With the usual nod to the 19th century original, 2021 Topps Gypsy Queen Baseball will arrive just about the time the new season is getting underway, barring any unforeseen developments.
GQ now has a lengthy history as a Topps brand. One of the company’s mid-range products, the content has been fairly consistent over the years and 2021 looks to be no different.
2021 Topps Gypsy Queen Configuration and Base Set
Each box of GQ will contain 24 packs with eight cards per pack and two autographs per box.
The base set will once again include 300 cards but there will be short printed base cards, packed one per box.
Base Set Parallels will include a few new colors. The full list includes:
Burnt Umber Parallel – #’d to 399 (new)
Orange Parallel – #’d to 300 (new)
Missing Nameplate – player’s name intentionally missing from the front
Indigo Parallel – #’d to 250
Blue Parallel – #’d to 150
Sepia Parallel – #’d to 99 new
Black & White Parallel – #’d to 50 – Hobby Exclusive
Red Parallel – #’d to 10
Black Parallel – #’d 1-of-1
There will be only three parallels for the short printed base cards that fall one per box:
Missing Nameplate
Blue Parallel – #’d to 150
Black Parallel – #’d 1-of-1
There will be image variations for the base cards as well in which the regular photo is swapped out for one taken on Jackie Robinson Day, Roberto Clemente Day or the Negro Leagues Centennial Celebration. All three image variation themes will have 1/1 Black parallels in the mix.
Inserts
New inserts will include Captains Minis (1:6 Packs), which highlight MLB team captains. They’ll have Indigo (# to 250) and 1/1 Black parallels.
Tarot of the Diamond (1:8 packs) will showcase rookies and stars with a tarot card-style flair, also with Indigo and Black parallel versions possible. There will also be 1/1 Tarot of the Diamond Art Variations, which are hand painted by artists hired by Topps for the project.
Autographs
Gypsy Queen Autographs will be the most common signed cards in 2021 GQ. Look for a few parallel versions, too, including:
Indigo – #’d to 150
Blue – #’d to 99
Black & White – #’d to 50 – Hobby Exclusive
Black – #’d 1-of-1
Rookie Minis Autographs are back and numbered to 99 with Black and White (# to 50) and 1/1 Black versions. #’d to 99
Captains Mini Autographs and Jackie Robinson Day Image Variation Autographs are signed versions of the insert mentioned above. They’ll carry varied serial numbers including 1/1 Black parallels. The Robinson cards will also have Black and White versions numbered to 42.
Autograph Relics
It’s a fairly small roster of autographed memorabilia cards, with a list that includes Autograph Garments #’d to 50; Auto Patch Book cards #’d to 20 and Pull-Up Socks #’d to 10. All of those will also have 1/1 Black parallels. There are also one-of-a-kind Autographed Lineup Cards on the checklist.
Box Toppers
As has become customary with Gypsy Queen, there will be a box topper pack that includes three Chrome cards in every box. Parallels include:
Indigo Refractor – #’d to 150
Blue Refractor – #’d to 99
Gold Refractor – #’d to 50
Red Refractor – #’d to 5
SuperFractor – #’d 1-of-1
Autographs are possible in the box topper packs, too, including variations numbered to 25 and 1/1 SuperFractors.
The release date for 2021 Topps Gypsy Queen is July 16. Hobby boxes are available online for $200-$250.