2017 Topps Tribute Has New Look, New Technology

Topps Tribute returns in 2017 with another high-end product that will mix familiar old stars with all-time greats and up-and-coming new talent. It also will sport a new look, new plastic technology and new thematic autograph components.  A full 2017 Topps Tribute checklist is available for download at the bottom of this page as well as a link to buying the product online.

2017 Topps Tribute Basics

A hobby box will contain six packs, with three cards to a pack. Topps is promising one autograph, a relic or an autograph relic card per pack, and all hits will be numbered to 199 or less. Price range should hover around $240 per pack, depending on the retailer.

There will be two base cards in every pack, along with one parallel (on average) per hobby box. Parallels will be found in green, purple, red (numbered to 10) and black (1/1). Just like the 2016 Tribute set, the 2017 version will include 10 inserts of rookies featuring Alex Bregman and Yoan Moncada. These inserts will fall two in every case, with parallels in purple, red (numbered to 10) and black (1/1).

Autographs and Relics

Topps Tribute autographs will feature on-card signatures on a horizontal design. The cards will showcase greats, veterans and elite rookies. Parallels will be issued in blue, green, purple, orange (numbered to 25), red (10) and black (1/1) versions.

Tribute Tandem book cards also return. These are two-panel book cards combining veterans and legends who share common bonds or similar playing styles. The books will be numbered to 25, with red parallels numbered to 10 and 1/1 black parallels.

Tribute will introduce four new autograph subsets. Tribute to the Moment will be a case hit and will be a new continuity insert, meaning that it will be featured in every subsequent Tribute set. The set will highlight active and retired players’ career-defining moments.

Generations of Excellence autographs will use a shadowbox design to show off layered, multi-image cards.

Both of these inserts will have parallels in purple, orange (numbered to 25), red (10) and black (1/1).

Walk-Off Autographs will be a tribute to the most famous walk-off moments in baseball.  Carlton Fisk, Bill Mazeroski and Joe Carter could be seen as potential candidates. Bobby Thomson is a possibility if Topps resorts to a cut signature. But that’s just a thought. This autograph insert will have parallels in orange, numbered to 25; red, numbered to 10; and black, numbered 1/1.

It almost looked like a typographical error, but the correctly spelled Duel Autographs will commemorate the most iconic duels in major-league history. These cards will have parallels in red (numbered to 10) and black (1/1)

Tribute Relics will feature standard-sized game-used memorabilia pieces of uniform swatches and bat pieces of retired greats, veterans and young stars. Parallels will be available in green, purple, orange (numbered to 25), red (10) and black (1/1).

The other three relic inserts will have MLB Authentication stamps, which will enable collectors to know exactly which game the piece of memorabilia came from.

Stamp of Approval relics will include jumbo-sized pieces of memorabilia, along with parallels in green, purple, orange (numbered to 25), red (10) and black (1/1). Dual Relics will pair two players that share a bond and will include a standard-size piece of memorabilia for each major-leaguer. Parallels will be available in red (numbered to 10) and black (1/1).

Milestone Relics will feature pieces of game-used baseballs embedded into the card. These balls will be drawn from milestone games. There also will be a Black Jumbo Autograph parallel, numbered 1/1.

You can see newly listed 2017 Topps Tribute baseball on eBay here.

2017 Topps Tribute Baseball Checklist

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About Bob D'Angelo

Bob has been a sportswriter and copy editor for more than 35 years and a blogger for a decade. He is celebrating his 50th year of card collecting, and still counts his 1965 Topps Mickey Mantle as his favorite. You can reach him at [email protected].