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TOPPS 2022 BASEBALL CARDS UPDATED SET

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Topps released its flagship 2022 baseball card set in February with much anticipation from collectors hoping to find the rookie cards of Baseball’s biggest stars. Partway through the release schedule, Topps decided to make some updates and adjustments to the set leading to an “updated” version.

The 2022 Topps base set originally had 382 cards but was increased to 389 cards with the updated release. Some of the biggest changes collectors saw with the updated 2022 Topps baseball cards included several additional Yankees cards as well as swapping out a couple of base cards for new rookie variations.

A few of the new additions to the 2022 Topps updated base set included base cards for Yankees Aaron Judge (#165), Giancarlo Stanton (#204), Anthony Rizzo (#244), and others. This helped boost the Yankees team collection which is always a highly sought after subset. In addition, Topps made the decision to replace the base cards of Giants reliever Jake McGee (#73) and Angels pitcher Jose Quijada (#161) with shiny refractors of 2022 Topps Chrome rookies Griffin Jax (#73, Twins RP) and Ryan Pepiot (#161, Dodgers SP).

These tweaks were made to help collectors find more of the exciting rookie cards that drive set completion and interest. Griffin Jax and Ryan Pepiot both showed promise in their MLB debuts in 2022 making their inclusion over the replaced base veterans a welcomed change. While the retired McGee and Quijada cards are now considered variations, the shiny refractors of Jax and Pepiot add more hype rookie options to chase after in the set.

Beyond additions and replacements, Topps also made sure to include the league leaders and award winners from the 2022 MLB season as inserts in the updated release. Cards highlighting Aaron Judge’s home run chasing season (#LL-AJ), Jose Ramirez & Shohei Ohtani’s top AL MVP finish (#AWD), and other highlight parallels ensured collectors could find and showcase the biggest 2022 MLB storylines and accomplishments within the set. While not true updates itself, the timing of including these made the release feel more complete.

collectors feverishly tried to complete the large base set as well as chase after the many popular parallels and inserts Topps produced. These slight adjustments Topps made helped keep the flagship release feeling fresh. By inserting a few more sought after rookie cards and replacing some less exciting base veterans, Topps allowed for collectors to potentially find new hits to chase after within the set they already began completing.

It’s fairly rare these days to see a major sportscard manufacturer go back and tweak an active release partway through its production cycle. But Topps understood the collectibility of rookie cards and big names and made sure to optimize collectors’ hunt for the 2022 Topps baseball release. While completionists from the initial run may feel their versions are now technically variations, for the most part the collector community seemed pleased with Topps’ updated approach to keep engagement high on its flagship baseball offering late into the 2022 season. Whether collecting the original release or updated version, 2022 Topps baseball continues to be one of the most popular modern sets in the hobby.

By making very minor yet impactful changes, Topps demonstrated its dedication to giving collectors maximum enjoyment from their flagship set across its entire production window. The 2022 Topps baseball release kept generating excitement right up until its completion thanks to Topps’ willingness to evolve the checklist based on how the MLB season progressed. This customer-focused approach underscores why Topps remains the most prominent name in the sports card industry many decades after first launching annual baseball sets.

1987 FLEER BASEBALL UPDATED TRADING CARDS

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The 1987 Fleer baseball updated trading cards are a special subset of cards released midway through the 1987 season by Fleer to update players’ stats and teams from the initial 1987 Fleer baseball card series released earlier that year. With the baseball season underway, Fleer saw an opportunity to capitalize on collectors’ interest in having the most accurate and up-to-date player information by issuing 60 updated cards to swap out for the initial versions in collectors’ collections.

After the highly successful 1986 Fleer baseball card set brought new life and excitement to the hobby, Fleer was under pressure to keep collectors engaged throughout the entire 1987 season. Their initial main set that year had been released prior to Opening Day, so already some players’ stats and even teams were out of date by late spring. Fleer knew collectors would want to stay on top of each players’ latest performance as the pennant races heated up in the summer.

To meet this demand, in June 1987 Fleer quietly began inserting the updated subset of 60 cards into new wax packs on store shelves to slowly replace the initial variants over the coming months. The updated cards were visually identical to the base 1987 Fleer design on the front, but featured new photos, updated batting and pitching stats on the back to reflect each players’ performance through the first two months of the season.

Some of the biggest name players who received updated 1987 Fleer cards included San Diego Padres outfielder Tony Gwynn, whose batting average on the initial card was .309 but had risen to .331 by June. Chicago Cubs first baseman Mark Grace saw his batting average climb from .250 to .289. New York Mets closer Roger McDowell’s ERA dropped from 3.00 to 1.35 as he emerged as one of the game’s top relievers. Even some players who changed teams that year like Andy Van Slyke (.250 to .294 with Pittsburgh) and Rick Rhoden (12-8 with Pittsburgh to 6-4 with Oakland) received updated cards reflecting their midseason club.

Not every significant stat change warranted an updated card of course. Fleer had to use some discretion in selecting only the most notable performances to feature. The threshold usually required a performance shift of around .030 batting average points or a few wins/saves for pitchers. It wasn’t practical for Fleer to replace every single card. Still, collectors appreciated having at least some of the more impactful stats changes documented on the updated subset.

