2019 Topps Update Series Baseball Variation Short Prints Guide and Gallery
2019 Topps Update Series Baseball variations come in a couple of forms. Similar to cards in Series 1 and Series 2, one level is basic short prints that should show up regularly. The other group features tougher SSP cards that highlight some of the season’s top rookies.
2019 Topps Update Series Variations – SP vs. SSP
Base Short Print Variations are the more plentiful of the two types. This goes for both the size of its checklist and frequency in which they fall. A total of 50 retired legends not on the base set checklist, veterans and rookies all have SP cards. At the hobby level, these are 1:32 packs. For hobby jumbo, they’re 1:10, or one per box.
Rookie Variations are much tougher to find. The checklist here, as you’d expect, are first-year standouts. According to the odds, you’re looking at 1:622 hobby packs and 1:190 hobby jumbo packs to pull one. In short, they’re rare. On top of that, the checklist for these has another 25 cards.
It’s worth noting that some rookies have both types of variations for the same card number. This is where the codes come into play to make identification even easier. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Austin Riley are among the rookies with both SP and SSP variations.
Legends have now appeared in the SP lineups for all three of the flagship 2019 Topps Baseball releases. Here, key players include Ken Griffey Jr., Jackie Robinson, Nolan Ryan and Thurman Munson. Willie Mays has two different variation sin 2019 Topps Update Series, one with the New York Giants. The other has the Hall of Famer from his days in San Francisco.
Confirming Variations with the Fine Print
There’s a handy image gallery below showing the 2019 Topps Update Series variations. And while this makes spotting SP and SSP cards easy, there’s another way. The code method. It’s quick and only requires collectors to remember a couple of numbers instead of dozens of photos.
The fine print on the back holds the key. Go to the very end of the fine print and you’ll find a long code. It’s meant for production purposes, but collectors can use it to spot a variation quickly.
Here are code endings you need to tell the difference between a base card, an SP variation and an SSP variation:
- Base – 010
- SP Variation – 055
- SSP Rookie Variation – 057
2019 Topps Update Series Baseball Checklist
If you’re looking for a specific card, click on the links to see what’s available on eBay.
US1 Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
US1 Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – SSP
US12 Paul Goldschmidt
US21 Willie Mays
US28 Oscar Mercado
US28 Oscar Mercado – SSP
US35 Derek Dietrich
US39 Cavan Biggio
US39 Cavan Biggio – SSP
US50 Nick Senzel
US50 Nick Senzel – SSP
US56 Tony Gwynn
US63 Trent Thornton
US63 Trent Thornton – SSP
US 74 Elvis Luciano – SSP
US79 Jackie Robinson
US93 Ken Griffey Jr.
US100 Austin Riley
US100 Austin Riley – SSP
US105 Luis Rengifo – SSP
US106 Yasiel Puig
US107 Robinson Cano
US109 Carter Kieboom
US109 Carter Kieboom – SSP
US123 Justus Sheffield
US123 Justus Sheffield – SSP
US128 Thurman Munson
US133 Willie Mays
US147 Cal Ripken Jr.
US149 Corbin Martin
US149 Corbin Martin – SSP
US150 Keston Hiura
US150 Keston Hiura – SSP
US165 Eddie Murray
US168 Thiaro Estrada – SSP
US168 Robin Yount
US170 Michael Chavis
US170 Michael Chavis – SSP
US179 Mariano Rivera
US182 Johnny Bench
US187 Roberto Clemente
US197 Cole Tucker
US197 Cole Tucker – SSP
US199 Will Smith
US199 Will Smith – SSP
US200 Griffin Canning
US200 Griffin Canning – SSP
US202 George Brett
US206 Ichiro
US218 Mitch Keller
US219 Nolan Ryan
US224 Yasmani Grandal
US227 Lane Thomas – SSP
US237 Randy Johnson
US242 Adam Jones
US244 Jon Duplantier
US244 Jon Duplantier – SSP
US245 Carl Yastrzemski
US249 Nick Margevicius
US249 Nick Margevicius – SSP
US256 Jake Bauers
US256 Jake Bauers – SSP
US257 Josh Donaldson
US263 Chris Paddack
US263 Chris Paddack – SSP
US266 Kevin Cron
US266 Kevin Cron – SSP
US269 Ryne Sandberg
US283 Edgar Martinez
US291 Nate Lowe
US291 Nate Lowe – SSP
US295 Roy Halladay
US299 Brendan Rodgers
US299 Brendan Rodgers – SSP
US300 Mike Mussina
2019 Topps Update Series Baseball Gallery
US1 Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays
Variation – pointing
