The 2017 Topps Baseball card release marked the 60th anniversary of the iconic baseball card brand. To commemorate the occasion, Topps included some very unique and special parallel cards in their flagship collection known as SPs (Short Print) that captured the attention of collectors both young and old. These parallel inserts provide a modern twist on the timeless tradition of collecting baseball cards.
Let’s take a deeper look at some of the most popular and sought-after SP cards from the 2017 Topps Baseball set and what made each one so special. Topps produced the cards in much lower print runs than the base cards, giving collectors an exciting challenge to track them down. The scarcity of these parallel versions added greatly to their appeal and trade value within the collecting community.
Perhaps the most buzzworthy SP in the 2017 Topps Baseball release were the Autograph SPs, which featured on-card autographs of some of the game’s biggest stars. Only 10 copies of each autograph SP existed, making them extremely limited. Players like Mike Trout, Clayton Kershaw, Kris Bryant, and Bryce Harper graced these precious autograph parallels. Given their rarity and starring some of the new faces of the sport, the 2017 Topps Autograph SPs commanded astronomical resale prices in the collecting marketplace. Piecing together a complete autograph set presented a tremendous challenge but was highly coveted among the most hardcore collectors.
Another unique SP included in the 2017 Topps Baseball set were the Diamond Anniversary parallel cards. Featuring a dazzling diamond-inspired design treatment across the entire surface of the card, these parallels really popped on card shelves and in collectors’ hands. Topps stamped each Diamond Anniversary card with prominent “60th Anniversary” wording and color-tints to emphasize the momentous occasion. Only 60 copies of each Diamond Anniversary SP card were produced, adding to their allure. Players like Clayton Kershaw, Mike Trout, Kris Bryant and more received these ultra-limited diamond parallel treatments that shined brightly in sets.
The Rainbow Foil SP cards from 2017 Topps Baseball invoked the feeling of a classic 1990s style parallel insert but with a captivating modern twist. A vivid multi-colored shimmering rainbow pattern danced across these special parallel cards when tilted under light. Topps produced Rainbow Foil SPs for some of the games biggest young stars like Corey Seager, Carlos Correa, and Francisco Lindor. Numbered to only 99 copies each, the limited Rainbow Foils took collecting to a sensory experience beyond just cardboard. Finding high-number versions of the Rainbow Foil SPs became a hunt in itself.
Topps upped the sci-fi factor with galactic-themed Galaxy Forever parallel SP cards also found in the 2017 Topps Baseball product. A glittering star field covered these otherworldly SP cards alongside planetary bursts of color. Topps chose some true outer-space worthy superstars like Bryce Harper, Mike Trout and Clayton Kershaw for these intergalactic SP tributes. Limited to an extraterrestrial 77 copies each, Galaxy Forever parallels took collectors to the farthest reaches of parallel card collecting. Tracking down a full set presented one giant leap for card kind.
A true blast from the past for collectors were the 1977-Style parallel SP inserts in the 2017 Topps Baseball release. With a authentic retro design straight from the hallowed 1977 Topps set, these parallel cards paid homage to where it all began for the modern baseball card era. Topps replicated the same stylized player image sizes, color schemes and fonts from that pioneering ’77 issue. Stars like Kris Bryant, Mookie Betts and Noah Syndergaard received these throwback parallel treatments. Limited to only 19777 copies each, finding high-number versions of these retro SP cards took dedicated hunting through endless packs.
The much-hyped Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War movie crossover was perfectly captured in a series of Infinity Gauntlet parallel SPs too. With player images morphed within the fabled Infinity Gauntlet itself, these Marvel-themed SP cards married two pop culture forces. Stars like Aaron Judge, Bryce Harper and Manny Machado took on an intergalactic flair within the stones of power on their SPs. Topps produced these comic book dream SP cards in quantities matching the Infinity Stones themselves, at only 6 copies each. Collecting these ultra-rare Infinity Gauntlet SPs challenged the enduring wills of even the most stubborn collectors.
Alongside more traditional parallel SP cards for bigger stars, Topps also included special parallel SP treatments of prospects to highlight the next generation. Topps chose Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Ronald Acuna and Eloy Jimenez for these hit potential laden Prospect SP parallels. Limited to only 2017 copies each, these prospectively low-numbered SP cards invited envisioning future stardom while being quite challenging to track down in the present. Prospectparallel collecting became its own mini-quest within the 2017 Topps Baseball modern relic hunting experience.
In total, Topps produced SP parallels in the 2017 Topps Baseball release numbered in the single digits up to a maximum of around 20,000 copies depending on the specific parallel. These short printed variants added a thrill of the hunt element to the traditional base set collecting and increased the fun, challenge and replay value of the flagship Topps product for its 60th anniversary. Whether pursuing autographs, parallels or prospects, 2017 Topps Baseball SP cards truly captured imaginations and took collecting to new stratospheres. They firmly solidified the SP parallel’s place as modern baseball card collecting’s most prized quarry.
