The 2021 Topps Baseball Series 2 release offered baseball card collectors a new crop of rookie cards, stars of the game inserts, and parallels to hunt. While not quite as acclaimed as the flagship Series 1 release, Series 2 delivered several standout rookie and star player cards that have become highly sought after by fans. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top cards from the 2021 Topps Baseball Series 2 release.
One of the most coveted rookie cards found in Series 2 was that of Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Shane Baz. As the number one pitching prospect in the Rays loaded farm system, Baz entered 2021 as a top 100 prospect in all of baseball. His pink parallel rookie card /150 and base rookie became hot tickets upon the Series 2 release in late May 2021. While an injury would end Baz’s rookie season early, his long-term upside and the rarity of his parallel rookie ensured a high price tag from collectors. Another notable rookie is Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal. Skubal broke out in 2021 with an impressive 144 strikeouts in 140 innings pitched during his first full MLB season. His base rookie card gained value as Skubal cemented himself as an anchor in the Tigers rotation.
In terms of star power, the 2021 Topps Series 2 release featured some very collectible veteran player cards. Perhaps the most iconic included a Stars of the Game insert of Fernando Tatis Jr., who has become one of the faces of MLB. The card captured Tatis mid-swing in his eye black Padres uniform. It became a highly sought after chase card for collectors. Other popular star cards included a Base Parallel /150 of National League MVP front-runner Bryce Harper and a Base card of 2020 AL MVP Jose Abreu of the White Sox. A Stars of the Game insert of Red Sox slugger Rafael Devers also gained steam among collectors appreciating Devers’ breakout 2021 season.
When it comes to autographed and memorabilia cards, Topps delivered several impressive hits in Series 2 that hold great value. A limited edition /10 dual autographed card featuring Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado is one of the true gems from the release. Understandably, with such a low print run showcasing two young All-Star teammates, the card demands a hefty price tag. Reds pitcher Luis Castillo also had admirers chasing his /25 dual bat knob relic autograph card. On the lower end of the parallel spectrum but still highly collectible, Yankees slugger Aaron Judge saw strong demand for his base autograph card available in Series 2 hobby packs.
In addition to base rookie cards, inserts, and autographs, parallel cards added another layer of collecting intrigue and increased rarity. Among the most heavily sought after inserts with parallel versions were the Stars of the Game cards mentioned above. Fernando Tatis Jr., Bryce Harper, and others gained substantial premiums for their lowest printed parallels. Harper’s /150 blue parallel served as a particular chase for collectors. Additional prized parallel cards came in the form of rookie parallels for Shane Baz, Tarik Skubal, and fellow top prospects Jarred Kelenic and Logan Gilbert. The pink /150 parallels especially stood out in terms of rarity and collector demand.
Finally, Topps Series 2 injected excitement with inclusion of several popular short print and photo variation cards. Among the rarest and most valuable variations were a SP of Giants star Brandon Crawford and a photo variation of White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu sporting a Captain America inspired batting helmet. Both saw intense pursuit from collectors eager to complete rainbow sets showcasing all variations. Other flashy and scarce variations featured Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo sporting a mohawk and Twins pitcher Bailey Ober without a batting helmet. These unique cards brought collector engagement to a new level for Series 2.
In wrapping up, while Topps Baseball Series 2 may not have boasted the marquee rookie class of Series 1, it did deliver plenty of exciting chase cards for collectors. Standouts including Shane Baz, Tarik Skubal, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Bryce Harper rookies and inserts gained strong followings. Autographed and memorabilia cards like the dual Tatis/Machado also enthralled the hobby. The release was bolstered by its sought after parallels, short prints, and photo variations that rewarded dedicated collectors. Series 2 proved yet another successful modern release that engaged fans and showed the growth of the baseball card industry. Its top cards now make for prized holdings in collector portfolios.
