Elite Extra Edition baseball cards have been a highly coveted collectible for decades. Produced by Topps, these special cards have additional embellishments and extras that make them a step above the standard card offerings in any given year. Let’s take a deeper look at what makes Elite Extra Editions so desirable among collectors.
The Elite Extra Edition series began in 1987 as Topps’ attempt to offer collectors an even more premium product beyond their standard sets. Where a typical card would have the player photo and stats on the front with a write-up on the back, Elite cards added several extra elements that enhanced the collectibility. Some of the key differences that set Elite cards apart included embossed foil stamping on the front, extra color photo variations, autographed memorabilia relic cards, and serially numbered parallels.
In terms of design differences, Elite cards stood out right away due to the foil stamping. Whether it was the player’s name, team logo, or “Elite Extra Edition” banner across the top – these elements really made the cards pop. The foil added extra flair and made the cards feel like true premium pieces. Beyond just the foil, many Elite cards also featured colorized photos instead of the usual black and white. Having photos with different color tints made each card feel unique.
When it comes to the memorabilia and autograph relic cards, these are what really drive up the value and demand for Elite Extra Editions among collectors. Inserted randomly in packs, relic cards contain actual swatches of game-used jerseys, bats, balls or other memorabilia alongside a player autograph. No two relic cards are exactly the same since each contains a truly one-of-a-kind piece of memorabilia. For superstar players, these autographed relics can sell for thousands of dollars depending on the player and size/condition of the memorabilia piece included.
In addition to the standard issue cards, Topps also produced parallel and short printed variations of the Elite cards that are even harder to find. These include gold foil stamped parallels, black bordered “black gold” parallels, and ultra-short printed red parallels. Numbered to usually 10 copies or less, these parallel Elites take collecting to an entirely new level of rarity. Locating and acquiring one of these elusive parallel cards is the holy grail for many collectors.
Over the years, Elite Extra Editions were released on and off by Topps through 2009. The 1987, 1992, 2000, 2001 and 2003 editions are among the most coveted and valuable. With each new release, Topps upped the production quality and memorabilia offerings even more. The 2000 and 2001 Elite sets took things to a whole new level with triple relic cards, quad relic cards, and game jersey relic autos. Prices for these ultra-premium pieces have reached astronomical heights at auction.
For the hardcore collector looking for the pinnacle of baseball card rarity and craftsmanship, Elite Extra Editions truly represent the cream of the crop. While the standard rookies, stars and base cards of any given year may lose value over time – the special Elite issues seem to gain value at a faster rate due to their limited quantities and one-of-a-kind memorabilia components. Whether you’re a vintage collector or modern player collector, having an Elite card brings a certain prestige that other products can’t match. They remain some of the most desirable baseball cards in the hobby.
