2018 Topps Update Series Baseball Variations Guide and Easy-to-Use Gallery
2018 Topps Update Series Baseball variations offer a similar sort of continuity from the Series 1 and Series 2 SP cards much like other parts of the product. These cards offer up a different mix of fresh photos for stars and rookies.
It also means the addition of more retired legends.
Topps also managed to work in some of the late-season trades. These put the likes of Andrew McCutchen and Josh Donaldson with their new teams.
Another piece of continuity comes from the cards’ two levels of rarity. Regular SP variations are 1:45 2018 Topps Update hobby packs. A total of 52 players are in this mix. Tougher SSP variations are 1:273 hobby packs. Combined, they’re a little tougher than one per box at this level. Overall, the more common versions shouldn’t be too tough to find, both at the time of the set’s release and further down the road the big wave of breaks happen. SSPs, though, could prove to be tough over time if past years are any indication.
2018 Topps Update Series Baseball Variations Code Confirmation
Once again, card backs offer a confirmation as to whether you’ve got a short print variation. At the end of the fine print is a code that’s used on the production side. They double as identifiers for collectors, even if that’s not the intent. Once you get past all of the copyright info, look to the last few digits of the code and they’ll tell you what you’ve got.
Here are the code endings that are applicable to identifying variations:
- Base – 990
- SP Variations – 030
- SSP Variations – 032
Several of the 2018 Topps Update variations also have autographed versions. These were all revealed on the checklist put out by the company, but not the unsigned ones.
Variations
2018 Topps Update Series Baseball Variations Checklist
If you’re looking for a specific card, click on the links to see what’s available on eBay.
US1 Shohei Ohtani – SP | SSP (batting) | SSP (pitching)
US1 Nolan Ryan – SP
US7 Babe Ruth – SP
US7 Giancarlo Stanton – SP
US9 Roberto Clemente – SP
US10 Ian Kinsler – SP
US12 Mike Mikolas – SP | SSP
US14 Scott Kingery – SP | SSP
US20 Don Mattingly – SP
US21 Sandy Koufax – SP
US23 Wade Boggs – SP
US23 Pedro Martinez – SP
US31 Chipper Jones – SP
US34 Austin Meadows – SP | SSP
US38 Torii Hunter – SP
US39 Freddy Peralta – SSP
US44 Hank Aaron – SP
US58 Jordan Hicks – SP | SSP
US64 Ted Williams – SP
US68 Michael Soroka – SP | SSP
US73 Marcell Ozuna – SP
US76 George Brett – SP
US83 Andrew McCutchen – SP (Giants) | SP (Yankees)
US88 Daniel Mengden – SSP
US95 Dustin Fowler – SP | SSP
US98 Randy Johnson – SP
US100 Ichiro – SP
US101 Roger Clemens – SP
US107 Rally Goose – SSP
US110 Lourdes Gurriel Jr. – SP | SSP
US111 Bob Gibson – SP
US118 Evan Longoria – SP
US118 Bo Jackson – SP
US121 Rickey Henderson – SP
US151 Matt Kemp – SP
US157 Ernie Banks – SP
US174 Fernando Romero – SP | SSP
US175 Dylan Cozens – SSP
US177 Mike Piazza – SP
US195 J.D. Martinez – SP
US197 Will Clark – SP
US198 Shane Bieber – SSP
US200 Lou Gehrig – SP
US200 Gleyber Torres – SP | SSP (batting) | SSP (throwing)
US201 Nick Kingham – SP | SSP
US213 Todd Frazier – SP
US217 Trevor Hoffman – SP
US218 Tyler O’Neill – SP | SSP
US232 Josh Donaldson – SP
US242 Franmil Reyes – SSP
US248 Christian Yelich – SP
US250 Ronald Acuna Jr. – SP | SSP (batting) | SSP (with glove)
US250 Derek Jeter – SP
US253 Cal Ripken Jr. – SP
US257 Chris Stratton – SSP
US259 Mark McGwire – SP
US271 Joey Lucchesi – SP
US281 Willy Adames – SSP
US300 Juan Soto – SP | SSP
2018 Topps Update Series Baseball Variations Gallery
US1 Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels
Variation – red warm-up shirt
