What surprises may be found in 2016 Topps baseball card packs?

Screen-Shot-2016-01-11-at-11.41.52-AMAn early version of the 2016 Topps Series 1 baseball checklist arrived on Tuesday and that first glimpse offered a few surprises before its arrival on Feb. 3.

But there are also undoubtedly more still to come.

The First Pitch cards showing celebrities making ceremonial appearances? They’re not on the checklist but are confirmed as still coming. There’s no note of variations or short-printed cards for the release — we all know those are coming. They always do.

What else? Keep reading for a rundown of what’s known and notable from the checklist

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Will Eric Hosmer’s hustle lead to hobby gold? + 5 more Royals to know

hosmerGold

The Kansas City Royals are your World Series champions with a cast of younger veteran players who have all-around skills but perhaps not one overall superstar who is a hobby darling.

2015WorldSeriesLogoBut thanks to Eric Hosmer‘s hustle on a ground ball in the ninth to tie it and a five-run rally in the 12th, the Royals wear the crown this year in MLB.

Hosmer has arguably the most potential in the hobby with a good amount of 2008 USA Baseball and other prospect cards predating his MLB card arrivals in 2011. Overall, he has more than 1,500 unique cards and more than 300 certified autographs for collectors to chase. They’re not overly plentiful like some stars from that timeframe, but they are out there. If you can’t land some of his USA ink, look for the affordable autos in 2008 Razor Signature Series. He’s there because he was a Razor exclusive before his Topps autos arrived in 2011.

Keep reading for five more Royals to know.

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