Honoring 150 years of professional baseball, 2019 Topps Series 1 Baseball kicks off the MLB collecting season with a design refresh that taps more into the earlier framed looks, but with a modern flair.
Like many prior years, including 2018, formats again include Hobby with one autograph or relic in each box, and Hobby Jumbo, which has two relics and one autograph per box.
However, the standard Hobby format sees an overhaul that takes it from 36 packs at 10 cards per pack in 2018, to 24 packs at 14 cards per pack in 2019. Jumbo also has a decrease in pack size but the format is the same otherwise.
2019 Topps Series 1 Baseball Base
The standard flagship base set of 350 cards showcases top veterans, rookies and teams. There are also subsets for Future Stars, League Leaders and World Series Highlights.
The 2019 Topps Series 1 Baseball base parallels remain true to past releases, with Rainbow Foil (1:10 packs), Gold (#/2,019), Vintage Stock (#/99), Independence Day(#/76), Black (#/67 – Hobby/Jumbo only), Mother’s Day Pink (#/50), Father’s Day Blue(#/50), Memorial Day Camo (#/25), Platinum (1/1) and Printing Plates (1/1).
Additional choices include the all-new 150th Anniversary (1:6 packs) logo edition for the full lineup, plus Hobby-only Clear for just 100 base subjects in the 2019 Topps Series 1 Baseball checklist.
As is normally the case, the SP/SSP Variation cards are back with different images for multiple players
2019 Topps Series 1 Baseball Inserts
Celebrating the past, highlighting the current stars, and looking ahead, the insert selection in 2019 Topps Series 1 is plentiful and features many new options. Evolution focuses on the many changes in the game over the years, such as equipment, logos, stadiums and uniforms. Showcasing a modern star alongside a retired legend, Greatness Returns identifies standouts across multiple eras. Moving past the field of play, Revolution of the Game is for the game-changing subjects who weren’t players.
Just as 2018 paid tribute to the 1983 design, 2019 brings a special insert for 1984 Topps Baseball with an added 35th-anniversary logo for the ’84 set.
Tying into the sesquicentennial celebration, the 150 Years of Professional Baseball line offers 50 of the Greatest Players, 50 of the Greatest Moments, and an assortment of the Greatest Seasons during the last century and a half.
For retail formats, there are a few exclusive options. That includes the past and present stars from the Arizona-based Cactus League Legends (Display/Gravity Feed) and Florida-based Grapefruit League Greats (Blaster) inserts.
All inserts above add 150th Anniversary (#/150), Red (#/10) and Platinum (1/1) parallels.
One additional option is the Iconic Card Reprints set that revisits classics cards from Topps’ history. These, too, have a 150th Anniversary (#/150) parallel.
2019 Topps Series 1 Baseball Autographs
Although the hits are spread out, 2019 Topps Series 1 Baseball has quite a few lines to track down, especially autographs.
Acting as the main signed set, the 1984 Topps Baseball Autograph insert brings the ’84 design back into focus for its 35th anniversary. Parallels consist of 150th Anniversary(#/150), Gold (#/50 or less), Red (#/25 or less – Hobby only) and Platinum (1/1 – Hobby/Jumbo only).
New to 2019 Topps Series 1 Baseball, the Legacy of Baseball Autographs insert is not limited to one period of the game, instead highlighting stars from throughout the entire run. Parallels include 150th Anniversary (#/150), Gold (#/50 or less), Red (#/25 or less) and Platinum (1/1). Capped at only five copies, the Legacy of Baseball Dual Autographs set finds player connections among multiple decades.
Concentrating on the 2018 playoffs, all the Postseason Performance Autograph and World Series Champion Autograph cards are numbered to 50 or less, adding Red (#/25 or less) and Platinum (1/1) parallels.
There are also Cut Signatures (1/1), Greatest Moments Autographs (#/25 or less), Greatest Players Autographs (#/25 or less), Greatest Seasons Autographs (#/25 or less), Iconic Card Reprints Autographs (#/25 or less), and Revolution of the Game Autographs (#/199 or less).
