2014 Topps Baseball Cards

The new 2014 Topps baseball cards are out and they are looking great! Here is a guide on where to find them and what to look for when you purchase them.

Introduction to 2014 Topps Baseball Cards

Topps baseball cards are a popular way to collect your favorite players and commemorative cards. Each year, Topps releases a new set of cards with updated player photos and statistics. The 2014 Topps baseball cards are the most recent release, and they feature many of the same great aspects that collectors have come to love about Topps baseball cards

One of the best things about Topps Baseball Cards is that they are affordable for everyone. You can find packs of 2014 Topps baseball cards at your local retailer, or you can purchase them online. Each pack contains five cards, and the suggested retail price is only $2.99. That means that you can get started on your collection without spending a lot of money.

Topps Baseball Cards are also easy to store and display. You can keep them in a box or album, or you can hang them on your wall. Either way, you will be able to enjoy looking at your cards and showing them off to your friends.

If you are a baseball fan then you need to start collecting Topps baseball cards today!

The Different Types of Cards in the Set

Topps has been producing baseball cards since the 1950s. The 2014 Topps Baseball Set includes 792 different standard-size cards, which is an increase of 22 cards over the 2013 Topps baseball set The first 250 cards in the set feature active Major League Baseball players, with 71 of those players appearing on cards for the first time in the Topps base set. The next 200 cards (251-450) feature retired MLB stars, managers, and executives. Veterans are featured on cards 451-700, while the final 50 cards in the set (701-750) are reserved for prospects who could make their Major League debuts in 2014. Rounding out the 792-card set are 42 additional short-printed Veteran cards and 50 additional Prospect cards that were inserted into packs at less than 1:3 odds.

The Different Printing Techniques Used

Printing techniques are constantly changing and evolving, which is why many people are interested in learning about the different printing techniques used on Topps baseball cards From the early days of woodblocks and lithographs to the modern ERA of digital printing, Topps has used a variety of printing techniques to produce its baseball cards

One of the earliest printing techniques used by Topps was woodblock printing. This method was used to print the very first Topps baseball cards in 1951. A woodblock is a block of wood that has been carved into a desired image. The carving is then inked and pressed onto paper to create a print.

Lithography is another early printing technique that was used by Topps. Lithography is a chemical process that uses oil and water to create an image on a metal plate. The plate is then covered with ink and transferred to paper to create a print. This method was used to print Topps baseball cards from 1952-1989.

Topps began using offset lithography in 1990, which is a variation of traditional lithography. In offset lithography, the image is first transferred from a metal plate to a rubber blanket before being printed onto paper. This method allowed for quicker production of Topps baseball cards and helped reduce production costs.

The most modern printing technique used by Topps is digital printing. This method uses computers and special printers to produce prints directly from digital files. Digital printing allows for greater flexibility in design and color, as well as quicker turnaround times for production.

The Card Design

The 2014 Topps baseball card design is very similar to the 2013 design. The Card Size is the same, as are the borders. The big change is in the player image. Instead of a close-up photo of the player, Topps has gone with a headshot on a solid color background. The team logo is in the lower left-hand corner, and the player’s name and position are in the lower right-hand corner. The back of the cards has player stats and biographical information.

The Photography

Topps has been featuring beautifully-shot action photography on their baseball cards since the early 1950s, and the 2014 Topps baseball set is no exception. The card design celebrates Topps’ 60th anniversary, and the photography is some of the best that Topps has ever done.

The Card Stock

Topps has been consistent in the manufacturing process of their cards. They print on white card stock that is of mid-grade thickness. The surface of the 2014 Topps baseball cards is very glossy, which may not be to the taste of some collectors who prefer a more matte surface.

The Card Back

The back of each 2014 Topps baseball card features a photo of the player as well as basic information about him such as his team, position, and statistics. In addition, there is a short blurb about the player written by Topps.

The Checklists

The 2014 Topps Baseball Set consists of 792 cards. The first 661 cards form the base set. Cards 662-772 are inserts, which are further broken down by type: rookie performers (cards 662-667), future stars (cards 668-672), all-stars (cards 673-676), choking hazards (cards 677-678), managerial moves (cards 679-680) andTopps’ choice (cards 681-682). Rounding out the inserts are 10 cards commemorating the Yogi Berra Museum and Library opening at Montclair State University and one checklist card. In addition, there are 50 short printed cards inserted 1:24 packs. The final 40 cards are part of a Relic set, and these can be found 1:288 packs.

As has been the case since 2009, hobby boxes of 2014 Topps Baseball contain 24 packs with each pack yielding nine cards. Each box will also have either two or three hits in the form of autographs, relics or manufactured relics. A full case contains 12 boxes with each box having two hits on average.

The Variations

One of the most interesting and perhaps most controversial sets in recent years has been the 2014 Topps baseball card set. The main set contains 787 cards, but what has collectors talking is the fact that there are actually three different types or variations of cards in the set, which are denoted by a small letter in the bottom right hand corner of the card. Type A cards are the most common, followed by Type B, with Type C being the rarest. The differences between the three types are very minor and usually involve slight color variations or variations in the placement of logos or other graphics on the card.

The existence of these three different types of cards was not initially reported by Topps, and it was not until after many collectors had already put together complete sets that they became aware of the existence of the different types. This led to a lot of controversy and debate among collectors as to whether or not Topps should have reported the existence of the different types from the outset. Some felt that Topps was trying to pull a fast one by not disclosing the existence of the different types, while others felt that it wasn’t really a big deal and that collectors should just be happy that there was any type of variation to collect at all.

Topps has since issued an apology for not disclosing the existence of the different types from the outset, but many collectors still feel angry about it and some have even vowed to never buy another Topps Baseball Card product again. Whether or not this will actually happen remains to be seen, but it is clear that Topps has made some collector’s very unhappy with their handling of this situation.

The Wrapper

The name of the game is still baseball, but Topps has put a new spin on the classic baseball card Now, 2014 Topps baseball cards come in a special wrapper that allows you to keep track of your progress as you collect each card in the set.

This year’s set includes 330 base cards, 50 short-printed cards, and 50 insert cards. The base cards feature veterans and rookies from all 30 Major League Baseball teams. The short-printed cards are inserted 1:6 packs, and the insert cards are inserted 1:12 packs.

Topps has also released three different versions of the popular Chasing History insert set. These inserts feature 30 players who are chasing history in the 2014 season. Each card is inserted 1:24 packs, and there are 60 different cards in the set.

With so many great cards to collect, the 2014 Topps baseball card set is sure to be a hit with collectors of all ages.