2015 Topps High Tek Variations and Patterns Guide
Overview
A blast from the recent past that continues to carve out a niche with modern collectors, 2015 Topps High Tek Baseball returns with more patterns that each feature a different background design. Information is still coming in, but the gallery below aims to help collectors distinguish the 2015 Topps High Tek patterns and variations in one helpful guide.While it may seem a little daunting, there appear to be 13 total patterns (originally thought to be 14) that are broken down into seven groups. Given that there are 112 base cards, that perfectly splits down to 56 cards per pattern. Group A subjects have seven different designs and Group B only has six.
In 2014, the patterns were separated by league affiliation.
Another thing that falls along group lines, at least partially, is the base parallels. For the three most common options, the parallels only apply to a portion of the 112-card checklist. Broken down into Group A or Group B, 56 subjects fill the parallels for Purple Rainbow, Confetti Diffractor and Tidal Diffractor, and the remainder apply to the full checklist. A full list is shown below:
- Purple Rainbow (1:3) - Group A
- Confetti Diffractor #/99 (1:5) - Group B
- Tidal Diffractor #/75 (1:7) - Group A
- Gold Rainbow #/35 (1:7) - Group A/B
- Clouds Diffractor #/25 (1:10) - Group A/B
- Red Orbit Diffractor #/5 (1:50) - Group A/B
- Black Rainbow 1/1 (1:251) - Group A/B
- Black Galactic Diffractor 1/1 (1:251) - Group A/B
- Printing Proofs 1/1 (1:62) - Group A/B
In addition to the 13 patterns, each with increasing rarity, Pattern 6 cards also have Red Orbit Diffractor (1:50) and Black Galactic Refractor (1:251) parallels according to the box odds. However, it looks like only Grid (6B) and Blade (7A) have the parallels. There are also traditional image variations that feature select players in their home uniform. A full gallery is available using the tab above.
The odds referenced in this article pertain to pack odds, but given that there is only one pack per box, it also applies to the box odds. Specific information and odds come courtesy of brentandbecca, a popular group breaker in the hobby.
There is also an exclusive Sky Rainbow parallel that is only found in Asian boxes. Featuring a bluish tint on the Waves pattern, the cards are numbered to 79 and only apply to Group B subjects.
Click on the tabs above to see the full gallery for the patterns or variations, and use the final tab to peruse the checklist.
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Base Patterns
2015 Topps High Tek Baseball Patterns Visual Guide
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It is important to remember that each pattern tier has two groups per level, each with a different design. Every player only falls into one group (noted as A or B on the checklist tab above), so there would be a total of six designs per subject since Pattern 7 only applies to Group A. The list below includes a breakdown for each level and example images will be added as they surface. This is a work in progress, so let us know if you find something different.
Based on odds, it appears that there are around 25 copies of each pattern for 6 and 7, 50 of each for pattern 5, 100 of each of pattern 4, and so on.
Pattern 1 (2:1 packs)
2+ per pack; 12+ of each group per case and 24+ total per case.
Pattern 2 (2:1 packs)
2 per pack; 12 of each group per case and 24 total per case.
Pattern 3 (1:1 packs)
1 per pack; 6 of each group per case and 12 total per case.
Pattern 4 (1:3 packs)
1 per 3 packs; 2 of each group per case and 4 total per case.
Pattern 5 (1:6 packs)
1 per 6 packs; 1 of each group per case and 2 total per case.
Pattern 6 (1:12 packs)
1 per 12 packs; 1 total per case.
Pattern 7 (1:24 packs) *Only Group A*
1 per 24 packs; 1 total in every other case.
Asia Exclusive Sky Rainbow Parallel (#/79) *Only Group B*
Only found in Asian SKU boxes.
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Uniform Variations
2015 Topps High Tek Baseball Home Uniform Variations Visual Guide
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Although technically easier to spot because of the home jersey image, Home Uniform Variations are subtle and tough to pull. Averaging 1:42 packs, there are also Red Orbit Diffractor (1:416) and Black Galactic Refractor (1:1,986) parallels. While the Home Uniform Variations include players from both groups (A and B), the variation always includes the Grass background no matter the group where the player is found. It is believed that there are around 75 to 80 copies for each variation.
