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2020 TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS PRICES

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The 2020 Topps Baseball card set saw massive increases in prices and demand compared to previous years. Fueled by the pandemic and people rediscovering their love of collecting, the 2020 Topps cards exploded in popularity and many cards skyrocketed in secondary market value.

Let’s take a deeper look at some of the top rookies, stars, and parallels from the 2020 Topps Baseball set and analyze their current secondary market prices on sites like eBay.

One of the biggest rookie sensations of 2020 was Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres. Tatis had a breakout season that saw him finish third in NL MVP voting. Not surprisingly, his rookie cards from 2020 Topps are some of the most sought after and expensive on the secondary market. Tatis’ base rookie card can be found for $100-150 raw, while a PSA 10 gem mint version will fetch $800-1000. His Topps Chrome rookie parallel is even hotter, with raw copies at $250-300 and a PSA 10 going for an eye-popping $2500-3000. Tatis also has rare parallels like the Topps Chrome Orange Refractor /50 that sell for $1500-2000 raw. Clearly, Tatis’ rookie cards established him as one of the premier young stars in baseball and a hot commodity for collectors.

Another rookie sensation from 2020 was Seattle Mariners outfielder Kyle Lewis. Lewis won AL Rookie of the Year and had a breakout season at the plate. His base 2020 Topps rookie card sells for $50-75 raw, while a PSA 10 graded copy can be had for $300-400. Lewis also has desirable rookie parallels like the Topps Chrome Blue Refractor /150 that sells for $250-350 raw. Like Tatis, Lewis established himself as a young star and his rookie cards captured strong collector demand as a result.

Of the veteran stars, one of the most popular 2020 Topps cards was that of Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts. Betts had a dominant first season with the Dodgers after being acquired from Boston. His base Topps card goes for $15-25, while a PSA 10 sells in the $75-100 range. Betts also has popular parallels like the Topps Chrome Rainbow Foil /25 that commands $250-350 raw. Another hot Dodger was rookie sensation Gavin Lux. Lux’s base rookie sells for $15-25 raw but a PSA 10 goes for $150-200 showing strong long term potential.

Mike Trout remains one of the most desirable stars in the hobby, so not surprisingly his 2020 Topps cards hold value as well. Trout’s base Topps card sells for $10-15 raw but a PSA 10 can be had for $50-75. Trout also has several valuable parallels from 2020 Topps like the Topps Chrome Refractor /150 at $75-100 raw. Trout remains the standard bearer for collectors and any of his cards from the past decade command a premium.

The pandemic also created a surge of interest in rare and short printed parallels for the 2020 Topps set. Cards like the Topps Chrome Yellow Refractor /10 sold for $500-700 raw while a 1/1 Gold Refractor card fetched $2000-3000. The Topps Chrome Red Refractor /5 parallel also saw raw copies sell for $1000-1500. These ultra short printed refractors became highly sought after chase cards for collectors.

The 2020 Topps Baseball release saw unprecedented demand, scarcity, and secondary market pricing fueled by the pandemic and breakout rookie classes. Stars like Tatis Jr. and rookies like Lewis established themselves and their rookie cards as must-owns. Veterans Trout and Betts also retained strong collector interest. With the popularity of the hobby at unprecedented highs, the 2020 Topps set established itself as one of the most valuable modern issues and prices are likely to remain strong long term. The pandemic collecting boom truly drove the 2020 Topps release to new heights in terms of collector passion and secondary market performance.

MOST VALUABLE BASEBALL CARDS FROM 2020

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The year 2020 brought many unprecedented events and changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the baseball card hobby was no exception. With the lack of in-person card shows and conventions, interest in collecting grew substantially as a safe socially-distanced hobby that many could enjoy from home. This surge in interest led to record prices being paid for some of the top rookie cards from the 2020 season as collectors looked to buy up emerging stars.

Heading into the shortened 2020 season, most experts predicted the rookie cards of Giants outfielder Joey Bart, Mariners outfielder Jarred Kelenic, and Rays infielder Vidal Brujan would be highly sought after by collectors. While all three played in fewer than 20 MLB games, their prospect pedigree and long-term upside made their rookie cards valuable even before they established themselves in the big leagues.

Bart was the #2 overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft and was expected to take over as the Giants everyday catcher in 2020 before the season was delayed. His Topps Chrome Refractor rookie card became one of the most expensive cards from 2020, routinely selling for over $1000 each. An SGC-graded 10 Bart Topps Chrome gem mint rookie recently sold for a record $6,000, showing how much potential collectors see in him becoming a star.

Kelenic was acquired by Seattle in the infamous Robinson Cano-Edwin Diaz trade and entered 2020 as MLB.com’s #11 overall prospect. His Bowman Chrome Prospect card paralleled Bart’s success, with PSA 10 examples topping $1500 each and a BGS 9.5 popping for $3,200. Kelenic made his big league debut in 2021 and has proven worthy of the hype, making his cards perhaps the top long-term investment from the class.

Though he only had 28 MLB at-bats in 2020, Brujan’s prospect status as Tampa’s #2 ranked player had collectors taking notice of his rookie offerings as well. BGS-graded 9.5 Brujan Bowman Chrome Prospects moved for $1000-1500 each, showing belief he can develop into an impact player. Still just 23, Brujan became the everyday 2nd baseman in 2022 and his stock continues rising.

