Project 2020 Baseball Cards: A Unique New Way to Collect During the Pandemic
As baseball fans anxiously awaited the start of the 2020 MLB season, one thing was clear – the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic would make this season unlike any other in our lifetimes. With fans barred from stadiums and players facing an abbreviated 60-game regular season, the collectibles industry was bracing for an uncertain year. Thankfully, Topps came to the rescue with an innovative new baseball card concept called “Project 2020.”
Rather than releasing standard packs and boxes featuring the standard photo or artwork on each card, Topps unveiled Project 2020 as a unique way for collectors to stay engaged while sports were sidelines. Under this concept, Topps produced virtual “blank” cards without any images, stats or written content included. Instead, collectors could “claim” these blank cards and design their own custom fronts and backs however they choose. Using the Topps online platform, fans could upload any photo, graphic, statline or writing to personalize each card in the manner they saw fit.
It was an immediate hit among collectors locked down at home with extra time on their hands. Project 2020 offered a welcome creative outlet and allowed fans to design cards honoring their favorite players, teams or even commemorating particular moments from that strange 2020 season. There was virtually no limitation on the possibilities for customization. While Topps still determined the official print run and rarity breakdown of each players’ cards, collectors took complete artistic control over the physical designs themselves.
Naturally, many fans paid homage to icons of the game with incredible reproduction cards. Legends like Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and more were honored in impeccable style through various custom designs. Others paid tribute to 2020 heroes like UCLA alum Josiah Gray, who made his MLB debut that year pitching for the Reds. Plenty of collectors highlighted breakthrough stars as well, designing eye-catching cards for up-and-comers such as Marlins sensation Trevor Rogers. With the ongoing health crisis weighing heavily on everyone’s minds, numerous collectors also created touching “Thank You” cards saluting healthcare workers and first responders.
Beyond individual players, many Project 2020 cards commemorated iconic MLB moments too. Amazing replicas of Mike Piazza’s homer after 9/11, Kirk Gibson’s 1988 World Series walk-off and other seminal playoff moments sprang up. Plenty also focused upon the pandemic itself, designing cards in remembrance of the season’s rollercoaster path – from delays, to the truncated 60-game sprint once play resumed in empty ballparks across the country. Some honored niche milestones as well, like Freddie Freeman’s 1,500th career hit for the Braves that autumn.
The level of creativity displayed by collectors was truly astounding. Photoshop wizards recreated vintage designs from decades past. Stat geeks crafted info-packed cards breaking down advanced metrics. Artists innovated with abstract, comic book-like styles. Meme-makers had fun with inside jokes and playful puns. No theme was off limits. While Topps retained control over printing and distribution of real, physical cards from each Project 2020 design, the excitement of the customization process created a vibrant online community all its own.
After initially planning a one-year run, Topps ultimately extended Project 2020 into 2021 as well due to its runaway popularity. While this year saw a return to normal spring training, opening day and a full 162-game schedule, the customizable card series remains a special way for collectors to get involved. Just like the prior year, Topps issued a fresh batch of blank “shells” for fans to personally design each month with their own themes, styles and vision. Through another unique MLB season amid an ongoing pandemic, Project 2020 maintains its status as a special collectible unlike any other in the hobby.
In the end, Topps’ bold concept proved the perfect antidote for energizing baseball card fandom during unusual times. By empowering creative collectors online, Project 2020 organically generated enthusiasm among fans sidelined from stadiums and their normal way of enjoying America’s pastime. Now firmly established as part of Topps’ lineup, the innovative initiative shows no signs of slowing entering its third successful year on the market. It has undoubtedly raised the bar for the entire memorabilia industry, setting a precedent for engaging customers in new ways even through periods of disruption to traditional sports. For baseball card aficionados, Project 2020 stands as a bright reminder of both the game’s storied past and its exciting future.