We will add to this list as more cards surface. Let us know if you spot any others.
HT-BP Buster Posey - San Francisco Giants
HT-CKR Corey Kluber - Cleveland Indians
HT-CKW Clayton Kershaw - Los Angeles Dodgers
HT-DJ Derek Jeter - New York Yankees
HT-JDM Jacob deGrom - New York Mets
HT-JSR Jorge Soler - Chicago Cubs
HT-KG Ken Griffey Jr. - Seattle Mariners
HT-MT Mike Trout - Los Angeles Angels
HT-OV Omar Vizquel - Cleveland Indians
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Checklist
2015 Topps High Tek Patterns Base Set Checklist
HT-AG Alex Gordon - Kansas City Royals
HT-AJO Adam Jones - Baltimore Orioles
HT-AJS Andruw Jones - Atlanta Braves
HT-AM Andrew McCutchen - Pittsburgh Pirates
HT-AP Albert Pujols - Los Angeles Angels
HT-AR Addison Russell - Chicago Cubs
HT-ARI Anthony Rizzo - Chicago Cubs
HT-BB Byron Buxton - Minnesota Twins
HT-BH Bryce Harper - Washington Nationals
HT-BJ Bo Jackson - Kansas City Royals
HT-BW Bernie Williams - New York Yankees
HT-CB Craig Biggio - Houston Astros
HT-CD Carlos Delgado - Toronto Blue Jays
HT-CY Christian Yelich - Miami Marlins
HT-DH Dilson Herrera - New York Mets
HT-DO David Ortiz - Boston Red Sox
HT-DPA Dustin Pedroia - Boston Red Sox
HT-DPY Dalton Pompey - Toronto Blue Jays
HT-DT Devon Travis - Toronto Blue Jays
HT-EE Edwin Encarnacion - Toronto Blue Jays
HT-EM Edgar Martinez - Seattle Mariners
HT-FF Freddie Freeman - Atlanta Braves
HT-FR Frank Robinson - Cincinnati Reds
HT-FT Frank Thomas - Chicago White Sox
HT-GS George Springer - Houston Astros
HT-GS Giancarlo Stanton - Miami Marlins
HT-HA Hank Aaron - Atlanta Braves
HT-I Ichiro - Miami Marlins
HT-JAE Jose Altuve - Houston Astros
HT-JAU Jose Abreu - Chicago White Sox
HT-JB Javier Baez - Chicago Cubs
HT-JC Jose Canseco - Oakland Athletics
HT-JGZ Juan Gonzalez - Texas Rangers
HT-JM Joe Mauer - Minnesota Twins
HT-JPK Joe Panik - San Francisco Giants
HT-JPN Joc Pederson - Los Angeles Dodgers
HT-JSR Jorge Soler - Chicago Cubs
HT-KG Ken Griffey Jr - Seattle Mariners
HT-MC Miguel Cabrera - Detroit Tigers
HT-MGE Mark Grace - Chicago Cubs
HT-MGM Marquis Grissom - Montreal Expos
HT-MJ Micah Johnson - Chicago White Sox
HT-MME Mark McGwire - Oakland Athletics
HT-MTR Michael Taylor - Washington Nationals
HT-MTT Mike Trout - Los Angeles Angels
HT-PG Paul Goldschmidt - Arizona Diamondbacks
HT-RA Roberto Alomar - Toronto Blue Jays
HT-RCA Rusney Castillo - Boston Red Sox
HT-RCO Robinson Cano - Seattle Mariners
HT-RH Rickey Henderson - Oakland Athletics
HT-RJA Reggie Jackson - New York Yankees
HT-SMA Steven Moya - Detroit Tigers
HT-SME Starling Marte - Pittsburgh Pirates
HT-VM Victor Martinez - Detroit Tigers
HT-YP Yasiel Puig - Los Angeles Dodgers
HT-YT Yasmany Tomas - Arizona Diamondbacks
HT-ABY Archie Bradley - Arizona Diamondbacks
HT-AL Al Leiter - New York Yankees
HT-BC Brandon Crawford - San Francisco Giants
HT-BF Brandon Finnegan - Kansas City Royals
HT-BL Barry Larkin - Cincinnati Reds
