The 2016 Topps Complete Baseball Card Set is one of the most popular and most sought after sets in recent years from Topps, the longest running producer of sports cards. The 2016 set marked the 65th anniversary of Topps baseball cards and included a whopping 874 total cards in the complete base set. Some key details on the 2016 Topps Complete Set:
The 874 card set included base cards for all 30 Major League Baseball teams spanning stars of the past and present. Ranging from #1 to #874, the base cards featured every player on an opening day roster as well as prospects, managers, coaches and even team checklist/logo cards. Some of the biggest star players featured included Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Clayton Kershaw, Noah Syndergaard and Kris Bryant. The designs of the cards paid homage to Topps baseball cards of the past while still having a modern flair.
In addition to the enormous base set, Topps also included several inserts and parallel variations to add to the excitement and chase for collectors. Some of the most popular insert sets included Topps Now cards, which captured iconic moments from the 2016 season soon after they happened. Other inserts included Topps Debut cards showcasing prospects getting their first MLB action, 1965 Anniversary Parallels commemorating the start of the Topps era in baseball, and Retired Heroes cards featuring stars of the past like Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron.
For variety in the main set, Topps included five different parallel variations including Gold, Silver, Blue, Red and Black parallels. The Gold parallels were the most rare at only 1 per case generally. The Silver were slightly more common at around 1-2 per box. Blues and Reds were obtainable in pretty much every hobby box while Blacks were somewhere in between Gold and Silver rarities. All the parallels possessed the same photo and design as the base card, but with a different color border and stamp on the front.
In addition to inserts and parallels, Topps also included autograph and memorabilia cards to entice collectors. The most sought after authenticated relic was a dual bat knob card featuring relics from Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, produced at an extremely low quantity. Autograph cards captured signatures from today’s stars like Kris Bryant and Noah Syndergaard as well as legends of the past like Hank Aaron and Willie Mays. Topps produced these premium cards in extremely low print runs making them very valuable for collectors.
Financially, the 2016 Topps Complete Baseball set holds strong resale value due to the popularity of the modern design paying homage to Topps’ storied history as well as the massive checklist size featuring every player. Complete base sets typically sell for $400-500 raw while high grade PSA 10 examples can surpass $1000. Popular rookie cards like Aaron Judge and Corey Seager rookies remain hot commodities as do the low numbered parallels and relic/autograph inserts. The 2016 edition is widely regarded as one of the most complete and enjoyable flagship releases from Topps in the last decade.
For collectors looking to complete this monumental set, the best approach is to purchase factory sealed wax boxes or packs to efficiently collect the base cards while also having chances at lucrative parallels and inserts. Boxed sets and singles are also good options but can get quite costly to complete due to the significant checklist size. Despite its challenges, the 2016 Topps set provided countless hours of enjoyment for collectors young and old. It emphasized Topps’ commitment to a complete annual release featuring the entirety of Major League Baseball. For these reasons, the 2016 edition stands amidst the most storied and accomplished Topps releases of all-time.
The 2016 Topps Complete Baseball Card Set truly encapsulated the tradition and excitement that Topps has provided collectors for generations with their annual release. Featuring a massive base checklist, nostalgic design, and valuable inserts, it showcased why Topps remains the industry leader in licensed sports trading cards. For scope, rarity, and investment potential, the 2016 set is one of the most esteemed issues and will remain a favorite of collectors for years to come due to its impressive scale and representation of baseball’s biggest stars.
