2017 Topps Update Series Variations Bring Back Retired Legends, Rookies and All-Stars — See Them All
Yes, 2017 Topps Update Series variations exist. Actually, there are a lot of them. And if you’re looking for info on how to spot the SP and SSP cards, you’ll find a ton of information here.
The 2017 Topps Update Series variation short prints include some familiar faces. Although rookies and All-Stars get the make up the majority of the massive checklist, retired legends are once again part of the SP mix once again.
This comes on the heels of the 2017 Topps Series 2 Baseball variations, which also had stars from the past. The theme was a popular one for short prints several years ago, but were gone for several years.
These cards have a retired superstar or hobby favorite appear on the same spot on the checklist as a current player from the same franchise.
All-Star and rookie image variations are also among the short prints. These 2017 Topps Update Series variations are more traditional photo swaps.
Several numbers have multiple variations as well. And then there’s Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger who have multiple cards in the 2017 Topps Update including appearances in All-Star and Rookie Debut subsets. That means a handful of variations for the same player on different parts of the checklist.
New Series 1 and Series 2 Variations
As you’re checking the numbers, you may notice 2017 Topps Update Series variations without the “US” prefix on the number. That’s because new variations exist for already-released cards in the main 2017 Topps Baseball set (pre-Update). For example, Kris has a variation in Update for card #1. The regular base card and a different variation are found in 2017 Topps Series 1.
The new Series 1 and Series 2 variations are limited to current players and rookies.
All told, there are 35 new 2017 Topps Baseball variations for Series 1 and Series 2 cards.
2017 Topps Update Series Baseball Variations – SP vs. SSP
2017 Topps Update Series variations come in two tiers. Most are fairly easy to pull and shouldn’t be too hard to come by, even after the initial rush settles.
Twenty-five rookie have SSP versions that are much more scarce. These are roughly a hobby case hit.
The two tiers can be identified in the fine print with the codes described below.
Using Codes to Confirm 2017 Topps Update Variations
Yes, you can use the code on the back of the card to confirm whether you have a 2017 Topps Update Series variation. To do this look in the fine print at the bottom. You’ll see a card at the end.
Regular base cards end in 17. Variations end in 57. SSP variations, which are the tougher pulls (about one per case), end in 04.
These codes are not supposed to be used by collectors as they’re part of the production process. Not all products use them the same. However, in instances like this, they are a handy back-up confirmation tool.
2017 Topps Update Series Variations Checklist
The following is a complete 2017 Topps Update Series variations checklist. First are cards in 2017 Topps Update followed by new variations for Series 1 and Series 2. Cards noted with SSP are the tougher variations (code ends with 04 on the back).
The detailed gallery that shows exactly what to look for follows.
Looking to buy 2017 Topps Update variations? Click on the links to see what’s listed on eBay for specific cards.
US9 George Springer
US10 Ernie Banks
US10 Ian Happ
US10 Ian Happ SSP
US10 Ryne Sandberg
US18 Mookie Betts
US18 Ted Williams
US22 Hunter Renfroe
US25 Christian Arroyo
US25 Christian Arroyo SSP
US27 Nolan Arenado
US33 Bo Jackson
US33 Salvador Perez
US38 Cody Bellinger
US41 Mitch Haniger
US42 Eddie Murray
US43 Johnny Bench
US43 Joey Votto
US47 Yadier Molina
US47 Ozzie Smith
US50 Cody Bellinger
US50 Cody Bellinger SSP
US50 Jackie Robinson
US77 George Brett
US87 Roger Clemens
US87 Chris Sale
US90 Derek Fisher
US90 Derek Fisher SSP
US91 Jordan Montgomery
US91 Jordan Montgomery SSP
US96 Brett Phillips
US99 Reggie Jackson
US99 Aaron Judge SSP
US110 Corey Seager
US112 Ryan Zimmerman
US121 Daniel Murphy
US136 Roberto Clemente
US141 Bryce Harper
US150 Alex Bregman SSP
US152 Robinson Cano
US152 Ken Griffey Jr.
US156 Yu Darvish – Dodgers
US156 Yu Darvish – Rangers
US156 Nolan Ryan
US162 Greg Maddux
US162 Sean Newcomb
US162 Sean Newcomb SSP
US166 Aaron Judge
US166 Babe Ruth
US168 Michael Conforto
US168 Mike Piazza
US175 Jose Altuve
US182 John Smoltz
US200 Yoan Moncada
US200 Yoan Moncada SSP
US205 Barry Larkin
US223 Clayton Kershaw
US223 Sandy Koufax
US225 Andrew Benintendi
US225 Andrew Benintendi SSP
US226 Lewis Brinson
US226 Lewis Brinson SSP
US227 Trey Mancini
US227 Cal Ripken Jr.
