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Jump To Categories: Now Deceased  Quirks  Goofs 

"It takes two to lie—one to lie, and one to listen." -- Homer Simpson

Players to appear in at least 100 MLB games since 1987 and never appear on a Topps Base or Traded/Update Card include...

  • Armando Almanza: He was a regular member of the Marlins' bullpen from 2000-03, pitching at least 50 games each year. Never featured in a Topps set.

  • Jason Berken: Pitcher got in 105 games with the 2009-11 Orioles, including 24 starts in '09, but nobody produced a card of the guy.

  • Joe Beimel: LONGTIME middle reliever for the Pirates, Dodgers and others 2001-14; made 50+ appearances nine times (and 83 once) but somehow never made it in a Topps set. He DID receive a 2008 Topps Dodgers Gift Set card...making his other exclusions more puzzling. Does also have two Topps Total cards.

 

  • Pedro Borbon, Jr.: A frequently-used lefty reliever (272 appearances between 1999-2002 for the Dodgers, Jays and 'Stros) who also pitched 84 games over the 1995-96 seasons with Atlanta. Featured in Stadium Club and Total, but never in Topps Base/Traded. 

  • Chris Brock: Probably never reaches the majors in the pre-expansion era, but extracted 148 major league games mostly with the Giants and Phillies 1997-2002 out of limited ability. To our knowledge, never received a Topps card of any brand at all.

  • Buddy Carlyle: Over a 17-season period, made 150 appearances in MLB, more than half as a Braves starter-turned-reliever. But other than Heritage and a special "Pride & Perseverance" set, Topps never found room for him.
     

  • Xavier Cedeno: Lefty reliever played for six clubs, most notably the 2015-16 Rays, from 2011-19, and made 254 appearances. Yet, he never appeared on any major league baseball card from any brand.

  • Jason Christiansen: Lefty reliever 1995-2005 mostly for Pirates and Giants never included in a Topps or Traded set, though he did make a couple of appearances in both Stadium Club and Total.

  • Doug Creek: Lefty reliever made over 250 appearances for Giants and Devil Rays 1996-2002, but only appeared in Total.
     

  • Valerio De Los Santos: Off-and-on reliever for the early 00's Brewers; famous for beaning Adam Greenberg in his first MLB at-bat. Thrice topped 50 appearances 2000-03 but was only ever included in Total. 

  • Brandon Fahey: Infielder played 189 games over three seasons with 2006-08 Orioles, including 91 as a rookie. Did make it into 2006 Topps Chrome but never a Base/Update set.

  • Paul Fry: Frequently-used reliever for the 2018-21 Orioles has made 188 career appearances, but to date has only been able to breach the Heritage and Total sets.
     

  • Steve Geltz: Middle reliever appeared over 100 times for the 2014-16 Rays, including 70 times in 2015, but didn't make the cut from Topps or any other brand.

  • Kevin Gryboski: Workhorse middleman for 2002-04 Braves averaging 63 appearances per year. Received a combo Topps Total card once but never included in a Base/Update set.

  • Luther Hackman: Righty RP made 149 appearances for Rockies, Cardinals and Padres 1999-2003, including 65 in 2003, but was only able to infiltrate Topps Total.
     

  • Pep Harris: Pitched 121 times for the 1996-98 Angels; only major release to feature him was 1998 Stadium Club.

  • Danny Herrera: Diminutive lefty screwballer for the 2008-2010 Reds got in 113 games, including 70 in 2009, but was relegated to Heritage and Stadium Club appearances.

  • Aaron Ledesma: Power-challenged infielder never appeared in Topps despite getting in almost 200 games with the 1998-99 Devil Rays.
     

  • Brian Lesher: 6'5" outfielder appeared in 108 games 1996-2002, mostly with Oakland. Only Topps was a Total card.

  • Wilton Lopez: Reliever averaged 70 appearances for Astros/Rockies from 2010-13, but only appeared in Topps Heritage.

