ripken’s #400 card, showing him celebrating with teammates after breaking the record. As one of the most revered players of his generation for his work ethic and dedication to playing every day, the Ripken #400 became a highly sought-after card to commemorate his place in baseball immortality. Even 20 years later, it remains one of the set’s most popular cards.
Ichiro Suzuki Autograph (#650) – In addition to his base rookie card, Topps also included an autographed Ichiro card in the set, given the #650 designation. As one of the first autographed cards featuring baseball’s newest star, combined with the subject’s popularity, the Ichiro autograph became a true treasure for collectors. It’s an especially valuable card today for autographed rookie card collectors. Getting Ichiro’s autograph was still a rare occurrence in those early MLB seasons so the #650 stands out.
Barry Larkin (#660) – Barry Larkin was a 12-time All-Star and 3-time Gold Glove shortstop who played his entire 19-year career with the Cincinnati Reds. By 2002, he was freshly retired but still revered, especially in Cincinnati. Topps paid tribute to Larkin’s stellar career with a classy posed portrait on his #660 card. For Reds fans and collectors wanting a remembrance of one of the franchise’s modern greats, the Larkin card became an essential piece. It remains one of the set’s most aesthetically pleasing cards that collectors enjoy having in their collections.
2002 Topps Turkey Red #T11 – In addition to the base set, Topps also included their popular Turkey Red parallel insert set featuring various players. The #T11 card featured Barry Bonds in his home Pirates uniform pointing to the stands, a throwback photo that was different than his base card image. As one of the more visually dramatic Turkey Red cards combined with featuring one of the game’s biggest stars, the Bonds #T11 became a highly sought-after parallel card that stands out in the set.
While every Topps set contains various valuable and desirable cards, the 2002 edition had several true keys that captured notable moments and players that resonated strongly with collectors. Cards like Bonds, Ichiro, Ripken, and Clemente highlighted some of the biggest stories and performances from that season. Other cards like Alomar, Wood, Larkin and the Ichiro autograph featured some of the game’s most popular stars. Together, these cards and more have ensured the 2002 Topps set remains an important baseball release that holds up well for collectors even 20 years later.
