Topps baseball cards are a collectible tradition like no other, and the 2021 Big League set is poised to delight collectors with its wide selection of players both emerging and established. As the exclusive producer of Major League Baseball cards under license from the league and players’ association, Topps is uniquely positioned to showcase the current game through photos, stats and biographical information.
The 2021 set marks Topps’ 72nd year as the MLB’s official card maker. It contains a total of 420 base cards spread across nine different manufacturers’ proofs to chase. While the standard base cards feature each player’s current team photo and stats, other insert sets offer creative takes on players and memorable moments from the 2020 season cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic. Design innovations and special parallels make finding rare hits part of the excitement for collectors young and old.
Some of the key highlight inserts in the 2021 set worth seeking out include ’60 Years of Topps,’ commemorating the company’s diamond anniversary with the MLB. This 13-card prestige subset spotlights iconic players from each decade of Topps baseball cards. Another popular insert is ‘Then & Now,’ pairing a retro-style photo of an established star beside his modern image. This helps collectors trace the evolution of players’ careers over time in elegant side-by-side comparisons.
Rookies remain the lifeblood of any Topps baseball product, and the 2021 set is well-stocked with prospects to discover. From prized rookies like Randy Arozarena and Ian Anderson who broke out in the 2020 playoffs to future phenoms Jarred Kelenic and Wander Franco now playing in the minors, this year’s crop of new talent provides variety for collectors. Short prints, parallels and autograph or memorabilia rookie cards offer opportunities to potentially land a star of tomorrow before their value skyrockets.
A key factor in the long-term appeal of Topps baseball cards is the care taken to thoroughly document each season. While the COVID-19 pandemic brought numerous scheduling changes to 2020, interesting statistical bend points remain that make the 2020/2021 cards worth preserving as a unique time capsule. Similarly, “Bubble Gum” inserts spotlight how MLB kept its season afloat that year through creativity like the use of neutral site “bubbles” for playoffs. Such contextual inclusions let future generations of fans recall this most unusual period in sports history.
Of course, what would a modern sports card set be without the allures of parallels, short prints and hits? Topps once again loaded the 2021 offering with these chase card incentives. Base parallels range from the standard Gold and Silver all the way to rarer Refractors, Rainbow Foil and Black Gold variants for ultra-selective collectors. Short prints and even scarcer ‘super’ short prints supply the thrill of the hunt.
Autograph and memorabilia cards represent the holy grail finds, with swatches of game-worn uniforms or signed rookie gems from stars in the making. Topps’ various manufacturing partners like Allen & Ginter, Topps Chrome and Sterling also supplement the base set with their own unique parallels, inserts and hits guaranteed to excite seasoned rippers. Whether chasing singles or building full rainbow sets, the manufacturing parallel diversity of Topps baseball products rewards dedication.
As the longest-running and most prestigious name in the sports card industry, Topps continues to deliver for loyal collectors with quality, selection and bang for the buck with each new MLB license year. The 2021 Big League release expertly showcases another action-packed season that’s sure to produce new heroes from its ample rookie stars while also celebrating diamonds of the past through thoughtful tribute inserts. And with Topps’ sterling quality control, rigorous uniformity standards and long-term archival focus, these cards are built to appreciate over the long haul for generations of fans still to come.
Through comprehensive checklists, engaging inserts spotlighting that year’s major storylines and hits that could pay off big down the road, Topps Big League Baseball delivers mass appeal and investment potential that will keep collectors eagerly sorting packs throughout 2021 and beyond. Its status as the undisputed leader and exclusive MLB partner ensures this iconic brand’s baseball cards remain a time-tested store of memories and speculative fun for hobbyists worldwide.
