2015 Topps Baseball Variations Bring Back Sparkles, Photos

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JeterSPcleaner

Note: Lists will continue to update as more are discovered by collectors.

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)

Sparkle5donaldson

5 — Josh Donaldson (sparkle on bat)

6SP-werth6

6 — Jayson Werth (sparkle on chest)

15SparkleVotto

15 — Joey Votto (sparkle on bat)

227SP-madbum227

20 — Madison Bumgarner (sparkle on glove)

25Bautistasparkle25

25 — Jose Bautista (sparkle on heel)

34SP-blackmon34

34 — Charlie Blackmon (sparkle on wrist)

42SP-frazier42

42 — Todd Frazier (sparkle on sleeve)

44SparkleCastro

43 — Starlin Castro (sparkle on ball)

47Sparkle47rizzo

47 — Anthony Rizzo (sparkle on helmet)

50SparkleDarvish

50 — Yu Darvish (sparkle on glove)

SparkleWacha60

60 — Michael Wacha (sparkle on shoulder)

62SP-nolanA62

62 — Nolan Arenado (sparkle on thumb)

SparklePence67

67 — Hunter Pence (sparkle on hand)

73SP-freeman73

73 — Freddie Freeman (sparkle on belt)

SparklePEdroia75

75 — Dustin Pedroia (sparkle on wrist)

80SparkleWainwright

80 — Adam Wainwright (sparkle on glove)

83SP-wright83

83 — David Wright (sparkle on bat)

92SparkleKinsler

92 — Ian Kinsler (sparkle on belt)

Sparkle100kershaw

100 — Clayton Kershaw (sparkle on arm)

109SparkleFister109

109 — Doug Fister (sparkle on hat)

120SPcespedes120

120 — Yoenis Cespedes (sparkle on wrist)

125SparkleTulo125

125 — Troy Tulowitzki (sparkle on neck)

136SPMachado136

136 — Manny Machado (sparkle on base)

144SP-castillo144

144 — Rusney Castillo (sparkle on glove)

149SPmurphy149

149 — Daniel Murphy (sparkle on helmet)

SparkleStanton

150 — Giancarlo Stanton (sparkle on elbow)

163UtleySparkle

163 — Chase Utley (sparkle on ball)

169SparkleJonesbat

169 — Adam Jones (sparkle on bat)

175SparkleBeltre175

175 — Adrian Beltre (sparkle on back)

181SP-heyward181

181 — Jason Heyward (sparkle on helmet)

192SparklePederson

192 — Joc Pederson (sparkle on glove)

SparkleCabrera


200 — Miguel Cabrera (sparkle on wrist)

Sparkle203Goldy

203 — Paul Goldschmidt (sparkle on knuckle)

205Harrisonsparkle

205 — Josh Harrison (sparkle on knuckle)

207SP-harper207

207 — Bryce Harper (sparkle on helmet)

225ellsbury

225 — Jacoby Ellsbury (sparkle on elbow)

242Encarnacionsparkle

242 — Edwin Encarnacion (sparkle on helmet)

250SP-longoria250

250 — Evan Longoria (sparkle on ball)

Sparkle251Rendon

251 — Anthony Rendon (sparkle on cap)

262SparkleBraun

262 — Ryan Braun (sparkle on elbow)

sparkle272Kemp

272 — Matt Kemp (sparkle on finger)

275SP-posey275

275 — Buster Posey (sparkle on shoulder)

300SparkleTrout

300 — Mike Trout (sparkle on helmet)

Sparkle315baez

315 — Javier Baez (sparkle on helmet)

320SPchoo320

320 — Shin-Soo Choo (sparkle on shoulder)

SparkleHamilton

321 — Josh Hamilton (sparkle on wrist)

325SparkleFelix325

325 — Felix Hernandez (sparkle on glove)

336SP-carpenter336

336 — Matt Carpenter (sparkle on elbow)

SantanaSparkle348

348 — Carlos Santana (sparkle on wrist)

SparklePuig


350 — Yasiel Puig (sparkle on wrist)

toppsspringerSP

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 … 

1-JeterSPcleaner
5-SP-Donaldson
20-bumgarner
25-bautista
39-perez
46-SP-Ramos
50-darvish
92-SP-Kinsler
100-SP-Kershaw
134-SP-Lawrie
136-SP-machado
150-SP-Stanton
163utley
169-jones
177-SPKonerko
181-SPHeyward
200-cabrera
207-harper
216-holland
219-vargas
221-kipnis
250-longoria
281-andrus
302-SP-prado
318-toppsspringerSP

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19 comments

  1. David J 3 February, 2015 at 21:37

    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.

  2. robert 4 February, 2015 at 11:49

    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.

  3. phillies_joe 4 February, 2015 at 11:54

    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.

  4. Paul K 4 February, 2015 at 12:32

    I love photo variations.
    I truly despise sparkle variations.
    I really wish they would stop doing the sparkles.

  5. Steve A. 4 February, 2015 at 15:30

    ( 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 ?????

  6. Robert Braxton 5 February, 2015 at 13:52

    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.

  7. Chuck Bartz 7 February, 2015 at 11:10

    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?

  8. card opinionator 11 February, 2015 at 11:00

    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.

  9. John Wyne 17 March, 2015 at 19:19

    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.

  10. Toni 13 May, 2015 at 20:35

    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

  11. Toni 13 May, 2015 at 20:37

    IS OPENING DAY ANTHONY RIZZO #11 CODE 13350 A SP ? IT HAS A SPARKLE ON THE HELMET

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