2020 Topps Allen & Ginter marks the annual return of one of a mid-summer release designed to stretch the boundaries of a typical baseball card product. After a delay during the pandemic, Ginter is now set to release on September 16.
It’ll pack three hits into a 24-count hobby box (12 boxes per case). As usual, blaster boxes and other retail packaging will also be available.
2020 Allen & Ginter Base Set
Once again, Ginter will include a 300-card base set with 50 additional short-printed base cards. The checklist will be centered on current baseball players but will also include retired greats alongside notable names from other sports and the worlds of entertainment and popular culture. Both the base and SPs will have 1/1 glossy parallels.
Base Card Minis
Each pack of Ginter will include one mini base card or SP base card. Parallels will include Allen & Ginter (1 in every 5 packs); Black border (1:10); No Number (Limited to 50); Brooklyn Back (# to 25) and Wood or Glossy (each 1/1). The mini SPs will fall one in every 13 packs and include A&G (1:65 packs); Black Bordered (1:130); No Number (Limited to 50); Brooklyn Back (# to 25) and the 1/1 Wood/Glossys.
Mini Metal and Stained Glass versions will return with a checklist of 150 players.
Framed Mini Printing Plates will be 1/1 with Framed Mini Cloth cards (150 different subjects) that are numbered to 10.
Relic Cards
New this year are Pin Relics, which Topps calls “iconic pins from historic elections and events.” They’ll be numbered to 25 or less and be found only in hobby boxes.
Other relic subsets include:
Full-Size Relics: Featuring MLB players, world champion athletes, and personalities.
Mini Relics: Baseball-oriented memorabilia cards with a checklist that includes rookies, veterans, and legends.
DNA Relics: These returnees are hobby exclusive and feature ancient fossils.
“Have Ball, Will Travel” Token Relics: Pairing current and retired stars with mass transit tokens from their team city. They’ll be numbered to 5 and also be hobby exclusives.
Allen & Ginter Framed Originals: Cards from the 19th century issues that have been purchased and randomly inserted into packs. All are 1/1 and exclusive to hobby boxes.
Autographs
In addition to the cut signature cards, 2020 Topps Allen & Ginter offers these autograph possibilities:
Framed Mini Autographs: On-card autographs of rookies, veteran stars, and retired greats in baseball, as well as other athletes and pop culture personalities on the smaller A&G cards. They’ll have Black Framed parallels numbered to 25 as well as Red Ink parallels that are limited to hobby boxes.
Autographed Relic Book Cards will showcase large relic pieces with a player autograph on a dual-paneled booklet. Each is numbered to 10. Dual autographed book cards have two signatures nad two relic pieces and are also numbered to 10.
Cut Signatures: Topps has rounded up 20 autographs from historical and pop culture figures and turned them into cards. Each is numbered 1 of 1.
Rip Cards
The popular “collector’s choice” dilemma returns with these, which feature a card wrapped inside an outer wrap that also features a player. Is the mini card inside better? It’s your decision as to whether to rip it open. There will be 100 different Rip cards in all. Dual Rip cards will contain two minis inside.
Rip Cards can contain:
Artist Originals – Unique Baseball artwork. Numbered 1 of 1
Mini Exclusives – Mini base cards numbered 351-400
Mini Metal Exclusives – Numbered to 3
Mini Wood Exclusives – Numbered 1 of 1
Mini Stained Glass Variation Exclusives – 1 per Boxloader Rip Card
Insert Cards (Full Size)
Each insert set with 2020 Allen & Ginter is new including:
A Debut to Remember – 30 notable first games are celebrated.
Longball Lore: Highlighting home run hitters and memorable homers.
Field Generals: Showcasing 20 all-time great catchers.
Down on the Farm: These cards will feature animals, equipment, and tools used on orchards, pastures, granges, and the like.
Digging Deep: Cards of precious minerals, stones, and metals. Relic Variations will be partial parallels featuring actual pieces of the featured item. Limited to 10 or less.
Reach for the Sky!: A panoramic multi-card insert that, when completed, will showcase some of the world’s biggest skyscrapers.
Insert Cards (Mini)
Where Monsters Live – “Spooky spots to avoid in the dark,” according to Topps.
9 Ways to First Base – Showcasing the 9 different ways a batter can safely reach first base.
Citadels and Safeholds – Castles, fortresses, and other iconic structures from a bygone era.
Buggin’ Out!: – Featuring insects and arachnids.
Booming Cities: Featuring some of the fastest growing cities in the world.
Safari Sights: Animals, topography, and cultures unique to Africa will make up this insert set.
Boxloaders
Each hobby box of 2020 Topps Allen & Ginter will include a packaged boxloader card, usually featuring stars and rookies. Autographed versions will be numbered to 15 or less.
Other boxloader possibilities include:
Safari Sights” (limited to 500)
N43: the 19th century design but features modern-day stars. Autographed versions numbered to 15 or less are also in the mix.
Boxloader Rip cards: With three minis inside including the possibility of stained glass mini parallels.
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