The 2019 Topps Series 2 Baseball variations continue with the flagship tradition of offering up a mix of SP and SSP cards that look an awful lot like regular base cards but are tougher to find. As has been the case for years, these cards carry the same design as the main base set but feature different images.
This means some additional digging and card checking to make sure one of the variation short prints don’t make their way into a box of doubles or tossed aside.
Some are easy to see, even at the smallest glance. That’s because many of the 2019 Topps Series 2 Baseball variations are retired legends and Hall of Famers. Besides offering up some big names from generations past, many of the image are fun candid shots that immediately stand out.
As for the veterans and rookies, their variations in 2019 Topps Series 2 might require a little more looking. However, we’ve made it easy for you.
2019 Topps Series 2 Baseball Variations – SP and SSP
Like Series 1, 2019 Topps Series 2 Baseball variations come in two levels, Short Print (SP) and Super Short Print (SSP). These refer primarily to the production runs with SSP being a lot harder to pull.
SP Variations are 1:20 hobby and 1:5 hobby jumbo packs. That makes them relatively easy to pull compared to other inserts in the set. Hobby boxes should have at least one. In hobby jumbos, they average out to two per box.
Contrast that with the 2019 Topps Series 2 SSP Variations, which are 1:589 hobby and 1:123 hobby jumbo packs.
The 2019 Topps Series 2 variations total 100 different cards, 75 SP and 25 SSP.
The Curious Case of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Missing Number
The 2019 Topps Series Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is a bit of a curious card. On the checklist Topps put out, it was noted as a variation for #700.
But there’s something noticeably missing from the final card. It has no card number on the back.
Whether you consider it a base card or a variation, based on early reports, it doesn’t sound as though it’s overly rare. It is noticeably tougher than other base cards but not by a lot. Seeing as how it’s Series 2 and the print runs are on the large side compared to most other releases, finding one shouldn’t be an issue. It definitely shouldn’t be like the 2012 Bryce Harper #661.
Confirming 2019 Topps Series 2 Baseball Variations with Back Codes
It’s not the most glamorous way to look for SP and SSP cards, but card backs do hold an easy key to confirming them. Like Series 1 and a lot of other Topps sets in the past few years, there’s a code at the end of the fine print on the back. It’s meant for production purposes but collectors can use them for variations as the code ending changes for different card types. For the purposes of variations, here are the codes you need to know:
- Base – 962
- SP Variations – 031
- SSP Variations – 032
It’s worth noting that the Vladimir Guerrero Jr. card has the 962 code.
2019 Topps Series 2 Baseball Variations Checklist
If you’re looking for a specific card, click on the links to see what’s currently listed on eBay. SSP variations are noted. A full gallery of variations and their corresponding base cards follow.