Exclusive retail choices include Cactus League Legends Autographs (#/10 or less) and Florida-based Grapefruit League Greats Autographs (#/10 or less).
2019 Topps Series 1 Baseball Autograph Relics
But that’s not all to be found in the 2019 Topps Series 1 Baseball checklist. Each numbered to 50 or less, signed memorabilia choices include Major League Material Autograph, Postseason Performance Autograph Relic and World Series Champion Autograph Relic. All three feature Red (#/25 or less) and Platinum (1/1) parallels, as well.
Supplying a dose of high-end MLB collecting to the flagship release, Topps Reverence Autograph Patch cards, numbered to 10 copies, return with on-card signatures and quality memorabilia pieces. These signed inserts, along with the Red (#/5) and Platinum(1/1) parallels, are exclusive to Hobby/Jumbo boxes.
The manufactured-relic Retro Hat Logo Patch Autograph (#/10) and 150th Anniversary Medallion Autograph (#/10) cards are also Hobby/Jumbo exclusives, while the 150th Anniversary Commemorative Patch Autograph (#/10) cards come only in Blaster boxes.
2019 Topps Series 1 Baseball Relics / Sketch
Offering many of the 2019 Topps Series 1 Baseball themes in an all-memorabilia form, relics help close out the flagship set. Choices include 1984 Topps Baseball Relicand Major League Material, each with 150th Anniversary (#/150), Gold (#/50), Red(#/25) and Platinum (1/1 – Hobby/Jumbo only) parallels.
Providing more rarity are the Postseason Performance Relic (#/99) and World Series Champion Relic (#/99) cards. These only have Red (#/25) and Platinum (1/1) versions.
Joining the one-of-one In the Name Relics featuring All-Star Game workout jersey letters, the new Historic Homes Relic set honors legendary ballparks.
Only in the Hobby and Jumbo formats, the manufactured duo for 2019 includes commemorative Retro Hat Logo Patch and 150th Anniversary Medallion relics.
The 150th Anniversary Commemorative Patch cards come only in relic Blaster boxes. All the manufactured relics work with 150th Anniversary (#/150), Gold (#/50), Red (#/25) and Platinum (1/1) parallels.
Finally, totaling over 100 options, one-of-one Sketch cards are exclusive to Hobby boxes.
2019 Topps Series 1 Baseball Silver Packs Promo
Of course, 2019 Topps Series 1 Baseball manages to squeeze a little more in via the 2019 Topps Baseball Silver Packs promotion. Applying foilboard to the 1984 design, these exclusive cards are an incentive to order Hobby flagship boxes. Collectors are awarded one pack for every Hobby box and two packs for each Jumbo. Packs also include random parallels and autographs.
2019 Topps Series 1 Baseball Flagship Design
Walking the line between retro designs of the past and the current styles featured over the last few years, the base set in the 2019 Topps Series 1 Baseball checklist is showcased with a partial frame rounded off in the corner. These border frame colors mirror the team in question. Outside of this is the faint, pixel-like background that gives the design a little more character.
The border is also the place used to indicate parallel versions as the exterior portions take on the color fill.
Naturally, the rich history of the flagship Topps Baseball product line has resulted in many different designs over the year. Get a snapshot of the entire run with our year-by-year Topps flagship gallery from 1951 to 2019.
Do you have any thoughts on the new design? Let us know in the comments.
Release Date: January 30, 2019
Hobby Configuration: 14 cards per pack, 24 packs per box, 12 boxes per case
HTA Jumbo Configuration: 46 cards per pack, 10 packs per box, 6 boxes per case
2019 Topps Series 1 Baseball Hobby Box Break
- 1 Autograph or Relic Card
2019 Topps Series 1 Baseball Hobby Jumbo Box Break
- 1 Autograph Card
- 2 Relic Cards