Topps Chrome is one of the premier insert sets released annually by Topps, known for featuring shiny refractors and short printed parallels. The 2021 edition was no exception, delivering another highly anticipated flagship product for baseball card collectors and investors.
Some key things to know about Topps Chrome 2021 include:
Release Date: Topps Chrome was released in late July/early August 2021, following the regular Topps Base Set release in spring. It is one of the first major insert sets to come out after the MLB season starts.
Design: As with previous years, Topps Chrome 2021 featured crisp photographs of players on a shiny chrome-like background. The design mimics the look of high-end parallels and gives the cards a flashy, prismatic appearance compared to the standard paper base cards.
Autographs and Memorabilia: Like the base Topps sets, Topps Chrome included autographed and memorabilia cards of star players. Popular hits included dual autographed cards, patches, bat cards, and more. These chase cards added excitement to the chase of opening hobby boxes and packs.
Base Cards: The standard base card checklist in Topps Chrome 2021 was the same as the flagship Topps release, using the same photos but with an upgraded design. Each box contained 70 total base cards across 7 packs with 10 cards each.
Refractors: For hobby box collectors, Refractors were the true chase of Topps Chrome. These parallel versions of the base cards featured an all-over holofoil coating that sparkled in light. Colored Refractors come in varying levels of rarity.
Printing Plates: Extremely rare 1/1 printing plates were available as well, featuring unfinished card images on plates used during the actual press run. These unique 1-of-1 parallel cards fetch enormous prices on the secondary market.
Short Prints: Topps Chrome is known for short printed parallels that are drastically harder to pull than the base cards. In 2021, popular short prints included the Gold /50, Black /10, and Ultra Short Print Variations numbered around /5.
Rookie Class: Some of the top rookies that debuted in Topps Chrome 2021 included Rays catcher Randy Arozarena, Mariners outfielder Jarred Kelenic, and Cubs pitcher Keegan Thompson. Their rookie cards were highly sought after.
Box Configuration: Each Topps Chrome 2021 hobby box contained 7 packs with 10 cards each, for a total of 70 cards. On average, boxes contained a handful of parallels, refractors, and short prints mixed in randomly with the bases.
When it was released in late summer 2021, Topps Chrome saw huge popularity among collectors. The shiny chrome design and exciting hits drove high boxBreak costs. Over time, as the MLB season wrapped up and the hobby started looking ahead to 2022, Topps Chrome 2021 prices settled in the $125-150 range per hobby box on the secondary market.
For individual cards, the key rookie refractors and short prints of players like Arozarena, Kelenic, Bobby Witt Jr., Torkelson, and others commanded premium prices. Top rookies in gold /50 or black /10 refractors routinely sold in the $100-500 range depending on the player. 1/1 printing plates sold for thousands when they popped up.
As with most insert sets, it’s the parallels and refractors that carry the true long-term value in Topps Chrome. While base cards can appreciate modestly, the flashy short prints and low-numbered parallel cards of elite rookies are where smart collectors and investors park their money. Topps Chrome continues to thrill the hobby by delivering a premium product with a vintage chrome design and modern rewards for those willing to take a gamble ripping packs. Even with fluctuations in the larger card market, Topps Chrome from elite rookie classes like 2021 hold their allure and maintain strong listings on auction sites year after year.
