1996 Topps

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Description

1996 Topps is a 440-card set (the smallest in almost 40 years), released in two series of 220. A special Mickey Mantle card was issued as card number 7 (his uniform number) and was "retired" after the season. Rookie Cards in this set include Sean Casey and Geoff Jenkins.

Distribution

Hobby/retail wax: 36 packs per box (MSRP: $1.29), 12 cards per pack.

Jumbo: 12 packs per box, 41 cards per pack.

Factory set: 440 cards, a hermetically sealed #7 Mickey Mantle card and seven random inserts

Reviews

Insertion Ratios

Series One

Cards Total Cards Numbered To Hobby Odds Retail Odds Jumbo Odds
Base 220 - 12:1 12:1 41:1
Star Power Boosters 11 - 1:36 N/A ?
Draft Pick Power Boosters 14 - N/A 1:36 ?
Mickey Mantle Reprints 19 - 1:9 1:6 1:2
Profiles 20 - 1:12 1:8 1:6
Mystery Finest 26 - 1:36 1:36 1:8
Mystery Finest Refractors 26 - 1:216 1:216 1:36
Masters of the Game 20 - 1:18 N/A N/A
Classic Confrontations 15 - N/A W N/A

Series Two

Cards Total Cards Numbered To Hobby Odds Retail Odds Jumbo Odds
Base 220 - 12:1 12:1 41:1
Mickey Mantle Finest Reprints 19 - 1:18 1:12 ?
Mickey Mantle Finest Refractor Reprints 19 - 1:96 1:144 ?
Mickey Mantle Contest Redemptions 19 2000 1:108 1:96 ?
Profiles 20 - 1:12 1:8 1:6
Wrecking Crew 15 - 1:18 N/A N/A
Road Warriors 20 - N/A W N/A

W: One card per pack, in packs sold exclusively at Wal-Mart stores.

Checklist

Pre-Production

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  • PP2 Thomas Howard
  • PP3 Rafael Bournigal
  • PP4 Ron Gant
  • PP5 Chipper Jones
  • PP6 Frank Thomas
  • PP7 Barry Bonds
  • PP8 Fred McGriff
  • PP9 Hideo Nomo

Base Set

Series One

Star Power

Tony-Gwynn.jpg?id=6cc2c0ea-30bf-40b5-860c-0c09ab0551de&size=original&side=front&.jpg Tony-Gwynn.jpg?id=6cc2c0ea-30bf-40b5-860c-0c09ab0551de&size=original&side=back&.jpg

  • 1 Tony Gwynn
  • 2 Mike Piazza
  • 3 Greg Maddux
  • 4 Jeff Bagwell
  • 5 Larry Walker
  • 6 Barry Larkin

Mickey Mantle Tribute

Mickey-Mantle.jpg?id=f2ac5607-2d11-43db-8655-0d64c178ebdf&size=original&side=front&.jpg Mickey-Mantle.jpg?id=f2ac5607-2d11-43db-8655-0d64c178ebdf&size=original&side=back&.jpg

Shortly after Mickey Mantle's 1995 death, Topps announced that it would "retire" card #7 in its annual flagship baseball card set in his honor. 1996 would be the final year there would be a card #7.

This lasted until 2006 when Topps reacquired Mantle's trading card rights, and included him in the Topps set as card #7 until 2012. From 2013-16, card #7 was re-retired as Topps let their contract with the Mantle estate expire. In 2017, Panini America acquired Mantle's trading card rights, and Topps un-retired #7 again -- this time filling it with a prominent New York Yankee.