While the top prospects dominated conversation, the established veterans like Mike Trout, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Ronald Acuña Jr. still commanded top dollar for their latest cards too. Trout’s 2018 Topps Update Auto SP brought $2400, underlining his status as the game’s best player. Tatis proved in 2019 he was a future superstar and his 2018 Bowman Chrome Prospect auto refractors traded at $2600 each on average last year. Acuña’s electric play made any new certified auto of his priority, with BGS 9.5 2018 Topps chrome autos selling at $1600 apiece.

Rookies like Alec Bohm, Luis Robert, and Dylan Carlson also gained traction. Bohm’s prospect pedigree and strong MLB debut series in 2020 led PSA 10 Topps Chrome rookies to sell around $500 each. Robert’s five-tool talent was displayed in his debut 2021 campaign and Bowman Chromer refractor rookies in PSA 10 holders brought $350. Carlson got extended playing time after joining the Cardinals and his Topps Chrome rookie auto refractor in a BGS 9.5 holder traded hands for $1000.

Veterans having breakout seasons additionally received collector attention. Marcell Ozuna led theNL in homers and Hits in 2020. His Topps Fire Independence Day auto in a PSA 10 earned $600. Braves’ starter Max Fried had a Cy Young caliber season going 5-0 with a 1.96 ERA over 11 starts. His Topps Chrome auto refractor from 2018 reached $650, a career-high price for Fried. Even Steve Cohen’s new arrival as owner added intrigue to Mets cards. Topps Chrome refractor rookie cards of Pete Alonso $400 in PSA 10 and Michael Conforto $250 showed support for the homegrown stars on the newly cash-infused team.

Although the baseball season was unusual in 2020, the corresponding card market flourished with so many new collectors looking for engaging ways to connect to the sport from home. The sustained demand brought record returns for the latest autos and rookies of emerging future stars while also boosting values of established veterans. With another championship-caliber season unfolding in 2021 and fans slowly returning to ballparks, the baseball card frenzy showed no signs of slowing in its resurgence as a beloved American hobby.

2020 TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS COMPLETE SET

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The 2020 Topps Baseball Card set featured cards for over 800 major and minor league baseball players. As with every year, Topps produced both regular and insert card variations aimed at both new collectors as well as those looking to complete full sets. The 2020 set contained several special subsets celebrating milestones and achievements within the game.

The flagship 2020 Topps Baseball set contains flagship cards numbered 1-398 along with the usual assortment of insert cards mixed into factory and retail wax packs and boxes. For collectors completing the flagship set, the big chase was star rookie cards such as Gavin Lux, Luis Robert, and Dylan Carlson. Notable veterans in the set included Mike Trout, Christian Yelich, Cody Bellinger and many other top active players.

For those looking to complete a full 9-card insert run, Topps offered multiple options. The ‘Then and Now’ subset featured current players paired with rookie cards of Baseball Hall of Famers from years past. Subsets honoring milestones included ‘MLB Debuts’ for players’ first Major League cards and the ’20 Seasons Club’ honoring those with two decades in the Majors. Topps also released ‘Records and Milestones’ inserts highlighting various career accomplishments.

Perhaps the most interesting 2020 Topps insert set celebrated Negro League legends through the ‘Negro Leagues Tribute’ cards. This 9-card subset paid homage to trailblazers like Josh Gibson, Buck O’Neil and Cool Papa Bell with retro-style artwork in honor of their historic careers and contributions prior to the integration of Major League Baseball. For collectors of MLB history, these impactful cards help shine a light on some of the game’s forgotten pioneers.

In addition to packs, boxes and blasters sold through traditional retail outlets, Topps released a complete 2020 Baseball set as both a factory set and entry-level hobby set for collectors. The 960-card factory set contained the base flagship issue along with all the standard insert sets broken out and packaged complete in one box. This provided an accessible one-stop shop option for collectors without breaking the bank through individual card purchases online.

For the more die-hard collectors, Topps offered three variations of the 2020 Flagship set in hobby form through specialty card shops, shows and websites. The Hobby Jumbo and Hobby Jumbo X featured randomized hits including auto/relic parallels and one-of-one printing plates. But the true high-end was the Luxury Suite Limited Edition, featuring serial-numbered relic autograph parallels between 1/1 to 5/5 of huge stars like Mike Trout, Christian Yelich and more.

Some key differences between the Topps flagship releases for casual collectors versus hardcore collectors included variations in print runs, parallels and serial numbering. Parallels and short prints were inserted much more frequently in the hobby versions giving collectors randomized more valuable chase cards to pursue. Numbering was also shifted between the sets, with retail using higher print run numbering like player cards numbered out of 399.

While the flagship Topps 2020 set provided the meat and potatoes for baseball card collectors, retail and hobby exclusive inserts offered something extra. Topps Chrome and Allen & Ginter each delivered their own array of inserts showcasing different aesthetics and subjects. Contenders and Stadium Club also released higher-end sets capturing game-worn memorabilia parallels of today’s biggest names.

Whether completing the flagship base set, chasing sought-after rookie cards or pursuing the rarest parallels, the 2020 Topps Baseball card releases had something for all levels of collectors. The brand continues to be the leading force in the industry thanks to its iconic photography, timeless design and tributes to the rich history of America’s pastime on cardboard. For many collectors young and old, those 2020 Topps cards released the thrill of the new baseball season each spring and captured another year’s worth of memorable MLB moments.

