2021 Topps Series 2 Baseball Variations Guide
Of course there are 2021 Topps Series 2 Baseball variations. Lots of them.
For starters, there are both Short Print (SP) and Super Short Print (SSP) Variations. This means multiple levels of rarity.
Something that’s definitely not a shock is the return of retired legends to the variations lineup. These are consistently some of the most popular each year.
For 2021 Topps Series 2, it also means the return of Mickey Mantle to the Topps flagship for the first time since 2012. Both his SP and SSP Variations have #52 on the back, but it’s definitely from Series 2. It even notes as such under the card number.
Mantle also has a third Ultra Short Print Variation (SSSP). If the photo looks familiar, it’s because it’s the one that was used for his 1952 Topps card.
Mantle isn’t alone with the Ultra Short Prints. Some key 2021 rookies have reverse negative SSSP cards. For these, the images are flipped and things look backwards when you look closely.
Current players are also part of the 2021 Topps Series 2 variations lineup. There’s no unifying theme, although there are many taken during candid moments and before games. Many of the rookie variations are fairly standard in their photo choices and don’t necessarily jump out right away as being anything different.
How Tough Are SP and SSP Cards to Pull?
Curious as to how rare variations are? It might take a bit to gather odds for all pack types, but here’s what we know at this point (odds are per pack):
SP Variations
- Hobby – 1:40
- Hobby Jumbo – 1:12
- Hanger Boxes (Retail) – 1:9
- Blaster Boxes (Retail) – 1:40
SSP Variations
- Hobby – 1:1,187
- Hobby Jumbo – 1:362
- Hanger Boxes (Retail) – 1:248
- Blaster Boxes (Retail) – 1:1,187
Odds for Ultra Short Print Variations are not known.
Confirmation Codes for 2021 Topps Series 2 Baseball Variations
Yes, card backs once again offer another way of confirming SP and SSP cards. Like many other Topps sets, including Series 1, you can use the CMP code at the end of the fine print to identify different types of cards. Card numbers and the main checklist are usually the easiest route, but for variations that look like base, this is sometimes the best option. It’s also a quick way to double check and make sure.
The CMP code endings you’ll want to note for telling base cards from variations are:
- Base – 423
- Short Print (SP) – 441
- Super Short Print (SSP) – 442
- Ultra Short Print – 443
These codes are not really meant for collectors. They’re part of the production process. But once collectors figured out they offer a clue, they’ve been a popular route in short print identification. It might not be as fun as photos, but it works.
2021 Topps Series 2 Baseball Variations Checklist
Here’s a quick 2021 Topps Series 2 Baseball variations checklist so you can quickly see who to be looking for. If you’re looking for a specific card, click on the links to see what’s currently on eBay.
52 Mickey Mantle – SP | SSP | Ultra
331 Jose Abreu – SP
336 Ty Cobb – SP
346 Cal Ripken Jr. – SP | SSP
347 Jackie Robinson – SP | SSP
351 D.J. LeMahieu – SP
357 Yu Darvish – SP
360 Jose Ramirez – SP
362 Garrett Crochet – SP | SSP
366 Randy Johnson – SP
371 Jake Cronenworth – SP | SSP
374 Jose Garcia – SP
381 Luis Campusano – SP
388 Greg Maddux – SP
390 William Contreras – SP
391 Dean Kremer – SP
398 Ha-Seong Kim – SP | SSP
400 Stephen Strasburg – SP
404 Brailyn Marquez – SP | SSP
406 Estevan Florial – SP | SSP
408 Shane McClanahan – SP
412 Roberto Clemente – SP | SSP
413 Alex Kirilloff – SP | SSP | Ultra
417 Lewin Diaz – SP
429 Don Mattingly – SP
431 Alec Bohm – Ultra
431 Andrew McCutchen – SP | SSP
432 Jose Altuve – SP
441 Daz Cameron – SP
449 Babe Ruth – SP | SSP
450 Corey Seager – SP
456 Clarke Schmidt – SP | SSP
466 Walker Buehler – SP
468 Wade Boggs – SP
472 Hank Aaron – SP
475 Trevor Story – SP
476 Xander Bogaerts – SP
489 Francisco Lindor – SP | SSP
491 Ted Williams – SP | SSP
500 Ozzie Albies – SP
502 Honus Wagner – SP
506 Ken Griffey Jr. – SP | SSP
509 Reggie Jackson – SP
510 Adonis Medina – SP
517 Michael Conforto – SP