  • 7 Mickey Mantle

Star Power (cont'd)

Barry-Bonds.jpg?id=126c9c8a-9e56-42c3-a99f-4b469f94c582&size=original&side=front&.jpg Barry-Bonds.jpg?id=126c9c8a-9e56-42c3-a99f-4b469f94c582&size=original&side=back&.jpg

  • 8 Tom Glavine
  • 9 Craig Biggio
  • 10 Barry Bonds
  • 11 Heathcliff Slocumb
  • 12 Matt Williams

Draft Picks

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  • 13 Todd Helton DP
  • 14 Mark Redman DP
  • 15 Michael Barrett DP
  • 16 Ben Davis DP
  • 17 Juan LeBron DP
  • 18 Tony McKnight DP
  • 19 Ryan Jaroncyk DP
  • 20 Corey Jenkins DP
  • 21 Jim Scharrer DP
  • 22 Mark Bellhorn DP RC
  • 23 Jarrod Washburn DP RC
  • 24 Geoff Jenkins DP RC
  • 25 Sean Casey DP RC
  • 26 Brett Tomko DP RC

Carlos-Baerga.jpg?id=2f5ab165-dbc6-4ba9-aa0e-27e2a2ed7024&size=original&side=front&.jpg Carlos-Baerga.jpg?id=2f5ab165-dbc6-4ba9-aa0e-27e2a2ed7024&size=original&side=back&.jpg

  • 27 Tony Fernandez
  • 28 Rich Becker
  • 29 Andujar Cedeno
  • 30 Paul Molitor
  • 31 Brent Gates
  • 32 Glenallen Hill
  • 33 Mike Macfarlane
  • 34 Manny Alexander
  • 35 Todd Zeile
  • 36 Joe Girardi
  • 37 Tony Tarasco
  • 38 Tim Belcher
  • 39 Tom Goodwin
  • 40 Orel Hershiser
  • 41 Tripp Cromer
  • 42 Sean Bergman
  • 43 Troy Percival
  • 44 Kevin Stocker
  • 45 Albert Belle
  • 46 Tony Eusebio
  • 47 Sid Roberson
  • 48 Todd Hollandsworth
  • 49 Mark Wohlers
  • 50 Kirby Puckett
  • 51 Darren Holmes
  • 52 Ron Karkovice
  • 53 Al Martin
  • 54 Pat Rapp
  • 55 Mark Grace
  • 56 Greg Gagne
  • 57 Stan Javier
  • 58 Scott Sanders
  • 59 J.T. Snow
  • 60 Dave Justice
  • 61 Royce Clayton
  • 62 Kevin Foster
  • 63 Tim Naehring
  • 64 Orlando Miller
  • 65 Mike Mussina
  • 66 Jim Eisenreich
  • 67 Felix Fermin
  • 68 Bernie Williams
  • 69 Robb Nen
  • 70 Ron Gant
  • 71 Felipe Lira
  • 72 Jacob Brumfield
  • 73 John Mabry
  • 74 Mark Carreon
  • 75 Carlos Baerga
  • 76 Jim Dougherty
  • 77 Ryan Thompson
  • 78 Scott Leius
  • 79 Roger Pavlik
  • 80 Gary Sheffield
  • 81 Julian Tavarez
  • 82 Andy Ashby
  • 83 Mark Lemke
  • 84 Omar Vizquel
  • 85 Darren Daulton
  • 86 Mike Lansing
  • 87 Rusty Greer
  • 88 Dave Stevens
  • 89 Jose Offerman
  • 90 Tom Henke
  • 91 Troy O'Leary
  • 92 Michael Tucker
  • 93 Marvin Freeman
  • 94 Alex Diaz
  • 95 John Wetteland

Cal Ripken, Jr. Tribute

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  • 96 Cal Ripken, Jr. 2131

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  • 97 Mike Mimbs
  • 98 Bob Higginson
  • 99 Edgardo Alfonzo
  • 100 Frank Thomas

Triple-A All-Stars

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  • 101 Steve Gibralter / Bob Abreu
  • 102 Brian Givens / T.J. Mathews
  • 103 Chris Pritchett / Trent Hubbard
  • 104 Eric Owens / Butch Huskey

