The Topps 2006 Opening Day baseball card set was a 552-card standard release produced by Topps to commemorate the beginning of the 2006 Major League Baseball season. As with previous Opening Day sets, it featured images of current players from all 30 MLB teams at the start of the year. Some key things to know about the 2006 Topps Opening Day release:
Design and Production: Topps utilized a photo-realistic design for the 2006 Opening Day set similar to recent years. Each card featured a headshot image of the player on a colored solid background, along with team logo, name, position and statistics. The front of the cards had a simple borderless design. On the back, stats and career highlights were presented in uniform color-coded sections. The cards were printed on thicker, high-gloss cardboard stock for enhanced visual appeal. They were packaged in wax packs, boxes and factory sets.
Release Date: The 2006 Topps Opening Day set was released to retail on Opening Day itself, April 3rd, coinciding with the start of the new MLB season. This allowed for the most up-to-date rosters and player info to be featured following the conclusion of spring training and final roster cuts. The cards hit hobby shop shelves, drug stores and general retailers around the country just as baseball was getting underway.
Size and Scope: At 552 cards, the 2006 Topps Opening Day set featured every expected player on MLB rosters at the start of the season. This included position players, pitchers and key minor leaguers for each team. Select prospect cards were also included of notable up-and-coming players. Players new to MLB in 2006 like Ryan Howard received special highlighted rookie cards. Standout veterans were also called out with special parallels and photo variations.
Player Update Cards: One unique aspect of Opening Day sets compared to the base Topps flagship series are the inclusion of “update” cards. These spotlighted players who were injured, traded or otherwise had their status change significantly shortly after rosters were finalized for the printed set. In 2006, cards were added for Jason Giambi after his trade to the Oakland A’s and Nomar Garciaparra following his move to the LA Dodgers.
Parallels and Short Prints: For collectors trying to complete full sets with variations, Topps included several parallels and short printed “SP” cards in the 2006 release. Among the parallels were Silver Pack parallels at 1:24 odds, Green Refractors at 1:84 and Gold Refractors at an extremely rare 1:432. Notable short prints included Ryan Howard’s first card at 1:144 odds. Collecting all parallel and short print versions added significant challenge.
Memorable Rookies: In addition to Howard, several other rookies featured in the 2006 Topps Opening Day set went on to stardom, including Jonathan Papelbon, Troy Tulowitzki, Justin Verlander and Zack Greinke. While their performances in 2006 weren’t yet established, collectors who obtained these rookies were able to acquire cards of future Hall of Fame talents very early in their careers.
League Leaders: Paying homage to the prior year’s top statistical performers, special Leader cards highlighted the 2005 MLB batting champions, ERA kings and other standouts. Cards saluted players like Derrek Lee, Brad Lidge and Bobby Abreu for their accomplishments during the previous season that was just concluded.
Checklist Organization: Cards were grouped by team within the Official Checklist found in wax packs and boxes. The teams were organized alphabetically within their respective divisions. Numbering started with AL East teams like the Blue Jays, Orioles and Red Sox before continuing to other divisions and finally the NL. Key rookies, leaders and variations were called out separately.
Secondary Market Values: In the years since its 2006 release, the Topps Opening Day set has become a popular vintage collection for both starting collectors and investors. Full base sets in near mint condition can be acquired for under $100. The parallel and short print versions have increased greatly in secondary market value as the players featured have achieved more acclaim. Silver parallels of stars like Howard and Verlander now sell for hundreds. The gold refractors have climbed into the thousands. For adept collectors, the 2006 Topps Opening Day set remains an affordable vintage set with room for appreciation.
In concluding, the 2006 Topps Opening Day baseball card release succeeded both as a traditional set commemorating the start of the new season as well as an investment for the future. It captured an entire year of MLB rosters and talent in a memorable photographic style. While not quite as historic as some previous Opening Day issues, the 2006 set remains a highly collectible marker of the period it depicted and an affordable avenue into the hobby. For any retro collector, it makes for an entertaining chronicle and snapshot of baseball at the dawn of another memorable campaign.