US232 Marcell Ozuna
US234 Francisco Lindor
US236 Derek Jeter
US237 Buster Posey
US240 Jacob Faria
US245 Mark McGwire
US247 Hank Aaron
US247 Dansby Swanson SSP
US248 Chipper Jones
US259 Lou Gehrig
US260 Carlos Correa
US261 Max Scherzer
US269 Craig Kimbrel
US269 Pedro Martinez
US270 Don Mattingly
US270 Gary Sanchez
US271 Jesse Winker
US275 Bradley Zimmer
US275 Bradley Zimmer SSP
US277 Paul Goldschmidt
US279 Franklin Barreto
US279 Franklin Barreto SSP
US279 Rickey Henderson
US288 Miguel Sano
US292 Brooks Robinson
US296 Giancarlo Stanton
Series 1 and 2
1 Kris Bryant
20 Mike Trout
30 Josh Bell
30 Josh Bell SSP
53 Ryon Healy
53 Ryon Healy SSP
87 Dansby Swanson
150 Miguel Cabrera
234 Luke Weaver
234 Luke Weaver SSP
244 Freddie Freeman
255 Orlando Arcia
255 Orlando Arcia SSP
283 Andrew Benintendi
287 Aaron Judge
299 Yulieski Gurriel
299 Yulieski Gurriel SSP
306 David Dahl
306 David Dahl SSP
335 Jeff Hoffman SSP
341 Alex Bregman
349 Tyler Glasnow
381 Hunter Renfroe SSP
401 Manny Margot
401 Manny Margot SSP
433 Mitch Haniger
500 Anthony Rizzo
536 Trey Mancini SSP
539 Amir Garrett
555 Noah Syndergaard
570 Josh Donaldson
600 Yoenis Cespedes
603 Eric Thames
645 Trea Turner
649 Manny Machado
Update Series Variations
2017 Topps Update Series Variations Gallery
US9 George Springer, Houston Astros
US10 Ernie Banks, Chicago Cubs
US10 Ian Happ, Chicago Cubs
US10 Ian Happ, Chicago Cubs SSP
US10 Ryne Sandberg, Chicago Cubs
US18 Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox
US18 Ted Williams, Boston Red Sox
US22 Hunter Renfroe, San Diego Padres
US25 Christian Arroyo, San Francisco Giants
US25 Christian Arroyo, San Francisco Giants SSP
US27 Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies
US33 Bo Jackson, Kansas City Royals
US33 Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals
US38 Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles Dodgers
US41 Mitch Haniger, Seattle Mariners SSP
US42 Eddie Murray, Baltimore Orioles
US43 Johnny Bench, Cincinnati Reds
US43 Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds
US47 Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals
US47 Ozzie Smith, St. Louis Cardinals
US50 Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles Dodgers
US50 Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles Dodgers SSP
US50 Jackie Robinson, Brooklyn Dodgers
US77 George Brett, Kansas City Royals
US87 Roger Clemens, Boston Red Sox
US87 Chris Sale, Boston Red Sox
US90 Derek Fisher, Houston Astros
US90 Derek Fisher, Houston Astros SSP
US91 Jordan Montgomery, New York Yankees
US91 Jordan Montgomery, New York Yankees SSP
US96 Brett Phillips, Milwaukee Brewers
US99 Reggie Jackson, New York Yankees
US99 Aaron Judge, New York Yankees SSP
US110 Corey Seager, Los Angeles Dodgers
US112 Ryan Zimmerman, Washington Nationals
US121 Daniel Murphy, Washington Nationals
US136 Roberto Clemente, Pittsburgh Pirates
US141 Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals
US150 Alex Bregman, Houston Astros SSP
US152 Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners
US152 Ken Griffey Jr., Seattle Mariners
US156 Yu Darvish, Los Angeles Dodgers
US156 Yu Darvish, Texas Rangers
US156 Nolan Ryan, Texas Rangers
US162 Greg Maddux, Atlanta Braves
US162 Sean Newcomb, Atlanta Braves
US162 Sean Newcomb, Atlanta Braves SSP
US166 Aaron Judge, New York Yankees
US166 Babe Ruth, New York Yankees
US168 Michael Conforto, New York Mets
US168 Mike Piazza, New York Mets
US175 Jose Altuve, Houston Astros
US182 John Smoltz, Atlanta Braves
US200 Yoan Moncada, Chicago White Sox
US200 Yoan Moncada, Chicago White Sox SSP
US205 Barry Larkin, Cincinnati Reds
US223 Clayton Kerhsaw, Los Angeles Dodgers
US223 Sandy Koufax, Los Angeles Dodgers
US225 Andrew Benintendi, Boston Red Sox
US225 Andrew Benintendi, Boston Red Sox SSP
US226 Lewis Brinson, Milwaukee Brewers
US226 Lewis Brinson, Milwaukee Brewers SSP
US227 Trey Mancini, Baltimore Orioles
US227 Cal Ripken Jr., Baltimore Orioles
US232 Marcell Ozuna, Miami Marlins
US234 Francisco Lindor, Cleveland Indians
US236 Derek Jeter, New York Yankees
US237 Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants
US240 Jacob Faria, Tampa Bay Rays
US245 Mark McGwire, Oakland Athletics
US247 Hank Aaron, Milwaukee Braves
US247 Dansby Swanson, Atlanta Braves SSP
US248 Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves
US259 Lou Gehrig, New York Yankees
US260 Carlos Correa, Houston Astros
US261 Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals
US269 Craig Kimbrel, Boston Red Sox
US269 Pedro Martinez, Boston Red Sox
US270 Don Mattingly, New York Yankees
US270 Gary Sanchez, New York Yankees
US271 Jesse Winker, Cincinnati Reds
US275 Bradley Zimmer, Cleveland Indians
US275 Bradley Zimmer, Cleveland Indians SSP
US277 Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks
US279 Franlin Barreto, Oakland Athletics
US279 Franklin Barreto, Oakland Athletics SSP
US279 Rickey Henderson, Oakland Athletics
US288 Miguel Sano, Minnesota Twins
US292 Brooks Robinson, Baltimore Orioles
US296 Giancarlo Stanton
Series 1 and 2 Update Variations
2017 Topps Update Series Variations – Series 1 and 2 Cards
The following are variations found in 2017 Topps Update Series packs for base cards originally found in Series 1 and Series 2. Besides the new images, these cards don’t have the “US” prefix with the number.