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  • 105 Doug Drabek
  • 106 Tomas Perez
  • 107 Mark Leiter
  • 108 Joe Oliver
  • 109 Tony Castillo
  • 110 Checklist 1-110
  • 111 Kevin Seitzer
  • 112 Pete Schourek
  • 113 Sean Berry
  • 114 Todd Stottlemyre
  • 115 Joe Carter
  • 116 Jeff King
  • 117 Dan Wilson
  • 118 Kurt Abbott
  • 119 Lyle Mouton
  • 120 Jose Rijo
  • 121 Curtis Goodwin
  • 122 Jose Valentin
  • 123 Ellis Burks
  • 124 David Cone
  • 125 Eddie Murray
  • 126 Brian Jordan
  • 127 Darrin Fletcher
  • 128 Curt Schilling
  • 129 Ozzie Guillen
  • 130 Kenny Rogers
  • 131 Tom Pagnozzi
  • 132 Garret Anderson
  • 133 Bobby Jones
  • 134 Chris Gomez
  • 135 Mike Stanley
  • 136 Hideo Nomo
  • 137 Jon Nunnally
  • 138 Tim Wakefield
  • 139 Steve Finley
  • 140 Ivan Rodriguez
  • 141 Quilvio Veras
  • 142 Mike Fetters
  • 143 Mike Greenwell
  • 144 Bill Pulsipher
  • 145 Mark McGwire
  • 146 Frank Castillo
  • 147 Greg Vaughn
  • 148 Pat Hentgen
  • 149 Walt Weiss
  • 150 Randy Johnson
  • 151 David Segui
  • 152 Benji Gil
  • 153 Tom Candiotti
  • 154 Geronimo Berroa
  • 155 John Franco
  • 156 Jay Bell
  • 157 Mark Gubicza
  • 158 Hal Morris
  • 159 Wilson Alvarez
  • 160 Derek Bell
  • 161 Ricky Bottalico
  • 162 Bret Boone
  • 163 Brad Radke
  • 164 John Valentin
  • 165 Steve Avery
  • 166 Mark McLemore
  • 167 Danny Jackson
  • 168 Tino Martinez
  • 169 Shane Reynolds
  • 170 Terry Pendleton
  • 171 Jim Edmonds
  • 172 Esteban Loaiza
  • 173 Ray Durham
  • 174 Carlos Perez
  • 175 Raul Mondesi
  • 176 Steve Ontiveros
  • 177 Chipper Jones
  • 178 Otis Nixon
  • 179 John Burkett
  • 180 Gregg Jefferies
  • 181 Denny Martinez
  • 182 Ken Caminiti
  • 183 Doug Jones
  • 184 Brian McRae
  • 185 Don Mattingly
  • 186 Mel Rojas
  • 187 Marty Cordova
  • 188 Vinny Castilla
  • 189 John Smoltz
  • 190 Travis Fryman
  • 191 Chris Hoiles
  • 192 Chuck Finley
  • 193 Ryan Klesko
  • 194 Alex Fernandez
  • 195 Dante Bichette
  • 196 Eric Karros
  • 197 Roger Clemens
  • 198 Randy Myers
  • 199 Tony Phillips
  • 200 Cal Ripken, Jr.
  • 201 Rod Beck
  • 202 Chad Curtis
  • 203 Jack McDowell
  • 204 Gary Gaetti
  • 205 Ken Griffey, Jr.
  • 206 Ramon Martinez
  • 207 Jeff Kent
  • 208 Brad Ausmus
  • 209 Devon White

Future Stars

Derek-Jeter.jpg?id=193e2f55-f2ab-42a0-a205-c300656e0d1b&size=original&side=front&.jpg Derek-Jeter.jpg?id=193e2f55-f2ab-42a0-a205-c300656e0d1b&size=original&side=back&.jpg

  • 210 Jason Giambi
  • 211 Nomar Garciaparra
  • 212 Billy Wagner
  • 213 Todd Greene
  • 214 Paul Wilson
  • 215 Johnny Damon
  • 216 Alan Benes
  • 217 Karim Garcia
  • 218 Dustin Hermanson
  • 219 Derek Jeter
  • 220 Checklist 111-220