  • Justin Miller (2002-10) Made 216 relief appearances, mostly for the mid-00's Blue Jays. Did make it into a Topps Giants Emerald Nuts giveaway set, and a pair of Topps Total sets, but that was it.
     

  • Justin Miller (2014-21) Made 173 MLB appearances, mostly out of the Rockies and Nats bullpens, but to date not a single major league card of any brand/type has been made of him.

  • Josh Osich: Though not always well, Osich pitched over 250 times for the Giants, White Sox and others 2015-21 but never made a Topps set. 

  • Rafael Perez: Made 338 appearances for the 2006-12 Indians, but only ever appeared in a Heritage set.
     

  • Jose Ramirez: Not the Guardians star. This one pitched well in 101 RA for the 2016-17 Braves, but not well enough to appear in Topps.

  • Rich Robertson: Full-time starter for 1996-97 Twins (though not a good one); led AL in BB and SHO in '96. No Topps cards.

  • Fernando Rodriguez: From 2011-16, made 215 appearances for Astros and A's but never made his way into a Topps set.
     

  • Julio Santana: Former Rangers pitching prospect got in over 200 games for them, Tampa Bay and four other clubs 1997-2006, but was never included in a Topps set.

  • Chris Spurling: RP appeared in 66 games for '03 Tigers and 56 more in '05. Ignored by Topps.

  • Blake Stein: Swingman for the 1999-02 Royals; tallied 117 career games with KC and Oakland but couldn't crack any Topps sets.
     

  • Ricky Stone: Righty reliever made 143 appearances for the 2002-03 Astros but didn't make any Topps sets.

  • Mitch Stetter: LOOGY made 132 appearances for 2007-11 Brewers, including 71 in 2009. No Topps cards. 

  • Dale Thayer: Slinging reliever for Padres in over 240 contests from 2012-15, but no representation from Topps.
     

  • Anthony Varvaro: Made 166 RA mostly for Braves 2010-15, including consecutive 60+ seasons, but no Topps cards.

  • Nick Vincent: Reliever racked up over 400 career games 2012-21, including four seasons with 60+, but passed over by Topps except for a 2019 Total card.

  • Pete Walker: Righty swingman made 120+ appearances for Blue Jays 2002-06. Appeared in Total and Bowman sets but not Topps.

  • more to come...

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NOTE: In the unlikely event this page is read by any active major leaguers longing for a Topps card...don't be discouraged. Veteran reliever Caleb Thielbar was once on this list, but he turned up in 2022 Topps Update!

Now Deceased

 

  Major league players appearing in Topps 1987-present who have since passed away include...

  • Nick Adenhart  •  Joaquin Andujar  •  Darrel Akerfelds  •  John Barfield  •  Kim Batiste  •  Don Baylor  •  Rod Beck  •  Juan Bell  •  Dave Bergman  •   Ron Blazier  •  Vida Blue  •   Greg Booker  •   Chris Brown  •  Tom Browning  •  Bill Buckner  •  Ivan Calderon  •  Ken Caminiti  • Bill Campbell  •  Jose Capellan  •  Chuck Carr  •  Gary Carter  •  Andujar Cedeno  •  Carmelo Castillo  •  Frank Castillo  •  Jose Castillo  •  John Cerutti  •  Bryan Clutterbuck  •  Alex Cole  •  Brian Cooper  •  Jim Corsi  •  Tim Crews  •  Julio Cruz  • ​ Mike Darr  •  Darren Daulton  •  Bo Diaz  •  Brian DuBois  •  Chris Duncan  •  Vaughn Eshelman
     

