First Buzz: 2016 Topps Series 2 baseball cards

What: 2016 Topps Series 2 baseball cards
Arrives: June 15, 2016
Box basics: One autograph or Relic in every 36-pack hobby box (10 cards per pack, 12 boxes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: The second series of the 2016 Topps flagship includes all of the things found in Series 1 but also some new inclusions such as rip cards and tributes to Ichiro Suzuki as he nears the 3,000-hit club and Ken Griffey Jr. as he’ll likely be in Cooperstown not long after this one arrives next summer.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

The Basics: The standard set will once again consist of 350 cards with parallels we’ve come to expect from basic Topps — Rainbow foil, Gold (/2,016), Black (/65), Vintage (/99), Pink (/50), Clear (/10) and 1/1 Platinum, printing plates and Framed versions. … For Manufactured Relics there will be a new lineup of Team Logo Pins (with an auto parallel /25), Futures Game Pins (also with autos) and World Series Champ Coins and Stamps. … The Ichiro Chasing 3,000 set will consist of 30 cards found one in every nine packs with Relic versions limited to 10 and autographs that will be 1/1s. As part of this, there will also be Ichiro buybacks with a Chasing 3,000 stamp added to them.

Rip cards come to 2016 Topps as Double Play — cards that will combine the debate on ripping with a predictor card inside. If a player achieves that feat on that day, a collector can claim a prize. … The Tribute to The Kid set will focus on Griffey and include 30 standard cards found one in every eight packs. Like Ichiro, this set will have 1/1 autographs, Relics limited to 50, autographed patches that will be 1/1s and buyback originals. … For fans of Relics and autos, there are a few options. Scouting Report autos and Relics will examine top players’ statistics, while Berger’s Best cards (autos, Relics, Auto Relics and cut autos) will continue with notable players from Topps history just like in Series 1.

Topps Laser booklets, as we previously spotlighted here on the Buzz, will have standard books limited to 99 copies as well as autos (/25) and auto Relics (/10) with the unique look found on all of them. Also to be found for autos and Relics are Hallowed Highlights (notable feats for notable players) with autos (/10), Relics (/25) and auto Relics (/5) as well as 100 Years at Wrigley Field with the same autos (/25), Relics (/99) and auto Relics (/10).

Last but not least, there will be a new selection of First Pitch celebrity cards, 1/1 Own the Name Relics, Glove Leather autos, 1/1 cut autos and Bunt code cards to add some digital interaction into the mix.

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