It made its first appearance as one of the hobby’s first “high end” products back in 1991. While that phrase has evolved beyond a simpler time in the hobby, 2018 Topps Stadium Club will try to stay true to the spirit of the original.
Stadium Club isn’t really a hit chaser’s product but each box (likely $70-$80 retail upon release) will include two autographs. Boxes will contain 16 packs with eight cards in each. Like always, Stadium Club cards are printed with a full-bleed design and while focused on current players, there will be a few nods to past and future stars.
Base Set
The 2018 Stadium Club base set will again consist of 300 cards. There will be parallels and the majority will be tough pulls. Here’s what to look for:
- Black Foil – 1:8 Packs
- Black and White – 1:48 packs HOBBY ONLY
- Red Foil – Limited quantities
- Rainbow Foilboard – Sequentially numbered to 25
- First Day Issue – Limited to 10
- Members Only – Limited quantities, 1 per case
- Photographer’s Proof – Limited quantities, 1:2 cases
- Gold Rainbow Foilboard – Numbered 1 of 1 HOBBY ONLY
Base Chrome Parallels (90 subjects)
- Chrome Parallels – 1 per box
- Chrome Refractor – 1:4 boxes
- Chrome Gold Minted – 1 per case
- Chrome SuperFractor – Numbered 1 of 1 HOBBY ONLY
- Chrome Autograph – select subjects numbered to 10 or less
- Chrome Autograph SuperFractor – select subjects numbered 1 of 1
Insert Cards
Topps has some 1990s era insert sets in the works for 2018 Stadium Club. Inspired by the 1990s insert set, Never Compromise includes top players who, according to Topps, are “known for their heart and tenacity. There will be one of these per eight packs with a checklist of 25 players.
Another 90s throwback is Special Forces, which features two dozen top rookies, stars and legends. These will also be found one in every eight packs.
Never Compromise and Special Forces will have parallel cards to include:
- Red – 1 per case
- Black – numbered to 99
- Orange – Numbered to 50
- Gold Rainbow – Numbered 1 of 1
Collectors will find one Beam Team insert per box and a checklist of 25 stars and one or two Power Zone inserts per box, with the latter checklist featuring 25 sluggers. Instavision will fall one per eight packs and be printed using chrome refractor technology. Instavision parallels will be found one per case and include:
- Red – numbered to 50
- Black – numbered to 25
- Orange – Numbered to 10
- Gold Rainbow – Numbered 1 of 1
Autographs
Look for Shohei Ohtani on the autograph checklist, an addition that should drive sales if the Japanese dual threat sensation proves worthy of his big contract over the first three months of the season.
The common base autographs in 2018 Stadium Club will also be found with a few parallel versions including:
- Red Foil – Numbered to 50
- Black Foil – Numbered to 25
- Rainbow Foil Parallel – Numbered to 10 HOBBY ONLY
- Gold Rainbow – Numbered 1 of 1 HOBBY ONLY
Co-Signers cards will feature two on-card autographs with each numbered to 10 or less. Gold Rainbow Foil parallels will be 1/1.
There will be autographed versions of the Beam Team, Never Compromise and Power Zone inserts with Orange (# to 5) and 1/1 Gold Rainbow parallels for each.
Lone Star Signatures will be the other signed subset, again with the rare Orange and Gold Rainbow parallels sprinkled in.
2018 Topps Stadium Club is due out the week of June 27.
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