The 2016 Topps baseball card set was the 75th annual set released by Topps and featured cards of Major League Baseball players, managers, coaches, and officials. Some key things to know about the 2016 Topps baseball card set include:
Set Details: The 2016 Topps base card set included a total of 347 cards printed on premium stock paper. Topps also released higher-end products like flagship parallels, autographs, memorabilia cards, and special inserts. The design featured a modern action photo of each player bursting out of a square frame with their name and team arched across the top.
Rookies: Notable rookie cards included Corey Seager, Nomar Mazara, Michael Fulmer, Aledmys Diaz, Tyler Naquin, and Joey Gallo. Seager was expected to be one of the biggest rookies of the set after making his MLB debut just months prior and winning NL Rookie of the Year.
Short Prints: Topps made 29 cards short printed, meaning they were significantly harder to pull from packs. Notable short prints included photo variations of Clayton Kershaw, Kris Bryant, and Noah Syndergaard on popular teams like the Cubs, Dodgers, and Mets.
Insert Sets: Topps released parallels focusing on different card designs, like Sepia and Rainbow Foil variations. Popular parallel inserts included ‘Made Men,’ ‘American Pride,’ ‘Top Prospects,’ ‘League Leaders,’ and more. Special inserts featured trading cards of MVPs, batting champions, Silver Sluggers and Gold Glove winners.
Chase Autographs: For collectors chasing autographed cards, Topps released cases hittered with special autographed parallels and 1/1 printing plates. Notable chase autographs included Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Clayton Kershaw, Noah Syndergaard, and Corey Seager rookies. Memorabilia cards offered patches or swatches of game-worn jerseys or batting gloves.
Overall Design: The ‘bursting square’ design on base cards was well received by collectors due to its dynamic and colorful aesthetic. Some felt the design featured too much blank space and border around player photos. Parallels and inserts addressed this with varied designs like ‘Made Men’ profiles or ‘League Leaders’ statistics-focused layouts.
Market Performance: Due to rookie buzz and strong overall MLB interest, prices for Boxes and retail Hangers of 2016 Topps were inflated from initial release. Top rookie cards like Seager and Fulmer fetched higher prices, though the market settled after a year or two. Popular parallels and 1/1 autographs retained strong demand from long-term collectors.
Legacy: While not his last season, the 2016 Topps set includes what is likely the final major rookie card for all-time greats like Albert Pujols, Ichiro Suzuki and Mark Teixeira. Years from now collectors will appreciate these glimpse at veteran stars in their later careers. For modern players like Seager and Bryant, 2016 Topps served as their rookie introduction to the card collecting world still driving interest in their early cards today.
The 2016 Topps baseball card set showcased another year of MLB’s biggest stars through premium base cards, exciting rookies, extensive parallels and inserts, and high-end autograph and memorabilia chase cards. While initial market activity has cooled, the set still captivates collectors and remains an important annual snapshot chronicling players from the 2016 MLB season. The combination of rookie debuts, final season vets, and established talents made 2016 Topps a monumental set in the history of sports card releases.