SSP Variation – pitching (white jersey)
SSP Variation – batting
Base – pitching (red jersey)
US1 Nolan Ryan, California Angels
Base – Nolan Ryan
Base – Shohei Ohtani
US7 Babe Ruth, New York Yankees
Variation – Babe Ruth
Base – Giancarlo Stanton
US7 Giancarlo Stanton, New York Yankees
Variation – warm-up jersey, bat on shoulder
Base – pinstripe jersey
US9 Roberto Clemente, Pittsburgh Pirates
Variation – Roberto Clemente
Base – Nick Kingham (Rookie Debut)
US10 Ian Kinsler, Boston Red Sox
Variation – with glove
Base – with bat
US12 Miles Mikolas, St. Louis Cardinals
Variation – white jersey, tipping cap
SSP Variation – holding ball, vertical
Base – throwing, ball not in hand
US14 Scott Kingery, Philadelphia Phillies
Variation – red jersey
SSP Variation – pinstripe jersey, throwing
Base – “Rookie Debut”, gray jersey
US20 Don Mattingly, New York Yankees
Variation
Base – Jeurys Familia
US21 Sandy Koufax, Los Angeles Dodgers
Variation – Sandy Koufax
Base – Kenley Jansen
US23 Wade Boggs, Boston Red Sox
Variation – Wade Boggs
Base – J.D. Martinez
US23 Pedro Martinez, Boston Red Sox
Variation – Pedro Martinez
Base – J.D. Martinez
US31 Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves
Variation – Chipper Jones
Base – Jose Ramirez
US34 Austin Meadows, Tampa Bay Rays
Variation – blue jersey
SSP Variation – fielding, gray jersey
Base – gray jersey, sunglasses
US38 Torii Hunter, Minnesota Twins
Variation – Torii Hunter
Base – Jose Berrios
US39 Freddy Peralta, Milwaukee Brewers
SSP Variation – facing forward, vertical
Base – leg stretched, horizontal
US44 Hank Aaron, Milwaukee Braves
Variation – Hank Aaron
Base – Freddie Freeman
US58 Jordan Hicks, St. Louis Cardinals
Variation – sitting with team
SSP Variation – leg out, horizontal
Base – knee up
US64 Ted Williams, Boston Red Sox
Variation – Ted Williams
Base – Mookie Betts
US68 Michael Soroka, Atlanta Braves
Variation – sitting in dugout
SSP Variation – pitching, turned to side, horizontal
Base – pitching, facing forward, vertical
US73 Marcell Ozuna, St. Louis Cardinals
Variation – red jersey, with bat
Base – white jersey, catching ball
US76 George Brett, Kansas City Royals
Variation – George Brett
Base – Salvador Perez
US83 Andrew McCutchen, San Francisco Giants/New York Yankees
Variation – black jersey
Variation – New York Yankees
Base – gray jersey
US88 Daniel Mengden, Oakland Athletics
SSP Variation – ball visible, horizontal
Base – ball in glove, vertical
US95 Dustin Fowler, Oakland Athletics
Variation – with team
SSP Variation – brown bat
Base – black bat
US98 Randy Johnson, Seattle Mariners
Variation
Base – Edwin Diaz
US100 Ichiro, Seattle Mariners
Variation – at batting cage
Base – wearing helmet
US101 Roger Clemens, Boston Red Sox
Variation – Roger Clemens
Base – Chris Sale
US107 Rally Goose, Detroit Tigers
SSP Variation – Rally Goose
Base – Craig Kimbrel
110 Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Toronto Blue Jays
Variation – wearing headband, blue jersey
SSP Variation – fielding, blue jersey
Base – running, white jersey
US111 Bob Gibson, St. Louis Cardinals
Variation – Bob Gibson
Base – Jean Segura
US118 Bo Jackson, Kansas City Royals
Variation – Bo Jackson
Base – Evan Longoria
US118 Evan Longoria, San Francisco Giants
Variation – leaning on bat rack
Base – fielding
US121 Rickey Henderson, Oakland Athletics
Variation – Rickey Henderson
Base – George Springer
US151 Matt Kemp, Los Angeles Dodgers
Variation – batting cage, no helmet
Base – wearing helmet
US157 Ernie Banks, Chicago Cubs
Variation – Ernie Banks
Base – Francisco Lindor
US174 Fernando Romero, Minnesota Twins
Variation – looking up
SSP Variation – knee up
Base – throwing off mound
US175 Dylan Cozens, Philadelphia Phillies
