The 2018 Topps Update Baseball set was released in October 2018 as an extension of Topps’ flagship baseball card product. Update sets are released by Topps each year mid-season to late season to include players and stats from after the initial series 1 and series 2 sets were produced and distributed. The 2018 Topps Update set featured 333 total cards and included current players, prospects, managers, coaches, and even a few retired legends of the game.
Some of the key rookies and prospects featured in the 2018 Topps Update set included Shohei Ohtani, Gleyber Torres, Juan Soto, Ronald Acuña Jr., Victor Robles, Jack Flaherty, and Ryan McMahon. All of these players had breakout rookie seasons in 2018 and their rookie cards from the Update set are highly sought after by collectors. Update sets are known for featuring the official rookie cards of players who made their MLB debut later in the season after the earlier series were already finalized.
In addition to top rookies, the 2018 Topps Update included current star players showing stats and accomplishments from after the regular season sets. For example, Christian Yelich’s card in the set featured his 2018 season statistics after being traded from the Marlins to the Brewers where he went on to win the NL batting title. Mookie Betts also had a card highlighting his AL MVP season. Mike Trout, as one of the faces of the brand, had multiple story cards exploring different aspects of his season.
Some of the more notable traded players also received new cards reflecting their new teams from deals that happened around the trade deadline in July/August. J.T. Realmuto gained a Marlins to Phillies card for example. Veteran stars playing well into their late 30s like Albert Pujols and Mariano Rivera returned in the set as well. Update sets are known to also feature “hit proof” parallel versions of stars in short print to challenge collectors.
Managers, coaches, and even retired legends rounded out the checklist of the 2018 Topps Update set. Managers like Bob Melvin who led the Athletics to a playoff spot got recognition. Coaches that impacted their teams were included too. Legends in the set as well paid tribute to the careers of players who retired or were in their final seasons that year. Names like Jim Thome and Curtis Granderson gained farewell cards from Topps.
The design of the 2018 Topps Update baseball cards stayed consistent with the main Topps flagship products of that year. A clean white border framed color action photo fronts with minimal color blocking and fonts on the bottom. Backs provided statistics, career highlights and additional photography. The standard issue cards had a glossy finish while various parallels were also produced on different colored paper or with foil, embroidery, or refractor effects to add to the variety for collectors.
Update sets though smaller in scale than the main Topps series sets, provide a valuable bridge for the hobby. They immortalize the players and moments from the later parts of a season. Rookie cards found in the sets especially gain prestige since they were the first issued by Topps featuring the player in a major league uniform. Beyond new players, Update sets are a nice complementary product for collectors wanting to stay on top of roster and stats changes throughout a long baseball season. They reward those who continue to collect all year.
In the vintage market, complete sets of the annual Topps Update issues hold value for collectors. As the seasons and players featured pass further into history, the sets gain nostalgia. Key rookie cards found within like Acuña Jr., Soto, Torres, and others from the 2018 edition are sure to remain desirable for collectors for decades to come. While smaller in scope than the flagship Topps issues, the Update sets provide fans an opportunity to own pieces of the complete season in card form and commemorate the stats and players from after regular sets were finalized each summer. They are an important annual supplement to the Topps baseball card line.
The 2018 Topps Update Baseball card set was a 333 card supplemental release by Topps that summer to highlight players, statistics, and accomplishments from the second half of the 2018 MLB season. The set featured rookie cards of upcoming young stars as well as updated stats and new team cards to reflect trades and promotions throughout that year. Though smaller in checklist size, Topps Update sets remain an important annual tradition in the hobby to capture the full season and remains a collectible bridge between the main series releases each spring. Key rookie and parallel cards found within the 2018 edition hold long term value for vintage collectors.
