Topps’ Gypsy Queen baseball has always had an old-time, 19th-century feel to it. That makes sense since the set is based on the cigarette cards released between 1887 and 1890. Unlike Allen & Ginter, another retro set that has more of an eclectic mix, Gypsy Queen concentrates solely on baseball.
Gypsy Queen will be released the week of May 18, 2022. A hobby box will contain 24 packs, with eight cards to a pack. Topps is promising two autograph cards and three chrome cards per hobby box.
Base set
The main base set will feature 300 cards. Short prints will be rare, falling one per 24 packs.
There will be plenty of base parallels, including a Missing Nameplate, Burnt Umber, numbered to 399 (for some reason, the name of this parallel reminds me of the retired Crayola color, raw umber), Indigo (250), Turquoise (199), Blue (150), Mauve (75), Black and White (50, a hobby exclusive), Ruby Red Foil (10) and Black (1/1).
Short print parallels will include Missing Nameplates, Blue (numbered to 150) and Black (1/1).
This year’s Gypsy Queen set will also feature image variations. Base set Image Variations are exclusive to hobby boxes and will also have a 1/1 Black parallel. Jackie Robinson Day Variations feature players wearing the Brooklyn Dodgers Hall of Famer’s number. No. 42 might appear as part of the player’s number, or by a commemorative patch on his uniform. There is also a 1/1 Black parallel.
The variations will also have an autograph version. Image Variations will have a Black and White version, numbered to 42, and a 1/1 Black card.
Inserts
Two inserts will make their debut for the 2022 set. Crystal Gazing Die-Cut cards will fall every 12 packs. These cards will be formatted like a crystal ball and will highlight the potential of young players. This insert will have parallels in Indigo, numbered to 250, and Black (1/1). This is the logical progression from the Fortune Teller inserts that Gypsy Queen has featured in previous sets.
The other new insert is Gypsy Gems. These minis will fall four to a hobby box on average. The foil cards will feature the signs of the zodiac and birthstones to highlight the birthdates of top major leaguers. Parallels will include foil and will be available in Indigo (numbered to 250) and Black (1/1).
Autographs
Autograph cards will have a strong presence in the 2022 Gypsy Queen set. The “base” Gypsy Queen Autographs will have parallels in Indigo (numbered to 150), Blue (99), Black and White (50, exclusive to hobby packs) and Black (1-1).
Mini rookie autographs will be numbered and will have parallels in Black and White (numbered to 50) and Black Foil (1/1).
A new signature set will be Gypsy Gems Mini Autographs. These cards will be numbered and will have a 1/1 Black Foil parallel.
As mentioned before, Image Variation Autographs will be varied in their numbering with a Black and White parallel numbered to 42 and a 1/1 Black parallel.
Another new signature set will be the Astrological Chrome Autograph Variations, numbered to 99. Rookies and the top stars in the game will be featured on these chrome cards. The subset will have a 1/1 SuperFractor parallel.
Gypsy Queen Chrome Autograph Variation cards will be numbered to 25, and collectors could find a 1/1 SuperFractor.
Autograph Relics
Look for some booklet cards and regular auto relics in GQ. Autograph Garments are numbered to 50, Auto Patch Book Cards will be numbered to 20 and the Pull-Up Sock Auto Relic cards will be numbered to 10.
Each of these subsets will have 1/1 Black parallels.
Autographed Lineup Cards are also 1/1/.
You can see Hobby, Retail and blaster boxes available on eBay here.
2022 Topps Gypsy Queen Checklist
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