Series Two

Star Power

Wade-Boggs.jpg?id=ac5e8e6d-310e-4f87-af97-1a2a06030371&size=original&side=front&.jpg Wade-Boggs.jpg?id=ac5e8e6d-310e-4f87-af97-1a2a06030371&size=original&side=back&.jpg

  • 221 Kirby Puckett
  • 222 Cal Ripken, Jr.
  • 223 Albert Belle
  • 224 Randy Johnson
  • 225 Wade Boggs
  • 226 Carlos Baerga
  • 227 Ivan Rodriguez
  • 228 Mike Mussina
  • 229 Frank Thomas
  • 230 Ken Griffey, Jr.
  • 231 Jose Mesa

Draft Picks

Brian-McNichol.jpg?id=d492b16c-212e-4e21-b87b-bd837f07c093&size=original&side=front&.jpg Brian-McNichol.jpg?id=d492b16c-212e-4e21-b87b-bd837f07c093&size=original&side=back&.jpg

  • 232 Matt Morris DP RC
  • 233 Craig Wilson DP RC
  • 234 Alvie Shepherd DP RC*
  • 235 Randy Winn DP RC
  • 236 David Yocum DP RC*
  • 237 Jason Brester DP RC
  • 238 Shane Monahan DP RC
  • 239 Brian McNichol DP RC
  • 240 Reggie Taylor DP
  • 241 Garrett Long DP
  • 242 Jonathan Johnson DP RC
  • 243 Jeff Liefer DP RC
  • 244 Brian Powell DP
  • 245 Brian Buchanan DP RC

Chuck-Knoblauch.jpg?id=5e7ff7ca-b960-4716-b601-96fbdbeeb62e&size=original&side=front&.jpg Chuck-Knoblauch.jpg?id=5e7ff7ca-b960-4716-b601-96fbdbeeb62e&size=original&side=back&.jpg

