2018 Topps Series 2 Baseball Variation Short Prints: The Ultimate Guide
The 2018 Topps Series 2 Baseball variations are taking a similar path to Series 1. First off, there’s lots of them. Secondly, they come in multiple tiers. That means SP and SSP variations.
But the 2018 Topps Series 2 variation short prints are doing something different as well — they have retired legends. And a couple of high-profile rookies get their first flagship cards, as well.
Warm-up gear is another theme for the Series 2 SP variations. Many of the cards in Series 1 went in the same direction. The more rare 2018 Topps Series 2 SSP Variations use more expressive photos for the most part.
The 2018 Topps Series 2 Baseball variations checklist has 102 total cards including SP and SSP. This is pretty much the same as Series 1. SP cards total 75 cards to go along with 25 scarce SSP cards.
On top of these are two late additions to the 2018 Topps Series 2 checklist, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Gleyber Torres. While they do have flagship cards, they’re variations, sharing a checklist spot with another player. This is similar to the situation with Shohei Ohtani in 2018 Topps Heritage Baseball where he is one of the Action Variations. Because the cards are variations, they’re essentially inserts. Many will treat them as Rookie Cards, however because of their insert standing, the 2018 Topps Series 2 Torres and Acuña variations will not have the RC tag in the Beckett database.
Exact odds on the two Rookie Variations isn’t known but it appears they’re about one per case.
For a handful of cards, the number of the variation doesn’t match the base card. For example, Corey Seager is #550 in the main set. His variations are #556, overlapping with Andrew Benintendi. The impacted cards are noted in the gallery.
These Cards Are Not Variation Short Prints
The 2018 Topps Series 2 base set has a couple mix ups with its numbering. Cards 364 and 565 do not exist. Instead, both Mallex Smith and a Dodgers Combo Card share #365. Joey Rickard and the New York Mets Team Card are both #564.
It may seem like these point to variation short prints. They’re not.
How Hard Are 2018 Topps Series 2 Variations to Find?
Some of the variations won’t be too difficult to find, at least in the first while after the product releases. Regular SP cards are 1:30 2018 Topps Series 2 hobby packs and 1:6 hobby jumbo packs (retail odds are not yet known). That makes them about one or two per box. Even with the large checklist, these shouldn’t be too terribly hard to find, particularly if you’re just looking for one or two of a favorite player.
2018 Topps Series 2 SSP cards are much tougher, falling 1:886 hobby packs and 1:177 hobby jumbo packs. At the case level, that’s almost 1:3 cases for one of the SSP cards.
On the retail side, SP variations are 1:25 packs, 1:5 hanger boxes and 1:9 fat packs. SSP are 1:737 regular retail, 1:123 hanger boxes and 1:246 fat packs.
It’s not yet known where the Torres and Acuña cards fall, although they’re believed to be more in line with the SP cards than the SSP.
In addition to the variations, select cards also have autographed versions of their SP and SSP cards.
Using Card Backs to Spot 2018 Topps Series 2 Variation Short Prints
If you’re still not 100 percent sure you have a variation or not, you can use the back of the card to confirm it.
As is the case with most Topps sets, there’s a block of fine print. At the end of that is a code. The codes change depending on the type of card.
When it comes to variation hunting, here’s what you need to know when it comes to these code endings:
Base Cards – 359
SP Variations – 412
SSP Variations – 414
Rookie Variations (Torres and Acuña) – 249
2018 Topps Series 2 Baseball Variations Checklist
The following is a quick checklist of all the 2018 Topps Series 2 Baseball variation short prints. Known tougher cards are noted with SSP.
* notes retired legends.
Looking for a specific card? Click on the link to see what’s currently available on eBay.
351 Bryce Harper
351 Bryce Harper – SSP
351 Ty Cobb*
351 Reggie Jackson*
369 Chris Taylor
384 Addison Russell
384 Addison Russell – SSP
384 Ernie Banks*
392 Marcus Stroman
393 Corey Kluber
393 Corey Kluber – SSP
397 Dallas Keuchel
400 Jose Altuve
400 Jose Altuve – SSP
400 Honus Wagner*
413 Trevor Bauer
416 Matt Olson
418 Jose Ramirez
418 Jose Ramirez – SSP
430 Manny Margot
431 Charlie Blackmon
431 Charlie Blackmon – SSP
431 Rickey Henderson*
436 Yu Darvish
436 Yu Darvish – SSP
436 Greg Maddux*
439 Dustin Pedroia
439 Dustin Pedroia – SSP
450 Joey Votto
450 Joey Votto – SSP
450 Johnny Bench*
454 Kyle Seager
462 Paul DeJong
462 Ozzie Smith*
469 Sonny Gray
469 Sonny Gray – SSP
471 Josh Harrison
484 Kenta Maeda
499 Justin Bour
500 Kris Bryant
500 Kris Bryant – SSP
500 Ryne Sandberg*
502 Xander Bogaerts
503 Josh Donaldson
503 Josh Donaldson – SSP
503 George Brett*
506 Jose Berrios
507 Zack Greinke
510 Freddie Freeman
510 Freddie Freeman – SSP
510 Chipper Jones*
515 Greg Bird
515 Don Mattingly*
544 Yadier Molina
544 Yadier Molina – SSP
544 Roberto Clemente*
545 Nicholas Castellanos
550 Cal Ripken Jr.*
550 Jackie Robinson*
555 Jacob deGrom
555 Jacob deGrom – SSP
556 Andrew Benintendi
556 Andrew Benintendi – SSP
556 Corey Seager
556 Corey Seager – SSP
556 Ted Williams*
567 Felix Hernandez
567 Felix Hernandez – SSP
576 Didi Gregorius
576 Didi Gregorius – SSP
576 Derek Jeter*
582 Albert Pujols
582 Albert Pujols – SSP
582 Hank Aaron*
585 Brandon Crawford
585 Willie McCovey*
589 Adam Duvall
593 Luke Weaver
599 Justin Turner
600 Noah Syndergaard
600 Noah Syndergaard – SSP
600 Tom Seaver*
605 Lucas Giolito
605 Frank Thomas*
611 Max Scherzer
611 Max Scherzer – SSP
615 Eric Thames
618 Paul Goldschmidt
618 Paul Goldschmidt – SSP
618 Lou Gehrig*
629 Sandy Koufax*
632 Edwin Encarnacion
650 Justin Verlander
650 Justin Verlander – SSP
650 Bob Gibson*
652 Matt Carpenter
665 Tommy Pham
698 Ronald Acuña Jr.
699 Gleyber Torres
700 Shohei Ohtani
700 Shohei Ohtani – SSP
700 Babe Ruth*
2018 Topps Series 2 Baseball Variations Gallery
351 Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals

SP Variation – wearing cap

SSP Variation – gray jersey, clapping

Base – wearing helmet
351 Ty Cobb, Detroit Tigers

SP Variation – Ty Cobb

Base – Bryce Harper
351 Reggie Jackson, New York Yankees

SP Variation – Reggie Jackson

Base – Bryce Harper
369 Chris Taylor, Los Angeles Dodgers

SP Variation – standing at batting cage, blue t-shirt

Base – white jersey, batting
384 Addison Russell, Chicago Cubs

SP Variation – blue shirt, bat on shoulder

SSP Variation – pointing

Base – pinstripe jersey
384 Ernie Banks, Chicago Cubs

SP Variation – Ernie Banks

Base – Addison Russell
392 Marcus Stroman, Toronto Blue Jays

SP Variation – leaning on fence

Base – back turned
393 Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians

SP Variation – t-shirt

SSP Variation – clenched fist

Base – horizontal, wearing jersey
397 Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros

SP Variation – leaning on fence

Base – gray jersey, pitching
400 Jose Altuve, Houston Astros

SP Variation – long-sleeve shirt

SSP Variation – clapping

Base – batting
400 Honus Wagner, Pittsburgh Pirates

SP Variation – Honus Wagner

Base – Jose Altuve
413 Trevor Bauer, Cleveland Indians

SP Variation – wearing sweater, horizontal

Base – gray jersey, vertical
416 Matt Olson, Oakland Athletics

SP Variation – #416, wearing sweater

Base – #396 (Derek Fisher is #416 in base set), batting
418 Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Indians

SP Variation – wearing cap, leaning back

SSP Variation – pointing

Base – batting
430 Manny Margot, San Diego Padres

SP Variation – in dugout

Base – batting, Future Stars
431 Charlie Blackmon, Colorado Rockies

SP Variation – doughnut on bat

SSP Variation – pinstripe jersey, hand out

Base – batting
431 Rickey Henderson, Oakland Athletics

SP Variation – Rickey Henderson

Base – Charlie Blackmon
436 Yu Darvish, Chicago Cubs

SP Variation – blue shirt

SSP Variation – stretching leg

Base – pinstripe jersey
436 Greg Maddux, Atlanta Braves

SP Variation – Greg Maddux

Base – Yu Darvish
439 Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox

SP Variation – holding bat

SSP Variation – gray jersey, hand up

Base – fielding
450 Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds

SP Variation – red shirt

SSP Variation – crouching, horizontal

Base – batting, gray jersey
450 Johnny Bench, Cincinnati Reds

SP Variation – Johnny Bench

Base – Joey Votto
454 Kyle Seager, Seattle Mariners

SP Variation – warmup shirt

Base – at bat, wearing jersey
462 Paul DeJong, St. Louis Cardinals

SP Variation – carrying bag

Base – batting, with Future Stars/Rookie Cup
462 Ozzie Smith, St. Louis Cardinals

