The 2024 Topps Update Series Baseball set has caused quite a stir with its unexpected surprises and Easter eggs, offering collectors a fresh take on their favorite pastime. One of the standout moments in this year’s release is the unlikely appearance of Aaron Judge in the Paw Patrol universe. In a special episode of Rubble & Crew, Judge finds himself in Builder Cove, a town where dogs chat and construction dreams come true. Rather than hitting home runs, Judge joins forces with his furry friends to construct a stadium from the ground up.
Capturing this whimsical collaboration are two special trading cards in the set, numbered PP-1 and PP-2. Featuring an animated rendition of the Yankees’ powerhouse, these Aaron Judge Paw Patrol cards have swiftly become coveted items among enthusiasts. With Judge’s esteemed status in baseball and this imaginative crossover, the Paw Patrol cards are generating quite the buzz in the collecting community.
Another hidden gem waiting to be unearthed in the 2024 Topps Update Series is a short-print (SSP) variation showcasing Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s Yankees debut. Following his trade from the Miami Marlins to the New York Yankees, Chisholm makes his mark on card #US1, which, interestingly, lacks a CMP code on the back—a clever detail that adds an extra challenge for keen-eyed collectors.
Additionally, the update series introduces Golden Image Variations, offering alternate photos for all 350 base cards to infuse a sense of excitement into each pack. However, a slight hiccup has been noted in the set’s Black parallels, which are erroneously numbered up to 74 instead of the usual 73. While this minor numbering error doesn’t diminish the cards’ overall appeal, it piques the interest of collectors who enjoy tracking the consistency of Topps’ sets.
The 2024 Topps Update Series continues to surprise and delight collectors with its inventive offerings. Aaron Judge’s foray into the Paw Patrol world and Jazz Chisholm’s debut with the Yankees demonstrate that there are still hidden treasures to be discovered within flagship baseball sets. As enthusiasts dive deeper into this release, they may uncover more unannounced variations and Easter eggs yet to be unveiled.
These unexpected inclusions serve as a reminder that even in a landscape of shrinking SSPs, Topps remains adept at injecting fun and wonder into their sets. Whether you’re on the hunt for Judge’s animated alter ego or Chisholm’s Yankees introduction, the 2024 Topps Update Series guarantees plenty of reasons to keep tearing into those packs.