  • Pedro Feliciano  • ​ Jose Fernandez  •  Tony Fernandez  • ​ Mike Flanagan  •  Bob Forsch  •  George Frazier  •  Ryan Freel  •  Todd Frohwirth  •  Damaso Garcia  • ​ Jeremy Giambi  • ​ Geremi Gonzalez  •  Miguel A. Gonzalez  •  Tony Gwynn  •  Roy Halladay  •  Greg Halman  • Brad Halsey  •  Darryl Hamilton  •  Tommy Hanson  •  Dave Henderson  •  Alex Herrera  •  Kevin Hickey  •  John Hope •  Steve Howe  •  Ken Howell  •  LaMarr Hoyt  •  Riccardo Ingram  •  Jeff Innis 
     

  • Calvin Jones  • ​ Doug Jones  • ​ Ron Jones  •  Joe Kennedy  •  Darryl Kile  •  Wayne Krenchicki  •  Tim Layana  •  Richie Lewis  •   Cory Lidle  •  Jose Lima  •  Julio Lugo  • ​ Andy Marte   • ​  Carlos Martinez  •  Jeff McKnight  •  Luis Mercedes  •  Justin Miller  •  Eddie Milner  •  Steve Olin  •  Jose Oliva  •  Larry Owen  • ​ Johnny Paredes  • ​ Odalis Perez  •  Pascual Perez  • ​ Tony Phillips  •  Gus Polidor  •  Brian Powell  •  Ross Powell  •  Kirby Puckett  •  Ruben Quevedo  •  Dan Quisenberry  •  John Rheinecker  •  Jeroime Robertson
     

  • Jeff Robinson  •  Scott Sanderson  •   Tom Seaver  •   Bob Sebra  •   Mike Sharperson  •  Eric Show  •  Tyler Skaggs  •  Doug Slaten  •  Dave Smith  •  Dwight Smith, Sr.  •   Dernell Stenson   • ​ Sammy Stewart  •  Bruce Sutter  •  Don Sutton  •  Russ Swan  •  Oscar Taveras  •  Lee Tinsley  •  Matt Turner  •  Tom Urbani  •  Jose Uribe  •  Luis Valbuena  •  Yordano Ventura  • ​ Dan Walters  •  Claudell Washington  •  Daniel Webb  •  Bob Welch  •  David West  •  Alan Wiggins  • ​ Frank Williams  • ​ Gerald Williams  •  Anthony Young  •  Mike Young  •   Walter Young 

NowDeceased

Quirks (all listings are since 1987 Topps) 

HRD = Home Run Derby   AS = All-Star

​

​

Players with two commons in different uniforms in same set include...

  • Butch Henry (Astros/Rockies), 1993 Topps

  • Charlie Hayes (Yankees/Rockies), 1993 Topps

  • Eric Young (Dodgers/Rockies), 1993 Topps

  • Quinton McCracken (Rockies/Devil Rays), 1998 Topps

  • Jay Bell (Royals/Diamondbacks), 1998 Topps

  • Devon White (Marlins/Diamondbacks), 1998 Topps
     

  • Matt Williams (Indians/Diamondbacks), 1998 Topps

  • Roger Clemens (Blue Jays/Yankees), 1999 Topps

  • Jose Canseco (Yankees/Angels), 2001 Topps

  • Mike Hampton (Mets/Rockies), 2001 Topps

  • R.A. Dickey (Mets/Blue Jays), 2013 Topps

  • Josh Johnson (Marlins/Blue Jays), 2013 Topps

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Players (Major league) shown with team they never played regular season for include...(Expansion Teams excluded)

  • Jose Canseco (Angels), 2001 Topps

  • Mike Jackson (Phillies*), 2001 Topps

  • Jose Canseco (Expos), 2002 Topps

  • Pat Rapp (Pirates), 2002 Topps

  • Darren Lewis (Pirates), 2002 Topps Traded

  • Rey Ordonez (Padres), 2004 Topps
     

  • Tony Womack (Red Sox), 2004 Topps

  • Roberto Alomar (Devil Rays), 2005 Topps

  • Pokey Reese (Mariners), 2005 Topps Update

  • Deivi Cruz (Cardinals), 2006 Topps

  • Pokey Reese (Mariners), 2006 Topps

  • Morgan Ensberg (Indians), 2008 Topps Update

  • Manny Ramirez (Athletics), 2012 Topps
     

  • Jesse Crain (Astros), 2014 Topps

  • Tommy Hanson (Rangers), 2014 Topps

  • Josh Johnson (Padres), 2014 Topps

  • Felix Hernandez (Braves), 2020 Topps

  • Kean Wong (Giants), 2020 Topps

  • Eric Thames (Athletics), 2022 Topps
     

  • more to come...

