Topps Update baseball cards are a beloved tradition for collectors. The Topps Update set serves as the company’s “update” or “expansion” release each year, featuring rookie cards and performances from the current MLB season that were not included in the original Topps Series 1 and Series 2 sets at the start of the year.
Topps has been producing Update sets dating back to the mid-1980s. The releases provide fans and collectors the opportunity to obtain new cards showcacing breakout rookie performances, memorable moments, award winners, and other storylines from the season in a timely manner. While Topps Series 1 and Series 2 remain the flagship releases each year, collectors eagerly await the Topps Update set each summer for the fresh batch of cards chronicling the action from that year.
Some key things to know about Topps Update baseball cards include:
Timing: Topps Update sets are typically released in late July or early August each year, near the MLB trade deadline. This allows Topps to capture any performances, trades, or call-ups that occur in the season up to that point.
Size: Update sets range from 150-300 cards on average. This provides enough space for key rookies, performers of the year to date, and injury replacements while keeping the set reasonably sized.
Rookies: A major focus of Topps Update is providing the first Topps cards for top prospects who made their MLB debuts earlier that season. Fans eagerly await each year’s group of new rookie cards in the Update.
Variations: Like the flagship Topps releases, Updates will include inserted parallels, autographed cards, numbered versions and more to excite collectors. Popular parallel subsets in recent years include Chrome, Negative, and Rainbow Foil variations.
Past standouts: Some legendary rookies who debuted in Topps Update over the years include Mike Piazza, Manny Ramirez, Chipper Jones, Todd Helton, Johnny Damon, and Buster Posey. Update is how they all received their coveted first Topps MLB card.
Traded players: Any players traded to new teams during the season will get updated team logos and uniforms in their Topps Update cards from that year. This helps the visuals match where they finished the season.
Performers of the year: In addition to rookies, each year’s Topps Update aims to commemorate top individual performances, award winners, home run leaders and more from the season’s first half. This could include All-Star Game highlights or midseason leaders in various categories.
Injured List additions: If an established player suffered a season-ending injury in the first half, their Topps Update card provides inclusion for collectors before they switch to the injured list for the remainder of the year.
New managers/coaches: When a team replaces their field manager or makes changes to their coaching staff during the season, the Topps Update recognizes those moves.
Throwback uniforms: Special jerseys or uniforms that teams wore for throwback weekends or promotions during the first half will be depicted accurately in Topps Update cards from that year as well.
Social media moments: Topps has begun including memorable viral-style moments from the season in recent Updates, such as celebrations or incidents that gained traction online.
Parallel inserts: Similar to the annual Topps flagship sets, Updates now feature popular inserted parallel and autograph chase subsets like Refractors, Negative Refractors, Gold cards and more to add to the thrill of the package.
Some notable recent Topps Update rookies and highlights include:
2021: Randy Arozarena’s breakout postseason led to his rookie card, as did Bobby Witt Jr.’s call-up. Shane Bieber won the NL Cy Young Award.
2020: Fernando Tatis Jr. continued emerging as a superstar and NL MVP candidate midway through his first full season.
2019: Then-Rookie of the Year Pete Alonso slugged his way onto the scene and into Update history with his debut card alongside other first-year standouts.
2018: Impact rookies like Juan Soto, Ronald Acuña Jr., Gleyber Torres and Shohei Ohtani headlined that year’s Update class in their rookie campaigns.
2017: Cody Bellinger broke out as an All-Star and future MVP during an epic rookie season recognized in Topps Update.
2016: Corey Seager, Gary Sánchez and Trevor Story each exploded onto the scene as Future Stars in their first Topps Update cards.
While Topps Series 1 and Series 2 remain the true “flagship” releases that start collectors’ builders each year, the Topps Update set satisfies fans’ hunger to keep up with the latest on-field performances, roster moves and rookie results each summer. Few categories excite the baseball card collecting community more than the arrival of the latest Topps Update cards each season. After multiple decades of tradition, Topps Update endures as one of the most fun and anticipated mid-year releases in the hobby.
