2016 was a year that the sports cards industry experienced a resurgence, led in large part by the popularity of collector boxes filled with exclusive short print parallels from the flagship Topps Series 1, Series 2, and Update sets. Topps gave collectors several sought-after short print parallels to hunt for in 2016, making for an exciting year in the hobby.
Some key things to know about 2016 Topps Baseball SP cards include:
Topps introduced Silver Pack parallels in 2016 Topps Series 1, 2, and Update. These were inserted roughly 1 per every 3 hobby boxes and had a silvery reflectivity compared to the standard base card design. Numbered to only 99 copies each, the Silver Pack parallels became extremely popular with collectors.
Topps also included Gold Flash parallels in the same three sets. These parallels featured vibrant gold foil lettering and numbering on the fronts and were even rarer than the Silver Packs at around 1 per 10 hobby boxes. Each Gold Flash was limited to only 50 printed copies.
For Update, Topps added GreenShine parallels with an eye-catching emerald colorway. Like the Gold Flash, they were inserted at approximately 1 per 10 boxes and limited to a print run of only 50 copies per card. These became highly valued amongst players with strong performances after the first two series were released.
Topps introduced Black Gold parallels for only the biggest star players in Series 1, 2, and Update. Printed on metallic gold cardstock with black lettering and numbering, these 1/1 parallel exclusives were true short prints that often took years to surface publicly. Names like Mike Trout, Clayton Kershaw, and Kris Bryant on Black Gold instantly became prize possessions.
Topps Stadium Club sets from 2016 also featured enticing SP chase cards for collectors. Topps Stadium Club Autographs Sawdust parallels featured dual swatches or memorabilia pieces with a base card and were rarely pulled at 1 per every 2,400 packs. The embossed gold lettering made these true collector favorites.
Topps Stadium Club Chrome Update issue included popular Refractors with holographic foil coloring and numbering limited between 99-15 copies each. Massive stars like David Ortiz and Ichiro Suzuki on these refractors became iconic chase cards.
Topps Allen & Ginter introduced Regal Parallels with elegant gold regal crowns adorning the fronts and numbering between 50-15 copies. These sophisticated looking SP’s drew collectors due to their rarity and lavish design features.
Topps Archives Snapshots parallels series paid tribute to great photographic moments from Topps’ history. Printed on vintage-style 1960s card stock with aged color tints, these Snapshots captured pivotal sports scenes recreated in card form and offered a truly unique collecting experience. Numbered between 50-15 copies, they became highly demanded by both vintage and modern card collectors.
The hunger for exclusive short prints made 2016 an extremely popular year in the high-end vintage and modern trading card markets. Savvy investors who acquired the most desirable Silver Packs, Gold Flash parallels, Black Gold 1/1s, and other tough SP pulls from Topps flagship and niche sets found themselves with valuable cards that increased exponentially in secondary market value in just a few short years.
While Base Rookies of budding young stars were as popular as ever, the limited edition SP cards captured imaginations and became the “white whales” that collectors sought most fervently. By 2017, full complete SP sets of Topps Series 1, 2, and Update from 2016 routinely sold for tens of thousands of dollars online. Now considered some of the most iconic modern sports card designs ever crafted by Topps, the 2016 short prints remain highly coveted trophies for advanced collectors.
2016 Topps SP cards demonstrated how simple but apt design tweaks combined with small numbered print runs could breathe new life into the hobby. Those who invested early found themselves with appreciating assets, as demand exploded for the scarcest chase cards in a very short timeframe. In the years since, 2016 Topps SP cards have cemented their legacy as some of the most desirable and valuable modern sports cards available in the secondary market. Their popularity resurrected collector interest in modern issues while also setting precedents that Topps and other card companies utilized to tempt the growing speculative market segments. 2016 Topps SP cards represented a landmark year that helped boost sports cards into a new era of popularity.