353 Gary Sanchez
356 Stephen Strasburg
359 Noah Syndergaard
370 Lou Brock
372 Yu Darvish
373 Carlton Fisk
374 Joe Morgan
377 Roberto Alomar
380 Chris Archer
381 Darryl Strawberry
385 Dale Murphy
387 Warren Spahn – SSP
390 Evan Longoria
395 Andrew McCutchen
396 Masahiro Tanaka
397 Lance McCullers Jr.
400 Bryce Harper
400 Bryce Harper – SSP
402 Victor Robles
412 Clint Frazier
428 Will Clark
431 Willie Stargell
436 Edgar Martinez
437 Johnny Mize – SSP
437 Albert Pujols
440 Dustin Pedroia
442 Reese McGuire
445 Walker Buehler
448 Willians Astudillo
460 Ernie Banks – SSP
460 Trevor Story
473 Kyle Wright
477 Al Kaline – SSP
485 Wil Myers
486 Whitey Ford – SSP
486 CC Sabathia
488 Ken Griffey Jr.
500 Manny Machado
500 Manny Machado – SSP
501 Bob Feller – SSP
503 Roger Maris – SSP
503 Marcell Ozuna
505 Mariano Rivera
507 Cody Bellinger
507 Pee Wee Reese – SSP
514 Tony Gwynn
515 Hyun-Jin Ryu
518 Roger Clemens
525 Ryne Sandberg
529 Frank Robinson
540 Cole Hamels
542 Eddie Murray
545 Jeff Bagwell
551 Rogers Hornsby -SSP
556 Rowdy Tellez
561 Ozzie Albies
564 Austin Meadows
564 Mel Ott – SSP
565 Catfish Hunter
568 Harmon Killebrew – SSP
568 Giancarlo Stanton
572 Gerrit Cole
573 Johnny Bench
574 Christy Mathewson – SSP
579 Andrew Benintendi
579 Tris Speaker – SSP
587 Chipper Jones
590 Barry Larkin
591 Gary Carter
594 Monte Irvin – SSP
596 Anthony Rizzo
596 Anthony Rizzo – SSP
618 Nick Martini
622 Honus Wagner – SSP
623 Stan Musial – SSP
624 Amed Rosario
629 Myles Straw
631 Rod Carew
632 Yusei Kikuchi
632 Yusei Kikuchi – SSP
643 Chris Sale
646 Andre Dawson
653 Dave Winfield
655 Tyler O’Neill
658 Max Muncy
661 Zack Greinke
665 Duke Snider – SSP
672 Christin Stewart
675 Vladimir Guerrero Sr.
676 Eddie Mathews – SSP
676 Robin Yount
679 Dizzy Dean – SSP
680 Willie McCovey – SSP
680 Justin Smoak
690 George Brett
692 Dennis Eckersley
694 David Ortiz
699 Felix Hernandez
700 Alex Bregman
700 Alex Bregman – SSP
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
2019 Topps Series 2 Baseball Variations Gallery
Image gaps and new cards will be added ASAP.
353 Gary Sanchez, New York Yankees
356 Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals
359 Noah Syndergaard, New York Mets
370 Lou Brock, St. Louis Cardinals
372 Yu Darvish, Chicago Cubs
373 Carlton Fisk, Boston Red Sox
374 Joe Morgan, Cincinnati Reds
377 Roberto Alomar, Toronto Blue Jays
380 Chris Archer, Pittsburgh Pirates
381 Darryl Strawberry, New York Mets
385 Dale Murphy, Atlanta Braves
387 Warren Spahn, Milwaukee Braves
390 Evan Longoria, San Francisco Giants
395 Andrew McCutchen, Philadelphia Phillies
396 Masahiro Tanaka, New York Yankees
397 Lance McCullers Jr., Houston Astros
400 Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies
402 Victor Robles, Washington Nationals
412 Clint Frazier, New York Yankees
428 Will Clark, San Francisco Giants
431 Willie Stargell, Pittsburgh Pirates
436 Edgar Martinez, Seattle Mariners
437 Johnny Mize, St. Louis Cardinals
437 Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels
440 Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox
442 Reese McGuire, Toronto Blue Jays
445 Walker Buehler, Los Angeles Dodgers
448 Willians Astudillo, Minnesota Twins
460 Ernie Banks, Chicago Cubs
460 Trevor Story, Colorado Rockies
473 Kyle Wright, Atlanta Braves
477 Al Kaline, Detroit Tigers
485 Wil Myers, San Diego Padres
486 CC Sabathia, New York Yankees
486 CC Sabathia, New York Yankees
488 Ken Griffey Jr., Seattle Mariners
500 Manny Machado, San Diego Padres
501 Bob Feller, Cleveland Indians
503 Roger Maris, New York Yankees – SSP
503 Marcell Ozuna, St. Louis Cardinals
505 Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees
507 Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles Dodgers
507 Pee Wee Reese, Brooklyn Dodgers
514 Tony Gwynn, San Diego Padres
515 Hyun-Jin Ryu, Los Angeles Dodgers
518 Roger Clemens, Boston Red Sox
525 Ryne Sandberg, Chicago Cubs
529 Frank Robinson, Baltimore Orioles
540 Cole Hamels, Chicago Cubs
542 Eddie Murray, Baltimore Orioles
545 Jeff Bagwell, Houston Astros
551 Rogers Hornsby, St. Louis Cardinals – SSP
556 Rowdy Tellez, Toronto Blue Jays
561 Ozzie Albies, Atlanta Braves
564 Austin Meadows, Tampa Bay Rays
564 Mel Ott, New York Giants
565 Catfish Hunter, Oakland Athletics
568 Harmon Killebrew, Minnesota Twins