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1 Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs
20 Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels
30 Josh Bell, Pittsburgh Pirates
30 Josh Bell, Pittsburgh Pirates SSP
53 Ryon Healy, Oakland Athletics
53 Ryon Healy, Oakland Athletics SSP
87 Dansby Swanson, Atlanta Braves
150 Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers
234 Luke Weaver, St. Louis Cardinals
234 Luke Weaver, St. Louis Cardinals SSP
244 Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves
255 Orlando Arcia, Milwaukee Brewers
255 Orlando Arcia, Milwaukke Brewers SSP
283 Andrew Benintendi, Boston Red Sox
287 Aaron Judge, New York Yankees
299 Yulieski Gurriel, Houston Astros
299 Yulieski Gurriel, Houston Astros SSP
306 David Dahl, Colorado Rockies
306 David Dahl, Colorado Rockies SSP
335 Jeff Hoffman, Colorado Rockies
341 Alex Bregman, Houston Astros
349 Tyler Glasnow, Pittsburgh Pirates
381 Hunter Renfroe, San Diego Padres SSP
401 Manny Margot, San Diego Pades
401 Manny Margot, San Diego Padres SSP
433 Mitch Haniger, Seattle Mariners
500 Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs
536 Trey Mancini, Baltimore Orioles SSP
539 Amir Garret, Cincinnati Reds
555 Noah Syndergaard, New York Mets
New variation for Series 2 card. Has Series 2 variation as well.
570 Josh Donaldson, Toronto Blue Jays
New variation for Series 2 card. Has Series 2 variation as well.
600 Yoenis Cespedes, New York Mets
New variation for Series 2 card. Has Series 2 variation as well.
603 Eric Thames, Milwaukee Brewers
645 Trea Turner, Washington Nationals
649 Manny Machado, Baltimore Orioles
Comments? Questions? Contact Ryan Cracknell on Twitter @tradercracks or by email.
Card number US 18 has Ted Williams fishing!!
Just opened a hobby case of Jumbo, and a ton of retail for 2017 Topps Update. These variations are such a cluster —-. Some don’t have the US, some have the US but say either 1st Series or 2nd Series, others just say US and the number. Why do they have to put all this extra BS in the set. I would rather get all the Update SP’s out of Update instead of the 27 SP’s I did get from other series. Its frustrating especially since I don’t collect 1st & 2nd series SP’s. I buy a factory set of Topps every year and call it a day. But the Update Series you have to put it together, there are no factory Update sets. It just feels like Topps threw a bunch of extra BS in this series for no good reason…
Opened a hobby box and received 9 cards stamped as certified autograph, but none of them were signed. Wrote to Topps, they said they were error printings and not eligible to receive autographs. Does anyone know more about these cards. Am seeing some on ebay for $50.00 They are all coded as SP cards, have the autograph stamp front and back. Their photos match the SP variations shown in your guide. ie one was O Smith, another Jeter, a third was the rookie Winker but with the SP image.
@Stu — Looks like they are printing errors. Definitely out there.
Update has cards that appear to be foil matching that of the base card what are they considered. Also I have an Altuva, Judge, and Balenger with the fish hook logo on the card what may this be considered.
@Clay — Those sound like parallels. Here’s a guide for what they are (article was done for Series 1 but applies to much of Update): http://www.beckett.com/news/2017-topps-baseball-parallels/
Bought case of hobby looking for acetate cards , so far no luck, but didpull one in 6 previous I bought. WHY ALL THE THE COMPLAINTS AT LEAST THEIR CERTAINLY A GOOD VALUE.