The 2018 Topps Baseball card set was one of the most highly anticipated releases of the year as it marked the 65th anniversary of Topps’ existence as a trading card company. Some of the key features and highlights of the 2018 Topps Baseball card set included:
To celebrate their 65th anniversary in 2018, Topps went above and beyond with the design and photography of the cards. The borders on the base cards were trimmed in gold foil to commemorate the occasion. The team logo on the front of each card was enlarged and given extra prominence to make the designs really pop on card shelves and in binders. The photos on the cards also seemed sharper and more vivid than in years past. Topps clearly spared no expense to make the 2018 set truly stand out visually amongst its competition.
Base cards made up the bulk of the 2018 Topps Baseball release at a massive 880 cards total across Series 1, 2, and Update Series. This was one of the largest modern base sets ever produced. Ranging in number from 1-880, the base cards featured current Major League players from all 30 teams. Parallels and insert sets were also included. Topps has also continued its popular Traditions subset, which pays tribute to classic card designs from the 1950s and 1960s.
A record 26 rookie cards debuted in the 2018 Topps set, headlined by future superstars such as Ronald Acuña Jr., Juan Soto, Victor Robles, Fernando Tatis Jr., and others. Topps did an excellent job highlighting these newcomers that would make major impacts right away. The photography and design really made these rookies stand out as future stars. Many of these rookies ended up becoming the most coveted and valuable cards in the set within just a few short years.
The flagship Topps product also included several exciting insert sets beyond the base cards. The popular Topps Now series returned with hits featuring timely and story-driven moments from the current season. Additional insert sets included 1965 Flashback, 1975 Flashback, Heroes of the Game, Topps History, 1987 Turn Back The Clock, and Hometown Heroes among others. Topps did a great job selecting dynamic subject matter and designs for these inserts that would appeal to both casual and serious collectors.
Topps continued their partnership with Major League Baseball by including all active players in their uniforms shot specifically for the 2018 Topps series. Throughout the decades, Topps photographers have shot some of the most iconic and collectible baseball card images of all-time. The 2018 set carried on this tradition with sharp, high quality action photography featuring today’s biggest stars like Mike Trout, Clayton Kershaw, Aaron Judge and more. Fans could build complete team sets with accurate, up-to-date rosters straight from that current season.
In addition to the core Series 1, Series 2 and Update Series releases for the flagship Topps brand, there were also several associated product lines and special subsets released alongside the primary 2018 Topps Baseball set. Finest, Chrome, Archives Signature Series, and Allen & Ginter’s among others all featured additional player cards and inserts tied into the main Topps release but with parallel designs and autographed or memorabilia cards exclusive to those specialty sets. This added tremendous value, variety and Chase cards for collectors at all levels.
Parallels and short prints were also inserted throughout the primary series runs adding to the challenge of completing full sets. Topps tinkered with different parallel variations including gold foils, sepia tones, negatives, etc. Numbered parallels like red rainbow foil and gold label were some of the most sought after chase versions. Meanwhile, Topps continued their sketch card subsets hand drawn by top artists that stand out as truly one-of-a-kind collectibles. The inclusion of so many parallel and short print variations kept even seasoned collectors engaged in hunts throughout the release cycle.
As with any Topps Baseball release, chase autographs and memorabilia cards of the game’s biggest stars were also included alongside the base cards to add excitement and significantly boost collector interest. Rookie autos, star autos from franchise players, rare 1/1 printing plates and more exotic memorabilia cards with uniform or equipment relics from historic moments made these premium chase cards highly valuable for years to come in the collecting hobby. This gave collectors of all levels worthwhile prizes to hope for in every pack or box they opened.
When the final cards of the 2018 Topps Baseball release were distributed, the massive undertaking of another epic year of baseball collecting was complete. With an enormous base set paying tribute to Topps’ 65th anniversary, a record number of rookie debuts, beloved staple inserts and parallels, star autographed hits and sharp high-quality photography, the 2018 Topps flagship set solidified its place amongst the all-time classic and most complete annual releases in the hobby’s long history. Its celebration of the past blended seamlessly with present day players to create a true historical time capsule that baseball card collectors and fans will cherish for generations to come.
In summary, 2018 Topps Baseball proved to be one of the most ambitious and fan-pleasing releases from the venerable brand. Its massive checklist, striking commemorative designs, record rookie classes and inclusion of current players made it a definitively complete capturing of the season that has becoming increasing collectible and valuable in recent years. For both casual and serious collectors, the 2018 Topps Baseball set marked both an exciting new chapter and direct connection to Topps’ storied 65 year legacy of documenting America’s pastime one cardboard at a time. Its prominence and popularity have endured and will likely ensure its place as one of the all-time Topps classics for decades more.
