Is This An Early Glimpse Of 2020/21 Topps Chrome UEFA Champions League Sapphire Edition?

eBay user live_to_conquer sparked collector’s interest recently upon listing what looks to be cards from 2020/21 Topps Chrome UEFA Champions League Sapphire Edition. Why such the interest you ask? Not only is this product not out yet, it hasn’t even been announced that Topps plans to bring it back for a second year.

Prototypes, samples, promos, cards walking out the back door, leaked early versions of a product, and down right counterfeit are all theories people have come up with for now. Take your pick.

Every card utilizes the 2021 Topps flagship design. What doesn’t look correct to me is the font used for the copyright information and serial number on the back. The copyright information looks larger than normal, and the font used for the serial number isn’t consistent to what we’re use to seeing with Topps Chrome products. Some of the listings even show cards in top loaders containing the Topps seal across the top. If they are homemade and counterfeit someone did a good job attempting to make them look authentic.

I’ve attempted to make contact with the seller to see where they obtained the cards, but I have yet to see a response. Some Blowout Cards forum users received a response simply stating “They came from Topps.” Not too much backstory there.

It wouldn’t surprise me if Topps is working on another edition of this set. 2019/20 Topps Chrome UEFA Champions League Sapphire Edition has been a major hit with collectors. Not only was it a limited release to Topps 582 Montgomery Club members, but rookie Erling Haaland’s popularity really took off shooting box prices to almost $2,000. Crazy to think about when a single box originally cost $80.

Brad Utterstrom Offers A Glimpse Of His 2015 Topps Gypsy Queen Art

In addition to Monty Sheldon, artist Brad Utterstrom also contributed his talents to this year’s Gypsy Queen.  Brad made (15) different 1/1 art patch cards.  Five of them can be seen below, and the rest will be on display here shortly.  Between Brad Utterstrom and Monty Sheldon, there are 40 total 1/1 art/patch cards to be found.  Consider yourself very lucky to pull any one of them.  These guys did a fantastic job.

First Glimpse Of Panini’s Hoops Cards In NBA Baller Beats

Lots of new gadgets and games are being introduced this week at the Los Angeles Convention Center during E3.  Just like I said in this blog post last week, one of the products being demonstrated is NBA Baller Beats.  I know this is a sports card blog, and I rarely talk about video games, but some of the in-game rewards are virtual Panini NBA Hoops basketball cards.  In the trailer above you get to see your first glimpse of these in the game.  Way cool!  I wish more trading cards were incorporated into video games.

Anyone who preorders NBA Baller Beats at GameStop will receive an assorted 3-pack of NBA Fathead 5×7 Tradeables.  This is probably one of the best ways I have seen trading cards and video games working together.