2017 Topps New Era Baseball Combines Cards and Caps

2017 Topps New Era Baseball marks the second consecutive year that the card and hat makers have teamed up to make a small set of cards. However, the partnership has expanded to also include some special edition MLB caps that bring in Topps elements.

2017 Topps New Era Baseball Cards

The card component is available exclusively at MLB ballparks. Those who buy a New Era cap and a mini team set at the stadium retail locations receive a pack of 2017 Topps New Era Baseball cards. Each pack has eight cards.

A few components make up the collection. The main 2017 Topps New Era checklist has 32 cards. All 30 teams are represented with the Cubs and Red Sox getting two players each. The design of the set is almost identical to 2017 Topps Baseball, however the images and numbers are different.

Card backs also have the New Era logo at the bottom.

Also included are 1987 Topps Baseball inserts. These highlight 18 retired players. The images and design are the same as the similar inserts found in 2017 Topps Baseball.

But the cards aren’t exactly the same. The 2017 Topps New Era 1987 Topps Baseball cards have different cards numbers. That said, they do not have the New Era logo to help make spotting these versions at a glance.

You can use the fine print to identify which set they come from, though. The code for 2017 Topps New Era 1987 Topps cards ends with 380. Flagship 2017 Topps 1987 Topps inserts end in 661 (Series 1) and 595 (Series 2).

Cap Relics are also randomly inserted. Numbered to 99, these have pieces of player-worn 59FIFTY caps embedded in them. The checklist highlights select New Era ambassadors like Bryce Harper, Corey Seager, Buster Posey and Josh Donaldson.

In addition to the base versions, which are inserted 1:217 packs, there are three parrallels: Team Logo Patch (1:7,137), New Era Logo Patch (1:21,409), and MLB Logo Patch (1:21,409).

New Era 2017 Topps Cap Collection

The partnership between Topps and New Era goes beyond the set of promo cards. The two companies have partnered for a pair of special edition cap designs that look to the past and present of the flagship line.

The first design is a nod back to 1987 Topps Baseball. Its trademark wood grain border are on display on the visor. This is done through a special applique.

Other 1987 tributes on these caps include the team logos and the Topps tagline, “The Real One” embroidered on the back. The Topps logo is embroidered on the side.

2017 Topps Chrome Baseball is the inspiration for the second series of caps. These have a metallic-looking sublimation print of the 2017 Topps corner design on the brim. Team logos are done in something called LiquidChrome, which gives them a metal look and feel.

Both the New Era MLB 1987 Topps 9FIFTY and New Era MLB 2017 Topps 9FIFTY caps are snapbacks, meaning the sizes are adjustable.

Caps are available in several places including MLB ballparks, select retail shops, and on the Topps, New Era, Lids and MLB online shops. The cost of each cap is $34.

2017 Topps New Era Baseball at a glance:

Cards per pack: 8
Set size: 32 cards
Release date: August 12, 2017

2017 Topps New Era Baseball Checklist