  • * Jackson played for Phillies in 1986-1987, but did not in 2000 or 2001

​

 

Cards with identifiable fans include...

  • 1987 Topps #497 Dale Mohorcic

  • 1987 Topps Traded #19 Steve Carlton

  • 1991 Topps #701 Pascual Perez

  • 1995 Topps #573 Scott Leius

  • 2004 Topps #293 Tony LaRussa

  • 2005 Topps #24 Mark Bellhorn
     

  • 2005 Topps #512 Bernie Williams

  • 2007 Topps #120 Jason Giambi

  • 2007 Topps #34 Paul Konerko

  • 2007 Topps #243 Joe Torre
     

  • 2010 Topps #400 Alex Rodriguez 

  • 2010 Topps #46 Chad Tracy

  • 2010 Topps #295 Kevin Youkilis 

  • 2010 Topps #408 Tigers Franchise History

  • 2011 Topps #89 Placido Polanco
     

  • 2011 Topps #155 Checklist 

  • 2012 Topps #425 Jeff Baker 

  • 2012 Topps Update #215 Brian Bogusevic

  • 2012 Topps Update #121 Johnny Damon

  • 2012 Topps #107 Luke Scott
     

  • 2012 Topps #72 Carlos Beltran HRD

  • 2013 Topps #224 Jon Jay

  • 2013 Topps #330 Ryan Raburn 

  • 2014 Topps #250 Miguel Cabrera

  • 2014 Topps #509 Brandon Phillips
     

  • 2014 Topps #651 Denard Span 

  • 2014 Topps #301 Shane Victorino

  • 2015 Topps Update #283 Kris Bryant

  • 2015 Topps #604 Jordan Schafer

  • 2015 Topps #460 Giants Team
     

  • 2017 Topps #72 Cubs Team

  • 2017 Topps #174 Phillies Team

  • 2017 Topps #576 Russell Martin

  • 2018 Topps #119 Angels Team

  • 2018 Topps #243 James McCann
     

  • 2018 Topps Update #11 Adam Engel 

  • 2021 Topps Update #316 Patrick Wisdom

  • more to come...

​

Quirks

Goofs (all listings are since 1987 Topps) 

HRD = Home Run Derby   AS = All-Star

 

Players with two commons in same uniform in same set (or one in both base and Update) include...*

