The 2021 Topps baseball card release saw the introduction of many new short prints that collectors searched feverishly for. As with previous years, Topps hid key inserts and parallels throughout their various series and products in extremely limited quantities to create buzz and excitement. Cracking packs with hopes of finding one of these chase cards became the obsession of the baseball card community as the 2021 season got underway.
Topps’ flagship baseball release featured the standard base set along with various insert sets found across Series 1, Series 2, Bowman, Chrome, and Heritage. Among the inserts were fan favorites like Photo Variations, All-Star cards, Home Run Challenge, Masked Men, Rainbow Foil Variations, and of course rookie cards of acclaimed prospects like Wander Franco and Jo Adell. Many collectors sought out the toughest cards to acquire – the short prints.
Topps has long included scarce parallels and inserts with extremely low print runs deliberately designed to drive demand. In 2021, some of the key short prints that sent collectors scrambling included:
Rainbow Foil Variations SPs: Topps’ popular Rainbow Foil parallel typically has a print run around 1/75 packs. They also created short print versions of these inserts with print runs around 1/250 or rarer. Getting one of the SP Rainbow Foils became an ultra-chase for collectors.
Photo Variation SPs: Already extremely tough pulls at around 1/500 packs, Topps also created a small set of Photo Variation SPs with print runs estimated to be 1/1000 packs or lower. Finding and trading for the full Photo Variation SP set was a monumental task.
Black Border Short Prints: Hidden throughout Topps’ black border parallel sets (which typically have prints runs around 1/300 packs) were a selection of black borders with even lower print rates around 1/500 or less. These became instant six figure cards upon discovery.
Serial Number Variations: Topps peppers their flagship base set with serial numbered cards between 1/75-1/150 packs. They also planted ultra-low print run serials in the 1/500-1/1000 range, such as serial #/25 cards.
Chrome SPs: Throughout their flagship Chrome product, Topps hid SP parallels like Color Blasts, Refractors, and Negative Refractors with staggeringly low print rates around 1/1000 packs or lower.
Museum Collection SPs: Within the high-end Museum Collection insert sets released through hobby boxes, Topps buried a select group of 1/1 SP variants. These single print cards fetched top dollar at auction.
Heritage SPs: Topps Heritage also contained parallels and inserts with shockingly scarce print runs, including Heritage High Number SPs estimated around 1/1000 packs.
High Tek SPs: The insert sets found in Topps High Tek products like Black Gold parallels also contained ultra-rare short prints at around 1/1000 packs or less.
These are just some examples of 2021 Topps baseball card short prints across their flagship brands. Finding any one of these elusive chase cards in a retail pack was akin to striking gold. Even hobby boxes carried little guarantee, though breaking case after case provided the best odds.
The artificial scarcity created by Topps turned short prints into some of the most coveted modern cards. Their minuscule print runs created a sense that uncovering one was a nearly impossible feat. Stories spread like wildfire online whenever a collector shared news of finding a coveted SP, inflating their popularity and prestige. For serious collectors, short prints became the Holy Grail cards to obtain.
Within the trading card community, short prints took on an aura of legend due to their rarity. Select collectors focus solely on tracking down complete SP sets across Topps’ annual releases, willing to trade or spend thousands to find that one missing piece. On the secondary market, newly discovered 2021 Topps baseball card short prints routinely commanded five figure prices or more.
As values soared, so too did attempts to manufacture artificial short prints. Unscrupulous individuals tried to pass off error cards or invented parallel types as legitimate SPs. This led to Topps authentically certifying the print run details of their deliberately scarce short prints to validate discoveries and combat fakes.
Looking ahead, Topps seems poised to continue leveraging short prints as a way to engage collectors long after the 2021 release concludes. Whether hunting packs or trading online, the lure of finding a true SP will keep the baseball card hobby excited for what chase cards may be lurking in the next year’s products. Through scarcity, Topps has guaranteed that high-end 2021 Topps short prints will remain a discussion point for years to come.