520 Frank Thomas – SP
521 Keston Hiura – SP
523 Shane Bieber – SP
525 Lou Gehrig – SP | SSP
528 Jonathan Stiever – SP
537 Aaron Nola – SP
538 Jazz Chisholm – SP | SSP
549 Marcus Stroman – SP
550 Jo Adell – Ultra
550 Anthony Rendon | SP
551 Alejandro Kirk – SP
552 Ryan Jeffers – SP
561 Derek Jeter – SP | SSP
563 Trevor Rogers – SP
566 Dylan Carlson – Ultra
566 Stan Musial – SP | SSP
567 Nolan Ryan – SP
568 Carl Yastrzemski – SP
573 Eddie Murray – SP
577 Mariano Rivera – SP
580 Johnny Bench – SP
609 Chris Sale – SP
611 J.T. Realmuto – SP
613 Rickey Henderson – SP | SSP
616 Willie Mays – SP | SSP
622 Rafael Marchan – SP
633 George Springer – SP
635 Tanner Houck – SP
641 Chipper Jones – SP
642 Giancarlo Stanton – SP | SSP
644 Ke’Bryan Hayes – SP | SSP | Ultra
650 Trevor Bauer – SP
654 Sam Huff – SP | SSP
660 Kris Bryant – SP | SSP
2021 Topps Series 2 Baseball Variations Gallery
SP = Short Print, SSP = Super Short Print
52 Mickey Mantle, New York Yankees
Note Series 2 on reverse.
331 Jose Abreu, Chicago White Sox
336 Ty Cobb, Detroit Tigers
346 Cal Ripken Jr., Baltimore Orioles
347 Jackie Robinson, Brooklyn Dodgers
350 D.J. LeMahieu, New York Yankees
357 Yu Darvish, San Diego Padres
360 Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Indians
362 Garrett Crochet, Chicago White Sox
366 Randy Johnson, Seattle Mariners
371 Jake Cronenworth, San Diego Padres
374 Jose Garcia, Cincinnati Reds
381 Luis Campusano, San Diego Padres
388 Greg Maddux, Atlanta Braves
390 William Contreras, Atlanta Braves
391 Dean Kremer, Baltimore Orioles
398 Ha-Seong Kim, San Diego Padres
400 Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals
404 Brailyn Marquez, Chicago Cubs
406 Estevan Florial, New York Yankees
408 Shane McLanahan, Tampa Bay Rays
412 Roberto Clemente, Pittsburgh Pirates
413 Alex Kirilloff, Minnesota Twins
417 Lewin Diaz, Miami Marlins
429 Don Mattingly, New York Yankees
431 Alec Bohm, Philadelphia Phillies
431 Andrew McCutchen, Philadelphia Phillies
432 Jose Altuve, Houston Astros
441 Daz Cameron, Detroit Tigers
449 Babe Ruth, New York Yankees
450 Corey Seager, Los Angeles Dodgers
456 Clarke Schmidt, New York Yankees
466 Walker Buehler, Los Angeles Dodgers
468 Wade Boggs, Boston Red Sox
472 Hank Aaron, Atlanta Braves
475 Trevor Story, Colorado Rockies
476 Xander Bogaerts, Boston Red Sox
489 Francisco Lindor, New York Mets
491 Ted Williams, Boston Red Sox
500 Ozzie Albies, Atlanta Braves
502 Honus Wagner, Pittsburgh Pirates
506 Ken Griffey Jr., Seattle Mariners
509 Reggie Jackson, Oakland Athletics
510 Adonis Medina, Philadelphia Phillies
517 Michael Conforto, New York Mets
520 Frank Thomas, Chicago White Sox
521 Keston Hiura, Milwaukee Brewers
523 Shane Bieber, Cleveland Indians
525 Lou Gehrig, New York Yankees
528 Jonathan Stiever, Chicago White Sox
537 Aaron Nola, Philadelphia Phillies
538 Jazz Chisholm, Miami Marlins
549 Marcus Stroman, New York Mets
550 Jo Adell, Los Angeles Angels
550 Anthony Rendon, Los Angeles Angels
551 Alejandro Kirk, Toronto Blue Jays
552 Ryan Jeffers, Minnesota Twins
561 Derek Jeter, New York Yankees
563 Trevor Rogers, Miami Marlins
566 Dylan Carlson, St. Louis Cardinals
566 Stan Musial, St. Louis Cardinals
567 Nolan Ryan, Texas Rangers
568 Carl Yastrzemski, Boston Red Sox
573 Eddie Murray, Baltimore Orioles
577 Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees
580 Johnny Bench, Cincinnati Reds
609 Chris Sale, Boston Red Sox
611 J.T. Realmuto, Philadelphia Phillies
613 Rickey Henderson, Oakland Athletics
616 Willie Mays, San Francisco Giants
622 Rafael Marchan, Philadelphia Phillies
633 George Springer, Toronto Blue Jays
635 Tanner Houck, Boston Red Sox
641 Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves
642 Giancarlo Stanton, New York Yankees
644 Ke’Bryan Hayes, Pittsburgh Pirates
650 Trevor Bauer, Los Angeles Dodgers
654 Sam Huff, Texas Rangers
660 Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs
Don Mattingly (429) is also SP
Ozzie Albies (500) is a SP
I pulled the Cronenworth SP the other day
412 SP is Roberto Clemente
There’s a #52 Mantle SSP in series 2.