568 Giancarlo Stanton, New York Yankees
572 Gerrit Cole, Houston Astros
573 Johnny Bench, Cincinnati Reds
574 Christy Mathewson, New York Giants
579 Andrew Benintendi, Boston Red Sox
579 Tris Speaker, Boston Red Sox – SSP
587 Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves
590 Barry Larkin, Cincinnati Reds
591 Gary Carter, New York Mets
594 Monte Irvin, New York Giants
596 Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs
618 Nick Martini, Oakland Athletics
622 Honus Wagner, Pittsburgh Pirates
623 Stan Musial, St. Louis Cardinals – SSP
624 Amed Rosario, New York Mets
629 Myles Straw, Houston Astros
631 Rod Carew, California Angels
632 Yusei Kikuchi, Seattle Mariners
643 Chris Sale, Boston Red Sox
646 Andre Dawson, Chicago Cubs
653 Dave Winfield, New York Yankees
655 Tyler O’Neill, St. Louis Cardinals
658 Max Muncy, Los Angeles Dodgers
661 Zack Greinke, Arizona Diamondbacks
665 Duke Snider, Brooklyn Dodgers
672 Christin Stewart, Detroit Tigers
675 Vladimir Guerrero, Montreal Expos
676 Eddie Mathews, Milwaukee Braves – SSP
676 Robin Yount, Milwaukee Brewers
679 Dizzy Dean, St. Louis Cardinals
680 Willie McCovey, San Francisco Giants – SSP
680 Justin Smoak, Toronto Blue Jays
690 George Brett, Kansas City Royals
692 Dennis Eckersley, Oakland Athletics
694 David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox
699 Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
700 Alex Bregman, Houston Astros
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays
We pulled an Al Kaline tonight and I see it listed as a SSP. I already packaged it up before looking at the number. You can see it here.
https://twitter.com/AiabCard/status/1138651809789108224
I’m trying to figure out exactly how hard it is to pull the Vladimir Guerrero Jr base card. I understand it’s harder to pull than the base cards. Is it easier or harder to pull this card than the other SP cards in this set? Or about the same as an SP?
@Chuck – They look to be a little tough but not as tough as the SP variations.
Where can we find a checklist for the sketch cards. Pulled a beautiful Aaron Judge out of this product yesterday. Can’t find any info on it … or how rare they are .. and can’t read the artists name on the back.
@Jdh – Odds are listed on our checklist here: https://www.beckett.com/news/2018-topps-series-2-baseball-cards/ Topps hasn’t released a list of artists.
I have two base cards with the same code on the back for Adalberto Mejia #383. One looks like normal base as all the others. The odd one is ALL silver/chrome almost like a printer would UV coat a post card. I also have one for Travis Jankowski #581 the same way. Any ideas ?
@Vince – They sound like rainbow foil parallels.
Are there 2 different variations of the Vlad Guerrero # “700-Complete Set” rookie variation cards in every complete factory set? Also, there is no #60 Kyle Tucker #60 “Complete Set” variation card as stated on the checklist on the bottom of the box.
@David – All of the retail factory sets have both versions. Here’s a look at all the factory set Rookie Variations: https://www.beckett.com/news/2019-topps-baseball-factory-set-rookie-variations-guide/
Having finally pulled the NNO or # “701” Vlad Jr., I made the mistake of doing some thinking. Would it and any of the SP’s or SSP’s have the parallels that the regular cards do? In other words, are there Rainbow Foil or Vintage Stock or similar Vlad Jr RC’s out there in the wild?
@Brandon – It has no parallels in packs. There are a couple of variations that are in factory sets.
I have a Bryce Harper Topps 400. (21/99). It is glossy on the front but not the back. Error??
@Stanley – It’s a vintage parallel.
So what would 033 be? I have a CMP033710 certified autograph Willson Contreras, and a CMP032058 certified autograph (2 players) Ichiro & Shohei Ohtani.
@Joshua – Your best bet to identify those is with the main checklist found here: https://www.beckett.com/news/2018-topps-series-2-baseball-cards/
If you use the regular card number, it should pop up pretty quick.
I have a Topps series 2 Keone #516 but next to that # there’s a raised number 0594/2019. What is that number for? Just getting back into the hobby and all these variations are confusing.
@Tony – It’s a Gold parallel. The /2019 is the serial number. Yours is copy 594 out of 2019 total copies.