  • Michael Tucker, 1998 Topps   ​ 

  • Mike Lansing, 2000 Topps   ​ 

  • Mike Lowell, 2000 Topps 

  • Brian Meadows, 2001 Topps

  • Michael Tucker, 2001 Topps  ​ 

​

  • Brian Burres, 2007 Topps and Topps Update

  • Edgar Gonzalez, 2007 Topps and Topps Update  ​ 

  • Ubaldo Jimenez, 2007 Topps and Topps Update  ​ 

  • Bengie Molina, 2007 Topps +  ​ 

  • Elizardo Ramirez, 2007 Topps +   

  • Gary Sheffield, 2007 Topps +   

  • Carlos Silva, 2007 Topps and Topps Update  

​

  • Willy Aybar, 2008 Topps and Topps Update  

  • Rod Barajas, 2008 Topps and Topps Update +

  • Darin Erstad, 2008 Topps and Topps Update 

  • Mike Cameron, 2009 Topps 

  • Stephen Drew, 2009 Topps 

  • Nick Hundley, 2009 Topps

  • Gaby Sanchez, 2009 Topps and Topps Update

  • Jason Hammel, 2011 Topps

​

  • Wade Davis, 2012 Topps    

  • Matt Downs, 2012 Topps and Topps Update    

  • Chris Heisey, 2012 Topps and Topps Update    

  • Matt Adams, 2013 Topps Update   

  • Rafael Betancourt, 2013 Topps and Topps Update  ​ 

  • Chris Carter, 2013 Topps and Topps Update   

  • Daniel Nava, 2013 Topps and Topps Update

  • Dayan Viciedo, 2013 Topps and Topps Update  

​

  • Jackie Bradley Jr., 2014 Topps and Topps Update    

  • Santiago Casilla, 2014 Topps and Topps Update  

  • Matt Shoemaker, 2014 Topps and Topps Update    

  • Ryan Wheeler, 2014 Topps and Topps Update

  • R.J. Alvarez, 2015 Topps and Topps Update      

  • Vance Worley, 2015 Topps and Topps Update  

​

  • Pedro Alvarez, 2016 Topps and Topps Update  

  • Keon Broxton, 2016 Topps and Topps Update  

  • Chris Coghlan, 2016 Topps and Topps Update   

  • Sam Dyson, 2016 Topps and Topps Update 

  • Tyler Flowers, 2016 Topps and Topps Update    

  • Daniel Hudson, 2016 Topps and Topps Update 

  • Jon Niese, 2016 Topps and Topps Update 

  • Steve Pearce, 2016 Topps and Topps Update (2)

​

  • Jose Pirela, 2018 Topps and Topps Update 

  • Jason Vargas, 2018 Topps and Topps Update       

  • Jeurys Familia, 2019 Topps and Topps Update

  • Zack Greinke, 2019 Topps    

  • Ian Kinsler, 2019 Topps and Topps Update

  • Lance Lynn, 2019 Topps and Topps Update
     

  • Rich Hill, 2020 Topps and Topps Update

  • Joe Jimenez, 2020 Topps and Topps Update

  • Luis Severino, 2020 Topps and Topps Update

  • Tyler White, 2020 Topps and Topps Update

  • Stevie Wilkerson, 2020 Topps and Topps Update

  • Adam Frazier, 2021 Topps and Topps Update
     

  • Gerardo Parra, 2022 Topps +

  • Javier Baez, 2022 Topps and Topps Update

  • Taylor Hearn, 2022 Topps and Topps Update
     

 

* list excludes 2018-22 Topps Shohei Ohtani, who sometimes received separate cards with hitting and pitching stats

* list excludes 2011-12 Topps All-Star Rookies who received base cards with and without trophy

+ (near) identical front image and/or blurb

​

 

Players with a league-leading stat missing red/bold/italics, or the wrong stat red/bold/italicized include...(* = later corrected) 

  • 1989 Topps Tony Gwynn (1988 AVG not bold/italicized*) 

  • 1992 Topps Roger Clemens (1990 ERA not bold/italicized*)

  • 1996 Topps Orel Hershiser (1988 SHO not bold/italicized*)

  • 1997-2000 Topps Juan Guzman (1996 ERA not bold/italicized*)

  • 1997-2003 Topps Roger Clemens (1996 K not bold/italicized*) 

​

  • 1997-2002 Topps Kenny Lofton (1996 AB not bold/italicized*)

  • 1998-2003 Topps Andres Galarraga (1997 RBI not bold/italicized)

  • 1999 Topps Rickey Henderson (1989 BB [first row] not red)

  • 2001 Topps Pat Rapp (1995 L italicized instead of 1996*)

​

  • 2003-2008 Topps Kenny Lofton (1996 G incorrectly bold/italicized along with corrected 1996 AB) 

  • 2003 Topps Barry Bonds (2002 BB not bold/italicized*)

  • 2004 Topps Roy Halladay (2003 W not bold/italicized*) ​

  • 2008 Topps Todd Helton (no league leading stats bold/italicized*)

  • 2009 Topps Cristian Guzman (2000 and 2003 3B not bold/italicized*)

  • more to come...

