The 2020 Topps Series 1 Baseball variations bring together several familiar elements. You’ve got players having fun with fans at the ballpark, additional action shots, celebrations and some legends making cameos. There’s even Max Scherzer taking a cut wearing the baby blues of the Montreal Expos.

As the exact details start to emerge, collectors can expect a large lineup of both SP and SSP variations.

2020 Topps Series 1 Baseball Variations: SP Vs. SSP

Variation short prints come in two levels in 2020 Topps Series 1 Baseball.

SP Variations are the more common of the two. But even they’re pretty tough this year, landing 1:43 hobby packs and 1:13 hobby jumbo. Retail odds include 1:43 blaster packs and 1:9 hanger boxes.

The 2020 Topps Series 1 SSP Variations are rare. Most of these, but not all, use close-up portraits. That said, there are some SP that take this approach as well so it’s not a full-on theme. And the difference is a big one. These are 1:1,272 hobby and 1:387 hobby jumbo packs. Retail blaster packs have SSPs 1:1,274 packs. Hanger boxes are 1:267.

It’s worth noting that the Gerrit Cole variation (#68) appears to be more common than other SP Variations. It also has slightly different card stock.

Of Polar Bears, Reverse Negatives and Other Oddities

Outside of the regular SSP cards, but still very tough, is a Pete Alonso “Polar Bear” variation. It also has a different code on the back. Odds and print run info for the Alonso are not known.

There’s also a Mike Trout reverse negative “error.”

In a callback to the 2007 Topps Derek Jeter, there’s an extremely rare Aaron Judge variation that has Babe Ruth sitting in the stands.

And similar to the Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in 2019 Topps Series 2, MLB Commissioner, Rob Manfred, gets the no-number treatment.

These all have a different production code on the back confirming a third tier of variations.

How to Spot and Confirm 2020 Topps Series 1 Baseball Variations with Codes

The most obvious way to tell whether you have a variation is with the image on the front. However, it’s not the only way.

Remembering dozens of different photos isn’t the easiest thing, especially over the long-term. Thankfully, the codes in the fine print on the back offer a cheat sheet of sorts. As has been the case for several years, if you look to the very end at the CMP Code, this switch up depending on the card type. It’s a production thing not meant for the collector, but it works.

When it comes to 2020 Topps Series 1 variations, these are the code endings to know:

• Base – 269
• SP Variation – 284
• SSP Variation – 285
• Aaron Judge “Babe Ruth,” Mike Trout “Reverse Negative,” Pete Alonso “Polar Bear”, Rob Manfred – 578

2020 Topps Series 1 Baseball Variations Checklist

Here’s a quick look at the cards that have variations. There’s still lots more to come in the days ahead as Topps did not put out a checklist for these. If you’re looking for a specific card, click on the links to see what’s currently available on eBay.

1 Mike Trout – SP | SSP
7 Aaron Judge – SP | SSP
8 Cal Ripken Jr. – SSP
13 Stan Musial – SSP
14 Anthony Rendon – SP
20 Aristides Aquino – SP | SSP
35 George Brett – SP
46 Gary Sanchez – SP
47 Chipper Jones – SP
49 Eloy Jimenez – SP
50 Cody Bellinger – SP | SSP
51 Anthony Rizzo – SP
52 Mike Piazza – SP
55 Ozzie Smith – SP
60 Roger Clemens – SP
64 Kyle Lewis – SP
68 Gerrit Cole – SP
69 Brendan McKay – SP | SSP
70 Nico Hoerner – SP
78 Bo Bichette – SP | SSP
94 Brooks Robinson – SP
100 Alex Bregman – SP | SSP

110 Jesus Luzardo – SP
111 Buster Posey – SP
117 Max Kepler – SP
118 Clayton Kershaw – SP
119 Kyle Schwarber – SP
120 Sandy Koufax – SSP
121 Lou Gehrig – SSP
124 Randy Johnson – SP
125 Shohei Ohtani – SP
127 Matt Chapman – SP
129 Jackie Robinson – SSP
138 Ty Cobb – SSP
140 Trevor Bauer – SP
145 Paul Goldschmidt – SP
149 Robin Yount – SP
150 Ronald Acuna Jr. – SP | SSP
156 Hank Aaron – SSP
161 Mariano Rivera – SP
168 Fernando Tatis Jr. – SP | SSP
170 Roberto Clemente – SSP
173 Yadier Molina – SP
175 Frank Thomas – SP
179 Ramon Laureano – SP
180 Max Scherzer – SP
182 Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – SP | SSP
183 Vladimir Guerrero – SP
186 Johnny Bench – SP
188 Manny Machado – SP
192 Ichiro – SP
196 Ted Williams – SSP
200 Christian Yelich – SP | SSP

