How to Spot the 2015 Topps Series 2 Baseball Variation Short Prints
Compared to the past couple of years, the 2015 Topps Series 2 Baseball variations appear to be taking a more simple approach. While there are still photo swaps and Sparkle Variations, the Saber Stats Variations have been left out of the mix.
There isn't much of a theme to the Photo Variations other than being interesting, not-the-norm shots. This is similar to the Series 1 variations. Stretching, celebrating, sunglasses and hanging out with other players are all in there.
As with past years, the Sparkles (or Hidden Gems) are the toughest to spot just by looking at the photo. These have a small twinkle added to the original photo.
To spot 2015 Topps Series 2 variation short prints, you can use the codes at the end of the fine print on the back. Regular base cards end in 3764. Photo Variations finish with 3808. Sparkles are 3810. A couple of the base set subsets have different codes. These are not variations. 3808 and 3810 are the codes to look for.
See Also: 2015 Topps Baseball Retail Factory Set Rookie Variations
Below is a look at confirmed variations. You can use the tabs to easily switch between the Photo and Sparkle Variations. For an even easier way to spot the Sparkles, we've added Series 2 to our Sparkle Spotter guide, which highlights exactly where the twinks are with arrows.
Photo Variations
2015 Topps Series 2 Baseball Photo Variations
Code on back ends in 3808.
364 Travis Ishikawa, San Francisco Giants
Base: batting
Variation: in dugout
375 Johnny Cueto, Cincinnati Reds
Base: pitching
Variation: batting
376 Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox
Base: pitching
Variation: wearing jacket
387 Jacob deGrom, New York Mets
Base: pitching, Rookie of the Year
Variation: sunglasses
389 Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox
Base: batting, Future Stars
Variation: sliding
400 Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates
Base: batting
Variation: holding picture
450 Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners
Base: fielding
Variation: signing autographs
461 Mike Moustakas, Kansas City Royals
Base: falling over railing
Variation: celebrating with fans
468 CC Sabathia, New York Yankees
Base: pitching
Variation: with Derek Jeter
479 Carlos Gonzalez, Colorado Rockies
Base: running
Variation: sunglasses
487 Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians
Base: pitching, Cy Young
Variation: high-fives
503 Joe Panik, San Francisco Giants
Base: fielding, Future Stars
Variation: batting cage portrait
516 Lorenzo Cain, Kansas City Royals
Base: diving
Variation: high-fives
586 Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals
Base: grey jersey
Variation: red jersey
588 Kolten Wong, St. Louis Cardinals
Base: fielding, Future Stars
Variation: waving
595 Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta Braves
Base: pitching
Variation: walking from bullpen
599 Michael Brantley, Cleveland Indians
Base: batting
Variation: kicking
600 Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels
Base: batting
Variation: hugging
603 Jose Fernandez, Miami Marlins
Base: pitching, Future Stars
Variation: cap at chest
622 Yan Gomes, Cleveland Indians
Base: throwing
Variation: in dugout
645 Neftali Feliz, Texas Rangers
Base: pointing
Variation: hugging
647 Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals
Base: throwing
Variation: celebrating
651 Andrelton Simmons, Atlanta Braves
Base: diving
Variation: red carpet
675 Jonathan Lucroy, Milwaukee Brewers
Base: batting
Variation: sunglasses
700 Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins
Base: batting
Variation: in dugout
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Sparkle Variations
2015 Topps Series 2 Baseball Hidden Gems Sparkle Variations
Code on back ends in 3810.
