2020 Topps Series 1 Baseball Variations Short Prints Guide, Gallery and All You Need Share:



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







