Topps Baseball Cards 1995 Series 2 Overview
The 1995 Topps baseball card series 2 release was another iconic set from the venerable company known for its baseball card releases. Following the initial 1995 Topps baseball card series 1 release earlier that year, series 2 brought more exciting rookie cards and star players to collectors. The 1995 Topps baseball card series 2 release contained 132 cards in the base set along with various special inserts that have become valued by collectors in the decades since.
Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Revisited Parallel
One of the most highly sought after parallels from the 1995 Topps series 2 release was the “Rookie Revisited” parallel of Ken Griffey Jr. from his rookie season of 1989. Topps revisited some of the iconic rookie cards from past years in parallel form as part of the 1995 sets. The Griffey Jr. parallel card from his historic rookie season paid tribute to one of the most valuable modern rookie cards in the hobby. Only 100 of these Griffey parallels were produced, making it an extremely rare pull that can fetch thousands of dollars to this day for high grade examples.
Star Players and Rookies
The 1995 Topps series 2 release featured many star players throughout the major leagues at the time. Some of the top stars showcased included Frank Thomas, Greg Maddux, Barry Larkin, Tony Gwynn, Ivan Rodriguez, and Jeff Bagwell among many others. On the rookie front, the 1995 set included rookie cards for Jerry Hairston Jr., Jason Kendall, Livan Hernandez, Tom Glavine, and Dante Bichette. While not the mega-rookies of past years, these players had solid MLB careers and their rookie cards remain popular with collectors.
Parallel and Insert Variations
In addition to the base 132 card set, the 1995 Topps series 2 release also included various parallels and specialty inserts that added to the excitement for collectors. There were “Black Border” parallels of the base cards, “Rookie Revisited” inserts honoring past rookie seasons, and “All-Star Standouts” cards highlighting top player performances from the 1995 mid-summer classic. For autograph collectors, there was also a limited “Topps Tek” insert set that featured autographed player cards embedded within the printed circuit technology of the cards. Finding any of these premium parallel or insert cards provided collectors a welcome bonus to the base set.
Design and Photography Quality
The classic Topps design was utilized for the 1995 series 2 release, continuing the focused photography style the company had become known for. Crisp color photos dominated the front of each card, with minimal color design elements drawing the eye to the image. Player names, positions, and teams were printed clearly below each photo. The backs of the 1995 Topps cards provided a nice combination of career statistics and storytelling fun facts about each player. The entire set maintained a cohesive and high quality look that hardcore collectors still appreciate to this day.
Modern Secondary Market Values
Given the mid-1990s vintage of the 1995 Topps series 2 baseball card release, there is now strong collector demand and corresponding increased values for this set in the modern era. Top rookies and stars from the base set routinely sell for hundreds on the secondary market even in low grades. Near mint and gem mint exemplars of star cards can reach into the thousands. The rare parallel and insert cards fetch proportionally higher prices depending on the specific variation. Even relatively common base cards from the set in high grades are desirable to collectors looking to build a complete run. The 1995 Topps series 2 release endures as one of the most popular modern vintage sets.
The 1995 Topps baseball card series 2 release was another iconic set from the company that helped build the modern baseball card collecting hobby. Loaded with stars, rookies, and fun inserts of the era, it remains a highly collectible vintage release with strong secondary market values today. The combination of classic Topps photography, design elements, and highly coveted rare parallel cards ensured this 1995 offering would achieve lasting nostalgia and popularity with collectors for decades.
