Top 10 Photos in the 2016 Topps Series 1 Baseball Base Set

By Ryan Cracknell | Hobby Editor

2016 Topps Baseball is the closest the brand has even seen to a full-bleed design. Save for the small corner nameplate and the smoke effects coming out of two of the other corners, it’s all up to the pictures.

No pressure.

When you’ve got 350 cards, not every one of the images is going to be special to the average person. That said, 2016 Topps Series 1 Baseball has plenty of shots that go beyond ordinary. Here are ten of the best.

The picks are limited to the main 350-card base set. No inserts were considered. Nor were the variations. The SSP cards in particular have some fantastic images that could easily make this list.

10 Best 2016 Topps Series 1 Baseball Photos

10. Martin Maldanado #313

Poses similar to this take up a big portion of most every baseball set. The only difference there is that it’s usually pitchers going through the motions. There’s something about Maldonado and his gear that catches the eye. The combination of color, form and framing take something mundane and make it great.

9. Josh Harrison #41

Harrison might be calling his shot like a modern day Babe Ruth. Or it could just be some gesture. But between Harrison, his expression, body language and the crowd behind him, there’s plenty of energy. And the lighting just screams of summer baseball.

8. Mike Trout #1

Mike Trout being Mike Trout. And, yes, the ball did land in his glove moments after the shot was taken.

7. Bryce Harper #100

Just another casual day at the office for the 2015 National League MVP. Sure, a little more expression on his face would have made things more interesting but the eye black and hair make up for it. It also shows a side that’s all Harper.

6. Curtis Granderson #312

Yup, someone got robbed. But this isn’t just any old home run-saving catch. This is one of those great cards that tracks a big moment. It game in Game 2 of the NLCS with the Mets taking on the Cubs. You don’t see him on the card, but the ball was hit off the bat of Chris Coghlan in the second inning. What looked like a home run became an out and New York went on to win the game 4-1.

5. Buster Posey #300

This shot has grown on me. One of the early mock-ups Topps used to advertise the set, it was out for a long time before 2016 Topps Series 1 was released. Plenty of stories could be happening here, but nothing too major. It’s not a particularly edgy photo either. But what makes it so strong for the card is that it perfectly fits the design. The smoke effect might as well be some cloud of dust at the plate. It’s one that just works.

4. New Order – Carlos Gomez, Carlos Correa, Jose Altuve #170

Baseball is about so much more than nine innings. It’s the fun at the park. It’s hanging out with friends. When you’re playing there can be lots of pressure. But when it’s practice, you get to have lots of fun. And that’s what we have here — three players chilling, talking about who knows what. It’s a sunny summer day, a sprinkling of fans are starting to show up and a small part of the Astros core are having the best kind of team meeting.

3. Juan Lagares #236

It’s not very often that a photo can actually convey impact. This one does. And while he made the catch, Lagares’ face makes him look DOA (especially if you tilt your head 90 degrees).

2. Minnesota Twins #181

Who doesn’t love a good celebration — especially one involving Dubble Bubble showers? Although this is a great shot of Kennys Vargas and the Twins, it makes for an even better baseball card. It’s framed perfectly. Take it to a Grade 5 math class and have them count all the sets of parallel lines. It’s just a beautiful baseball card.

1. Jose Bautista #96

Is the 2016 Topps Jose Bautista a perfect baseball card? That’s a matter of preference, but to me it’s pretty close. I look at sports cards as a form of storytelling. How do they connect me to a moment? I might be Canadian but I’m not a Blue Jays fan. That said, they’re run in 2015 was fun to watch for just about everyone except maybe those cheering for the Texas Rangers. And Jose Bautista’s postseason heroics were unforgettable. The bat flip captured on this card is an image that’s going to be ingrained in Toronto Blue Jays history forever.

And as far as a story goes, it’s all here. Bautista’s swagger and the perfectly framed bat are at the forefront. But the crowd is also a big part of the moment. It’s like Where’s Waldo when it comes to a fan looking at Bautista. Their attention is in the outfield and the soaring ball.

If there were a traditional border, I’m not sure this image would have nearly the impact that it does here. And even though it’s the start of the year, it’s going to be tough to beat this as the baseball card of 2016, at least from a strictly visual standpoint.

Comments? Questions? Contact Ryan Cracknell on Twitter @tradercracks.