  • 246 Mike Piazza
  • 247 Edgar Martinez
  • 248 Chuck Knoblauch
  • 249 Andres Galarraga
  • 250 Tony Gwynn
  • 251 Lee Smith
  • 252 Sammy Sosa
  • 253 Jim Thome
  • 254 Frank Rodriguez
  • 255 Charlie Hayes
  • 256 Bernard Gilkey
  • 257 John Smiley
  • 258 Brady Anderson
  • 259 Rico Brogna
  • 260 Kirt Manwaring
  • 261 Lenny Dykstra
  • 262 Tom Glavine
  • 263 Vince Coleman
  • 264 John Olerud
  • 265 Orlando Merced
  • 266 Kent Mercker
  • 267 Terry Steinbach
  • 268 Brian L. Hunter
  • 269 Jeff Fassero
  • 270 Jay Buhner
  • 271 Jeff Brantley
  • 272 Tim Raines
  • 273 Jimmy Key
  • 274 Mo Vaughn
  • 275 Andre Dawson
  • 276 Jose Mesa
  • 277 Brett Butler
  • 278 Luis Gonzalez
  • 279 Steve Sparks
  • 280 Chili Davis
  • 281 Carl Everett
  • 282 Jeff Cirillo
  • 283 Thomas Howard
  • 284 Paul O'Neill
  • 285 Pat Meares
  • 286 Mickey Tettleton
  • 287 Rey Sanchez
  • 288 Bip Roberts
  • 289 Roberto Alomar
  • 290 Ruben Sierra
  • 291 John Flaherty
  • 292 Bret Saberhagen
  • 293 Barry Larkin
  • 294 Sandy Alomar, Jr.
  • 295 Ed Sprague
  • 296 Gary DiSarcina
  • 297 Marquis Grissom
  • 298 John Frascatore
  • 299 Will Clark
  • 300 Barry Bonds
  • 301 Ozzie Smith
  • 302 Dave Nilsson
  • 303 Pedro Martinez
  • 304 Joey Cora
  • 305 Rick Aguilera
  • 306 Craig Biggio
  • 307 Jose Vizcaino
  • 308 Jeff Montgomery
  • 309 Moises Alou
  • 310 Robin Ventura
  • 311 David Wells
  • 312 Delino DeShields
  • 313 Trevor Hoffman
  • 314 Andy Benes
  • 315 Deion Sanders
  • 316 Jim Bullinger
  • 317 John Jaha
  • 318 Greg Maddux
  • 319 Tim Salmon
  • 320 Ben McDonald
  • 321 Sandy Martinez
  • 322 Dan Miceli
  • 323 Wade Boggs
  • 324 Ismael Valdes
  • 325 Juan Gonzalez
  • 326 Charles Nagy
  • 327 Ray Lankford
  • 328 Mark Portugal
  • 329 Bobby Bonilla
  • 330 Reggie Sanders
  • 331 Jamie Brewington RC
  • 332 Aaron Sele
  • 333 Pete Harnisch
  • 334 Cliff Floyd
  • 335 Cal Eldred
  • 336 Jason Bates
  • 337 Tony Clark
  • 338 Jose Herrera
  • 339 Alex Ochoa
  • 340 Mark Loretta
  • 341 Donne Wall RC
  • 342 Jason Kendall
  • 343 Shannon Stewart
  • 344 Brooks Kieschnick
  • 345 Chris Snopek
  • 346 Ruben Rivera
  • 347 Jeff Suppan
  • 348 Phil Nevin
  • 349 John Wasdin
  • 350 Jay Payton
  • 351 Tim Crabtree
  • 352 Rick Krivda
  • 353 Bob Wolcott
  • 354 Jimmy Haynes
  • 355 Herb Perry
  • 356 Ryne Sandberg
  • 357 Harold Baines
  • 358 Chad Ogea
  • 359 Lee Tinsley
  • 360 Matt Williams
  • 361 Randy Velarde
  • 362 Jose Canseco
  • 363 Larry Walker
  • 364 Kevin Appier
  • 365 Darryl Hamilton
  • 366 Jose Lima
  • 367 Javy Lopez
  • 368 Dennis Eckersley
  • 369 Jason Isringhausen
  • 370 Mickey Morandini
  • 371 Scott Cooper
  • 372 Jim Abbott
  • 373 Paul Sorrento
  • 374 Chris Hammond
  • 375 Lance Johnson
  • 376 Kevin Brown
  • 377 Luis Alicea
  • 378 Andy Pettitte
  • 379 Dean Palmer
  • 380 Jeff Bagwell
  • 381 Jaime Navarro
  • 382 Rondell White
  • 383 Erik Hanson
  • 384 Pedro Munoz
  • 385 Heathcliff Slocumb
  • 386 Wally Joyner
  • 387 Bob Tewksbury
  • 388 David Bell
  • 389 Fred McGriff
  • 390 Mike Henneman
  • 391 Robby Thompson
  • 392 Norm Charlton
  • 393 Cecil Fielder
  • 394 Benito Santiago
  • 395 Rafael Palmeiro
  • 396 Ricky Bones
  • 397 Rickey Henderson
  • 398 C.J. Nitkowski
  • 399 Shawon Dunston
  • 400 Manny Ramirez
  • 401 Bill Swift
  • 402 Chad Fonville
  • 403 Joey Hamilton
  • 404 Alex Gonzalez
  • 405 Roberto Hernandez
  • 406 Jeff Blauser
  • 407 LaTroy Hawkins
  • 408 Greg Colbrunn
  • 409 Todd Hundley
  • 410 Glenn Dishman
  • 411 Joe Vitiello
  • 412 Todd Worrell
  • 413 Wil Cordero
  • 414 Ken Hill
  • 415 Carlos Garcia
  • 416 Bryan Rekar
  • 417 Shawn Green
  • 418 Tyler Green
  • 419 Mike Blowers
  • 420 Kenny Lofton
  • 421 Denny Neagle
  • 422 Jeff Conine
  • 423 Mark Langston

