The 2016 MLB season marked another year of greatness on the baseball diamond. New stars emerged while long-time greats continued to cement their legacies. Baseball card companies recognized the accomplishments of the previous year by releasing new sets on opening day featuring the biggest names in the sport.
Topps, the largest and oldest baseball card manufacturer, released their flagship 2016 Topps baseball card set on opening day. As usual, the set featured all 30 MLB teams with cards showcasing each team’s top players. Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels graced the cover card for the third consecutive year. Trout has established himself as the face of MLB and is routinely one of the highest selling rookie cards each year. Some other big names that received eye-catching cards in the Topps set included Bryce Harper, Clayton Kershaw, Cole Hamels, Buster Posey, and rookie sensations Kris Bryant and Carlos Correa.
The Topps release also paid homage to milestone accomplishments from the 2015 season. For example, homerun king Barry Bonds received a card commemorating his 762nd career homer that broke Hank Aaron’s all-time record. The Cardinals’ Adam Wainwright got a card celebrating his 200th career win. Cubs fan favorite Dexter Fowler received a reflective card after helping to lead Chicago to their first NLCS appearance since 2003.
In addition to its base set, Topps released inserts highlighting some of its best photography from the previous year. The “Topps Tales” insert set showcased iconic at-bats, defensive plays, and celebrations through crisp action shots. Top rookies from 2015 like Matt Duffy and Steven Matz received glowing “Rookie Phenoms” cards as well. Autograph and memorabilia card inserts of stars like Clayton Kershaw and Noah Syndergaard gave collectors high-end chase cards to pursue.
Panini America also entered the baseball card fray on opening day with the release of their 2016 Donruss baseball set. Like Topps, Donruss featured all 30 teams led by cover athlete Kris Bryant of the World Series champion Cubs. The Donruss set took a striking photographic approach that emphasized vivid colors and unique angles. Their photography brought out the intrinsic beauty in America’s pastime.
Donruss inserts like “Momentous Moments” and “Rookie Signatures” highlighted some of the most triumphant feats from the season prior. Flashy parallels like red and blue refractors added to the visual appeal. Autograph cards of elite talent such as Miguel Cabrera, Max Scherzer, and Carlos Correa gave collectors high-end chase cards. Mike Trout heads up the “Donruss Elite” insert set featuring the game’s absolute top performers.
Another notable release was 2016 Allen & Ginter from Topps. A&G took a non-sport approach instead featuring historical figures, artists, landmarks and more alongside baseball stars. Insert sets paid tribute to American craft beers, famous actors, and other unique brands. Baseball cards in the set focused more on photography and fun facts over stats. It was a welcome change of pace for collectors seeking variety in their collections.
With two new franchises joining the league, the 2016 season presented an expansion of talent. Topps, Panini and other card companies helped collectors commemorate a memorable year and welcome exciting new faces to the sport through specially designed baseball cards on opening day. Featuring the game’s established icons while spotlighting burgeoning young stars, the 2016 opening day releases helped get fans pumped for what promised to be another unforgettable MLB campaign. Baseball cards continue to be a staple that brings the sport’s history and present together for collector appreciation and memories that last far beyond a single season.