​

Players with misprinted card numbers include...

  • 1994 Topps #379 Mark McLemore (misnumbered as #370)

  • 1997 Topps #84 Mike Fetters (misnumbered as #61)

  • 1997 Topps #277 Chipper Jones (misnumbered as #276)

  • 2004 Topps #274 Mike Scioscia (misnumbered as #267)

  • 2014 Topps Update #US21 Bryan Holaday (misnumbered as #US117)

  • 2014 Topps Update #US311 Josh Tomlin (misnumbered as #US164)

  • 2021 Topps Update #US142 David Hale (misnumbered as #US285)

 

 

Players shown playing defensive position other than the one listed include...​

  • 1992 Topps #349 Steve Lyons (shown in OF; listed as 3B-2B)

  • 1999 Topps #31 Ryan Jackson (shown at 1B; listed as OF)

  • 1999 Topps #5 Jim Leyritz (shown at 1B; listed as C)

  • 1999 Topps #293 Ryan Minor (shown at 1B; listed as 3B)

​

  • 2000 Topps #412 Tony Womack (shown at 2B; listed as OF)

  • 2001 Topps #588 Chris Richard (shown at 1B; listed as OF)

  • 2003 Topps #26 David Ortiz (shown at 1B; listed as DH)

  • 2004 Topps #478 Jack Cust (shown at 1B; listed as DH)

  • 2006 Topps #574  Darin Erstad (shown at 1B; listed as OF)

​

  • 2007 Topps #585 Willie Bloomquist (shown at 2B or SS; listed as 3B)

  • 2007 Topps #123 Chone Figgins (shown at 3B; listed as OF)

  • 2007 Topps #4 Nick Swisher (shown at 1B; listed as OF)

  • 2007 Topps #2 Nick Swisher (shown at 1B; listed as OF)

  • 2007 Topps #245  Chad Tracy (shown at 3B; erroneously listed as P)

​

  • 2008 Topps #409 Jason Giambi (shown at 1B; listed as DH)

  • 2008 Topps Update #104 Omar Infante (shown in OF, listed as 2B)

  • 2009 Topps #587 Adam Dunn (shown at 1B; listed as OF)

  • 2009 Topps #559 Esteban German (shown in OF; listed as 2B)

  • 2009 Topps Update #282 Victor Martinez (shown at 1B; listed as C)

​

  • 2010 Topps Update #48 Geoff Blum (shown at 3B; listed as 1B)

  • 2010 Topps #68 Brandon Inge (shown at 3B; listed as P on front)

  • 2010 Topps #566 Maicer Izturis (shown in OF, listed as 2B)

  • 2010 Topps #313 Jason Kubel (shown on defense; listed as DH)

​

  • 2011 Topps Update #137 Willie Bloomquist (shown in IF; listed as OF)

  • 2011 Topps Update #255 Allen Craig (shown at 3B; listed as OF)

  • 2011 Topps Update #2 Ty Wigginton (shown at 1B; listed as 3B)

  • 2012 Topps #454 Michael Cuddyer (shown at 3B; listed as OF)

  • 2012 Topps #488 Nick Swisher (shown at 1B; listed as OF)

​

  • 2015 Topps #474 Alexi Amarista (shown in OF; listed as SS)

  • 2015 Topps #102 Gordon Beckham (shown at 3B; listed as 2B)

  • 2017 Topps Update #151 Yandy Diaz (shown in OF; listed as 3B)

  • 2017 Topps #458 Hernan Perez (shown in OF; listed as 3B)

​

  • 2018 Topps #481 Ronald Torreyes (shown in OF; listed as 2B-3B)

  • 2019 Topps #485 Wil Myers (shown at 3B; listed as OF)

  • more to come...

Goofs
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