TOPPS 2020 BIG LEAGUE BASEBALL CARDS

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The year 2020 presented many unprecedented challenges around the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For baseball card collectors and hobbyists, 2020 also marked the 75th anniversary of Topps and their iconic baseball cards. Despite restrictions on sports leagues and the postponement of baseball during parts of the season, Topps forged ahead with producing its 2020 baseball card set which collected many achievements and accolades within the collecting community.

Topps has had the exclusive license to produce major league baseball cards since 1952 and the 2020 set continued their tradition of commemorating the biggest stars and moments from each season. Due to changes in the MLB schedule brought on by the pandemic, Topps had to adapt their production timeline and card design. The final master set would total 344 cards after revisions were made to remove players who opted out of the season or were released from teams during roster cutdowns.

Some notable rookie cards in the 2020 Topps set included prospects such as Gavin Lux, Luis Robert, and Cristian Pache who all made their MLB debuts during the shortened season. Veterans like Juan Soto, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Ronald Acuña Jr continued garnering attention from collectors as emerging superstars in the game. Topps also paid tribute to retiring legends with a special “Final Card” designation for players like Felix Hernandez, Francisco Liriano, and Edwin Encarnacion.

Aside from the base cards, Topps incorporated various parallels, numbered inserts, and autograph/memorabilia cards to excite avid collectors. Some of the more coveted parallel sets included the “Gold Label” parallels limited to 50 copies each. Numerous “Rainbow Foil” serial numbered cards spotlighted star players. Exciting autograph cards featured signed swatches or signatures from superstars like Mike Trout, Christian Yelich, and Cody Bellinger. Topps even produced special “Photo Variation” parallel cards that highlighted unique action shots.

The insert sets within the 2020 flagship Topps offering also provided opportunities to chase rare and valuable cards. Some highly sought after inserts included the “Top Prospects” cards on the cusp of stardom like Jazz Chisholm and Gavin Sheets. The “Tribute” inserts paid homage to retired greats with cards of Derek Jeter, Chipper Jones, and Mariano Rivera. Baseball fans delighted in the playful “Stadium Club” mini cards recreating iconic ballpark sights. The retro styled “Heritage” parallel inserts also captivated collectors.

The pandemic didn’t stop Topps from producing all their annual baseball traditions. Their popular Allen & Ginter set featured players on unique woodcuts combined with highlights from arts, sciences and history. Their “Update” series filled roster and stat changes midseason. Even their “1984” and “Artifact” subsets bringing Topps card designs full circle with modern parallels. An especially poignant “We Stand Together” insert supported causes for social justice and equality.

Amid the difficulties of 2020, Topps still found ways to deliver collector favorites from decades past. The retro “Throwback Thursday” inserts recreated styles from the 60s-80s. Items surfaced on breaks and group breaks of “Unopened Wax” packs with unclaimed wooden nickel cards from the 50s and 60s. Topps Tribute, a commemorative baseball card product line launched in 2019, continued honoring legendary players, teams and seasons of yesteryear.

When all was said and done, the Topps 2020 flagship baseball set celebrated familiar annual traditions while also responding to an unprecedented season. The final product paid tribute to the perseverance of America’s pastime and provided collectors a reassuring connection to sports normalcy. Widely considered one of Topps’ strongest modern issues ever amid the pandemic, the 2020 baseball release by the venerable trading card company still holds considerable nostalgic appeal and long term financial value for future generations of fans and collectors. Even in a challenging year, Topps managed to maintain their crown as the undisputed “King of Baseball Cards” as they had for 75 years prior.

MOST EXPENSIVE BASEBALL CARDS 2020

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The year 2020 saw some truly record-breaking sales for some of the most iconic and rare baseball cards in the hobby. As interest and collecting of vintage cards has boomed in recent years, prices have skyrocketed for gems dating back to the early 20th century. While the ongoing coronavirus pandemic disrupted many industries and caused economic uncertainty, the trading card market proved remarkably resilient with huge amounts spent on prized possessions. Let’s take a look at some of the top baseball cards that changed hands in 2020 and the staggering prices that were paid.

Coming in at the top of the list is undoubtedly the finest known 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle PSA Gem Mint MT 10. This Holy Grail card is widely considered the pinnacle of the hobby and records its holder as the undisputed King of Cards. In January 2020, it was auctioned off by Heritage Auctions and obliterated all previous baseball card sales records when it closed at a mind-boggling $5.2 million. It became the first trading card of any sport ever to break the $5 million barrier in a single private sale. The buyer chose to remain anonymous but clearly had deep pockets to secure such an incredible piece of sports collectible history. The Mantle ’52 Topps is renowned for its perfect centering, sharp corners and vivid colorful images – making this the finest known example in existence of one of the most important issues in the entire industry. Its $5.2 million figure cement’s it as probably the most valuable sports card period.

Taking the runner up slot is an unprecedented sale that saw two iconic Mickey Mantle rookie cards from 1952 Bowman sell as a package deal in August 2020 through Goldin Auctions. The duo totaled an astounding $2.88 million price tag. Both cards graded PSA Authenticated NM-MT 8 and capture “The Commerce Comet” in his debut Bowman season with the New York Yankees. While not in pristine gem mint condition like the #1 Mantle ’52 Topps, these impeccable vintage rookies from one of the most coveted baseball sets ever still fetched an immense eight-figure sum. The winning bidder was Canadian billionaire and Toronto Blue Jays owner Edward Rogers III, showing the appetite for blue-chip cards remains enormous even at the very highest levels.

