2015 Topps Baseball Variations Bring Back Sparkles, Photos

Note: Lists will continue to update as more are discovered by collectors.
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By Chris Olds
This year’s first baseball card set officially arrives on Wednesday in 2015 Topps Series 1, a release that packs more cards and a more-colorful design than in recent past.
Among the inclusions are First Pitch cards of celebrities at MLB games — a first for the brand — but two things collectors will be hunting are back from past releases.
Sparkles and photo variations.
The total number of short-printed cards remains unknown — and Topps has yet to confirm any certain cards — so this work in progress is compiled based on discoveries by dealers and collectors online as well as those who have put their discoveries up for sale on eBay.
See all that have been found so far … after the jump. We’ll continue to add confirmed variations to the list in the coming days.
SPARKLES (batch code in copyright info ends with 903)

5 — Josh Donaldson (sparkle on bat)
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6 — Jayson Werth (sparkle on chest)
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15 — Joey Votto (sparkle on bat)
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20 — Madison Bumgarner (sparkle on glove)
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25 — Jose Bautista (sparkle on heel)
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34 — Charlie Blackmon (sparkle on wrist)
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42 — Todd Frazier (sparkle on sleeve)
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43 — Starlin Castro (sparkle on ball)
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47 — Anthony Rizzo (sparkle on helmet)
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50 — Yu Darvish (sparkle on glove)
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60 — Michael Wacha (sparkle on shoulder)
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62 — Nolan Arenado (sparkle on thumb)
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67 — Hunter Pence (sparkle on hand)
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73 — Freddie Freeman (sparkle on belt)
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75 — Dustin Pedroia (sparkle on wrist)
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80 — Adam Wainwright (sparkle on glove)
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83 — David Wright (sparkle on bat)
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92 — Ian Kinsler (sparkle on belt)
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100 — Clayton Kershaw (sparkle on arm)
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109 — Doug Fister (sparkle on hat)
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120 — Yoenis Cespedes (sparkle on wrist)
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125 — Troy Tulowitzki (sparkle on neck)
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136 — Manny Machado (sparkle on base)
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144 — Rusney Castillo (sparkle on glove)
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149 — Daniel Murphy (sparkle on helmet)
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150 — Giancarlo Stanton (sparkle on elbow)
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163 — Chase Utley (sparkle on ball)
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169 — Adam Jones (sparkle on bat)
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175 — Adrian Beltre (sparkle on back)
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181 — Jason Heyward (sparkle on helmet)
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192 — Joc Pederson (sparkle on glove)
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200 — Miguel Cabrera (sparkle on wrist)
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203 — Paul Goldschmidt (sparkle on knuckle)
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205 — Josh Harrison (sparkle on knuckle)
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207 — Bryce Harper (sparkle on helmet)
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225 — Jacoby Ellsbury (sparkle on elbow)
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242 — Edwin Encarnacion (sparkle on helmet)
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250 — Evan Longoria (sparkle on ball)
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251 — Anthony Rendon (sparkle on cap)
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262 — Ryan Braun (sparkle on elbow)
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272 — Matt Kemp (sparkle on finger)
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275 — Buster Posey (sparkle on shoulder)
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300 — Mike Trout (sparkle on helmet)
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315 — Javier Baez (sparkle on helmet)
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320 — Shin-Soo Choo (sparkle on shoulder)
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321 — Josh Hamilton (sparkle on wrist)
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325 — Felix Hernandez (sparkle on glove)
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336 — Matt Carpenter (sparkle on elbow)
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348 — Carlos Santana (sparkle on wrist)
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350 — Yasiel Puig (sparkle on wrist)
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PHOTO VARIATIONS (code is 901)
1 — Derek Jeter (tipping cap)
5 — Josh Donaldson (Gatorade)
20 — Madison Bumgarner (batting)
25 — Jose Bautista (standing)
39 — Salvador Perez (celebrating)
46 — Wilson Ramos (Gatorade)
50 — Yu Darvish (batting)
92 — Ian Kinsler (no helmet, facing right)
100 — Clayton Kershaw (bubble)
134 — Brett Lawrie (baseballs in air)
136 — Manny Machado (with Mike Trout)
150 — Giancarlo Stanton (celebrating)
163 — Chase Utley (in dugout)
169 — Adam Jones (bubble)
177 — Paul Konerko (greeting fans)
181 — Jason Heyward (waving to camera)
200 — Miguel Cabrera (celebration)
207 — Bryce Harper (screaming)
216 — Greg Holland (Gatorade)
219 — Kennys Vargas (flexing)
221 — Jason Kipnis (sliding on tarp)
250 — Evan Longoria (no cap)
281 — Elvis Andrus (with Derek Jeter)
302 — Martin Prado (Gatorade)
318 — George Springer (Gatorade)
Have you pulled other variations? Let us know in the comments below. Once we verify the card, we’ll add it to our list.
Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball and Beckett Sports Card Monthly magazines. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.
The short-print photo variations …

























As much as I am not a fan of these sparkle and photo variations, I am really glad Topps is putting a distinct code on the back, which makes it easier to check for them.
#272 Matt Kemp…..Sparkle Variation…..Sparkle on his right pinkie finger
totally concur that it’s a good thing there is a unique last three-digit batch code on the back.
Otherwise, it’s another stupid thing to make so many SP’s and variations that you need a bible next to your boxes as you rip in order to keep track of them all instead of just being able to bust and enjoy the product as a collector should.
I’ll chase PC stuff, but I really don’t like the sparkle cards, some you truly can hardly see the sparkle. I agree that at least putting a code on the card helps. It’s a shame that anybody who is a casual collector may pull one and not even know what they have.
I love photo variations.
I truly despise sparkle variations.
I really wish they would stop doing the sparkles.
( Paul K. )……..it seems like your wish is coming true. Anybody who collected the ‘Sparkles’ starting with the 2011 set, it sure looked like the dot matrix printer type set was working good ( a Clear ‘Vibrant’ Sparkle was present )- followed by the 2014 edition (started ‘fading’ quite a bit )-and now the 2015 edition, from the looks of it here~REALLY ?????
Adam Jones #169 Sparkle on bat
I enjoyed the Sparkles for awhile, but it’s beginning to feel played-out already. (Unfortunately, Topps will probably keep it going for years since there instinct is to overdo it the more mediocre an idea it was to begin with.)
The photo variations, however, are tremendous fun and I always enjoy seeing them.
HATE the sparkles. HATE THEM!!!
TOMMY KAHNLE #94. NO SPARKLES BUT THE ENTIRE BACKGROUND IS “METALLIC”
I pulled a Greg Holland SP in a pack I bought at Walmart.
I just pulled the B.J. Upton card #184. It has the 861 code on back but on the brim of the helmet there is a sparkle. Is this a natural sparkle?
I wish my eyes were better, it is tiring looking at all of the small codes!
I love parallels and photo variations. But. Sparkle is one of the dumbest I’ve seen in a long time. Just too insignificant of a change from the original.
Is B.J. Upton #184 wearing sunglasses an SP????????
I got my Springer variation in a Jumbo pack, mixed with the other inserts.
I pulled a Derek Jeter sp varaition today. Didn’t really know what a had until I pulled the regular version also. Just posted the card on ebay.
I WANTED TO KNOW IF THE HUNTER PENCE WORLD SERIES GAME 4 CARD WAS A SP. LOOKS LIKE IT HAS A SPARKLE ON THE BOTTOM OF PENCE JERSEY CARD #9 BUT THE CODE IS 11861
IS OPENING DAY ANTHONY RIZZO #11 CODE 13350 A SP ? IT HAS A SPARKLE ON THE HELMET