Prospects

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  • 424 Ron Wright / Jesse Ibarra / Derrek Lee / Steve PROS RC
  • 425 James Bonnici / Billy Owens / Daryle Ward RC / Ric PROS
  • 426 Kevin Jordan / Bobby Morris / Desi Relaford / Adam PROS RC
  • 427 Tim Harkrider / Rey Ordonez / Neifi Perez / Enriqu PROS
  • 428 Bartolo Colon / Doug Million / Rafael Orellano / R PROS
  • 429 Jeff D'Amico / Marty Janzen / Gary Rath / Clint PROS RC
  • 430 Matt Drews / Rich Hunter / Matt Ruebel / Bret W PROS RC
  • 431 Jamie Bluma / Dave Coggin / Steve Montgomery / PROS RC
  • 432 Mike Figga / Raul Ibanez / Paul Konerko / Julio PROS RC
  • 433 Brian Marber / Marc Kroon / Marc Valdes / Don Weng PROS
  • 434 Chris Haas / Scott Rolen / Scott Spiezio / George PROS
  • 435 Brian Banks / Vladimir Guerrero / Andruw Jones / B PROS
  • 436 Roger Cedeno / Derrick Gibson / Ben Grieve / Shane PROS RC
  • 437 Anton French / Demond Smith / Darond Stovall RC / PROS
  • 438 Michael Coleman RC / Jacob Cruz / Richard Hidalgo PROS
  • 439 Trey Beamon / Yamil Benetez / Jermaine Dye / Angel PROS
  • 440 Checklist

Parallels

Power Boosters

Greg-Maddux.jpg?id=30bb3172-3d56-4da3-8095-f1d93c875562&size=original&side=front&.jpg Ben-Davis.jpg?id=c92844e8-2223-4d9b-afe3-dc861d4e8594&size=original&side=front&.jpg

Power Boosters are a metallic version of 25 of the first 26 1996 Topps Series One cards. Card numbers 1-6 and 8-12 parallel the "Star Power" subset and were exclusive to Series One Hobby packs; while numbers 13-26 parallel the "Draft Picks" subset and were issued in Series One retail packs. Inserted in place of two basic cards, they are printed on 28 point stock and the fronts have prismatic foil printing. Curiously card number 7, which is Mickey Mantle in the base set, was not issued in a Power Booster form. These cards were not well received by collectors and were discontinued for Series Two.

Inserts

Mickey Mantle Reprints

Mickey-Mantle-(1960-Topps).jpg?id=1edc2a2a-1de4-4ba0-a986-d4387691ea48&size=original&side=front&.jpg Mickey-Mantle-(1960-Topps).jpg?id=1edc2a2a-1de4-4ba0-a986-d4387691ea48&size=original&side=back&.jpg

To commemorate the 1995 death of Mickey Mantle, Topps reprinted 19 of his classic Topps and Bowman cards, one-per-year, from 1951 through 1969. The fronts look the same except for a commemorative foil stamp, while the backs clearly state that they are "Mickey Mantle Commemorative" cards and have a 1996 copyright date.

Based on evidence from an uncut sheet auctioned off at the 1996 Kit Young Hawaii Trade Show, some collectors/dealers believe that cards 15 through 19 were slightly shorter printed in relation to the other 14 cards.

The "base" cards were randomly inserted into Series One packs, while Finest and Finest Refractor versions were in Series Two.

A 20th card of Mantle's 1952 Bowman card was randomly inserted into 1996 Bowman packs, with Finest, Refractor, and Atomic Refractor parallels inserted into 1996 Bowman's Best. A 21st card (although not sequentially-numbered as part of this set) of Mantle's 1959 Bazooka card was included in each 1996 Bazooka factory set.

This set would be extended again for 1997 Topps, with reprints of Mantle's multiplayer and subset cards. The Mantle reprints were well received by collectors, many of whom would never have any realistic chance of pulling a genuine Mickey Mantle Topps card out of a 1950s or 1960s wax pack. Throughout the remainder of the 90s, Topps would reprint entire the runs of Topps cards from other legendary players: Willie Mays in 1997, Roberto Clemente in '98, Nolan Ryan in '99, and Hank Aaron in 2000.