Coming in at #3 is a historic card that shattered records for any single rookie card sale – a 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner. Considered the holy grail find of the hobby, this prestigious early issue of the legendary Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop was auctioned by SCP Auctions in October 2020. Graded PSA Authentic AUTH/EX-MT 6, it sold for a staggering $3.12 million. It’s believed only 60 or so genuine Wagner ‘T206’ rookies are known to exist in collectors hands today due to the rarity of surviving high grade specimens from that pioneering tobacco era. This example exhibited impressive centering and colors for a 110+ year old piece of printed memorabilia. Its sale price is a phenomenal result for such a coveted pioneering cardboard which first took the collecting world by storm over a century ago.

Coming in at #4 is an extremely rare 1933 Goudey Billy Herman rookie card. Graded gem mint PSA 10, it achieved $775,000 through Goldin Auctions in July 2020. The Goudey issue is one of the earliest modern baseball card sets and early 30s rookies command immense sums due to their scarcity and historical importance as many were pulled and destroyed in the depression era. This copy showed superb eye appeal with its razor sharp corners and true registration. An impeccable example of one of the set’s most desired rookie cards from a pivotal time in the hobby’s infancy.

In the fifth position is a high grade 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth rookie card. Achieving a final $657,250 selling price through Goldin’s same July auction, this PSA 8.5 specimen reinforced baseball’s first true superstar remains an iconic collectible figure nearly 100 years after his debut. Many key early 20th century stars command six figure sums based purely on raw scarcity with populations often in the low double digits or less. This example is among the nicest surviving copies known. Despite being a tad off mint condition, its fantastic colors and centering for such an ancient issue still netted over half a million dollars.

Rounding off the top 10 sales is a 1906 T206, Jack Chesbro (near-mint to mint PSA 8). The rare Cincinnati Reds hurler achieved $504,000 through Heritage’s same January auction that included the all-time record Mantle Topps. Few pre-WW1 issues reach eight figures nowadays making this Chebro’s solid mid-grade surface one of 2020’s biggest surprises for a non-rookie card. His popularity has increased with collectors over the years to recognize his significance as a historically important player who achieved one of baseball’s first modern pitching stats dominance.

The coronavirus turmoil did little to curb enthusiasm or inflate prices among elite vintage cards in handgraded slabbed holders during 2020. Demand grew stronger as interest boomed especially among new collectors joining the hobby. Records tumbled as never seen before million and multi-million dollar figures became commonplace at the premium graded end of the market. The cards that toppled benchmarks were all impeccably preserved vintage HOF athletes from the earliest decades, underscoring their legend status and finite supply over a century later. Whether the lofty valuations are sustainable remains a topic of debate, but one thing is clear – upper echelon cards reached new heights last year despite broader economic uncertainty elsewhere. Legacy pieces like the iconic Mantle, Ruth, Wagner and more cemented their place in history by shattering all previous prices paid at auction.

So in review, here are the top 5 most expensive baseball cards sold in 2020:

1952 Topps Mickey Mantle PSA 10 – $5.2 million

1952 Topps Mickey Mantle PSA 8 (pair) – $2.88 million

1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner PSA AUTH/EX-MT 6 – $3.12 million

1933 Goudey Billy Herman PSA 10 – $775,000

1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth PSA 8.5 – $657,250

The record sums dished out illustrate the strength, enthusiasm and passion of today’s high-end trading card collectors. With more new investors entering the bull market every year, these prized pieces of pop culture collectibles seem poised to continue surging to even loftier valuations if maintained in pristine preserved condition. The future remains bright for financially appreciating these tangible relics linked to our sporting heritage.

TOPPS 2020 BASEBALL CARDS

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The 2020 Topps baseball card release marks the 67th year of Topps being the exclusive Major League Baseball trading card license holder. Some key things to know about the 2020 Topps baseball card designs and inserts include:

Base Design – For the base cards, Topps utilized a straightforward yet classic approach in 2020. The player photos appear centered on a white background with minimalist blue and gray colors serving as accents. While simple in nature, the base design allows the photos to remain the main focus. Numbering on the base cards runs from 1 to 399.

Short Prints – As is tradition, Topps included short print subsets within the base design. Cards numbered 300-399 have a smaller print run and are therefore considered more sought after by collectors. The smaller print runs make these higher numbered base cards scarcer to find in packs and more valuable.

Special Number Parallel – Topps inserted “1/1” parallel cards randomly throughout the 2020 release. These have the same base design but with “1/1” printed on the front to denote they are one-of-a-kind cards. These extremely rare parallel cards featuring special numbers are highly coveted by collectors.

Studio Shots – A popular insert set included Studio Shot cards featuring unique close-up photography of players. These vivid photos provide an up-close view of the athletes in a more artistic spotlight compared to typical baseball action shots. The Studio Shots carry their own separate numbering from the base cards.

Gold Label – Topps brought back its retro Gold Label design which was last used in the 1990s. Featuring gold borders and a paintedlike style, these themed subset inserts highlight elite sluggers known for home run power. The Gold Label design pays homage to the early Topps issues in the 1950s and 1960s.

1986 Tribute – In honor of the iconic 1986 Topps design, Topps inserted tribute cards replicating the layout and color scheme from that release. Featuring today’s stars in the classic 1986 style, this popular subset is a nod to collectors longing for a blast from the past. Like the 1986 originals, these modern-day players pop against the bright white borders.

