2023 Topps Rip - Riptide Mini

Year: 2023
Manufacturer: Topps

Set: Rip

Card Number: MRIP-RY

Card Type: Insert parallel

Parallel Set: Riptide

Insert Type: Rip Mini

Card Attributes: Serial Numbered

Serial number: 30/30

Back in 2020 Topps took what is arguably one of the best and most desirable aspects of Allen and Ginter, the rip cards, and just made a product of just rip cards.  And so Topps Rip was born.  They have so far put the set out every year.  Who knows if there will be one in 2024 as Fanatics does not do a lot of pre-release announcements.  So we'll have to wait and see if Rip returns for 2024.  

The concept is pretty simple every card in a box of Topps Rip is a rip card.  All the rip cards also have parallels and inside the rip cards in one mini card.  Those mini's also have parallels and autograph and auto parallels.   While Robin has yet to be featured on a rip card he has been featured on a mini card in 2020, 2021, and 2023, and as an autograph subject in 2020, 2021, and 2022.

That being said I just picked up my first Yount card from the offering.  This great 2023 Riptide Mini parallel, numbered to just 30 copies.  For those curious these mini's are the same size as the Allen and Ginter mini's and fit in the tobacco sized supplies.

2020 Topps Allen and Ginter Mini No Number Back

Year: 2020
Manufacturer: Topps
Set: Allen and Ginter
Card Number: 102
Card Type: Mini Parallel
Parallel: No Number Back
Note: PR50

It's been a busy year keeping up with all the new Younts that have been coming out this year and there are at least 4 more products still to be released that likely will have more Yount cards in them.  

But let's take a look at a nice pick up I got off of COMC (at least I'm pretty sure I got it there).  This may have come from my last delivery which I got last summer.  While these no number back mini aren't serial numbered Topps does state that they have a print run of just 50 copies.  Robin's been in quite a few of the A&G sets over the years and of course there are all those parallels to chase, although Allen and Ginter isn't nearly as bad as some of the other sets from Topps or Panini.

On the Radar - 2021 Topps Rip Yount Checklist

 Wow it's been non-stop On the Radar posts! And another new product is coming out with Robin in it again.  The second year of Topps Rip.  Basically taking one of the best things that comes out of Allen and Ginter and just making a whole product of rip cards.  Robin isn't in the base set, but is in the inserted mini set again this year.  I didn't think Robin was going to make 500 cards this year until Five Star or Triple Threads came out, but with this release Robin has topped over 500 cards release this year!!

Here's the checklist and I'll add images as they show up.

2021 Topps Rip - Mini #MRIP-RY #/50
2021 Topps Rip - Mini #MRIP-RY Black #/40

2021 Topps Rip - Mini #MRIP-RY Blank Back #/1

2021 Topps Rip - Mini #MRIP-RY Blue #/10

2021 Topps Rip - Mini #MRIP-RY Gold #/5

2021 Topps Rip - Mini #MRIP-RY Green #/15

2021 Topps Rip - Mini #MRIP-RY Orange #/3

2021 Topps Rip - Mini #MRIP-RY Purple #/25

2021 Topps Rip - Mini #MRIP-RY Red #/1

2021 Topps Rip - Mini #MRIP-RY Image Variation 

2021 Topps Rip - Mini Autographs #RIPAU-RY #d?

2021 Topps Rip - Mini Autographs #RIPAU-RY Blue #/10

2021 Topps Rip - Mini Autographs #RIPAU-RY Gold #/5

2008 Upper Deck Goudey Mini Red Back

Year: 2008

Manufacturer: Upper Deck

Set: Goudey

Card Number: 214

Card Type: Base Parallel

Parallel: Mini Red Back

2008 was a great year for baseball cards especially Robin Yount cards.  Upper Deck was in prime form in 2008 and Goudey was a nice retro/vintage set which by now with Topps leading the way had become all the rage with examples like Allen and Ginter, 206, and Heritage.  Not to be outdone Upper Deck followed suit with sets like this and Goodwin Champions.  This homage set is of course based off the 1930s Goudey baseball sets but also to some of the Goudey non-sport sets as well.  The base set was paralleled by 5 mini parallel sets with the red backs being the most common falling in about 1 in 3 packs.  Also mini cards were not one per pack but rather fell about 7 per box (at least that's what baseballcardpedia says.

2019 Topps Allen and Ginter Mini

Year: 2019

Manufacturer: Topps

Set: Allen and Ginter

Card Number: 352

Card Type: Parallel

Parallel Set: Base Mini

COMC Black Friday Haul #50

I ended up picking up a bunch of Robin's 2019 Allen and Ginter cards last year, all of them already featured.  All that's left is Robin's base mini.  I still find Allen and Ginter to be one of my favorite Topps releases every year.  I wish I still had the disposable income to buy a couple boxes and put the set together like I use to do.  Am also glad that at least one set still has the tobacco sized minis.  Over the year's Robin has been featured in the Allen and Ginter set multiple times so it's always fun to chase down his parallel cards.

