
Card Categories
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...
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Doug Creek: Lefty reliever made over 250 appearances for Giants and Devil Rays 1996-2002, but only appeared in Total.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Pep Harris: Pitched 121 times for the 1996-98 Angels; only major release to feature him was 1998 Stadium Club.
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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.
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Aaron Ledesma: Power-challenged infielder never appeared in Topps despite getting in almost 200 games with the 1998-99 Devil Rays.
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Brian Lesher: 6'5" outfielder appeared in 108 games 1996-2002, mostly with Oakland. Only Topps was a Total card.
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Wilton Lopez: Reliever averaged 70 appearances for Astros/Rockies from 2010-13, but only appeared in Topps Heritage.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Rafael Perez: Made 338 appearances for the 2006-12 Indians, but only ever appeared in a Heritage set.
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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.
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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.
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Fernando Rodriguez: From 2011-16, made 215 appearances for Astros and A's but never made his way into a Topps set.
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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.
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Chris Spurling: RP appeared in 66 games for '03 Tigers and 56 more in '05. Ignored by Topps.
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Blake Stein: Swingman for the 1999-02 Royals; tallied 117 career games with KC and Oakland but couldn't crack any Topps sets.
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Ricky Stone: Righty reliever made 143 appearances for the 2002-03 Astros but didn't make any Topps sets.
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Mitch Stetter: LOOGY made 132 appearances for 2007-11 Brewers, including 71 in 2009. No Topps cards.
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Dale Thayer: Slinging reliever for Padres in over 240 contests from 2012-15, but no representation from Topps.
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Anthony Varvaro: Made 166 RA mostly for Braves 2010-15, including consecutive 60+ seasons, but no Topps cards.
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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.
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Pete Walker: Righty swingman made 120+ appearances for Blue Jays 2002-06. Appeared in Total and Bowman sets but not Topps.
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more to come...
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...
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Nick Adenhart • Joaquin Andujar • Darrel Akerfelds • John Barfield • Kim Batiste • Don Baylor • Rod Beck • Juan Bell • Dave Bergman • Ron Blazier • Greg Booker • Chris Brown • Tom Browning • Bill Buckner • Ivan Calderon • Ken Caminiti • Jose Capellan • Chuck Carr • Gary Carter • Andujar Cedeno • Carmelo Castillo • Frank Castillo • Jose Castillo • John Cerutti • Bryan Clutterbuck • Brian Cooper • Jim Corsi • Tim Crews • Julio Cruz • Mike Darr • Darren Daulton • Bo Diaz • Chris Duncan • Vaughn Eshelman • Pedro Feliciano • Jose Fernandez • Tony Fernandez • Mike Flanagan • Bob Forsch • Ryan Freel
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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 • 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
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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
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Anthony Young • Walter Young
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...
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Butch Henry (Astros/Rockies), 1993 Topps
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Charlie Hayes (Yankees/Rockies), 1993 Topps
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Eric Young (Dodgers/Rockies), 1993 Topps
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Quinton McCracken (Rockies/Devil Rays), 1998 Topps
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Jay Bell (Royals/Diamondbacks), 1998 Topps
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Devon White (Marlins/Diamondbacks), 1998 Topps
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Matt Williams (Indians/Diamondbacks), 1998 Topps
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Roger Clemens (Blue Jays/Yankees), 1999 Topps
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Jose Canseco (Yankees/Angels), 2001 Topps
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Mike Hampton (Mets/Rockies), 2001 Topps
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R.A. Dickey (Mets/Blue Jays), 2013 Topps
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Josh Johnson (Marlins/Blue Jays), 2013 Topps
Players (Major league) shown with team they never played regular season for include...(Expansion Teams excluded)
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Jose Canseco (Angels), 2001 Topps
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Mike Jackson (Phillies*), 2001 Topps
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Jose Canseco (Expos), 2002 Topps
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Pat Rapp (Pirates), 2002 Topps
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Darren Lewis (Pirates), 2002 Topps Traded
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Rey Ordonez (Padres), 2004 Topps
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Tony Womack (Red Sox), 2004 Topps
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Roberto Alomar (Devil Rays), 2005 Topps
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Pokey Reese (Mariners), 2005 Topps Update
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Deivi Cruz (Cardinals), 2006 Topps
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Pokey Reese (Mariners), 2006 Topps)
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Morgan Ensberg (Indians), 2008 Topps Update
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Manny Ramirez (Athletics), 2012 Topps
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Jesse Crain (Astros), 2014 Topps
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Tommy Hanson (Rangers), 2014 Topps
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Josh Johnson (Padres), 2014 Topps
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Felix Hernandez (Braves), 2020 Topps
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Kean Wong (Giants), 2020 TOpps
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Eric Thames (Athletics), 2022 Topps
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more to come...