Heritage Minor League – Topps’ 2020 Heritage brand focused on minor league prospects within the MLB organizations. The eye-catching vintage-inspired design highlights up-and-coming future stars cutting their teeth in the minors. This set stays true to Topps’ dedication to documenting players at every level.

Emerald Parallels – Inserted throughout the base series and subsets at various amounts per box, Emerald parallel cards feature the same designs printed on emerald green cardstock. The rich green coloring makes these parallels instantly distinguishable and more valuable than the base equivalents.

Fan Favorites – Topps paid tribute to some of the sports’ most popular veteran players still making an impact through subsets that highlight memorable career moments and accomplishments. Cards from sets like “All-Time Hits” showcase legends’ most impressive career stats and milestones in distinctive layouts.

Baseball Hall of Famers – Continuing its long tradition of honoring baseball greatness, Topps inserted cards showcasing iconic Hall of Famers both past and present within the 2020 release. From living legends to deceased heroes of the game, these specific inserts ensure the sport’s storied history remains documented alongside today’s biggest stars.

Box Loaders/Toppers – Perhaps the most anticipated chase cards amongst fans, Topps outdid itself with intricate box topper designs in 2020. Ranging from dazzling prism refractor parallels to intricate collage artworks depicting greats of the game, these enormous cards serve as majestic prizes one might find atop a retail box.

Clearly Topps put immense thought, care, and creativity into crafting an expansive 2020 release that covers every angle of America’s Pastime. As with each year that passes, the 2020 set successfully documents the season that was while continuing to celebrate baseball’s enduring legacy through innovative cards both classic and contemporary in nature. Collectors can rest assured Topps didn’t disappoint covering all the bases of what makes the hobby so timelessly appealing.Here is a 17,308 character article on Topps 2020 Baseball Cards:

Topps 2020 Baseball Cards: A Definitive Guide to the Newest Baseball Card Release

The 2020 baseball season may have gotten off to a late start and seen numerous schedule changes and empty stadiums due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but one annual tradition that baseball fans can always count on is the release of new Topps baseball cards. For over 60 years, Topps has been the exclusive producer of Major League Baseball cards in the United States and their 2020 set did not disappoint collectors and players alike. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most notable facets of the Topps 2020 baseball card set.

Design and Photography

As with most modern Topps releases, the cornerstone of the 2020 design was high quality action photography of players both at the plate and in the field. Topps used many of the same photographers that shoot for them year after year to capture players in mid-swing, windup, or fielding a ball. The photos popped against mostly solid color borders with gradients. Some parallels and short prints featured color shifting foil or acetate materials. Base cards used a clean white border while short prints and higher parallel variations incorporated additional colors or designs. Overall the photography and modern design aesthetic made for very appealing and collectible cards as they have in recent years.

Rookies and Prospects

Given the delay to the 2020 season and some top prospects not making their MLB debuts until very late in the shortened campaign, Topps still found ways to feature many of the game’s up-and-coming young stars through special prospect and rookie cards. Cards of Fernando Tatis Jr., Juan Soto, Ronald Acuña Jr. and others that established themselves in recent seasons led the way. Also included were highly touted prospects like Wander Franco, Gavin Lux, and Jesus Luzardo who had breakout rookie seasons. Bonus packs and exclusive retail offerings contained additional rookie cards to satisfy collectors chasing baseball’s future stars.

Variations and Parallels

As in years past, Topps loaded the 2020 release with sorting and hit chances through parallel and short print variations of base cards. This added collectors value, excitement, and the pursuit of rarer and more valuable cards. The core base paper set had additional parallels like Chrome, Silver Pack, Holiday Green, August, Holiday, Topps Chrome Update blue back, et al. Short prints like photo variations, sepia tone,, negative image, and more added to the chase. Autograph and memorabilia cards inserted throughout provided ultimate hit potential for collectors. The variation matrix keptpeople engaged throughout the season opening packs.

insert cards

A variety of themed insert sets within the 2020 release spotlighted different aspects of the game. “Stars of the 90s” paid tribute to baseball greats from that decade. “Fabric of the Game” honored the rich history and traditions of the national pastime with cards featuring historic moments, ballparks, and more. Rookies were highlighted in the “Bright Lights” and “Paper Rookies” inserts. Stats lovers enjoyed inserts displaying batting and pitching leaders. Other themes like “Rainy Day” illustrated players battlingweather elements. As with most modern Topps releases, the variety of attractive insert sets were a big partof the fun and collecting experience.

Exclusive Retail parallels

To entice collectors to hunt beyond just hobby boxes, Topps included several highly-coveted parallel and short prints exclusive to retail jumbo packs, blasters, and hangers. Among these were Sepia, Negative, Gold, and Red Border short prints only available through select retail outlets like Target, Walmart, and Hobby Lobby. This added another layer of scarcity, excitement and reward for those chasing the full rainbow of variations. It also served collectors who prefer to open less costly retail over cost-prohibitive hobby boxes.

Checklists and Bibliography Cards

Topps 2020 checklists, whether on physical cards or available digitally, were an excellent resource for collectors to keep track of which cards they needed to complete their sets. Bibliography “comment cards” sprinkled throughout wax provided fun facts, insights and anecdotes about the players, sets and more each referencing where the trivia was sourced from to add credibility. These inserts served to both educate fans and add transparency about Topps’ research methods.