  • 1 Mickey Mantle 51B
  • 2 Mickey Mantle 52T
  • 3 Mickey Mantle 53T
  • 4 Mickey Mantle 54B
  • 5 Mickey Mantle 55B
  • 6 Mickey Mantle 56T
  • 7 Mickey Mantle 57T
  • 8 Mickey Mantle 58T
  • 9 Mickey Mantle 59T
  • 10 Mickey Mantle 60T
  • 11 Mickey Mantle 61T
  • 12 Mickey Mantle 62T
  • 13 Mickey Mantle 63T
  • 14 Mickey Mantle 64T
  • 15 Mickey Mantle 65T SP
  • 16 Mickey Mantle 66T SP
  • 17 Mickey Mantle 67T SP
  • 18 Mickey Mantle 68T SP
  • 19 Mickey Mantle 69T SP

Case Cards

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The 19-card set parallels the regular Mantle Reprint set. The "case" cards were seeded into each Series Two Hobby, jumbo, and vending case as box toppers. The cards were hermetically sealed and issued in a soft plastic seal with the words "Topps Factory Seal 1996" on the back.

Contest Redemptions

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Randomly inserted into Series Two packs, this 19-card set parallels the regular Mantle Reprint set. Collectors fortunate to pull one could then send it back to Topps and be entered into a drawing for the actual Mickey Mantle card depicted. 2000 copies of each redemption were produced, but only 76 vintage Mantles were given away. The contest expired October 15, 1996.

Mickey Mantle Last Day Production

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This special version of Mantle's 1996 Topps base card is "hermetically sealed" and was inserted into all 1996 Topps factory sets.

7 Mickey Mantle

Profiles

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This 40-card set features 20 players from each league. One card from the first series and two from the second series were also included in all Topps factory sets. Topps spokesmen Kirby Puckett (AL) and Tony Gwynn (NL) give opinions on players within their league. The cards are numbered with either an "AL or NL" prefix on the back depending on the player’s league. The cards are sequenced in alphabetical order within league. Cards AL/NL 1-10 were inserted into Series One packs, while AL/NL 11-20 were in Series Two.

  • AL1 Roberto Alomar
  • AL2 Carlos Baerga
  • AL3 Albert Belle
  • AL4 Cecil Fielder
  • AL5 Ken Griffey, Jr.
  • AL6 Randy Johnson
  • AL7 Paul O'Neill
  • AL8 Cal Ripken, Jr.
  • AL9 Frank Thomas
  • AL10 Mo Vaughn
  • AL11 Jay Buhner
  • AL12 Marty Cordova
  • AL13 Jim Edmonds
  • AL14 Juan Gonzalez
  • AL15 Kenny Lofton
  • AL16 Edgar Martinez
  • AL17 Don Mattingly
  • AL18 Mark McGwire
  • AL19 Rafael Palmeiro
  • AL20 Tim Salmon
  • NL1 Jeff Bagwell
  • NL2 Derek Bell
  • NL3 Barry Bonds
  • NL4 Greg Maddux
  • NL5 Fred McGriff
  • NL6 Raul Mondesi
  • NL7 Mike Piazza
  • NL8 Reggie Sanders
  • NL9 Sammy Sosa
  • NL10 Larry Walker
  • NL11 Dante Bichette
  • NL12 Andres Galarraga
  • NL13 Ron Gant
  • NL14 Tom Glavine
  • NL15 Chipper Jones
  • NL16 Dave Justice
  • NL17 Barry Larkin
  • NL18 Hideo Nomo
  • NL19 Gary Sheffield
  • NL20 Matt Williams

Mystery Finest

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This 26-card set was randomly inserted in all Series One packs. The backs of each card feature the players that could be depicted on the front. The front of the card is covered with an black film that needs to be peeled off before the player can be identified -- although it may be possible to identify the player on the front without peeling, as the chromium-stock card's etching has been known to show through the black coating.

This set is also available as a Refractor parallel and each card is marked with an "R" next to the Topps logo on the back.