I pulled the Babe Ruth and the Cal Ripken Jr SP in back to back hangers today. Pretty cool!
I just pulled a 442 SSP Jeter #561 (portrait), may need to update your listing.
There is also a SSP of #525 Lou Gehrig
SSSPs exist in series 2. Saw an Adell code 443. It’s a reverse image of him batting left handed.. card number 550 which is Anthony Rendon’s base card number.
i pulled a kris bryant ssp.
what does code 444 represent?
@Dennie – I believe it’s used for Advanced Stat parallels.
20 ssp cards and with the new addition of Stanton, 6 of them are yankees. And 10 sp cards and the mantle ultra sssp card. Not fair to the yankee collector, topps is making it impossible to do master yankee sets.
Glad I’ve stepped away from trying to complete a Yankees master collection. The amount of cards devoted to the Yankees has gotten out of hand. I think of the money I’ve spent over the years chasing a copy of each, and what I could do with the money if I had it back. As I unload my cards to better homes, I can look at the prices and just smile knowing Topps is no longer receiving any of my money. @Richard Shea, best of luck chasing that Mantle USP. I know you have other competition from like-minded collectors. Take solace knowing you don’t have to compete against me anymore, which should (??) keep prices a little lower.
Alec Bohm #277 has an SSSP card in Series 2 that is a reverse negative of the Series 1 base card.
I came across a Alex Kiriloff SSP last night, which is a horizontal carding featuring a close up head shot. Kiriloff is wearing sunglasses in the photo. It’s a very cool card!
I pulled a Willie Mays 616 ssp glasses flipped up awesome card for sure
Sure would be nice to have some actual production # ‘ s for all of these supposedly short printed versions . Just another type of manipulation from the Topps Company to get the card card collectors to buy more and more and more …………………….
@James – They do have the odds printed on the wrappers for all but the Ultra. One could do the math and compare it to other cards that are serial numbered to get in the ballpark.
what are cards 473 & 445? Anything rare or special
@Jeffrey – The checklist is here: https://www.beckett.com/news/2021-topps-series-2-baseball-cards/
And now a 7th ssp yankee card, 525 gehrig has emerged.
I pulled a Topps Chrome TH65-10, Rafael Devers black parallel 04/25 but I can’t find anything on it. Everything I see limited to 25 states Orange Parallel but this is clearly a solid black border. Any ideas?
@Joe – I’m not sure what product you’re referring to. Is it #TC65-10? That would be a 1965 Redux Chrome insert from 2021 Topps Series 2. It looks like the Black parallels for those are numbered to 25. The checklist is here: https://www.beckett.com/news/2021-topps-series-2-baseball-cards/
Topps is truly playing the market. Pick a player and cap on his short print for the collector, but remember that is the market set by the seller. Topps 2021 not a good year for the “Card”. Sp’s seems to be the best efforts for collectors for this year also with small lettering on the players name and bad design. Just my thought.
Does anyone know anything about a black parallel Topps Chrome limited to 25, I pulled # 04/25. Everything I can find limited to 25 says orange parallel?
I’ve got a RC 50/99 of Taylor Widener the TOPPS logo is different at the top left. The t is lower case and underlined oops… Like a smiley face! Can anybody tell me why and what this means.
@JASON – It’s a Vintage parallel. It’s on the checklist here: https://www.beckett.com/news/2021-topps-series-2-baseball-cards/
Anyone notice that there are different color card backs on these? I have come across a few where the color on the back is more like a blue hue. Most are like a grey.
It’s likely a matter of ink levels, one color likely starting to run a little low.
Yes I’m definitely holding out my blue hue back cards