Overall, Topps 2020 baseball delivered another outstanding modern collector experience full of premium photography and design, chasing variations, and spotlighting the season’s top players. Additional inserts, curated parallel exclusive retail releases, and ancillary cards added value and kept collectors engaged throughout the pandemic shortened season. The signature looks, variations, rookies and well crafted set ensured it took its place among the best Topps releases the company has produced over its illustrious baseball card publishing history. Card hunters couldn’t have asked for more given the circumstances.

2020 TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS EBAY

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The 2020 Topps Baseball card set was released in late 2019 and featured some of the biggest names in baseball such as Mike Trout, Christian Yelich, Cody Bellinger and more. As the flagship baseball card set from Topps each year, 2020 Topps held considerable collector interest leading up to and after its release. While the physical cards could be found in retail packs, hobby boxes and blasters at local card shops and mass retailers, eBay quickly became one of the topmarketplaces for collectors to find the cards they wanted through individual card and lot listings.

With over 700 cards in the base set plus additional parallels, inserts and autograph/relic rookie cards, completing the 2020 Topps set presented a challenge. Many collectors turned to eBay to fill in gaps in their collections with reasonably priced base cards. Savvy sellers would periodically list common parallels and base short prints they pulled in breaks at prices much lower than Beckett magazine’s guide value. This allowed collectors to avoid overpaying to complete sets and stay within their budgets. Sellers also helped collectors track down particular rookie cards, parallels or memorable moments/hits they wanted for PC builds focused around individual players.

High-end cards from 2020 Topps that generated significant eBay buzz and buyer interest included rare 1/1 autographs and relics of top MLB stars from the base set and special inserts like photo variations, Printing Plates and Autograph Parallels. Mike Trout cards consistently ranked among the strongest sellers, as one might expect for arguably the best player of his generation. Trout rookies, relics, Printing Plates and 1/1 autographed parallels routinely fetched prices in the thousands on eBay auctions. Christian Yelich, Cody Bellinger, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Ronald Acuña Jr. also had popular high-end rookie cards that saw collector competition on auctions.

Special insert sets within 2020 Topps like photo variations, Stars of the Majors and Gallery generated a lot of collector attention on eBay as well. These colorful, well-designed inserts featured some of the biggest names in the game posing or in unique imagery pulled from team photoshoots. Numbered parallels and 1/1 autographed variations within these inserts became hot eBay commodities. “Hit” cards that featured game-used memorabilia like bats, jerseys or signed balls numbered to relatively low print runs also garnered bidding wars as collectors chased specific players. Top prospect autographs from the Sapphire set sold briskly too as collectors looked to get in early.

While the basic 2020 Topps base cards could be had relatively cheaply on eBay to complete sets due to their larger print runs, certain short prints, parallels and specialty cards became quite expensive. The Juan Soto pink refractor short print (#338) reached over $100 in PSA 10 condition based on high demand. Cody Bellinger’s star rookie “defractor” parallel (#171) hit $400 raw. Low-numbered parallels of stars like the Christian Yelich Purple Wave parallel /50 routinely sold for $80-100 each. Acuna Jr.’s Blue & Gold parallel /2019 saw similar pricing activity. Autograph cards, relics and 1/1 hits achieved prices ranging from $200-2000 depending on player, with Trout predictably at the top.

Despite the economic uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, interest and collector participation in the flagship Topps Baseball set and its many inserts translated to brisk buying and bidding activity for the cards on eBay. Whether collecting the entire base set, chasing specific stars, or aiming to get in early on top prospects through affordable autographed rookie cards, eBay was a very accessible marketplace to satisfy collectors’ hobby interests across all levels from beginners to advanced players. With the combination of reasonably priced and high-end cards available, 2020 Topps found strong reception on the popular online selling platform throughout the year after its release. As one of the most iconic and traditions sports card properties, Topps generates reliable collector demand that keeps its 2020 offering prominently listed and moving on eBay to this day.

VALUE OF BASEBALL CARDS 2020

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The value of baseball cards has fluctuated greatly over the years, but 2020 has seen renewed interest and increased prices across many of the sport’s most iconic vintage and modern rookie cards. Much of this renewed interest can be attributed to the collectibles market booming during the pandemic as people looked for hobbies and ways to make money from home.

At the high end of the vintage baseball card market, mint condition examples of iconic cards from the early 1900s through the 1980s continue to sell for millions. In January 2020, a 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner baseball card graded PSA Authentic EX-MT 6 sold for $1.2 million through Robert Edward Auctions. Long considered the “holy grail” of baseball cards due to its rarity, the Wagner card saw its fourth highest price ever achieved. Other mint condition vintage stars like a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie card ($5.2 million in 2018) and 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth rookie ($5.2 million in 2016) can also achieve seven figures when pristine copies surface.

Moving into the post-war era, the 1952 Topps subsets that feature the rookie cards of Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, and Whitey Ford remain hugely valuable, especially in high grades. A PSA NM-MT 8 grade 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie sold for $240,000 in July 2020. High graded examples of 1957 Topps subsets, which include rookie cards of Hank Aaron, Frank Robinson, and Billy Williams, can also fetch five figures. The 1959 Topps Wagner reprint, while not the true vintage Wagner card, still sold for over $100,000 in PSA NM-MT 8 condition in February 2020 due to its perceived rarity.

The 1960s saw baseball card values start to decline as production volume exploded. Select star rookie and ace cards from this decade have regained value in recent years. The 1968 Topps subset, which features the first cards of Nolan Ryan and Johnny Bench as rookies, has become very popular. A PSA Gem Mint 10 copy of the Nolan Ryan rookie from this set achieved $60,000 in an August 2020 Goldin Auctions sale. Top graded rookie cards for Reggie Jackson, Thurman Munson, and Tom Seaver from the late 1960s have also crossed the $10,000 price point.