SSP Variation – running
Base – batting
US177 Mike Piazza, New York Mets
Variation – Mike Piazza
Base – Jacob deGrom
US195 J.D. Martinez, Boston Red Sox
Variation – standing, waist-up photo
Base – catching ball
US197 Will Clark, San Francisco Giants
Variation – Will Clark
Base – Joe Jimenez
US198 Shane Bieber, Cleveland Indians
SSP Variation – ball over head
Base – ball at waist
US200 Lou Gehrig, New York Yankees
Variation – Lou Gehrig
Base – Gleyber Torres
US200 Gleyber Torres, New York Yankees
Variation – black jersey, throwing
SSP Variation – gray jersey, batting
SSP Variation – gray jersey, throwing
Base – pinstripe jersey, batting
US201 Nick Kingham, Pittsburgh Pirates
Variation – yellow jersey, blowing into hand
SSP Variation – yellow jersey, throwing
Base – black jersey
US213 Todd Frazier, New York Mets
Variation – blue jersey
Base – gray jersey
US217 Trevor Hoffman, San Diego Padres
Variation – Trevor Hoffman
Base – Justin Verlander
US218 Tyler O’Neill, St. Louis Cardinals
Variation – at fence with team
SSP Variation – batting
Base – running
US232 Josh Donaldson, Cleveland Indians
Variation – Josh Donaldson
Base – Brad Hand
US242 Franmil Reyes, San Diego Padres – SSP
SSP Variation – batting
Base – pointing
US248 Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers
Variation – yellow jersey back, wearing cap
Base – pinstripe jersey, wearing helmet
US250 Ronald Acuna Jr., Atlanta Braves
Variation – red and blue shirt, standing at batting cage
SSP Variation – white jersey, with bat
SSP Variation – white jersey, with glove
Base – Batting
US250 Derek Jeter, New York Yankees
Variation – Derek Jeter
Base – Ronald Acuna Jr.
US253 Cal Ripken Jr., Baltimore Orioles
Variation – Cal Ripken Jr.
Base – Manny Machado
US257 Chris Stratton, San Francisco Giants
Base – black jersey
Base – white jersey
US259 Mark McGwire, Oakland Athletics
Variation – Mark McGwire
Base – Stephen Piscotty
US271 Joey Lucchesi, San Diego Padres
Variation – brown jersey
Base – white jersey
US281 Willy Adames, Tampa Bay Rays
SSP Variation – legs visible, verticle
Base – waist-up shot, horizontal
US300 Juan Soto, Washington Nationals
Variation – hands on hips
SSP Variation – Gatorade bath
Base – batting
Autograph Variations
2018 Topps Update Series Baseball Variations – Autographs Checklist
This is the full list of SP and SSP Variation Autographs. Unlike the base card variations, Topps included them on the final checklist.
Short Print Variation Autographs
Current Players
BSPA-AC Andrew McCutchen
BSPA-AM Austin Meadows
BSPA-CY Christian Yelich
BSPA-DF Dustin Fowler
BSPA-DM Don Mattingly
BSPA-EL Evan Longoria
BSPA-FR Fernando Romero
BSPA-GT Gleyber Torres
BSPA-I Ichiro
BSPA-IK Ian Kinsler
BSPA-JS Juan Soto
BSPA-LG Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
BSPA-MM Miles Mikolas
BSPA-MO Marcell Ozuna
BSPA-MS Michael Soroka
BSPA-NK Nick Kingham
BSPA-RA Ronald Acuna Jr.
BSPA-SK Scott Kingery
BSPA-SO Shohei Ohtani
BSPA-TF Todd Frazier
Retired Legends
BSPA-BG Bob Gibson
BSPA-BJ Bo Jackson
BSPA-CJ Chipper Jones
BSPA-CR Cal Ripken Jr.
BSPA-MC Mark McGwire
BSPA-NR Nolan Ryan
BSPA-PM Pedro Martinez
BSPA-RH Rickey Henderson
BSPA-RJ Randy Johnson
BSPA-TH Torii Hunter
BSPA-WB Wade Boggs
BSPA-WC Will Clark
SSP Variation Autographs
BSRA-AM Austin Meadows
BSRA-CS Chris Stratton
BSRA-DF Dustin Fowler
BSRA-DM Daniel Mengden
BSRA-FE Franmil Reyes
BSRA-GO Gleyber Torres
BSRA-GT Gleyber Torres
BSRA-JS Juan Soto
BSRA-LG Lourdes Gurriel
BSRA-MM Miles Mikolas
BSRA-MS Michael Soroka
BSRA-NK Nick Kingham
BSRA-RA Ronald Acuna Jr.
BSRA-RC Ronald Acuna Jr.
BSRA-SH Shohei Ohtani
BSRA-SK Scott Kingery
BSRA-SO Shohei Ohtani
US 253 – Has a Cal Ripken Jr. SP. I just pulled one.