360 Adam Laroche, Chicago White Sox
Sparkle Spot: helmet brim
361 Matt Holliday, St. Louis Cardinals
Sparkle Spot: left shoulder
363 Avisail Garcia, Chicago White Sox
Sparkle Spot: back by shoulder
372 Matt Adams, St. Louis Cardinals
Sparkle Spot: top of helmet
383 Delmon Young, Baltimore Orioles
Sparkle Spot: sleeve
386 Ben Zobrist, Oakland Athletics
Sparkle Spot: back of batting helmet
391 Hisashi Iwakuma, Seattle Mariners
Sparkle Spot: glove
393 Danny Salazar, Cleveland Indians
Sparkle Spot: stirrup
407 Jed Lowrie, Houston Astros
Sparkle Spot: end of glove
411 Nelson Cruz, Seattle Mariners
Sparkle Spot: top wristband
415 Ervin Santana, Minnesota Twins
Sparkle Spot: tip of glove
421 Joe Kelly, Boston Red Sox
Sparkle Spot: bottom of cleat
422 Prince Fielder, Texas Rangers
Sparkle Spot: bat shaft
436 Russell Martin, Toronto Blue Jays
Sparkle Spot: elbow pad
438 DJ LeMahieu, Colorado Rockies
Sparkle Spot: glove-side elbow
445 Christian Vazquez, Boston Red Sox
Sparkle Spot: top of helmet
452 Drew Smyly, Tampa Bay Rays
Sparkle Spot: glove-side sleeve
461 Mike Moustakas, Kansas City Royals
Sparkle Spot: glove
463 Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers
Sparkle Spot: baseball
468 CC Sabathia, New York Yankees
Sparkle Spot: bottom of baseball
469 James Shields, San Diego Padres
Sparkle Spot: throwing hand
470 Mark Trumbo, Arizona Diamondbacks
Sparkle Spot: shoulder
475 Juan Perez, San Francisco Giants
Sparkle Spot: bat shaft
493 Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees
Sparkle Spot: finger
497 Hunter Strickland, San Francisco Giants
Sparkle Spot: glove lace
507 A.J. Pierzynski, Atlanta Braves
Sparkle Spot: wrist
513 Michael Cuddyer, New York Mets
Sparkle Spot: left wrist
526 Will Middlebrooks, San Diego Padres
Sparkle Spot: back of helmet
555 Jake Arrieta, Chicago Cubs
Sparkle Spot: glove lace
557 Nick Markakis, Atlanta Braves
Sparkle Spot: top batting glove
568 Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
Sparkle Spot: waist
579 Jason Hammel, Chicago Cubs
Sparkle Spot: cap button
586 Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals
Sparkle Spot: bottom of glove
590 Torii Hunter, Minnesota Twins
Sparkle Spot: batting glove in back pocket
596 Bronson Arroyo, Arizona Diamondbacks
Sparkle Spot: top of baseball
606 Ian Desmond, Washington Nationals
Sparkle Spot: throwing arm shoulder
610 David Freese, Los Angeles Angels
Sparkle Spot: bottom of baseball
618 Billy Butler, Oakland Athletics
Sparkle Spot: side of helmet
620 Jose Altuve, Houston Astros
Sparkle Spot: bat knob
624 Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, Philadelphia Phillies
Sparkle Spot: cap brim
638 Jimmy Rollins, Los Angeles Dodgers
Sparkle Spot: cap
645 Neftali Feliz, Texas Rangers
Sparkle Spot: belt
657 Justin Morneau, Colorado Rockies
Sparkle Spot: batting glove
664 Hector Santiago, Los Angeles Angels
Sparkle Spot: top of cap
665 Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals
Sparkle Spot: bottom of cleat
671 Gerrit Cole, Pittsburgh Pirates
Sparkle Spot: glove-side sleeve
674 Desmond Jennings, Tampa Bay Rays
Sparkle Spot: bottom of baseball
684 Wil Myers, San Diego Padres
Sparkle Spot: glove in back pocket
690 Brett Bochy, San Francisco Giants
Sparkle Spot: glove
691 Lisalverto Bonilla, Texas Rangers
Sparkle Spot: throwing arm sleeve
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Mark Fricke
There is a corrected error card in the 2015 Topps series 2 that no one has mentioned yet.
It’s card #558 of Patrick Corbin. In packs the photo on the card is the same photo as #116 Vidal Nuno. In the factory sets the photo has been changed to (I’m assuming) the correct photo)
I can send pictures if it would help.