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2018 Topps Archives Baseball Variations Guide

2018 Topps Archives Baseball Variations Guide

2018 Topps Archives Baseball features two of Topps' favorite things: retro designs and short-printed image variations. The 2018 Topps Archives Baseball variations combine both aspects for several key players in each of the three main subsets.

Likely due to the huge release date gap between the Retail and Hobby formats, Topps actually disclosed the variations on the 2018 Topps Archives Baseball checklist. At just nine cards, this set is smaller than expected, but given the excessive nature of variations in other sets, this is not the worst thing.

Shop for 2018 Topps Archives Baseball Variations on eBay.

Although the multi-subset base lineup can seem a little more confusing, the Topps Archives Baseball variations are simply an image change on the same design. The 1959 set also capitalizes the names. Retail odds for the variations are 1:106 packs, and they are a case-hit for Hobby.

2018 Topps Archives Baseball Variation Codes

Need another way to identify the 2018 Topps Archives variations? Flip the card over and look for the small CODE#CMP number at the bottom of the card (for 1959) or to the far right (for 1977 and 1981). Depending on how the final three digits end, you will know exactly what you are dealing with. While the base cards each have different codes, the variations all use the same number.

Base

  • 1959 - ends in #307
  • 1977 - ends in #314
  • 1981 - ends in #320
Variations

  • 1959 - ends in #326
  • 1977 - ends in #326
  • 1981 - ends in #326

2018 Topps Archives Baseball Subset Parallels

Although they are not variations in the modern sense, 2018 Topps Archives does present unique versions of the three subsets from the base set. Each option only applies to the 100-card subset that is noted. Since these all carry the normal base code, you must spot the difference on the card to know you have one.

1959 Signature Omission / 1959 Venezuelan (#1-100)

The 1959 subset actually has two choices. The Signature Omission parallel is fairly obvious as it just removes the facsimile autograph from the card's front. The Venezuelan aspect is a bit more subtle, changing the back color of the card from white-ish to gray-ish. As a result, many collectors call them "Gray Backs" or "Grey Backs."

1959 Base Back

2018 Topps Archives Baseball Variations Guide 1

1959 Venezuelan Back Parallel

2018 Topps Archives Baseball Variations Guide 2

1977 Signature Omission (#101-200) 

Again, the Signature Omission parallel for 1977 is easier to spot.

1977 Base

2018 Topps Archives Baseball Variations Guide 3

1977 Signature Omission Parallel

2018 Topps Archives Baseball Variations Guide 4

1981 Topps Logo Swap Parallels (#201-300)

And, lastly, 1981 brings a Topps Logo Swap edition. This features a change that replaces the generic Topps text with a more distinct, vintage-style logo.

1981 Base Topps Logo

2018 Topps Archives Baseball Variations Guide 5

1981 Topps Logo Swap Parallel

2018 Topps Archives Baseball Variations Guide 6

As far as the odds, we only have the retail info. 1959 (No Sig and Gray Back) and 1977 (No Sig) are lumped together at 1:48 packs, while 1981 Logo Swap is 1:96 packs.

2018 Topps Archives Baseball Variations SP Checklist

1959 Topps
31 Aaron Judge - New York Yankees
50 Shohei Ohtani - Los Angeles Angels RC
100 Kris Bryant - Chicago Cubs
1977 Topps
108 Amed Rosario - New York Mets RC
150 Clayton Kershaw - Los Angeles Dodgers
200 Derek Jeter - New York Yankees
1981 Topps
201 Roberto Clemente - Pittsburgh Pirates
202 Ernie Banks - Chicago Cubs
300 Bryce Harper - Washington Nationals

2018 Topps Archives Baseball Variations Gallery

Click on the listings to buy specific cards on eBay. More images will be added.

31 Aaron Judge - New York Yankees

1959 Base

2018 Topps Archives Baseball Variations Guide 7

Variation

2018 Topps Archives Baseball Variations Guide 8

50 Shohei Ohtani - Los Angeles Angels

1959 Base

2018 Topps Archives Baseball Variations Guide 9

Variation

2018 Topps Archives Baseball Variations Guide 10

100 Kris Bryant - Chicago Cubs

1959 Base

2018 Topps Archives Baseball Variations Guide 11

Variation

2018 Topps Archives Baseball Variations Guide 12

108 Amed Rosario - New York Mets

1977 Base

2018 Topps Archives Baseball Variations Guide 13

Variation

2018 Topps Archives Baseball Variations Guide 14

150 Clayton Kershaw - Los Angeles Dodgers

1977 Base

2018 Topps Archives Baseball Variations Guide 3

Variation

2018 Topps Archives Baseball Variations Guide 16

200 Derek Jeter - New York Yankees

1977 Base

2018 Topps Archives Baseball Variations Guide 17

Variation

2018 Topps Archives Baseball Variations Guide 18

201 Roberto Clemente - Pittsburgh Pirates

1981 Base

2018 Topps Archives Baseball Variations Guide 19

Variation

2018 Topps Archives Baseball Variations Guide 20

202 Ernie Banks - Chicago Cubs

1981 Base

2018 Topps Archives Baseball Variations Guide 21

Variation

2018 Topps Archives Baseball Variations Guide 22

300 Bryce Harper - Washington Nationals

1981 Base

2018 Topps Archives Baseball Variations Guide 23

Variation

2018 Topps Archives Baseball Variations Guide 24

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Trey is a lifelong sports fanatic. He is a huge fan of the NBA and NFL, as well as soccer, college basketball and college football. As a kid, he collected football and basketball cards. In more recent years, he started collecting basketball cards again on a whim and has since expanded to other sports and entertainment options.

User Comments

Linnell hunter
Linnell hunter

Just seen this after posting my inquiry.

Trey Treutel
Trey Treutel

They are all like this. No corrected version.

Linnell hunter
Linnell hunter

Card #264 Frank Thomas is actually Bo Jackson.
Doubtful that there is any “corrected” type of version. Does anybody else notice this?

Joaquin
Joaquin

Hi..i have a Mike Trout logo swap..i was wondering if there was a print run number on those. Thnx

Neil
Neil

I pulled a #264 Frank Thomas but the picture looks like bo Jackson any help

Christopher A. Hasen
Christopher A. Hasen

Hey quick question. I think I may have purchase a Juan Soto grayback thinking it was the base rookie and I think the code is the same for the base and grayback. Can you confirm? Is grayback a parallel or formal variation?
Thx,
Chris

Trey Treutel
Trey Treutel

It’s a parallel.

djdavyb
djdavyb

Hi Trey,
Hey, whats up with the flags that show what position they play, some of them are blank, they don’t have any print on them showing said posistion? Anything on that? Thanks as always!
Dave

Trey Treutel
Trey Treutel

Not sure. Likely just a printing error.

James C.
James C.

I believe I pulled an ’81 Logo Swap variation of Catfish Hunter, though the code is the same as the other ’81’s. See image link attached.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1776/44029431352_57436e198c_z_d.jpg

Trey Treutel
Trey Treutel

Yep, looks like it. It’s a parallel so the code would not be different from the base. Can you email a straight image so I can add it to the site? trey@cardboardconnection.com

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