The 2020 Topps baseball card release was highly anticipated after a few down years for the iconic brand. With rookies like Luis Robert, Gavin Lux and Bo Bichette poised to make an impact on the field, collectors were eager to see how Topps would showcase these new stars in cardboard form. After months of waiting, the 2020 Topps base set and inserts were released to much fanfare. While evaluating “the best” is always subjective, here are some of the standout rookie and veteran cards from the 2020 Topps offering that collectors gravitated towards the most.
Luis Robert RC (Topps Chrome / Topps Update RC): Arguably the biggest rookie of the 2020 class, Luis Robert had a phenomenal debut for the White Sox and immediately became one of the most sought-after rookies in the hobby. Both the Topps Chrome and Topps Update rookie cards featuring the toolsy outfielder sold out quickly on the secondary market. The Topps Chrome RC in particular holds a premium due to the refractors and parallels available in that subset. Robert’s electric play and five-tool potential make these cards strong long term holds.
Gavin Lux RC (Topps Series 1 / Topps Update RC): The Dodgers’ top prospect made his presence felt in the majors in 2020 and Gavin Lux RCs were hot commodities as a result. Like Robert, both the Series 1 and Update issues flew off shelves. The Update RC has extra cachet since it was Lux’s true “first” card as a big leaguer after debuting later in the season. Lux is a centerpiece of one of baseball’s most popular franchises, giving these cards universal appeal.
Bo Bichette RC (Topps Series 1): Bichette made his big league debut in 2019 but had his first Topps card in the 2020 Series 1 set after an electric rookie campaign. As a highly-touted Blue Jays talent, the Bichette RC found an engaged collector base. While not quite as scarce as some other rookies due to having a card in the large Series 1 release, it remains a strong long term hold.
Ronald Acuña Jr. (Topps Project 70): Acuña followed up his Rookie of the Year season with an All-Star caliber 2019 and has become one of baseball’s brightest young stars. Topps paid homage to his talents with a spectacular “hit” card in the retro-styled Project 70 subset, featuring a stunning action photo on a wood grain-style background. Limited to only 70 copies, it became the most coveted Acuña card on the secondary market.
Yordan Alvarez (Topps Update RC): Alvarez made a huge splash in his 2019 rookie season and Topps highlighted his accomplishments with a nice RC in the annual Update set. While not quite as limited as some other rookies due to the large Update print run, Alvarez’s prodigious power and status as an Astros star make this an integral rookie card in the modern era.
Fernando Tatis Jr. (Topps Series 1 SP Variation): Tatis followed up his stellar rookie campaign with an All-Star season in 2020 that cemented his status as a budding superstar. The short print variation of his Series 1 base card became a must-have for Padres PC collectors due to its scarcity and subject matter. With Tatis’ electrifying play and the popularity of short prints in the hobby today, this card is a strong long term investment.
Randy Arozarena (Topps Update RC): Arozarena came out of nowhere to steal the show for the Rays in the 2020 postseason, prompting Topps to give him an “Emergent Talent” card in their annual Update set. With his playoff heroics fresh in collectors’ minds, the Arozarena RC became one of the most sought-after rookie cards on the secondary market following its release. His postseason breakout added extra cachet to an already desirable rookie card.
Mookie Betts (Topps Project 70): Betts took the MLB world by storm after being traded from the Red Sox to the Dodgers. Topps paid tribute to the 2018 AL MVP’s talents with an amazing “hit” card in the Project 70 subset. Limited to only 70 copies, it became one of the most valuable Betts cards on the secondary market due to the photo, design and strict numbering.
Jacob deGrom (Topps Update SP): deGrom has emerged as arguably the most dominant pitcher in baseball and repeated as NL Cy Young winner in 2019. His short print card in the popular Topps Update set became a standout among deGrom collectors. With his ace-caliber performances on the field year after year, this SP will likely hold strong long term value.
Fernando Tatis Jr. (Topps Chrome RC): As mentioned, Tatis broke out in a big way in 2019 and cemented himself as a superstar. While the Series 1 base RC got more attention initially, the Topps Chrome version is primed to be the long term favorite among collectors. The refractors and parallels available in the Chrome product line give this card strong potential returns down the road.
Those were some of the most coveted rookie and star cards from the 2020 Topps baseball release. With rookies like Robert, Lux and Arozarena looking like future MVP candidates and veterans like Betts, deGrom and Tatis still performing at the highest level, many of these cards profile as long term keepers in collections. The combination of on-field play, scarcity and design factors made these particular issues stand out in a very strong year for Topps baseball cards.