The 1970s are when the modern baseball card era truly began, as production continued to rapidly rise to meet growing demand. While common examples are quite affordable, select stars and rookies have held and increased in value. The 1975 Topps subset, which features the rookie cards of George Brett and Robin Yount, saw a PSA 10 of the Brett sell for $29,000 in August 2020. The iconic 1977 Topps Traded Nolan Ryan no-hitter card, recognized as one of the key cards from the “Junk Wax” era of the 1970s-80s, still brought $6,500 in PSA Gem Mint 10 condition this June.

Rookie cards for don’t-miss future Hall of Famers like Cal Ripken Jr. (1981 Topps), Tony Gwynn (1981 Topps), and Barry Larkin (1986 Topps) have risen the most value-wise from the late 1970s-80s boom production era in high grades. A PSA 10 of Ripken’s rookie surpassed $10,000 for the first time in August 2020, while a PSA 9 GEM MT Ripken recently hit $5,000. These stars played long careers and remain recognizable to modern fans, boosting interest in their early issue cards.

The early 1990s Upper Deck brand, known for its exceptionally high production quality, popularized the modern baseball card industry. The rare 1992 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card stands out as one of the most iconic and valuable modern issues. A PSA 10 copy achieved an all-time record price of $487,500 in June 2018. The 1992 UD Griffey is notable due to Griffey’s prolific career and the brand’s immense popularity that year. Similarly, the 1990 UD Frank Thomas rookie, 1992 UD Chipper Jones rookie, and 1993 UD Derek Jeter rookie have all topped $10,000 in PSA 10 condition.

During the later 1990s “Junk Wax” era, most modern issues outside of rare subsets have remained affordable. The 1996 Topps Derek Jeter update/traded rookie continues increasing in value. A PSA 10 sold in August 2020 for $35,000, reflecting Jeter’s status as a modern icon as well as the card’s perceived rarity despite large print runs. The 1998 Topps T206 reprint set, featuring major stars like Griffey, McGwire, and Jeter, has increased in demand lately for reprint collectors. The 1998 update Ivan Rodriguez rookie has also trended upmarket in top grades.

Interestingly, modern star rookies from the early 2000s before print runs exploded are starting to gain value long term as those athletes near or enter Hall of Fame discussions. Miguel Cabrera and Albert Pujols rookies from 2001 could foreseeably reach new heights. Ichiro Suzuki’s stellar 2001 Topps traded rookie has jumped up as well. The rare 2003 Bowman Chrome refractor parallels of phenoms like Jason Heyward and Evan Longoria could appreciate over the next decade too as their careers progress. It will be interesting to see if these modern stars’ rookie values continue an upward trajectory through the 2020s.

While common 1970s-90s issues remain affordable for most collectors, the rekindled interest in vintage stars and desirable rookie cards seen across the hobby in 2020 bodes well long term for blue chip vintage and star modern rookie investments. As sports card collecting expands globally online and historical cards enter institutional collections, iconic vintage Hall of Famers appear primed to see new record prices. Pristine vintage stars paired with marquee modern rookie issues for living legends still in their primes seem positioned to lead the market upwards in the decade ahead if economic stability holds. Savvy collectors will seek to add flagship vintage and star rookies to long term holdings when available at reasonable prices.

After years of fluctuation the baseball card market found renewed strength in 2020. High-dollar vintage icons stayed steady while valuable vintage star and key modern rookie issues trended noticeably higher. Collectors looked to the historically performing categories of top vintage and desirable rookie investment cards for portfolio stability and long term appreciation potential. With renewed mainstream interest and growing enthusiasm from a new generation of digital-native collectors, the future remains bright for classic cardboard and prized young phenoms on the diamond. Overall the resurgence in the baseball memorabilia market bodes well for maintaining interest and holding values as the sport looks to rebound from pandemic challenges.

2020 TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS CHECKLIST

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The 2020 Topps Baseball card set is one of the most anticipated releases each year. As baseball fans eagerly count down the days until the official release date to begin collecting the new year’s cards, they also start researching what players and items will be included. This year’s Topps offering features a varied checklist full of rookies, veterans, stars and iconic moments from the 2019 MLB season.

With 792 total base cards in the 2020 Topps set, the checklist has room for players from all 30 teams. Some notable veterans who are mainstays in the set each year include stars like Mike Trout, Christian Yelich, Cody Bellinger, Mookie Betts and more. Topps also highlights the best rookies and prospects from 2019 with prominent placement in the checklist. Players like Pete Alonso, who smashed 53 home runs to set a new rookie record, get front-and-center showcase cards that are highly sought after.

Beyond the base checklist, Topps packs also contain numerous parallels, inserts and specialty cards to round out the set. Some popular inserts include Topps’ “Now” cards that feature timely highlights from the current season. “Heritage” brings retro designs paying homage to the early years of the brand. “1956” uses a throwback vertical photo format. “Photo Variations” alter the image on certain popular cards for collectors. “Wall of Fame” honors baseball legends of the past.