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* Jackson played for Phillies in 1986-1987, but did not in 2000 or 2001
Cards with identifiable fans include...
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1987 Topps #497 Dale Mohorcic
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1987 Topps Traded #19 Steve Carlton
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1991 Topps #701 Pascual Perez
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1995 Topps #573 Scott Leius
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2004 Topps #293 Tony LaRussa
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2005 Topps #24 Mark Bellhorn
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2005 Topps #512 Bernie Williams
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2007 Topps #120 Jason Giambi
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2007 Topps #34 Paul Konerko
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2007 Topps #243 Joe Torre
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2010 Topps #400 Alex Rodriguez
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2010 Topps #46 Chad Tracy
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2010 Topps #295 Kevin Youkilis
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2010 Topps #408 Tigers Franchise History
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2011 Topps #89 Placido Polanco
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2011 Topps #155 Checklist
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2012 Topps #425 Jeff Baker
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2012 Topps Update #215 Brian Bogusevic
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2012 Topps Update #121 Johnny Damon
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2012 Topps #107 Luke Scott
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2012 Topps #72 Carlos Beltran HRD
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2013 Topps #224 Jon Jay
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2013 Topps #330 Ryan Raburn
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2014 Topps #250 Miguel Cabrera
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2014 Topps #509 Brandon Phillips
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2014 Topps #651 Denard Span
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2014 Topps #301 Shane Victorino
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2015 Topps Update #283 Kris Bryant
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2015 Topps #604 Jordan Schafer
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2015 Topps #460 Giants Team
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2017 Topps #72 Cubs Team
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2017 Topps #174 Phillies Team
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2017 Topps #576 Russell Martin
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2018 Topps #119 Angels Team
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2018 Topps #243 James McCann
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2018 Topps Update #11 Adam Engel
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2021 Topps Update #316 Patrick Wisdom
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more to come...
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...*
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Michael Tucker, 1998 Topps
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Mike Lansing, 2000 Topps
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Mike Lowell, 2000 Topps
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Brian Meadows, 2001 Topps
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Michael Tucker, 2001 Topps
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Brian Burres, 2007 Topps and Topps Update
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Edgar Gonzalez, 2007 Topps and Topps Update
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Ubaldo Jimenez, 2007 Topps and Topps Update
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Bengie Molina, 2007 Topps +
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Elizardo Ramirez, 2007 Topps +
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Gary Sheffield, 2007 Topps +
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Carlos Silva, 2007 Topps and Topps Update
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Willy Aybar, 2008 Topps and Topps Update
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Rod Barajas, 2008 Topps and Topps Update +
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Darin Erstad, 2008 Topps and Topps Update
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Mike Cameron, 2009 Topps
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Stephen Drew, 2009 Topps
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Nick Hundley, 2009 Topps
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Gaby Sanchez, 2009 Topps and Topps Update
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Jason Hammel, 2011 Topps
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Wade Davis, 2012 Topps
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Matt Downs, 2012 Topps and Topps Update
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Chris Heisey, 2012 Topps and Topps Update
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Matt Adams, 2013 Topps Update
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Rafael Betancourt, 2013 Topps and Topps Update
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Chris Carter, 2013 Topps and Topps Update
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Daniel Nava, 2013 Topps and Topps Update
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Dayan Viciedo, 2013 Topps and Topps Update
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Jackie Bradley Jr., 2014 Topps and Topps Update
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Santiago Casilla, 2014 Topps and Topps Update
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Matt Shoemaker, 2014 Topps and Topps Update
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Ryan Wheeler, 2014 Topps and Topps Update
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R.J. Alvarez, 2015 Topps and Topps Update
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Vance Worley, 2015 Topps and Topps Update
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Pedro Alvarez, 2016 Topps and Topps Update
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Keon Broxton, 2016 Topps and Topps Update
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Chris Coghlan, 2016 Topps and Topps Update
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Sam Dyson, 2016 Topps and Topps Update
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Tyler Flowers, 2016 Topps and Topps Update
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Daniel Hudson, 2016 Topps and Topps Update
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Jon Niese, 2016 Topps and Topps Update
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Steve Pearce, 2016 Topps and Topps Update (2)
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Jose Pirela, 2018 Topps and Topps Update
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Jason Vargas, 2018 Topps and Topps Update
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Jeurys Familia, 2019 Topps and Topps Update
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Zack Greinke, 2019 Topps
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Ian Kinsler, 2019 Topps and Topps Update
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Lance Lynn, 2019 Topps and Topps Update
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Rich Hill, 2020 Topps and Topps Update
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Joe Jimenez, 2020 Topps and Topps Update
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Luis Severino, 2020 Topps and Topps Update
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Tyler White, 2020 Topps and Topps Update
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Stevie Wilkerson, 2020 Topps and Topps Update
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Adam Frazier, 2021 Topps and Topps Update
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Gerardo Parra, 2022 Topps +
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Javier Baez, 2022 Topps and Topps Update
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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)
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1989 Topps Tony Gwynn (1988 AVG not bold/italicized*)
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1992 Topps Roger Clemens (1990 ERA not bold/italicized*)
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1996 Topps Orel Hershiser (1988 SHO not bold/italicized*)
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1997-2000 Topps Juan Guzman (1996 ERA not bold/italicized*)
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1997-2003 Topps Roger Clemens (1996 K not bold/italicized*)
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1997-2002 Topps Kenny Lofton (1996 AB not bold/italicized*)
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1998-2003 Topps Andres Galarraga (1997 RBI not bold/italicized)
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1999 Topps Rickey Henderson (1989 BB [first row] not red)
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2001 Topps Pat Rapp (1995 L italicized instead of 1996*)
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2003-2008 Topps Kenny Lofton (1996 G incorrectly bold/italicized along with corrected 1996 AB)
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2003 Topps Barry Bonds (2002 BB not bold/italicized*)
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2004 Topps Roy Halladay (2003 W not bold/italicized*)
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2008 Topps Todd Helton (no league leading stats bold/italicized*)
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2009 Topps Cristian Guzman (2000 and 2003 3B not bold/italicized*)
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more to come...