SP Variation – Ozzie Smith

Base – Paul DeJong
469 Sonny Gray, New York Yankees

SP Variation – press conference, horizontal

SSP Variation – pointing, wearing ribbon

Base – throwing
471 Josh Harrison, Pittsburgh Pirates

SP Variation
484 Kenta Maeda, Los Angeles Dodgers

SP Variation – t-shirt, horizontal

Base – gray jersey, vertical
499 Justin Bour, Miami Marlins

SP Variation – sunglasses on cap, warmup shirt

Base – batting
500 Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs

SP Variation – holding bat

SSP Variation – sliding

Base – running bases, white pinstripe jersey
500 Ryne Sandberg, Chicago Cubs

SP Variation

Base – Kris Bryant
502 Xander Bogaerts, Boston Red Sox

SP Variation – blue shirt

Base – batting, white jersey
503 Josh Donaldson, Toronto Blue Jays

SP Variation – wearing headband

SSP Variation – blue jersey, running

Base – wearing sunglasses
503 George Brett, Kansas City Royals

SP Variation – George Brett

Base – Josh Donaldson
506 Jose Berrios, Minnesota Twins

SP Variation – Take 17 hoodie, pointing down

Base – pitching, gray jersey
507 Zack Greinke, Arizona Diamondbacks

SP Variation – horizontal, black shirt

Base – pitching, gray jersey
510 Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves

SP Variation – stretching

SSP Variation – waving

Base – batting
510 Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves

SP Variation – Chipper Jones

Base – Freddie Freeman
515 Greg Bird, New York Yankees

SP Variation – navy warmup shirt

Base – white pinstripe jersey
515 Don Mattingly, New York Yankees

SP Variation – Don Mattingly

Base – Greg Bird
544 Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals

SP Variation – at batting cage

SSP Variation – hands up

Base – batting, gray jersey
544 Roberto Clemente, Pittsburgh Pirates

SP Variation – Roberto Clemente

Base – Yadier Molina
545 Nicholas Castellanos, Detroit Tigers

SP Variation – sitting on bench

Base – white jersey, running
550 Cal Ripken Jr., Baltimore Orioles

SP Variation – Cal Ripken Jr.

Base – Corey Seager
550 Jackie Robinson, Brooklyn Dodgers

SP Variation – Jackie Robinson

Base – Corey Seager
555 Jacob deGrom, New York Mets

SP Variation – blue shirt

SSP Variation – wearing helmet

Base – white pinstripe jersey, pitching
556 Andrew Benintendi, Boston Red Sox

SP Variation – sunglasses on cap, horizontal

SSP Variation – arm up, horizontal

Base – white jersey, with Future Stars
556 Corey Seager, Los Angeles Dodgers

SP Variation – #556, holding bat

SSP Variation – #556, yelling, wearing helmet

Base – #550, sliding (regular #556 is Benintendi)
556 Ted Williams, Boston Red Sox

SP Variation – Ted Williams

Base – Andrew Benintendi
567 Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners

SP Variation – standing at batting cage

SSP Variation – pointing

Base – blue jersey
576 Didi Gregorius, New York Yankees

SP Variation – kneeling

SSP Variation – sunglasses

Base – swinging, white pinstripe jersey
576 Derek Jeter, New York Yankees

SP Variation – Derek Jeter

Base – Didi Gregorius
582 Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels

SP Variation – no helmet, warmups

SSP Variation – pointing up

Base – white jersey, wearing helmet
582 Hank Aaron, Atlanta Braves

SP Variation – Hank Aaron

Base – Albert Pujols
585 Brandon Crawford, San Francisco Giants

SP Variation – bat on shoulder

Base – batting, gray jersey
585 Willie McCovey, San Francisco Giants

SP Variation – Willie McCovey

Base – Brandon Crawford
589 Adam Duvall, Cincinnati Reds

SP Variation – red jersey

Base – gray jersey
593 Luke Weaver, St. Louis Cardinals

SP Variation – close-up

Base – pitching, with Future Stars
599 Justin Turner, Los Angeles Dodgers

SP Variation – blue warmup shirt

Base – white jersey, throwing
600 Noah Syndergaard, New York Mets

SP Variation – leaning on fence, sweater

SSP Variation – clenched, vertical

Base – with ball, pinstripe jersey
600 Tom Seaver, New York Mets

SP Variation – Tom Seaver

Base – Noah Syndergaard
605 Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox

SP Variation – black vest

Base – white throwback jersey
605 Frank Thomas, Chicago White Sox

SP Variation – Frank Thomas

Base – Lucas Giolito
611 Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals

SP Variation – #611 – red shirt, navy blue cap

SSP Variation – #611, fist pump

Base – #629 (Josh Bell is #611 in base set), white jersey
615 Eric Thames, Milwaukee Brewers

