2016 Topps The Mint Baseball Checklist and Details
2016 Topps The Mint Baseball jumps deeper into the high-end waters. Mixing elements of Tribute, Tier One and a few other things to make it stand on its own, it’s one of the company’s most expensive baseball releases to date.
Each box comes with five cards, all of which are serial numbered and have on-card autographs signed in metallic ink.
On a per-card basis, 2016 Topps The Mint Baseball won’t quite reach the levels of Dynasty but it’s approaching the same territory. Don’t be surprised if you find boxes come out of the gate in the $900 range.
Autographs
Autographs come in a few different forms. There’s a dark look throughout the product, likely, in part to help showcase the metallic colors used for the signatures. It’s also something that Topps hasn’t done much of in baseball on a widespread scale outside of inserts.
Franchise Autographs highlight some of the top current players in the game.
Gem 10 Autographs feature players that Topps signed deals with more recently. If the original sell sheet holds true, this means an expansion of the Bull Durham autographs in 2016 Topps Archives. The sales material pictures actor Tim Robbins on a Nuke LaLoosh card.
Rookies are represented in Arrivals Autographs while retired legends are the focus of Golden Engravings.
All four of these autograph inserts have Green (/10) and Red (1/1) parallels. All but Golden Engravings also have Blue versions that are numbered to 50.
Select cards in 2016 Topps The Mint Baseball also have limited edition autograph cards with image variations.
Autographed Memorabilia
Similar to 2015 Topps Strata Baseball, all autographed memorabilia cards in 2016 Topps The Mint Baseball have game-used pieces that come with direct MLB authentication. This means that cards have a serial-numbered sticker where you can look up exactly what game it came from.
Authenticated Patch Autographs have a similar layout to Topps Dynasty. Besides basic numbered versions, they have Green (/10) and Red (1/1) parallels.
Franklin Batting Glove book cards are highlighted by a jumbo piece of a game-used batting glove. Topps and MLB worked directly with Franklin to develop the cards. These are the only cards in 2016 Topps The Mint Baseball that aren’t signed. However, they’re also inserted as a bonus sixth card in random boxes in addition to the promised five autographs.
Topps is pledging to have a strong checklist for the product. That said no official list of names has been released to show both who is on it and how deep it is.
2016 Topps The Mint Baseball at a glance:
Packs per box: 1
Cards per pack: 5
Boxes per case: 4
Release date: August 17, 2016
What to expect in a hobby box:
- Autographs – 5
2016 Topps The Mint Checklist
Jump directly to:
• Autographs
• Memorabilia Cards
Autographs
Arrivals Autographs
12 cards.
Parallels:
• Blue – /50
• Green – /10
• Red – 1/1
AA-AN Aaron Nola, Philadelphia Phillies
AA-BP Byung-Ho Park, Minnesota Twins
AA-CS Corey Seager, Los Angeles Dodgers
AA-HOW Henry Owens, Boston Red Sox
AA-JG Jon Gray, Colorado Rockies
AA-JU Julio Urias, Los Angeles Dodgers
AA-KM Kenta Maeda, Los Angeles Dodgers
AA-KS Kyle Schwarber, Chicago Cubs
AA-LG Lucas Giolito, Washington Nationals
AA-LS Luis Severino, New York Yankees
AA-MS Miguel Sano, Minnesota Twins
AA-SP Stephen Piscotty, St. Louis Cardinals
Authenticated Patch Autographs
10 cards.
Parallels:
• Green – /10
• Red – 1/1
APA-AM Andrew Miller, New York Yankees
APA-DL DJ LeMahieu, Colorado Rockies
APA-DO David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox
APA-EL Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays
APA-I Ichiro, Miami Marlins
APA-JM J.D. Martinez, Detroit Tigers
APA-JS James Shields, San Diego Padres
APA-LS Luis Severino, New York Yankees
APA-MS Miguel Sano, Minnesota Twins
APA-MT Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels
Franchise Autographs
29 cards.