Players with misprinted card numbers include...
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1994 Topps #379 Mark McLemore (misnumbered as #370)
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1997 Topps #84 Mike Fetters (misnumbered as #61)
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1997 Topps #277 Chipper Jones (misnumbered as #276)
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2004 Topps #274 Mike Scioscia (misnumbered as #267)
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2014 Topps Update #US21 Bryan Holaday (misnumbered as #US117)
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2014 Topps Update #US311 Josh Tomlin (misnumbered as #US164)
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2021 Topps Update #US142 David Hale (misnumbered as #US285)
Players shown playing defensive position other than the one listed include...
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1992 Topps #349 Steve Lyons (shown in OF; listed as 3B-2B)
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1999 Topps #31 Ryan Jackson (shown at 1B; listed as OF)
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1999 Topps #5 Jim Leyritz (shown at 1B; listed as C)
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1999 Topps #293 Ryan Minor (shown at 1B; listed as 3B)
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2000 Topps #412 Tony Womack (shown at 2B; listed as OF)
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2001 Topps #588 Chris Richard (shown at 1B; listed as OF)
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2003 Topps #26 David Ortiz (shown at 1B; listed as DH)
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2004 Topps #478 Jack Cust (shown at 1B; listed as DH)
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2006 Topps #574 Darin Erstad (shown at 1B; listed as OF)
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2007 Topps #585 Willie Bloomquist (shown at 2B or SS; listed as 3B)
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2007 Topps #123 Chone Figgins (shown at 3B; listed as OF)
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2007 Topps #4 Nick Swisher (shown at 1B; listed as OF)
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2007 Topps #2 Nick Swisher (shown at 1B; listed as OF)
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2007 Topps #245 Chad Tracy (shown at 3B; erroneously listed as P)
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2008 Topps #409 Jason Giambi (shown at 1B; listed as DH)
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2008 Topps Update #104 Omar Infante (shown in OF, listed as 2B)
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2009 Topps #587 Adam Dunn (shown at 1B; listed as OF)
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2009 Topps #559 Esteban German (shown in OF; listed as 2B)
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2009 Topps Update #282 Victor Martinez (shown at 1B; listed as C)
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2010 Topps Update #48 Geoff Blum (shown at 3B; listed as 1B)
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2010 Topps #68 Brandon Inge (shown at 3B; listed as P on front)
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2010 Topps #566 Maicer Izturis (shown in OF, listed as 2B)
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2010 Topps #313 Jason Kubel (shown on defense; listed as DH)
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2011 Topps Update #137 Willie Bloomquist (shown in IF; listed as OF)
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2011 Topps Update #255 Allen Craig (shown at 3B; listed as OF)
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2011 Topps Update #2 Ty Wigginton (shown at 1B; listed as 3B)
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2012 Topps #454 Michael Cuddyer (shown at 3B; listed as OF)
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2012 Topps #488 Nick Swisher (shown at 1B; listed as OF)
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2015 Topps #474 Alexi Amarista (shown in OF; listed as SS)
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2015 Topps #102 Gordon Beckham (shown at 3B; listed as 2B)
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2017 Topps Update #151 Yandy Diaz (shown in OF; listed as 3B)
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2017 Topps #458 Hernan Perez (shown in OF; listed as 3B)
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2018 Topps #481 Ronald Torreyes (shown in OF; listed as 2B-3B)
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2019 Topps #485 Wil Myers (shown at 3B; listed as OF)
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more to come...