Meijer is a Midwestern supermarket chain operating primarily in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. While known primarily for groceries, Meijer stores also include general merchandise areas. One unique aspect of Meijer is their private issue sports trading cards, commonly found in packs near checkout aisles.
For over a decade now, Meijer has produced exclusive baseball cards through their partnership with Topps. Topps is the dominant baseball card manufacturer and has held the MLB license since 1948. However, Meijer cards are only available in their stores and differ slightly from the standard Topps release each year. The cards provide Meijer a popular impulse purchase item for collectors and fans.
Some key differences between Meijer Topps cards and the standard Topps release include smaller parallel sets with print runs well under Topps’ national numbers. Meijer cards also tend to have unique photo variations or extended rookie classes compared to the regular Topps product. Insert sets are smaller as well, though parallel inserts do occur. Checklists are often slightly different too, focusing on players of Midwestern connections.
One of the earliest Meijer private issues was the 2006 set, as their partnership with Topps was still new. The base set paralleled the standard Topps release but numbered only 99 cards rather than the full 524 as Topps. Meijer included a 22 card Jim Thome Gallery subset focusing on the Cleveland Indian legend from Peoria, Illinois. 10 card parallel ‘chrome’ parallel subsets also spotlighted Midwest stars like Dontrelle Willis, Nomar Garciaparra and Johnny Damon, who each hailed from states Meijer operates in.
The popularity of the 2006 set led to Meijer Topps becoming an annual tradition. In 2007 the approach remained similar with a 99 card base set but expanded checklist showcasing stars from Detroit, Cincinnati, Chicago, Kansas City and St. Louis more heavily. Beyond Thome, Midwest legends Ernie Banks, Robin Yount and Harmon Killebrew were celebrated in small photo subsets. Meijer even produced 1/1 printing plate autographs for legendary retired Midwest managers Sparky Anderson and Whitey Herzog.
As Meijer Topps entered its second half-decade, sets grew slightly but remained specialized regional products. The 2012 release, for example, had a 150 card base checklist plus inserts celebrating the 100th anniversary of Tiger Stadium and 50 years of the Indians’ home park Municipal Stadium. Numbered parallels were dominant including SPs, GCs, Printing Plates and 1/1 plates. A Brandon Phillips Museum Collection insert set honored the Reds second baseman from Ohio.
Meijer also began catering sets more towards fan interests beyond just players’ origins. The 2014 issue had a large Hank Aaron career retrospection subset plus inserts showcasing Detroit’s Stadium workers and Cincinnati’s mascot Mr. Redlegs. Popular traded cards like Starlin Castro and Clayton Kershaw had bigger checklists than normal Topps releases too. Numbered relic and autographed parallel inserts grew in rarity with serial numbered 1/1s becoming common bonuses.
As they entered the late 2010s, Meijer Topps sets settled into fully expanded checklists mirroring flagship Topps products scope but shrunken numbers and regional variety. The 2019 flagship set included inserts of Yoan Moncada, Trevor Bauer and more focused on Midwest stars around 300 cards deep. Special parallel variants upped the chase while remaining affordable overall. Insert sets paid tribute to Cleveland’s ballpark and Detroit Tigers legends.
The 2020 Meijer Topps set proved one of their largest yet at 500 cards total. Top rookies like Gavin Lux and Bo Bichette had generous base checklist inclusion. Subsets spotlighted St. Louis’ catcher Yadier Molina, Cincinnati’s Joey Votto and Detroit hurler Michael Fulmer. 1/1 printing plates remained alongside more common parallels. Special regional inserts captured highlights from Milwaukee, Kansas City and Chicago ballparks too.
Still to this day Meijer Topps sets are eagerly anticipated annual releases for baseball card collectors across the Midwest and beyond. With affordable pricing, regional exclusivity and consistently updated takes reflecting fan interests, Meijer and Topps partnership has thrived creatively into its second decade now. Their specialized private issues provide an ongoing bonus for collectors who frequent Meijer supermarket stores on baseball card hunts each spring.
