2020/21 Topps Chrome UEFA Champions League Sapphire Edition Box Pop-Ups At Local Card Show

And the plot thickens…

Over the weekend I reported about how an eBay seller seemed to have singles listed that look to have come from 2020/21 Topps Chrome UEFA Champions League Sapphire Edition. Pretty interesting considering this product hasn’t even been announced by Topps yet.

Blowout Cards forum user ybomber attended a local card show over the weekend where a dealer had at least (1) box of 2020/21 Topps Chrome UEFA Champions League Sapphire Edition for sale. These are either completely legit or someone did a fantastic job counterfeiting the entire line. I’m thinking they are the real deal though.

One major difference between the 2019/20 and 2020/21 set is where they were printed. The 2019/20 set was printed in Canada, whereas the 2020/21 set looks to have been printed in Italy. Many of their non-U.S. sports products have switched to being printed in the Italy facility.

How it made it out of Italy and on the U.S. streets already is the big mystery. Maybe Topps plans to release it soon. When it is officially released it looks to be another Topps online-exclusive. Most likely Topps 582 Montgomery Club members will get first dibs.

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.

Card of the Day: Erling Haaland 2019/20 Topps Chrome UEFA Champions League Sapphire Edition #74

Card of the Day: Ken Griffey Jr. 2020 Topps Chrome Update Sapphire Edition #190

Card of the Day: Fernando Tatis Jr. 2019 Topps Chrome Sapphire Edition Green Refractor Auto

Card of the Day: Spencer Howard 2020 Bowman Chrome Sapphire Edition #55

I Told You It Was Coming

Sports Card Info is the Magic 8-Ball of the card industry.  On May 18th I wrote a piece called Is 2020 Bowman Sapphire Edition Baseball On The Way? after some Lency Delgado 2020 Bowman Chrome Atomic Orange Refractor Autographs popped-up on Instagram.  Well… it looks like my prediction has come true.

Available next week as an online-exclusive, 2020 Bowman Sapphire Edition Baseball will contain (1) prospect autograph per box.  Expect them to go fast.  I can already hear people complaining that they weren’t able to get a box, the secondary market prices are too expensive, only certain people were able to buy them, etc…  GET OVER IT!

Is 2020 Bowman Sapphire Edition Baseball On The Way?

Over the weekend an interesting photo popped-up on Instagram.  The photo shows a bunch of Lency Delgado 2020 Bowman Chrome Atomic Orange Refractor Autographs.  What has people talking is the Atomic Orange aspect of the picture.

As far as we know, 2020 Bowman and 2020 Bowman Chrome will not have Atomic Orange Refractor Autographs.  Its also too early for 2020 Bowman Draft.  So what product will these cards be used for?

Its very possible Topps could be gearing-up for a 2020 Bowman Sapphire Edition Baseball online-exclusive release.  These cards look very similar to 2019 Bowman Draft Sapphire Edition.  Collectors/flippers have been all over these Topps online-exclusive products, especially when they pertain to prospects and rookies.

2019 Bowman Draft Sapphire Edition initially cost $35/box.  They are now selling for close to $200/box.  2020 Bowman 1st Edition cost $360/24-pack box.  Currently they’re selling for almost $700/box.  Its extremely fun to watch, and even more fun if you’re fast enough to get in on the action.  I’d never suggest using modern-day sports cards as a wise investment though.

As a member of the Topps 582 Montgomery Club, I hope club members get a crack at buying a box first.  If in fact these cards are meant for 2020 Bowman Sapphire Edition Baseball.  Trying to compete with the general public can be brutal.

Have you noticed how much people complain if they’re not fast enough when it comes to getting their order in with online-exclusive products?  They complain even more if they do get their order in, but the product doesn’t sell out immediately after.

Preview: 2019 Bowman Draft Sapphire Edition

Members of the Topps 582 Montgomery Club got a look at the brand new online-exclusive 2019 Bowman Draft Sapphire Edition during a pre-sale today.  Once the limited pre-sale quantity has been reached the general public will get their opportunity to buy it.  $35 per box.  The pre-sale quantity sold out within an hour.

Product Highlights

• (1) pack per box
• (32) cards per pack – (30) base, (2) parallels
• Checklist

Parallels

• Blue Sapphire #’d/99
• Green Sapphire #’d/50
• Orange Sapphire #’d/25
• Gold Sapphire #’d/15
• Purple Sapphire #’d/10
• Red Sapphire #’d/5
• Padparadscha #’d 1/1