The 2021 Topps baseball card set was another highly anticipated release from the industry leader in sports cards. With a full season of baseball returning after the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, Topps delivered exciting rookie cards and valuable parallels to excite collectors. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the best cards collectors searched high and low to find in the 2021 Topps baseball set.
Perhaps the most sought-after standard rookie card in the entire set was Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco’s base card. Franco had one of the most hyped prospect call-ups of all-time and did not disappoint in his rookie season. His card became a hot commodity with collectors and still fetches a high price on the secondary market. Another rookie to watch is Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez, who had a breakout season and showed why he’s considered a future star. His base card remains one of the prized rookies from 2021 Topps.
When it comes to parallels and short prints, the 2021 Topps update series really delivered some exciting chase cards. The gold foil parallel /50 was always a thrill to pull, with cards of superstars like Shohei Ohtani and Fernando Tatis Jr. being especially valuable. The redemptions for 1/1 printing plates were also unique collector’s items. But the true short prints were the elusive SP variants, with cards like Ronald Acuna Jr. being virtually impossible to track down. The black border SP variation parallels /50 were also extremely limited and ended up in the hands of only the luckiest collectors.
Topps also paid homage to some of the game’s all-time greats with special insert sets in 2021. The ‘Topps Living Legend’ parallels featuring Ken Griffey Jr., Derek Jeter, and Mariano Rivera were beautiful cards showcasing the legends of the game. The ‘Topps Now’ and ‘Topps Inception’ inserts brought cutting-edge designs and photo variations to the modern collector. And the ‘Topps Heritage’ throwback style cards paid tribute to the classic designs of the past. All of these inserts added value and variety to the 2021 experience.
When it came to the highly anticipated update series release, Topps really outdid themselves. The rookie crop was headlined by Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Bryson Stott, Detroit Tigers slugger Spencer Torkelson, and Toronto Blue Jays starter Alek Manoah. But the real chase cards became the various parallels and short prints. The gold foil /50 cards of superstars like Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani took the hobby by storm. Meanwhile, the elusive SP variations of rookies like Jarren Duran and Seth Beer had collectors on a scavenger hunt. Topps also included a variety of exciting insert sets like ‘Topps Now Moments’ highlighting great 2021 plays.
For collectors looking for autograph and memorabilia cards, Topps provided some true high-end hits. The prized ‘Topps Authentic’ and ‘Topps Sterling’ autographs of superstars featured on-card signatures. Cuts, patches, and rare 1/1 game-used memorabilia cards of franchise greats like Albert Pujols and Clayton Kershaw commanded top dollar. The ‘Topps Gallery of Heroes’ insert set also paid tribute to baseball’s icons with unique autograph and memorabilia pairings. These high-end chase cards represented the pinnacle of what the 2021 Topps set had to offer for serious memorabilia collectors.
The 2021 Topps baseball card release was full of exciting rookie cards, valuable parallels, and one-of-a-kind inserts to keep collectors engaged all season long. Rookies like Wander Franco and top veterans like Mike Trout continued to drive the hobby forward. Between the base set, update series, and various inserts, Topps once again established itself as the premier brand in the industry. The 2022 season is sure to bring another year of thrills, but the 2021 cards will remain a highlight reel of what another great year of baseball had to offer collectors.