SP Variation – holding bat

Base – catching ball
618 Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks

SP Variation – black warmup shirt with snake on front

SSP Variation – hands out, horizontal

Base – throwing ball
618 Lou Gehrig, New York Yankees

SP Variation – Lou Gehrig

Base – Paul Goldschmidt
629 Sandy Koufax, Dodgers

SP Variation – Sandy Koufax

Base – Max Scherzer
632 Edwin Encarnacion, Cleveland Indians

SP Variation – kneeling at batting cage

Base – wearing helmet, running with bat
650 Justin Verlander, Houston Astros

SP Variation – wearing hoodie

SSP Variation – white jersey, hands up

Base – orange jersey, pitching
650 Bob Gibson, St. Louis Cardinals

SP Variation – Bob Gibson

Base – Justin Verlander
652 Matt Carpenter, St. Louis Cardinals

SP Variation – red shirt, with glove

Base – gray jersey, batting
665 Tommy Pham, St. Louis Cardinals

SP Variation – red shirt, with bat

Base – white jersey, catching ball on knees
698 Ronald Acuña Jr., Atlanta Braves

Rookie Variation – Ronald Acuña Jr.

Base – Ryan Sherriff
699 Gleyber Torres, New York Yankees

Rookie Variation – Gleyber Torres

Base – Drew Smyly
700 Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels

SP Variation – with bat, red warmups

SSP Variation – hand on helmet

Base – pitching, white jersey
700 Babe Ruth, New York Yankees

SP Variation – Babe Ruth

Base – Shohei Ohtani
Jeez Topps… always screwing up the numbering. Somebody needs to make a note somewhere that the last thing you do before a set goes into production is make sure the cards are numbered correctly!
Just finished opening a hobby box and going by the variations gallery I got a Derek Jeter SP and a Corey Kluber SSP. You show the code endings for such cards as 112 and 114 respectively but the card backs read 412 and 414. Also, according to the Topps promo for these cards, you are supposed to receive 1 silver pack with a hobby box and 2 silver packs with a hobby jumbo box. I did not receive a silver pack nor did I receive any with a hobby jumbo series 1 I ordered previously (but I eventually got them after writing to Amazon). My question is does the dealer have to honor the Topps promo if they are selling their products? Thanks for any advice.
@Pete – You’ll need to check with the person you bought them off of for the promo packs. Just like all promotions, cards or not, it’s always good to check first if they’re participating in advance to avoid confusion.
Could Pete’s question, about the silver packs, be exampled better. I too bought two Hobby boxes and did not receive silver packs. I bought them directly from Topps after reading there advertisement and anticipating their release.
I wrote Topps for an explanation, but that’s going to be a while. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
@Leon — The Silver Pack promotion was designed for dealers and hobby shops as an incentive for people to buy from business owners.
Not only did Topps rush to add Acuna and Torres in an attempt to sell more, they “photo shopped” Torres onto a card that has a teammate in the background with a different uniform on. I am sure they will make another card of each with a RC logo in the update set. I also wouldn’t put it past Topps to add a different variation of each in the complete set.
i pulled a 6/10 instant impact carlton fisk ,,,,is there only 10 of these cards in existance
@gary – It sounds like you may have the Red parallel, which has ten copies.
Ryan, what does that mean in the grand scheme of all these different parallels making a player have up to possibly 10-15 rookie cards per set!!!!!!!!!What card is the players true rookie card from each individual release?I collect for the joy and the thrill of the chase but these days i really don’t know what i am chasing #’d cards,freaking
atomic holographic superfragalistic prizmatical hair from player embeded 1/1 redemption card 5th year ROOKIE CARD; extreme, yes but possibly in the near future !!!! Sorry for leaving the errors in my reply but in our hobbie thats close to the norm now . So what you’re saying is therecould only be 10 sets of the red base instant impact set correct ? The card is still a card that i like but i often get real contentment from reading the card backs ,but topps seems to be the only ones doing it ,like which player has the most colored ink in their stats etc. . Thank you Ryan
@Gary – Personally, I don’t look at parallels as Rookie Cards. I see them as inserts. It can be fun to pull a good one but I don’t ultimately stress about it. I prefer to focus that attention on the things I like. It makes it easier to block the rest out as I focus on my collection.
Your stated odds of 1:3 cases for an SSP Acuna cannot be correct or else I was exceedingly fortunate. I pulled three from four jumbo boxes bought at the same time about six months ago. Although I knew it was an SSP, I remarked that it certainly did not appear to be any more difficult to get than the base RC (of which I got two in three hobby boxes). I sold them for $174.99 each (graded BGS 9.5 RCR) on May 4-5. Check that popular auction site “e— for proof. Two sold to the same buyer.