Parallels:
• Blue – /50
• Green – /10
• Red – 1/1
FA-AJ Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles
FA-APO A.J. Pollock, Arizona Diamondbacks
FA-APU Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels
FA-AR Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs
FA-BH Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals
FA-BP Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants
FA-CC Carlos Correa, Houston Astros
FA-CH Cole Hamels, Texas Rangers
FA-CK Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers
FA-CS Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox
FA-DK Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros
FA-DO David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox
FA-DP Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox
FA-DW David Wright, New York Mets
FA-EE Edwin Encarnacion, Toronto Blue Jays
FA-EL Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays
FA-FF Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves
FA-FL Francisco Lindor, Cleveland Indians
FA-I Ichiro, Miami Marlins
FA-JA Jose Altuve, Houston Astros
FA-JD Jacob deGrom, New York Mets
FA-JH Jason Heyward, Chicago Cubs
FA-KB Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs
FA-MM Manny Machado, Baltimore Orioles
FA-MTR Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels
FA-NA Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies
FA-RB Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers
FA-SM Starling Marte, Pittsburgh Pirates
FA-YC Yoenis Cespedes, New York Mets
Gem 10 Autographs
9 cards.
Parallels:
• Blue – /50
• Green – /10
• Red – 1/1
G10A-AG Andres Galarraga, Montréal Expos
G10A-AR Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees
G10A-JA Jake Arrieta, Chicago Cubs
G10A-JV Jason Varitek, Boston Red Sox
G10A-NL Tim Robbins/Nuke LaLoosh, Atlanta Braves
G10A-OV Omar Vizquel, Cleveland Indians
G10A-PK Paul Konerko, Chicago White Sox
G10A-RB Sylvester Stallone/Rocky Balboa
G10A-VS Vin Scully
Golden Engravings Autographs
29 cards.
Parallels:
• Green – /10
• Red – 1/1
GEA-AD Andre Dawson, Montréal Expos
GEA-AK Al Kaline, Detroit Tigers
GEA-BL Barry Larkin, Cincinnati Reds
GEA-CB Craig Biggio, Houston Astros
GEA-CF Carlton Fisk, Boston Red Sox
GEA-CR Cal Ripken Jr., Baltimore Orioles
GEA-DE Dennis Eckersley, Oakland Athletics
GEA-FT Frank Thomas, Chicago White Sox
GEA-GM Greg Maddux, Atlanta Braves
GEA-HA Hank Aaron, Atlanta Braves
GEA-JB Johnny Bench, Cincinnati Reds
GEA-JR Jim Rice, Boston Red Sox
GEA-JS John Smoltz, Atlanta Braves
GEA-KG Ken Griffey Jr., Seattle Mariners
GEA-LB Lou Brock, St. Louis Cardinals
GEA-MP Mike Piazza, New York Mets
GEA-NR Nolan Ryan, Texas Rangers
GEA-OC Orlando Cepeda, San Francisco Giants
GEA-OS Ozzie Smith, St. Louis Cardinals
GEA-PM Paul Molitor, Milwaukee Brewers
GEA-RA Roberto Alomar, Cleveland Indians
GEA-RC Rod Carew, Minnesota Twins
GEA-RF Rollie Fingers, Oakland Athletics
GEA-RJA Reggie Jackson, New York Yankees
GEA-RJO Randy Johnson, Arizona Diamondbacks
GEA-RY Robin Yount, Milwaukee Brewers
GEA-SC Steve Carlton, Philadelphia Phillies
GEA-SK Sandy Koufax, Los Angeles Dodgers
GEA-WB Wade Boggs, Boston Red Sox
Image Variation Autographs
10 cards.
AA-CS Corey Seager, Los Angeles Dodgers
AA-KS Kyle Schwarber, Chicago Cubs
AA-LS Luis Severino, New York Yankees
FA-CC Carlos Correa, Houston Astros
FA-I Ichiro, Miami Marlins
FA-KB Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs
FA-MTR Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels
GEA-CB Craig Biggio, Houston Astros
GEA-CR Cal Ripken Jr., Baltimore Orioles
GEA-GM Greg Maddux, Atlanta Braves
Memorabilia Cards
Franklin Batting Glove Book Cards
22 cards.