SSP Rookie – with ball
Base – throwing
US12 Paul Goldschmidt, St. Louis Cardinals
Variation – arms wide
Base – batting
US21 Willie Mays, New York Giants
Variation – Willie Mays shaking hand at home
Base – Melky Cabrera
US28 Oscar Mercado, Cleveland Indians
Variation – crouching on base
SSP Rookie – two finger guns
Base – batting
US35 Derek Dietrich, Cincinnati Reds
Variation – red tank top, sunglasses
Base – white jersey
US39 Cavan Biggio, Toronto Blue Jays
Variation – in dugout with reporters
SSP Rookie – home run trot
Base – batting
US50 Nick Senzel, Cincinnati Reds
Variation – touching cap
SSP Rookie – water bath
Base – batting
US56 Tony Gwynn, San Diego Padres
Variation – Tony Gwynn yelling
Base – Fernando Tatis Jr. Rookie Debut
US63 Trent Thornton, Toronto Blue Jays
Variation – blue jersey
SSP Rookie – gray jersey
Base – white jersey
US74 Elvis Luciano, Toronto Blue Jays
SSP Rookie -ball in air
Base – pitching ball
US79 Jackie Robinson, Brooklyn Dodgers
Variation – Jackie Robinson signing autograph
Base – Jonathan Schoop
US93 Ken Griffey Jr., Seattle Mariners
Variation – Ken Griffey Jr. diving
Base – Michael Brantley
US100 Austin Riley, Atlanta Braves
Variation – jumping
SSP Rookie – with mascot
Base – batting
US105 Luis Rengifo, Los Angeles Angels
SSP Rookie – warm-up shirt
Base – throwing at base
US106 Yasiel Puig, Cleveland Indians
Variation – Cleveland Indians
Base – Cincinnati Reds
US107 Robinson Cano, New York Mets
Variation – pointing, no sunglasses
Base – wearing sunglasses
US109 Carter Kieboom, Washington Nationals
Variation – throwing
SSP Rookie -back turned, dark blue jersey
Base – batting
US123 Justus Sheffield, Seattle Mariners
Variation – ball visible above shoulder
SSP Rookie – ball visible at chest
Base – ball not visible
US128 Thurman Munson, New York Yankees
Variation – Thurman Munson with catcher’s mitt
Base – Gio Urshela
US133 Willie Mays, San Francisco Giants
Variation – Willie Mays swinging
Base – Leury Garcia
US147 Cal Ripken Jr., Baltimore Orioles
Variation – Cal Ripken Jr. signing autograph
Base – Richie Martin
US149 Corbin Martin, Houston Astros
Variation – tipping cap
SSP Rookie – yelling
Base – throwing
US150 Keston Hiura, Milwaukee Brewers
Variation – throwback uniform
SSP Rookie – hand at helmet
Base – batting
US165 Eddie Murray, Baltimore Orioles
Variation – Eddie Murray in back of car
Base – Dwight Smith Jr.
US168 Thairo Estrada, New York Yankees
SSP Rookie – throwing
Base – bunting
US168 Robin Yount, Milwaukee Brewers
Variation – Robin Yount crouching
Base – Thairo Estrada
US170 Michael Chavis, Boston Red Sox
Variation – pointing
SSP Rookie – signing in book
Base – throwing
US179 Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees
Variation – Mariano Rivera with Jeter and Pettitte
Base – Hector Neris
US182 Johnny Bench, Cincinnati Reds
Variation – Johnny Bench golfing
Base – Andrew Knizner
US187 Roberto Clemente, Pittsburgh Pirates
Variation – Roberto Clemente sliding
Base – Curtis Granderson
US197 Cole Tucker, Pittsburgh Pirates
Variation – wearing Frozone costume
SSP Rookie – finger signs
Base – batting
US199 Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers
Variation – running, holding helmet (vertical)
SSP Rookie – running, holding helmet (horizontal)
Base – catcher’s gear
US200 Griffin Canning, Los Angeles Angels
Variation – red shirt
SSP Rookie – with catching, holding towel
Base – pitching
US202 George Brett, Kansas City Royals
Variation – George Brett with glove up
Base – Nicky Lopez
US206 Ichiro, Seattle Mariners
Variation – Ichiro with fan
Base – Dylan Moore
US218 Mitch Keller, Pittsburgh Pirates
Variation – sitting in dugout
Base – pitching
US219 Nolan Ryan, Texas Rangers
Variation – Nolan Ryan in back of car
Base – Adrian Sampson
US224 Yasmani Grandal, Milwaukee Brewers
Variation – running, blue jersey
Base – catcher’s gear
US227 Lane Thomas, St. Louis Cardinals
SSP Rookie – with teammate
Base – batting
US237 Randy Johnson, Seattle Mariners
Variation – Randy Johnson drumming
Base – Domingo Santana
US242 Adam Jones, Arizona Diamondbacks
Variation – front of jersey visible
Base – back of jersey visible
US244 Jon Duplantier, Arizona Diamondbacks
Variation – gray jersey
SSP Rookie – white jersey
Base – red jersey
US245 Carl Yastrzemski, Boston Red Sox
