Topps Fire is a subset brand by Topps that features unique designs and inserted autographs and memorabilia cards of popular baseball players. Launched in 2017, Topps Fire offers collectors a modernized twist on the standard baseball card by incorporating visually striking graphics and images. The inserts showcase exciting on-field action moments through creative photos and animation-inspired artwork.
Topps Fire cards have quickly become sought after by both veteran collectors and those new to the hobby. They blend nostalgia for the players and teams with contemporary design principles that appeal to younger audiences. Each year, Topps selects some of the top active stars and rising talents to feature in the Fire brand across their various product releases. Autographed rookie cards and unique memorabilia pieces from Fire inserts command high prices in the secondary marketplace.
2017 Inception
The inaugural Topps Fire set came out in 2017 and introduced many collectors to the brand. It included base cards showing headshots of over 300 players in fronts surrounded by fiery graphics. On the backs were career stats and accomplishments framed within comic book-style speech bubbles. Among the inserts were “Lazers” parallels inked to only 17 copies each that really set the collector community ablaze with their rarity.
Top rookies featured included Corey Seager, Kris Bryant, and Carlos Correa. Veterans like Mike Trout, Clayton Kershaw, and David Ortiz also received shining base cards. Autographed parallels and patches pulled from packs included some of the set’s most valuable cards. 2017 Topps Fire blazed the trail for future years by proving there was fan demand for modern baseball designs beyond the standard template.
2018 Firestorm Ignites
Building on the 2017 debut, Topps Fire 2018 turned up the heat with their “Firestorm” themed edition. This time, borders framed player photos within fiery meteor showers and lightning strikes. Backs stuck to a similar comic book look while expanding career stats. Shortprinting and serial numbering remained tough pulls for collectors. Top young talents like Cody Bellinger, Aaron Judge, and Joey Gallo rose to stardom and saw flagship rookies in Topps Fire too.
Memorable inserts featured “Inferno” parallels down to /10 copies and autographs immersed within volcanic ash designs. Veteran superstars like Clayton Kershaw, Mike Trout, and Max Scherzer continued receiving star treatments. Low-number Phoenix Patch relics of stars skyrocketed the set’s worth in the resale market. Overall, Topps Fire 2018 took the bar higher for card quality, designs, and chase cards that became must-haves in the community.
2019 Eruption Shakes Up the Hobby
By 2019, Topps Fire had fully cemented itself among the most desired baseballsubsets annually. “Eruption” served as that year’s themesake with bases engulfed in fiery lava flows. New printing techniques brought dynamic texture that mimicked actual ash and molten rock. Explosive rookie campaigns from players like Pete Alonso, Yordan Alvarez, and Fernando Tatis Jr. elevated them into Fire’s limelight.
Prime veterans in the set included Christian Yelich, Mookie Betts, and Francisco Lindor at the peaks of their careers too. Standout inserts encompassed “Magma” parallels on low numbered stock and incredible “Ignition” autographs packed with mystique. Phoenix Patch cards reemerged in higher resolutions while maintaining rarity. Overall numbering stayed tight across all parallel types, elevating individual 2019 Topps Fire cards into grail territory.
Present & Future Impact
Ever since those initial Firestorms, Topps Fire has consistently pushed design and collector experiences to new levels each year. The 2020 installment continued developing innovative techniques and paid homage through retro elements. Recent rookies like Luis Robert, Alec Bohm, and Logan Gilbert gained early cachet compared to standard releases too. As the brand approaches its 5th anniversary, Topps remains committed to evolving the Fire style while spotlighting today’s brightest talents.
Whether through base sets, inserts, parallels or autographs, Topps Fire continues expanding hobby popularity. Their vivid designs, quality control and selective player selection keep resale values heated. As the product line matured, additional release variants like Firecrackers and Fireworks supplement general hobby supplies too. Beyond collecting, Topps Fire also preserves the history of players’ early careers through imaginative preservation of their feats. Their impact ensures baseball cards remain relevant to new and old fans alike for years to come.
