Topps released their 2021 baseball card set in late 2020 and early 2021, continuing their tradition as the longest running and most iconic brand in the baseball card industry. Some of the top rookies and prospects from the 2020 season like Luis Robert, Alec Bohm, and Logan Gilbert had their Topps rookie cards released to much fanfare. Veteran stars Mike Trout, Christian Yelich, and Cody Bellinger again graced the cover of various Topps products as among the faces of MLB.
The 2021 Topps base set featured cards for over 750 active major and minor league players. The design was a continuation of the clean and modern style Topps has utilized for several years now. Each card featured a large action photo on the front with team logo and player info on a white background. On the reverse, stats from the previous season were listed along with a career highlights blurb. Parallels and short printed variations added to the excitement of the base set for collectors looking to complete the entire roster of players.
In addition to the base set, Topps released several special insert sets highlighting different aspects of the game. The “Topps Now” set allowed Topps to rapidly produce cards commemorating big performances, milestones or events from the current MLB season in near real-time. Other inserts focused on All-Star performances, postseason heroes, awards winners and more. Topps Tribute cards paid homage to baseball legends of the past. The “Heritage” set replicated the classic design aesthetic of the 1950s and 1960s Topps issues that started it all.
Perhaps the most anticipated rookie cards in the 2021 Topps release were those of 2019 first overall draft pick Adley Rutschman and 2018 second overall pick Casey Mize. As top prospects in the Baltimore Orioles and Detroit Tigers systems, respectively, their Topps rookie cards were hot commodities for collectors. Rutschman’s prospect card showed his powerful left-handed swing while Mize’s featured his imposing 6’3″ frame winding up to deliver a pitch. Both are expected to be long-term cornerstones for their rebuilding franchises.
While the base set and inserts were the foundation, Topps released many parallel and short print variations to add rarity and excitement to the 2021 release. The popular “Rainbow Foil” parallels featured iridescent refractors and numbered to much lower print runs than the base. “Gold Label” parallels replicated the classic look of the 1960s issues. “Black Border” short prints were some of the most sought after cards to locate in packs. Topps also produced higher end “Chrome” and “Chrome Update” sets with refractors and autographs.
On the resale market, many of the top rookie cards from the 2021 Topps release commanded big prices. Luis Robert’s base rookie sold for over $100 each as he broke out with a stellar season for the Chicago White Sox. Bo Bichette and Gavin Lux rookies also stayed in high demand. Veterans like Trout, Bellinger and Ronald Acuña Jr. consistently brought the most money as their cards are considered modern-day classics. Parallels and short prints of top names multiplied in value compared to the base cards. The 2021 Topps release kept the brand as the most collected in the hobby.
While physical card shops, baseball card shows and in-person card conventions were limited due to the ongoing pandemic, online sales boomed on platforms like Amazon and eBay. Many collectors turned to breaking and ripping boxes of 2021 Topps online via group breaks, live streams and breakers on YouTube to get their baseball card fix. As a result, the 2021 Topps release was one of the strongest selling years ever for the brand both in physical retail stores that remained open as well as virtual marketplaces. Topps cemented its place atop the baseball card industry throne once again.
The 2021 season marked Topps’ 68th year as the exclusive licensed MLB trading card producer. With their combination of timeless design, exciting parallels and short prints, and capturing the biggest moments and stars of each current season – Topps baseball cards remain a collecting tradition. Whether completing sets, chasing rookie cards, or just enjoying the nostalgia of the classic brand, Topps attracts fans both casual and diehard. Their 2021 release kept the hobby thriving during unusual times and set the stage for another great year of baseball card collecting in 2022.
