Topps has officially released its highly-anticipated 2024 Chrome Update Series, which the company is calling “arguably the biggest baseball set of the last decade.” Given the current hype around the class of players with rookie cards in this set, headlined by Elly De La Cruz and Paul Skenes, and their one-of-a-kind autographed Debut Patch cards that collectors will be chasing, that may not be an exaggeration.
The MLB Debut Patch, which was first introduced last year, has been one of Fanatics’ most prominent innovations since acquiring Topps. Before each player’s first MLB game they play, a small patch is placed on the sleeve of their uniform. Once that game is complete the patch is removed, put into a trading card that the player autographs and it goes into a set and becomes a highly coveted and unique collectible. This is also currently being done in MLS, for which Topps also has a trading card license. And with Topps acquiring the licenses for both the NFL and NBA in the coming years, plans for expanding the program to those leagues are also being made.
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Over 150 MLB players who debuted between June 1, 2023 and May 24, 2024 have Debut Patch cards in this set. Beyond De La Cruz and Skenes, it also includes Jackson Merrill, Jackson Chourio, Shota Imanaga, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Colton Cowser and cover star Jackson Holliday (see PDF with full set checklist here and odds here).
Topps Senior Vice President of Product Clay Luraschi spoke to The Athletic about the set, the evolution of the Debut Patch and what other types of cards to be on the lookout for in Chrome Update.
For those who aren’t familiar, can you explain what Chrome Update Series is?
We do a Series One a Series Two and Update in our flagship product. Our flagship product gets mirrored by a product called Topps Chrome. Topps Chrome comes out in July and this is basically the second installment of that product. So this is Chrome Update. This captures a lot of key moments that happened during the season and basically just updates the collector to what happened…what they didn’t see in the first installment.
How did the idea for the Debut Patch come about and was it difficult to get MLB on board?
The idea came about in the summer of ’22 in a brainstorming session and the discussion was ‘How do you create the ultimate rookie card?’ The rookie card has really, if you go back to when rookie cards started, it’s really evolved. One of the most important rookie cards that most all collectors know are a few of the cards in the 1952 Topps set. Those cards solidified what a rookie card is and since then, a rookie card has had an autograph on it. A rookie card has had a piece of memorabilia on it. How you build on that is that you take a patch that was on the uniform when that player made the debut. So there’s like a real connection, a real tie to that moment.
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What has Topps learned after the first year of Debut Patches?
It’s almost three times as many (Debut Patch) cards as it was in last year’s product. So the first year was kind of like a test run, (it) gave us an opportunity to work out logistics, work with all the clubhouse managers, work with MLB on the authentication and there were a couple of glitches here and there but I thought it went pretty smoothly in year one and it just really helped us prepare for year two.
Paul Skenes wearing a MLB Debut patch on his sleeve during his Major League debut during the game against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park on May 11, 2024. (Photo: Justin Berl/Getty Images)
Did Topps see an increase in sales or interest because of the Debut Patches?
There was a ton of interest. We knew these cards would really kind of shake up the market just because of the story behind what they were and how they were being made. Definitely when cards were pulled from packs, there was a lot of buzz, a lot of talk. There were a couple of key cards last year that people were searching for, but this year the rookie card class is tremendous. It will solidify itself as one of the most important cards in the industry and this rookie card class will carry that. … I expect some of these cards to be some of the most sought after over the next decade. These cards and these names, will really solidify this program as the cards to have.
Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin recently made a comment about expanding the debut patch to NFL and NBA trading cards. Any updates on that?
Those programs wouldn’t kick in until we’re fully licensed, which will be in the near future. But yeah, it’s something we have our eye on. Looking to roll this out with a lot of our partners.
Being one-of-a-kind cards, the Debut Patches are obviously hard for collectors to pull out of packs. Does Topps see that as part of the fun that these chases can go on for a while if no one opens the pack that one is in?
There are important cards out there that still have not been found. People buy boxes and they put them away. But look, if they were in every pack, then they probably wouldn’t be as interested. That’s why these cards are so special because there are only one of each. The thrill of the chase is a lot of what this hobby is about. And last year when people were uncovering these cards, it was awesome just to see the reaction of when people find these. I’m really excited to see when someone gets an Elly De La Cruz or that Yamamoto or that Holliday card, I mean, wow. It should set social media ablaze.
Aside from the Debut Patches, what other cards stand out for you in this set?
There’s a cool Billy Ripken/Holliday dual autograph card.
𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗦𝗧 𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗞: Jackson Holliday & Billy Ripken unite for their first ever dual autograph card.
If you know, you know. pic.twitter.com/jwyH8gVQaM
— Topps (@Topps) November 8, 2024
We have a cool new insert called MLB Illustrations, which is an artistic rendition of players. There’s a cool dual autograph card of Ohtani and Judge, the two players who most people are expecting to be the MVPs. There’s a lot of cool stuff.
Another cool element of the set is the first Chrome versions of the popular Home Field Advantage inserts, which show players surrounded by local landmarks or iconic elements of their team’s city. Shohei Ohtani next to the Hollywood sign is sure to be a desirable one.
Then there’s also the introduction of the “Lava Lamp Refractors” — a parallel that has both autographed and non-autographed versions.
But given the rookie class and the big chase cards in the set, this could be one that a lot of people keep sealed just to see how the value appreciates in the coming years. De La Cruz and Skenes in particular are already commanding big money on the secondary market, so if they continue to grow into greats of the game, their Debut Patches could potentially become million-dollar cards. If someone is lucky enough to find them.
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(All images unless otherwise noted: Topps)
