The 2021 Topps baseball card release was another highly anticipated set from the longest running brand in the industry. With rookies like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Fernando Tatis Jr. continuing to break out as superstars, there were plenty of exciting young players to collect. The veteran stars were also well represented in the base set and special inserts. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top cards collectors were eager to pull from 2021 Topps packs and boxes.
One of the most sought after rookie cards in the entire release was Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s base card. After a breakout 2020 season that saw him finish second in AL MVP voting, Vladdy Jr. was confirmed as a true superstar in the making. His card carried a reasonable print run as a base rookie, but demand was through the roof given his talent and lineage as the son of a Hall of Famer. Low serial numbered parallels like gold and black bordered the card commanded big money on the secondary market.
Another massive hitter who continued to shine in 2021 was Fernando Tatis Jr. As one of the faces of baseball alongside Mike Trout and Juan Soto, Tatis’ star power seems unlimited. His base rookie card was highly collected as well due to his electric playmaking ability and flair for the dramatic. Low numbered parallels like Topps Chrome refractors fetched five figure prices. Tatis also appeared in special inserts like Topps Now Moments cards commemorating his incredible plays throughout the season.
Rookies like Randy Arozarena, Ke’Bryan Hayes, and Shane Bieber all had strong debut campaigns in 2020 that translated to strong card values heading into ’21 as well. Arozarena’s postseason heroics with the Rays made him one of the breakout stars of that playoffs and his Topps cards reflected that popularity. Hayes brought steady defense and hitting to the Pirates and Bieber continued to dominate on the mound, keeping them all relevant rookie options.
Veteran superstars like Mike Trout, Juan Soto, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Mookie Betts were some of the most sought after cards for collector’s base sets as always. Trout remains the consensus best player in baseball and any new Trout rookie or star parallels were a priority. Soto took another step as arguably the best young hitter and Acuña returned healthy to further cement his stardom. Betts was in the midst of his first full season with the Dodgers, elevating the appeal of any Dodger parallel or special card.
Special insert sets like Topps Chrome, Topps Fire, Topps Finest and Topps Allen & Ginter had collectors chasing after short printed parallels and hit cards of the game’s biggest names. Chrome and Finest, long considered the premium modern issues, featured refractors and parallels of rookie stars on the rise. Fire had visually striking color variations and parallels. Allen & Ginter, with its vintage aesthetic and fun non-sport inserts, was a change of pace insert collectors loved to pull.
Topps also released exciting special limited parallel sets like Topps Transcendent, Topps Museum Collection and Topps Definitive. These ultra-high end inserts featured 1/1 printing plates, emerald parallels, and exquisite on-card autographs of the sports biggest icons. Whichever players ended up featured in these ultra-rare parallel sets immediately became the most valuable cards in the entire release. A Mike Trout 1/1 plate or emerald parallel would command a small fortune on the resale market.
In addition to the standard release, Topps also produced special short printed inserts highlighting the season’s biggest storylines through their ongoing Topps Now and Topps Archives Flashback initiatives. Cards marking Fernando Tatis Jr.’s grand slam over the Green Monster or Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s mammoth home runs gave collectors unique ways to commemorate iconic 2021 moments in card form.
As with any release, the true short printed rookie hits like autographs and memorabilia cards of emerging talents held immense value. Any on-card rookie auto of players like Jarred Kelenic, Bryson Stott or Spencer Torkelson immediately became major keys. Topps also included popular parallels like Topps Chrome autographs and Topps Definitive Materials patches and autographs that commanded top dollar.
The 2021 Topps baseball release had something for every type of collector with a strong mix of emerging young stars and established veterans across the base sets and various insert sets. Rookies like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and emerging talents like Fernando Tatis Jr. led the way in the high-end card market. Meanwhile, perennial superstars Mike Trout and Juan Soto anchored the release with their widespread popularity. Between the core sets and various inserts highlighting the season’s top moments, 2021 was another highly successful year for Topps and the hobby overall.