FBGBR-AEL A.J. Ellis, Los Angeles Dodgers
FBGBR-CU Chase Utley, Los Angeles Dodgers
FBGBR-DL DJ LeMahieu, Colorado Rockies
FBGBR-DM Daniel Murphy, Washington Nationals
FBGBR-DP Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox
FBGBR-EE Edwin Encarnacion, Toronto Blue Jays
FBGBR-HP Hunter Pence, San Francisco Giants
FBGBR-JL Jonathan Lucroy, Milwaukee Brewers
FBGBR-JR Josh Reddick, Oakland Athletics
FBGBR-JS Jean Segura, Arizona Diamondbacks
FBGBR-JU Justin Upton, Detroit Tigers
FBGBR-JV Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds
FBGBR-JW Jayson Werth, Washington Nationals
FBGBR-MC Melky Cabrera, Chicago White Sox
FBGBR-MCA Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers
FBGBR-MM Mike Moustakas, Kansas City Royals
FBGBR-MS Miguel Sano, Minnesota Twins
FBGBR-RB Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers
FBGBR-SM Starling Marte, Pittsburgh Pirates
FBGBR-SP Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals
FBGBR-YM Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals
FBGBR-ZC Zack Cozart, Cincinnati Reds
Iconic Jersey Relics
2 cards.
IJR-AJ Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles
IJR-DVO David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox
Comments? Questions? Contact Ryan Cracknell on Twitter @tradercracks.
I like the hard signed autos and memorabilia that has some providence more than “trust us”.
That said, at a base cost of close to $200/card I can’t see many cracking it. Part of the fun of
cracking is getting a card worth more than you can pay for it at a show or ebay. With these cards,
I just don’t see it happening.
The rookie debut cards are not going to be considered rookies and most of the veterans are available
at far less than $200. I think the bull durham card will be popular, but still ….
Looks nice, but to pricey
So, this is Topps’ 9th ultra-high-end product? It’s officially gotten out of hand. The design is almost identical to Dynasty. They’re beating a very dead, very expensive horse.
Someone must enjoy opening stuff like this, otherwise they wouldn’t make it, but your average collector is never going to see these.
Topps has forgotten who their customers are.
Variations in a $900/box product. It sounds like Topps is scared of competition – or just odd.
If anyone pulls a Canseco out of this, as always, please hit me up! tanmanbaseballfan@gmail.com :)
Dynasty Series 2? No thanks.
Topps Dynasty Baseball has quickly pointed out that High-End baseball done right can be tremendously successful. I could not find 2015 Topps Dynasty sealed boxes for less than $470 per box for ONE CARD.
While not every card in the 5-card box will excite collectors, overall the checklist is strong with some big winners. 2016 Topps The Mint Baseball for an average $180 per card (5 Autographs at $900 per box) could be a bargain. We will soon find out.
I see these high end products as a cash grab.
It’s like they get the revenue for produce a case, but only have to pay to make the “hits”.
Certainly there will be some winners, there always is, but I see it as temporary. For how long will that Mike Trout auto sell for more than his bowman platinum auto prospect card, assuming it even does at the start?
On the bright side, most of the names are at least people I’ve heard of. On the down side, I’ve seen most of these names before on low numbered on card autographs selling for under $50, and in some cases under $10.
If you pull a Trout, Ichiro, Kris Bryant 1/1 you will be very happy .
But even HOF players like Lou Brock, Dennis Eckersley and Rod Carew are just going to pay for slightly more than that average cost while Paul Kornerko (solid career, not a chance at the hall) is not going to do so.
What Topps forgets is that the “hits” were once the cream and that you could at least put together a base set and speculate a bit on the rookies and dream.
These products kill the hobby long term because it makes some collectors turn up their noses at the lower end product even as they can’t afford the higher end.
I’m not saying there is no room for high end products, but they are just making too many of them for the long term health of the hobby.
This product is just sad. how many different high end products are they going to come out with. these cards are no different than lower end cards. total ripoff.
this is the worst topps has done!!! to many scrubs coming out of a case!!!i have seen cases that you would be lucky to get back $1000 resale!!!! in every case should be at least a trout, ichiro, hank aaron, koufax,bryant etc!!! topps has cost me big money!!!