Variation – Carl Yastrzemski running home
Base – Mike Yastrzemski
US249 Nick Margevicius, San Diego Padres
Variation – brown jersey
SSP Rookie – pitching off mound, top view
Base – front view
US256 Jake Bauers, Cleveland Indians
Variation – with bat
SSP Rookie – no cap
Base – diving
US257 Josh Donaldson, Atlanta Braves
Variation – back of jersey visible, swinging at ball
Base – front of jersey visible
US263 Chris Paddack, San Diego Padres
Variation – with Manny Machado
SSP Rookie – towel on shoulders
Base
US266 Kevin Cron, Arizona Diamondbacks
Variation – dirt in background
SSP Rookie – sunglasses on cap
Base – stands in background
US269 Ryne Sandberg, Chicago Cubs
Variation – Ryne Sandberg with Don Zimmer
Base – Craig Kimbrel
US283 Edgar Martinez, Seattle Mariners
Variation – Edgar Martinez tipping cap
Base – Omar Narvaez
US291 Nate Lowe, Tampa Bay Rays
Variation – peace sign
SSP Rookie – at batting cage
Base – batting
US295 Roy Halladay, Toronto Blue Jays
Variation – Roy Halladay pitching from mound
Base – Cavan Biggio Rookie Debut
US299 Brendan Rodgers, Colorado Rockies
Variation – at dugout steps
SSP Rookie – reaching down for ball
Base – throwing
US300 Mike Mussina, Baltimore Orioles
Variation – Mike Mussina in front of scoreboard
Base – Renato Nunez
no tatis or alonso sp?
@kevin – At this point, not sure. Still lots left to uncover.
Hiura SP and SSP exist
It seems to be a major oversight to not produce an SSP for Tatis, Eloy or Alonso. But Topps must have had a reason: they had three series to do it, and opted not to. But coming off a year in which Acuna, Soto and Gleyber all have such cards (and I’ll throw in Soroka, since he has Cy Young potential), it’s a bit of a letdown that Vladdy is the only big name with an SSP this year.
Topps also messed up, in my humble opinion, with Chrome Sapphire. The cards aren’t even sapphire-colored this year! The blue sapphire appearance is a big part of the appeal with the 2018 Acuna… I don’t know, there seems to be some odd decision-making at Topps this year.
Can we just refer to the Cole Tucker SSP as the ‘Ronnie James Dio’ variation?
My personal opinion short prints and different variations should only be for relics and autographs
I just found the last rookie ssp…………. sorry, it’s only justus sheffield. Was hoping it was eloy
I found this box set a good one. Topps really did a good job. I opened a few of them. I got some decent cards. I am very happy with my Vladimir Guerrero Jr SSP Singed Auto Rookie card.
Can you tell the difference between a base card coming from a pack or the factory set?
@Danny – Cards from packs and factory sets are the same. The exception would be the All-Star sets where all the base cards have an All-Star stamp. Also, Vladimir Guerrero’s card is different.
Five rookies have variations that are a bonus in retail sets. They can be seen here, along with the Guerrero: https://www.beckett.com/news/2019-topps-baseball-factory-set-rookie-variations-guide/
Topps update hobby box states that that you get one auto or relic card per box. I got a Medallion card which is not a relic card I think this is a rip off by Topps.
Is there a secret to figuring out the different Variations in the “Legends In The Making” Insert Cards? Blue Black Gold and Red??
@Chris – The background color at the top of the card.
I saw an ebay listing claiming that the SSP rookie autographs in the update were “/5” … do you know if that’s accurate?
@Bern – If they’re not numbered, print runs haven’t been released. Any specifics would be speculation. Could be correct but not confirmed.
@ Knowloton
I too, wondered. On my hobby wrapper it said the gold ones featured with asterik (representing being sequentially numbered) but my card wasnt. And it appeared to be a gold to me, although im not certain and not got to compare. I know it’s simple and not important, just wondered though myself.
I feel that the set was done well as far as. Howthey the players of the past in the set i much rather of been the same playrr in a differnt pose or uniform and get rid of the du e l gangsighn shots and Gatorade dunking shots got to go
Joey V From SP and P.S Andy MADEC. Number one dealer Hes the best! ThanksBro
There are some no-logo rookie cards out there…is that on purpose?
@youngk – I’m not sure what you’re referring to.