201 Franciso Lindor – SP
206 Reggie Jackson – SP
219 Honus Wagner – SP
224 Juan Soto – SP
230 Nolan Arenado – SP
235 Dustin May – SP
248 Tony Gwynn – SP
250 Bryce Harper – SP | SSP
252 Roger Maris – SP
253 Ernie Banks – SP
260 Nolan Ryan – SP
267 Joey Votto – SP
269 J.D. Martinez – SP
271 Josh Bell – SP
276 Yordan Alvarez – SP | SSP
279 Masahiro Tanaka – SP
289 Mark McGwire – SP
292 Gavin Lux – SP | SSP
296 Whit Merrifield – SP
299 Pedro Martinez – SP
300 Javier Baez – SP | SSP

303 Ken Griffey Jr. – SSP
306 Ryne Sandberg – SP
309 Rickey Henderson – SP
314 Rafael Devers – SP
317 Sean Murphy – SP
330 George Springer – SP
332 Jacob deGrom – SP
334 Willie Mays – SSP
335 Don Mattingly – SP
335 Babe Ruth – SSP
341 Frank Robinson – SP
345 Justin Verlander – SP
349 Carlos Correa – SP
350 Pete Alonso – SP | SSP
No# Rob Manfred – SSP

2020 Topps Series 1 Baseball Variations Gallery

More to come as they’re confirmed.

1 Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels

7 Aaron Judge, New York Yankees

8 Cal Ripken Jr., Baltimore Orioles

13 Stan Musial, St. Louis Cardinals

14 Anthony Rendon, Washington Nationals

20 Aristides Aquino, Cincinnati Reds

35 George Brett, Kansas City Royals

46 Gary Sanchez, New York Yankees

47 Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves

49 Eloy Jimenez, Chicago White Sox

50 Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles Dodgers

51 Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs

52 Mike Piazza, New York Mets

55 Ozzie Smith, St. Louis Cardinals

60 Roger Clemens, Boston Red Sox

64 Kyle Lewis, Seattle Mariners

68 Gerrit Cole, New York Yankees

69 Brendan McKay, Tampa Bay Rays

70 Nico Hoerner, Chicago Cubs

78 Bo Bichette, Toronto Blue Jays

94 Brooks Robinson, Baltimore Orioles

100 Alex Bregman, Houston Astros

110 Jesus Luzardo, Oakland Athletics

111 Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants

117 Max Kepler, Minnesota Twins

118 Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers

119 Kyle Schwarber, Chicago Cubs

120 Sandy Koufax, Los Angeles Dodgers

121 Lou Gehrig, New York Yankees

124 Randy Johnson, Seattle Mariners

125 Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels

127 Matt Chapman, Oakland Athletics

129 Jackie Robinson, Brooklyn Dodgers

138 Ty Cobb, Detroit Tigers

140 Trevor Bauer, Cincinnati Reds

145 Paul Goldschmidt, St. Louis Cardinals

149 Robin Yount, Milwaukee Brewers

150 Ronald Acuna Jr., Atlanta Braves

156 Hank Aaron, Atlanta Braves

161 Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees

168 Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres

170 Roberto Clemente, Pittsburgh Pirates

173 Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals

175 Frank Thomas, Chicago White Sox

179 Ramon Laureano, Oakland Athletics

180 Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals

182 Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays

183 Vladimir Guerrero, Montreal Expos

186 Johnny Bench, Cincinnati Reds

188 Manny Machado, San Diego Padres

192 Ichiro, Seattle Mariners

196 Ted Williams, Boston Red Sox

200 Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers

201 Francisco Lindor, Cleveland Indians

206 Reggie Jackson, New York Yankees

219 Honus Wagner, Pittsburgh Pirates

224 Juan Soto, Washington Nationals

230 Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies

235 Dustin May, Los Angeles Dodgers

248 Tony Gwynn, San Diego Padres

250 Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies

252 Roger Maris, New York Yankees

253 Ernie Banks, Chicago Cubs

260 Nolan Ryan, Houston Astros

267 Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds

269 J.D. Martinez, Boston Red Sox

271 Josh Bell, Pittsburgh Pirates

276 Yordan Alvarez, Houston Astros

279 Masahiro Tanaka, New York Yankees

289 Mark McGwire, Oakland Athletics

292 Gavin Lux, Los Angeles Dodgers

296 Whit Merrifield, Kansas City Royals

299 Pedro Martinez, Boston Red Sox

300 Javier Baez, Chicago Cubs

303 Ken Griffey Jr., Seattle Mariners

306 Ryne Sandberg, Chicago Cubs

309 Rickey Henderson, Oakland Athletics

314 Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox

317 Sean Murphy, Oakland Athletics

330 George Springer, Houston Astros

332 Jacob deGrom, New York Mets

334 Willie Mays, San Francisco Giants

335 Don Mattingly, New York Yankees

335 Babe Ruth, New York Yankees

341 Frank Robinson, Baltimore Orioles

345 Justin Verlander, Houston Astros

349 Carlos Correa, Houston Astros

350 Pete Alonso, New York Mets

Rob Manfred, MLB Commissioner