HT-BP Buster Posey - San Francisco Giants
HT-BS Blake Swihart - Boston Red Sox
HT-CC Carlos Correa - Houston Astros
HT-CJ Chipper Jones - Atlanta Braves
HT-CKR Corey Kluber - Cleveland Indians
HT-CKW Clayton Kershaw - Los Angeles Dodgers
HT-CRN Cal Ripken Jr - Baltimore Orioles
HT-CRO Carlos Rodon - Chicago White Sox
HT-CSE Chris Sale - Chicago White Sox
HT-DB Dellin Betances - New York Yankees
HT-DF Doug Fister - Washington Nationals
HT-DJ Derek Jeter - New York Yankees
HT-DN Daniel Norris - Toronto Blue Jays
HT-FH Felix Hernandez - Seattle Mariners
HT-FL Francisco Lindor - Cleveland Indians
HT-GM Greg Maddux - Atlanta Braves
HT-GR Garrett Richards - Los Angeles Angels
HT-JB Johnny Bench - Cincinnati Reds
HT-JDM Jacob deGrom - New York Mets
HT-JF Jose Fernandez - Miami Marlins
HT-JK Jung ho Kang - Pittsburgh Pirates
HT-JL Jon Lester - Chicago Cubs
HT-JSS James Shields - San Diego Padres
HT-JSZ John Smoltz - Atlanta Braves
HT-KB Kris Bryant - Chicago Cubs
HT-KP Kevin Plawecki - New York Mets
HT-MBR Madison Bumgarner - San Francisco Giants
HT-MBS Matt Barnes - Boston Red Sox
HT-MFO Maikel Franco - Philadelphia Phillies
HT-MHY Matt Harvey - New York Mets
HT-MPA Mike Piazza - New York Mets
HT-MPR Mark Prior - Chicago Cubs
HT-MR Mariano Rivera - New York Yankees
HT-MSR Matt Shoemaker - Los Angeles Angels
HT-MSZ Max Scherzer - Washington Nationals
HT-MTA Masahiro Tanaka - New York Yankees
HT-NG Nomar Garciaparra - Boston Red Sox
HT-NR Nolan Ryan - Texas Rangers
HT-NS Noah Syndergaard - New York Mets
HT-OS Ozzie Smith - St. Louis Cardinals
HT-OV Omar Vizquel - Cleveland Indians
HT-PS Pablo Sandoval - Boston Red Sox
HT-RCS Roger Clemens - New York Yankees
HT-RI Raisel Iglesias - Cincinnati Reds
HT-RJO Randy Johnson - Seattle Mariners
HT-RO Roberto Osuna - Toronto Blue Jays
HT-SGY Sonny Gray - Oakland Athletics
HT-SK Sandy Koufax - Los Angeles Dodgers
HT-SP Salvador Perez - Kansas City Royals
HT-TG Tom Glavine - Atlanta Braves
HT-VC Vinny Castilla - Colorado Rockies
2015 Topps High Tek Home Uniform Image Variations Set Checklist
HT-CKR Corey Kluber - Cleveland Indians
HT-CKW Clayton Kershaw - Los Angeles Dodgers
HT-DJ Derek Jeter - New York Yankees
HT-JDM Jacob deGrom - New York Mets
HT-JSR Jorge Soler - Chicago Cubs
HT-KG Ken Griffey Jr. - Seattle Mariners
HT-MT Mike Trout - Los Angeles Angels
HT-OV Omar Vizquel - Cleveland Indians
Martin
Have any idea on what the print runs are for groups 5, 6, and 7? or anyone have any guesses? I have heard both /25 and /50 for pattern 6. No clue about pattern 7.
Another thing, I have seen “hot boxes” in two different case breaks now. One box contained two pattern 6- Stripes (one per case) back to back, a 1/1 printing proof, and a rookie gold rainbow parallel auto redemption.
The other “hot box” had two pattern 6’s back to back again, a redemption for a 1/1 Mo Rivera auto printing proof, and another gold rainbow auto.