2013 Topps Series 2 Baseball Variation Short Prints Guide
2013 Topps Series 2 Baseball variations should be easier to spot than usual. That's because the majority of the variation short prints feature Series 1 cards. Of the 25 total alternate versions (23 total players), just five are of Series 2 cards.
A couple of themes run throughout the 2013 Topps Series 2 Variations checklist: sunglasses and autographs. Whereas the Series 1 variations were all about big defensive plays, Series 2 gets into more of a lighthearted, summer feel. Players are either pictured wearing shades or hanging out with fans on the sidelines signing autographs. Mike Trout and Yu Darvish each have two variations. Trout also had a Series 1 Out of Bounds variation. Others with variations in both Series 1 and 2 include Bryce Harper, Andrew McCutchen and Matt Kemp.
The card that is likely to garner the most attention is David Ortiz. He is pictured on the Fenway Field with an American flag draped over the outfield fence. The photo comes from his heartfelt speech during a ceremony after the Boston Marathon bombings.
Below is a complete checklist of 2013 Topps Series 2 Baseball Variations. We've pictured all of the base versions of the cards. When available, we've added images of the variations as well as added a written description.
2013 Topps Series 2 Baseball Variation Short Prints Visual Guide
The first image pictured is the regular version. The second image is the variation. Click on the names to shop for singles on eBay.
1. Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals
Regular Version: Rookie Cup
Variation: sunglasses
6. Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies
Regular Version: fielding
Variation: signing autographs
10. Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles
Regular Version: diving
Variation: sunglasses
11. Yu Darvish, Texas Rangers
Regular Version: red hat
Variation 1: sunglasses
Variation 2: signing autographs
22. Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers
Regular Version: pitching
Variation: signing autographs
26. Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies
Regular Version: batting
Variation: signing autographs
27. Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels
Regular Version: sliding
Variation 1: signing autographs
Variation 2: sunglasses
28. Prince Fielder, Detroit Tigers
Regular Version: batting
Variation: sunglasses
34. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Regular Version: throwing
Variation: wearing sunglasses
55. Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants
Regular Version: orange jersey
Variation: wearing sunglasses
78. Dylan Bundy, Baltimore Orioles
Regular Version: pitching
Variation: standing at dugout with fans
110. Justin Upton, Atlanta Braves
Regular Version: batting
Variation: sunglasses
122. Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates
Regular Version: batting
Variation: sunglasses
127. Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins
Regular Version: batting
Variation: sunglasses
228. Adrian Gonzalez, Los Angeles Dodgers
Regular Version: batting
Variation: signing autographs
242. Matt Kemp, Los Angeles Dodgers
Regular Version: running
Variation: wearing sunglasses
316. Josh Reddick, Oakland Athletics
Regular Version: fielding
Variation: sunglasses (and one amazing beard)
331. Jose Reyes, Toronto Blue Jays
Regular Version: running
Variation: signing autographs
362. Yoenis Cespedes, Oakland Athletics
Regular Version: Rookie Cup
Variation: sunglasses
456. Pablo Sandoval, San Francisco Giants
Regular Version: batting
Variation: sunglasses
595. David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox
Regular Version: batting
Variation: giving speech, "Boston Strong"
660. Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers
Regular Version: sliding
Variation: glove, sunglasses on head
661. Hyun-jin Ryu, Los Angeles Dodgers
Regular Version: pitching
Variation: sunglasses
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Related Topics: Baseball Cards: Guides
Ho, hum. Values on this stuff plummeted within a week of its release in Series 1, and it looks to be more of the same. Gimmicks, pointless gimmicks.
What variation is the tougher of the two?
the sunglasses or signing autograph?
Lee » That info hasn’t been released and it’s still too early to get a good sample size. I’d guess they’re probably in roughly equal numbers, though.
Hey Chris…..go buy some Wall Street products. Nobody cares about speculation/gambling issues.
Like the sp’s. They look like real baseball cards. I can see what the players look like, not some generic & repetitive picture of a diving catch, etc.
Shelby Miller 305b is another variation. Missing from this list…
Evan » Thanks for the tip. It turns out it’s from the retail factory set. We just posted a guide to all five found in the set: http://www.cardboardconnection.com/2013-topps-baseball-factory-set-rookie-variations-guide
All the fuss and inflated values of these “new age” short prints and variations remind me of the big “error craze” that came to a head in ’89/90, when companies started printing errors on purpose because of the demand. It was fun to chase ’em down, but was terrible for collectors and the hobby itself when we all caught on that the companies were staging error cards and all of them (errors) whether legitimate and rare and/or staged and pointless(errors) bottomed up in value and lots of money was lost by collectors. The SP craze is, to me, just the same thing, something to drive retail sales and create sales at the expense of the collector. Eventually, the SP’s will bottom out and people will realize that it’s all wasted money. I’m not immune, I’m chasing ’em just like everyone else, but perhaps this is something to keep in mind…
Aren’t there more SP’s than you listed including a David Wright?
Michael Zeitz » We’ve listed the ones we’ve spotted. Topps did not provide them so we’re still not sure if we have them all. I think we’re very close. Which David Wright are you thinking of?
I have two different Mike Trout 2012 ROY variations.
i seen this card get sold on eBay
… http://www.ebay.com/itm/2013-Topps-Michael-Brantley-Auto-Card-Cleveland-Indians-Extremely-Rare-Version-/221729277405?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=i6b%252BmwcYRv6iEWhMmkKq5JfyXDU%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc …
is this card a short print autograph variation? How hard is it to come across one these cards?
thank you