Baseball cards are a collectible that millions of people enjoy gathering and trading. The 2019 season brought another exciting year of baseball action and a new crop of rookie cards and inserts to chase. Whether you’re a casual collector looking to build your childhood collection or a serious investor scouring for the next big hit, here’s an in-depth look at some of the most notable baseball cards from 2019.
2019 Topps Series 1
As is tradition, Topps kicked off the new baseball card year with their flagship Series 1 release in late February/early March. Some of the top rookie cards to look out for included Eloy Jimenez, Victor Robles, Shane Bieber, and Kyle Tucker. Jimenez in particular was one of the most hyped rookies after a breakout 2018 season in the minors. His Series 1 card carried a print run of around 300,000 copies and sold for around $10-15 each at release. Robles made his MLB debut in 2018 and played a key role for the Nationals down the stretch and in the postseason. His Series 1 rookie card also hovered around the $10-15 mark.
Beyond the rookies, Series 1 included several popular parallels and inserts. The Topps Chrome parallel features a photo negative-like design and refracted foil and can be found as serially numbered versions as low as /25 copies. These low-numbered Chrome parallels command significant premiums. The Topps Gallery of Heroes insert set pays tribute to baseball legends and features cards like a Mariano Rivera 1/1 printing plate. This super short print parallel alone sold for over $1000. Series 1 is the foundation that kicks off the card year, and 2019 did not disappoint collectors with exciting new faces and chase cards.
2019 Topps Heritage
Released in late March/early April, Topps Heritage is one of the most anticipated retro-styled releases each year. The set replicates the classic look of 1950s/60s Topps cards with team-color borders and a centered vertical photo. Heritage also included the highly coveted short print variation cards that are exponentially rarer than the base cards. Some of the biggest names that received short prints in 2019 included Christian Yelich, Cody Bellinger, and Ronald Acuna Jr. These cards carried print runs estimated at 1 per case or less, making each one a true chase card worth hundreds if not thousands in pristine condition.
Beyond the short prints, Heritage also featured the popular “Minis” insert set. These mini renditions of the base cards measured only about 1.5 inches square and came one per pack on average. Popular players like Mike Trout, Clayton Kershaw, and Mookie Betts commanded top dollar for their mini counterparts. Overall, Heritage brought that nostalgic retro design along with some of the most valuable parallels and inserts of any set released in 2019.
2019 Topps Chrome
As one of the premier flagship releases each year, Topps Chrome hit shelves in late May/early June of 2019. The set is highly sought after due to its photo negative-style design paired with refracted foil that makes the cards shine and pop under light. Topps Chrome is also one of the best products for finding serially numbered parallels like gold, red, and especially the elusive chrome rainbow foil parallel numbered to just /25 copies.
Some of the top rookie cards in the 2019 Chrome set included names like Fernando Tatis Jr., Pete Alonso, and Bo Bichette. Tatis in particular had one of the biggest rookie seasons of any player and his Topps Chrome RC became a highly valuable card overnight. Meanwhile, Pete Alonso’s record-setting rookie home run total made him the talk of baseball. His Topps Chrome card was a must-have for any collector on a budget. Overall, Topps Chrome continued to be a flagship release that showcased the sport’s brightest young stars alongside valuable refracted parallels.
2019 Topps Allen & Ginter
Released in mid-July, Topps Allen & Ginter took a departure from traditional baseball cards with its unique checklist filled with athletes, entertainers and historical figures. While baseball players were certainly included, the set is best known for oddball parallels featuring pop culture icons, artists, scientists and more. Some of the biggest chase cards in 2019 included a 1/1 printing plate of Michelle Obama, a /25 parallel of Bob Ross, and a short print variation of Stephen King.
Beyond the celebrities, Allen & Ginter also included several fun baseball-related inserts. The “Stadium Club” mini cards recreated iconic ballpark scenes from around the league in a postcard-like style. And the “Triple Threads” patch cards combined swatches of game-used memorabilia with parallel autographs. These specialty baseball inserts added some fun collecting angles alongside the set’s eccentric non-sports parallels. Allen & Ginter continued to be one of the most unique and collectible releases on the baseball card calendar.
2019 Topps Update Series
Released in late August/early September, Topps Update served as the halfway point update to the flagship Topps Series 1 and 2 releases from earlier in the year. The set highlights players who made their debuts or had breakout seasons over the summer months. Some of the top rookie cards in 2019 Update included names like Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Mike Soroka who all excelled after their midseason call-ups.
Update also included several popular parallels and inserts. The “Photo Variations” subset featured alternative action shots of star players. And the “Artifacts” relic cards combined autographed swatches with serially numbered parallels as low as /10 copies. Overall, Update serves as a valuable midseason refresher of the top rookies and performers from the year while providing several chase inserts for collectors. It remains one of the most anticipated releases each baseball season.
2019 Topps Finest
Released in late October, Topps Finest is renowned for its high-end polished design with refractors, parallels, and autographs galore. The 2019 edition featured a clean white borderless design with players photographed front and center. Finest is one of the best products each year for finding serially numbered parallels like the popular “X-fractors” featuring refractors inside the autograph patch. Stars like Christian Yelich, Cody Bellinger, and Mike Trout routinely have their 1/1 X-fractor RCs sell for thousands.
Beyond the base cards, Finest also included several chase autograph and memorabilia inserts. The “Dual Auto Relics” paired swatches with dual autographs numbered to /25 copies. And the “Triple Threads” patch autographs pushed the memorabilia factor even further. Overall, Finest serves as a true high-end showcase of the year’s top stars and rookies with some of the shiniest parallels and autograph cards around. It remains a must-have release for serious collectors every fall.
2019 Topps Transcendent Collection
Released as Topps’ true high-end offering in late November, the Transcendent Collection pushed relic and autograph cards to new levels. Headlined by 1/1 printing plates, the base cards featured sharp horizontal photos on thick cardstock. But it’s the inserts that truly captured attention, like the “Dual Relics” pairing swatches with dual autographs numbered to an ultra-low /5 copies. And the true chase cards were the 1/1 “Triple Relic Autographs” featuring three swatches and a single on-card signature.
Some of the biggest names that received 1/1 Triple Relic Autos in 2019 included Mike Trout, Christian Yelich, and Cody Bellinger. Needless to say, each one sold for tens of thousands due to their one-of-one status. The Transcendent Collection took Topps’ memorabilia cards to new heights and established itself as the true high-end offering for those seeking the rarest relic and auto parallels on the market.
The 2019 season was another huge year for baseball cards, with exciting rookies, valuable parallels, and one-of-a-kind memorabilia inserts across Topps’ various flagship and high-end releases. Names like Tatis, Alonso, Guerrero Jr. and more emerged as the new faces of the sport, and their rookie cards became highly sought after player collections. Meanwhile, inserts like Topps Chrome refractors, Allen & Ginter oddballs, and Transcendent 1/1s thrilled collectors at both casual and serious investment levels. With the excitement of the 2020 season now underway after the long delay, collectors can’t wait to see what new cards this year will bring.