Interestingly, the 1987 updates also reflected a handful of surprise player trades that shook up the pennant races that summer. Future Hall of Famer Eddie Murray went from the Baltimore Orioles (.285) to the Los Angeles Dodgers (.321) in a June deal. The New York Mets acquired veteran slugger George Foster (.267 with the Chicago Cubs) to boost their lineup. Even marginal players who changed uniforms like Mickey Hatcher (.250 with Toronto to .227 with Cleveland) and Donnie Scott (14-8 with Cleveland to 6-4 split between Cleveland and Chicago AL) appeared with their new teams reflected on their updated Fleer cards.

The 1987 Fleer updated cards were inserted subtly into packs over the summer months without any special marking identifying them as updates. Collectors would sometimes stumble upon the new variants unsuspectingly while searching packs. This added an element of surprise and thrill to the hunt. Occasionally both the initial and updated versions of the same player would end up in the same collector’s binder pages, providing a fun before-and-after comparison of stats halfway through the season.

While only 60 cards out of the entire 550+ card base 1987 Fleer set received updates, their presence helped keep collectors engaged with the scoreboard as the season unfolded. For many, chasing these updated variants became almost as exciting as pursuing the tough-to-find chase cards in the main set like the Ben McDonald rookie or Mark McGwire error issue. The 1987 Fleer updates satisfied collectors’ desire to stay on top of the game’s ever-changing rosters and performances in real-time that summer. They remain a unique and appreciated niche within the already milestone 1987 Fleer release.

Even today, over 30 years later, the 1987 Fleer updated subset is still highly coveted by collectors looking to own a complete collection chronicling stats of baseball’s greatest stars from that memorable season. Prices remain relatively affordable compared to other vintage cards, attracting even casual collectors to pursue these fun update variants capturing fleeting statistical moments from baseball’s past. They remind us that collecting is as much about preserving experiences as it physical cards, keeping fans engaged with the living, breathing history unfolding out on the diamond each night.

1989 FLEER BASEBALL UPDATED TRADING CARDS

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The 1989 Fleer Baseball Updated cards were issued midway through the 1989 MLB season as a way for Fleer to capitalize on player and team changes that had occurred since their initial 1989 baseball card release earlier that year. Fleer saw an opportunity to generate additional sales by producing updated versions of cards to reflect trades, call-ups, and other roster shuffling that took place during the first few months of play.

The set contains 198 total cards and features photographic action shots of players from all 26 MLB teams at the time. What makes the 1989 Fleer Updated issue particularly unique is that it incorporates late-season roster additions and subtractions directly onto existing card designs from the original 1989 Fleer set through a peel-away sticker process. For example, if a player was traded from one team to another, his photo would remain the same but a new sticker with his new team’s logo and colors would be placed over the original to update his affiliation.

This creative approach allowed Fleer to quickly produce updated versions of cards without having to entirely reprint new designs and photos for every change. It was a novel solution at the time to satisfy the desire of collectors for the most accurate and up-to-date rosters possible midway through the season. While not as polished as fully new card designs may have been, the stickers served their purpose of reflecting critical roster moves in a cost-effective manner.

Some of the more notable players who received updated card stickers in 1989 Fleer include Sid Bream (traded from Pirates to Braves), Dwight Gooden (traded from Mets to Yankees), Gary Gaetti (traded from Twins to Cardinals), John Candelaria (traded from Pirates to Dodgers), Dave Henderson (traded from A’s to Red Sox), and Bob Boone (traded from Angels to Royals). Highly touted rookie call-ups like Gregg Jefferies (Mets), Kelly Gruber (Blue Jays), and Ken Griffey Jr. (Mariners) all had updated rookie cards issued after making their MLB debuts.

The sticker approach resulted in some cards looking a bit crude or awkward depending on how well the sticker conformed to the original photo underneath. Occasionally an update would reveal part of the previous team name or colors around the edges. Collectors generally forgave any design flaws for the sake of having the most accurate roster information available at the time. The mid-season updates offered a tangible way to track and document the roster maneuvers of 1989.

Beyond just player moves, the 1989 Fleer Updated also reflected managerial changes through updated stickers. For example, the Cleveland Indians card for manager Doc Edwards was revised to show Johnny Oates after Edwards was replaced midseason. Likewise, the White Sox card for manager Jim Fregosi received a sticker swap to Cal Ripken Sr. following Fregosi’s abrupt firing.

In addition to updated base cards, the 1989 Fleer Updated release also included season-long baseball leaders listed on the back of six selected cards. Stats featured the season leaders in home runs (Mark McGwire), RBI (Fred Lynn), stolen bases (Vince Coleman), earned run average (Bret Saberhagen), wins (Dave Stewart), and saves (Bobby Thigpen). These provided a real-time snapshot of the statistical leaders at the halfway point of the 1989 campaign.

Aside from the unique sticker update component, the 1989 Fleer Updated set closely followed the same overall design aesthetic as the company’s initial 1989 offering earlier that year. The cards featured predominantly vertical color photo faces with pink borders along the sides and team logo at bottom. Statistics and player info boxes appeared along the right edge. The back of each card listed career stats and highlights in Fleer’s standard format familiar to collectors at the time.

As a supplementary product, the 1989 Fleer Updated issue was less common on the hobby market compared to flagship releases. It remains an interest of completionists and an important historical marker for documenting key player movements during an iconic MLB season that saw the World Series between the Oakland A’s and San Francisco Giants. While not pristine workmanship, the sticker update approach was an innovative solution to keep collectors apprised of the latest rosters at mid-season in 1989. For that success alone, the 1989 Fleer Updated trading cards have remained a unique part of baseball card history from the golden era of the 1980s and 90s.