2018 Topps On Demand Baseball Cards: A Unique Way to Collect in the Digital Age
In 2018, Topps introduced Topps On Demand, an innovative new platform that allowed collectors to design and order fully customized baseball cards featuring current MLB players. With Topps On Demand, collectors were no longer limited to what they could find in packs, boxes, or on the secondary market. Instead, they could create baseball cards that were truly one-of-a-kind reflections of their fandom and collecting interests.
Topps On Demand changed the game by giving collectors unprecedented control over the design and production of official Topps baseball cards. Collectors could select from hundreds of current Topps MLB players and then customize nearly every element of the card’s design. Users chose the photo, added or changed text, selected creative backgrounds and artistic treatments, and even customized the card stock, size, and shape. Once a design was finalized, collectors could then place an order and the card would be professionally printed and shipped directly from Topps.
While traditional wax packs and boxes would always have their place in the hobby, Topps On Demand allowed a new generation of collectors to participate in the baseball card experience in a personalized, on-demand way. No longer confined by the random assortments found in traditional packs, collectors were empowered to build virtual collections of their favorite players without restrictions. Whether focusing on star players, breakout rookies, or obscure minor leaguers, Topps On Demand collectors could showcase the specific players and teams that held meaning for them.
The level of customization available through Topps On Demand was unprecedented. Collectors could modify every element of the card’s design from selecting high-resolution photos to choosing backgrounds, fonts, colors, textures, shapes and more. While maintaining the official MLB license and adhering to standardized card sizes, Topps On Demand freed collectors from strict templates, giving them control over creative expression. Design options even extended to unconventional card shapes like ovals, rectangles and unique silhouettes tailored to specific players or moments. Finishing details like embossing, spot gloss UV, and specialty stock options allowed collectors to achieve truly bespoke presentations for their favorite players.
In addition to having total control over aesthetic aspects, Topps On Demand also empowered collectors with functionality that transcended traditional cards. For the first time, each individually numbered On Demand card contained a unique code that could be redeemed through the Topps application. By scanning the registered code with the Topps app, collectors gained digital copies of their physical cards that unlocked special features within the app’s wider virtual collecting experience. Digital cards could be showcased through various platforms, added to personal collections, and in some cases even used within Topps digital games.
This integration of physical and digital elements was groundbreaking for the traditionally print-focused hobby. It created exciting new ways for collectors to engage with and showcase their collections both within the physical world as well as online virtual spaces. While printed cards retained intrinsic value, linking each physical card to a digital representation created added intrinsic functionality that bridged different collecting formats. The hybrid physical-digital model Topps On Demand established helped usher sports card collecting into the digital era.
Beyond customization and digital connectivity, another major benefit of Topps On Demand was the ability to order cards on an entirely made-to-order basis. Unlike the gambling mechanics of blind-pack distribution models where collectors have no control over inventory, On Demand allowed buyers to painlessly acquire exactly the cards they wanted without wasteful unopened inventory taking up storage space. Collectors could browse fully visualized digital mockups, place orders for single cards or entire customized sets, and have their selections safely delivered direct from Topps. This direct-to-consumer, just-in-time manufacturing approach cut down on waste while streamlining the collecting process itself.
In the two years since its inception in 2018, Topps On Demand has grown steadily and established itself as an exciting new frontier of baseball card customization. Celebrating its second full season in 2020 despite delays from the Covid-19 pandemic, Topps On Demand has continued expanding its library of players while increasing design flexibility and redemption features through the Topps app. Collections focused on specific teams, rookie classes, hometown favorites or personal hero collections can now be actualized like never before. While traditional cards will always be cherished, Topps On Demand has successfully ushered sports collecting into an innovative digital-first approach that broadens participation and celebrates individual collectors. As technology progresses, we can surely expect further integration and new possibilities on the horizon for customized on-demand sports card collections.
