The 2019 Topps Baseball complete set is the 66th annual flagship release from Topps and contains a total of 792 cards covering all 30 Major League Baseball franchises. Some key things to know about the 2019 Topps Baseball complete set include:
Base Set: The base set contains 66 cards total, with two cards dedicated to each of the 30 teams in the league. The base cards feature current photos of players in action shots or headshots. Notable rookies in the 2019 base set include Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Eloy Jimenez, and Victor Robles.
Parallels: Topps released several parallels or variations of the base cards, including gold label (/50), sepia (/25), red wave (/5), and 1/1 rainbow foilREFRACTOR parallel cards. These parallels have lower print runs, making them more scarce and desirable to collectors.
Special Edition Inserts: Every year Topps includes special insert sets highlighting certain players, events, or themes. Some of the 2019 special edition inserts include:
Opening Day: Marks the first game of the season for each MLB team with 30 cards.
Topps Now: Highlights great performances that may have occurred after production of the base set, including walk-off hits, no-hitters, milestones, etc.
All-Star: Honors players selected to the 2019 Midsummer Classic with an image from the game.
League Leaders: Features the leaders in major offensive & pitching categories at publication.
Home Run Challenge: Pays tribute to the top home run hitters at the time of publication.
Museum Collection: Recreates iconic moments from baseball history with a retro aesthetic.
Topps Archives: Reprints cards from previous Topps sets in the current year’s design.
Topps Treasures: Authentic memorabilia cards containing game-used pieces of uniforms, bats, etc.
Rookie Card Placement: Top prospect cards are scattered throughout the base set and inserts rather than confined to the end. This increases the odds of finding rookie stars in packs. Some of the most sought-after rookies in 2019 Topps include Eloy Jimenez (#312), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (#166), and Victor Robles (#384).
Photographic Variations: Topps uses different action photos for certain parallel versions of base cards, increasing the card count. For example, Mike Trout has 7 different 2019 Topps cards between the base version and various parallels/photographic variations.
Checklist Cards: Three checklist cards at the end of the base set and special insert sets inventory all the cards to help collectors track completion.
Short Prints: Topps includes several SP (short print) cards inserted less frequently than the base cards to increase difficulty of completion. Notable 2019 SP cards feature Fernando Tatis Jr. and Pete Alonso.
Bonus Pack Inserts: Additional “hits” inserted randomly in wax packs and retail boxes include rare autographs, memorabilia cards, and 1/1 parallel cards. These add excitement to the overall chase.
The 2019 Topps product line also included special subsets like Topps Heritage, Topps Chrome, Topps Transcendent, Topps Tribute, and Topps Update chronicling the season. When combined with all these related sets, the 2019 Topps Baseball collective chase became one of the most monumental in the modern era of the hobby. Between the wide array of base cards, inserts, parallels, and short prints, completion of the 2019 Topps flagship set stands as an immense accomplishment for dedicated collectors today. The release commemorated another exciting MLB season on the diamond.