  • M1 Hideo Nomo
  • M2 Greg Maddux
  • M3 Randy Johnson
  • M4 Chipper Jones
  • M5 Marty Cordova
  • M6 Garret Anderson
  • M7 Cal Ripken, Jr.
  • M8 Kirby Puckett
  • M9 Tony Gwynn
  • M10 Manny Ramirez
  • M11 Jim Edmonds
  • M12 Mike Piazza
  • M13 Barry Bonds
  • M14 Raul Mondesi
  • M15 Sammy Sosa
  • M16 Ken Griffey, Jr.
  • M17 Albert Belle
  • M18 Dante Bichette
  • M19 Mo Vaughn
  • M20 Jeff Bagwell
  • M21 Frank Thomas
  • M22 Hideo Nomo
  • M23 Cal Ripken, Jr.
  • M24 Mike Piazza
  • M25 Ken Griffey, Jr.
  • M26 Frank Thomas

Master of the Game

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This 20-card set was randomly inserted into Series One Hobby packs. In addition, each factory set contained two Master of the Game cards.

  • MG1 Dennis Eckersley
  • MG2 Denny Martinez
  • MG3 Eddie Murray
  • MG4 Paul Molitor
  • MG5 Ozzie Smith
  • MG6 Rickey Henderson
  • MG7 Tim Raines
  • MG8 Lee Smith
  • MG9 Cal Ripken, Jr.
  • MG10 Chili Davis
  • MG11 Wade Boggs
  • MG12 Tony Gwynn
  • MG13 Don Mattingly
  • MG14 Bret Saberhagen
  • MG15 Kirby Puckett
  • MG16 Joe Carter
  • MG17 Roger Clemens
  • MG18 Barry Bonds
  • MG19 Greg Maddux
  • MG20 Frank Thomas

Classic Confrontations

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This 15-card set was exclusive to special five-card Series One retail packs sold at exclusively at Wal-Mart.

  • CC1 Ken Griffey, Jr.
  • CC2 Cal Ripken, Jr.
  • CC3 Edgar Martinez
  • CC4 Kirby Puckett
  • CC5 Frank Thomas
  • CC6 Barry Bonds
  • CC7 Reggie Sanders
  • CC8 Andres Galarraga
  • CC9 Tony Gwynn
  • CC10 Mike Piazza
  • CC11 Randy Johnson
  • CC12 Mike Mussina
  • CC13 Roger Clemens
  • CC14 Tom Glavine
  • CC15 Greg Maddux

Wrecking Crew

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Exclusive to Series Two Hobby packs, this 15-card set honors some of the hottest home run producers in the League. One card from this set was also inserted into Topps Hobby Factory sets.

  • WC1 Jeff Bagwell
  • WC2 Albert Belle
  • WC3 Barry Bonds
  • WC4 Jose Canseco
  • WC5 Joe Carter
  • WC6 Cecil Fielder
  • WC7 Ron Gant
  • WC8 Juan Gonzalez
  • WC9 Ken Griffey, Jr.
  • WC10 Fred McGriff
  • WC11 Mark McGwire
  • WC12 Mike Piazza
  • WC13 Frank Thomas
  • WC14 Mo Vaughn
  • WC15 Matt Williams

Road Warriors

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This 20-card set was inserted exclusively into Series Two Wal-Mart packs at a rate of one per pack and featured leading hitters of the majors.

  • RW1 Derek Bell
  • RW2 Albert Belle
  • RW3 Craig Biggio
  • RW4 Barry Bonds
  • RW5 Jay Buhner
  • RW6 Jim Edmonds
  • RW7 Gary Gaetti
  • RW8 Ron Gant
  • RW9 Edgar Martinez
  • RW10 Tino Martinez
  • RW11 Mark McGwire
  • RW12 Mike Piazza
  • RW13 Manny Ramirez
  • RW14 Tim Salmon
  • RW15 Reggie Sanders
  • RW16 Frank Thomas
  • RW17 John Valentin
  • RW18 Mo Vaughn
  • RW19 Robin Ventura
  • RW20 Matt Williams