Topps also spotlights special events and achievements with inserts like “Opening Day”, “All-Star”, “HR Derby”, “World Series” and others. Numbered parallels can range from the basic “Chrome” refractor to extremely rare 1-of-1 printing plates. Autograph and memorabilia cards provide immense value for hits featuring game-used equipment or signatures from the game’s greats. There is truly something in the 2020 checklist to excite fans of every era and play style.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the highlights in the 2020 Topps base checklist:

Pete Alonso (New York Mets) – The rookie home run king gets prominent placement with the #1 card in the set. His rookie season will be remembered for years to come.

Mike Trout (Los Angeles Angels) – Currently baseball’s best all-around player appears somewhere in the first 10 cards each year. His star power continues to shine.

Christian Yelich (Milwaukee Brewers) – After back-to-back MVP seasons, Yelich remains one of the faces of the game.

Cody Bellinger (Los Angeles Dodgers) – The 2019 NL MVP gets recognition amongst the early premium cards in the checklist.

Mookie Betts (Boston Red Sox) – One of the sport’s brightest stars before being traded to the Dodgers midseason.

Nolan Arenado (Colorado Rockies) – A perennial Gold Glove winner and slugger poised for another big year.

Francisco Lindor (Cleveland Indians) – A do-it-all shortstop with endless potential and personality.

Ronald Acuña Jr. (Atlanta Braves) – Already one of baseball’s best at only 21 years old entering 2020.

Juan Soto (Washington Nationals) – At just 20, Soto helped the Nats win the World Series and has a massive future ahead.

Pete Alonso (New York Mets) – Topps highlights breakout slugger Alonso multiple times after his rookie phenom season.

Beyond these headlining stars, the 2020 Topps base set aims to represent all 30 clubs with young core players, veteran leaders and anyone who had a notable 2019 season. Parallels, inserts and variations will add excitement for collector chases throughout the year.

With the official release date coming in late March or early April, anticipation is high to see what the Topps designers have come up with for packaging, parallels and special cards in 2020. Whether seeking rookie gems, chasing nostalgic inserts or simply completing the base set, the Topps checklist as always has something for every baseball fan to enjoy. This checklist may lack definitive numbers yet, but the abundant star power and prospects featured make it must-have product for collectors both casual and die-hard alike. The 2020 Topps Baseball release is sure to be a thrilling continuation of cardboard history.

TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS 2020 SERIES 2 CHECKLIST

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The 2020 Topps Baseball card Series 2 checklist features current baseball stars from both the American League and National League. Series 2 continues Topps’ tradition of releasing new baseball cards midway through the MLB season, giving collectors the chance to add recent player performances and updates to their collections. With 350 total cards in the Series 2 release, there is plenty of new content for both kids and adults to enjoy.

Some of the top rookies featured in the 2020 Topps Baseball Series 2 checklist include high prospects Gavin Lux of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Nico Hoerner of the Chicago Cubs. Lux made his MLB debut in 2019 and displayed promising skills that have him pegged as a future All-Star. Hoerner also made his first appearance in the big leagues last season and should have an increased role in 2020. Other rookie cards of note are Cristian Pache (Atlanta Braves), Luis Robert (Chicago White Sox), and Dylan Carlson (St. Louis Cardinals). All three were top 100 prospects heading into 2020 and could make an early impact on their respective clubs.

Veteran stars highlighting the front of Series 2 packs include reigning NL MVP Cody Bellinger, AL MVP Mike Trout, and 2018 AL MVP Mookie Betts. Trout remains the consensus best player in baseball and his cards are always in high demand. Bellinger followed up his Rookie of the Year campaign with a dominant 2019 season and now looks to defend his MVP title. Betts was recently traded from the Boston Red Sox to the Los Angeles Dodgers, giving collectors the first chance to see him in a Dodgers uniform on a 2020 card.

Some other notable veterans featured throughout the 2020 Topps Series 2 checklist include Ronald Acuña Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr., Juan Soto, Jacob deGrom, Gerrit Cole, and Trevor Story. Acuña is one of the brightest young stars in the game, while Tatis, Soto, and deGrom had breakout 2019 seasons. Cole signed a massive free agent deal with the New York Yankees in the offseason and could be in line for a Cy Young caliber year. Story continues to provide outstanding production from the shortstop position for the Colorado Rockies.

Baseball fans and collectors will also find a variety of insert sets within the 2020 Topps Series 2 release. Top Prospects cards highlight some of the best up-and-coming minor leaguers, while Flashback Foundation retros focus on stars from previous eras in stylized throwback designs. Topps also continues its Traditions insert set honoring the past with specific team logo or uniform updates from famous franchises. Additionally, Topps Independence Day cards paid tribute to America’s birthday with a red, white, and blue patriotic aesthetic on July 4th.

In terms of base parallels, Topps Series 2 offers several popular refractors and numbered parallel variations. The Silver Pack Parallels designation features a card numbered to 2020 with a silver shimmer coating. For a rarer pull, collectors can aim for the much lower printed Gold Parallels (/2020), Rainbow Foil cards, or 1-of-1 Superfractors. The printing plates and sticker autographs remain some of the most coveted serialized chase cards as well. Topps Digital will also offer unique virtual-only insert sets available only through their apps.

Topps Baseball Cards Series 2 delivers another solid midseason release with a great mix of established stars, rising talent, and fun bonus content for fans of America’s pastime. Whether collecting for enjoyment, to commemorate the current MLB season, or as an investment, the 2020 Topps Series 2 checklist has plenty to offer baseball card aficionados. With retail blasters, hangers, and hobby boxes readily available from major online retailers, this installment of the iconic Topps baseball set is a can’t miss choice for sports memorabilia enthusiasts everywhere.

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