2019 Topps Online - Mini checklist

I thought I had put the 2019 checklist to bed, but totally missed this online exclusive set.  That doesn't surprise me as I had read somewhere this sold out very quickly.  The 2019 mini set was available by the 35 count box online and included all Series 1, 2 and Update cards as well as the 1984 inserts, and some new autographs.  I have seen some of Robin's 1984 Base and Update All-Star cards pop up on eBay and COMC.  There are also two parallels, Pink #/25 and Platinum #/1.

2019 Topps Mini (Online Exclusive) 1984 #T84-32
2019 Topps Mini (Online Exclusive) 1984 #T84-32 Pink #/25
2019 Topps Mini (Online Exclusive) 1984 #T84-32 Platinum #/1
2019 Topps Mini (Online Exclusive) 1984 All-Star #84AS-RY
2019 Topps Mini (Online Exclusive) 1984 All-Star #84AS-RY Pink #/25
2019 Topps Mini (Online Exclusive) 1984 All-Star #84AS-RY Platinum #/1

2002 Topps 206 Piedmont Black Back Pinstripes

Year: 2002

Manufacturer: Topps

Set: 206

Card Number: 289

Card Type: Mini Parallel 

Mini Parallel Set: Piedmont Black

COMC Black Friday Card Haul #12

I've written about my love of the 2002 Topps 206 set.  Well mainly series 2, and mainly the fact that Robin was featured in the set and had two base card variations.  At the time I was pretty enamored with the set because it was the first time I could remember Robin being featured in a base set of new cards, although that's probably incorrect, it was the first time I remembered seeing it.  And as a guy who collected Robin Yount cards I was super excited.  Plus it was Topps first attempt at the vintage tribute set and I liked it.  It also marked the beginning, yes I know Pacific had done it years before, but really this set marked the returned tobacco sized mini inserts.  Over the year's I've been slowly picking up the different backs and image variations featuring Robin.  As a matter of fact with this card I have only one mini card left to find to finish the quest.  Series 2 featured 4 different backs all with some differing rate of difficulty finding.  The most common being the Polar Bear backs and the rarest being the Carolina Brights.  Mixed in the middle were the Red and Black Piedmont backs.  And I'm glad I was able to find this pinstripe Piedmont Black variation to help get me one step closer to completion.  Now all I need is to find a Piedmond Red Blue Jersey mini and I'm done. 

2019 Topps Allen and Ginter X Mini

Year: 2019

Manufacture: Topps

Set: Allen and Ginter X

Card Number: 352

Card Type: Base Parallel

Parallel Set: Mini

2019 COMC Black Friday Haul #11

I've never been a big fan of parallel products just for the sake of paralleling them.  Topps has been putting out the Allen and Ginter X set for a couple years now.  Personally I have no interest in the set other than for my team collection and player collections.  I am a huge fan of Allen and Ginter, or at least I was in year's past, seems A and G is getting a little stale.  But I do like the was these parallels pop and picking up for this mini and the base card during Black Friday was a boon for the Yount collection.

2016 Topps Gypsy Queen Mini Purple

Year: 2016

Manufacturer: Topps

Set: Gypsy Queen

Card Number: 334

Card Type: Mini Parallel

Parallel Set: Mini Purple

Card Attributes: Serial Numbered

Serial Number: 061/250

Topps stopped making the mini parallels for Gypsy Queen a few year's ago.  I may be the only one who really likes the parallel in both Gypsy Queen and Allen and Ginter.  When Gypsy Queen first came out hobby boxes also featured a "box topper" mini box of exclusive mini card parallels and variations. Sadly that too is gone.  Ahem, anyway here is Robin's 2016 purple mini parallel card.  The purple isn't all that eye popping, but still a nice parallel to track down.

1989 Topps Mini Leaders

Year: 1989

Manufacturer: Topps

Set: Leaders Minis

Card Number: 59

Card Type: Base

My other barn find from my Topps National Baseball Card Day super shoebox pick up was this 1989 Topps Leaders mini card.  As a matter of fact there were two Younts and the other 2 Brewers to make a complete team set.  After flipping through all the Mini Leaders cards there was almost a complete set.  It really surprised me I didn't already have a copy of this card.  But I'm glad I serendipitously found a couple copies without having to hit the internet.  If you're unfamiliar with the set these cards came 7 per pack, only 77 cards in the set.  They were touted as super glossy,which they are compared to the 89 flagship set, and quite a bit smaller, hense the hobby designation of mini.  Topps untilized the base 89 team name and player name banner, throws in a fuzzy edge border and bam, new set.  

In my opinion the backs are the best part of the card.  There's so much going on back there.  Plus you get a second photos, last year's and career total stats, and some fun facts.  And it's bright.

2011 Topps Gypsy Queen Sepia Mini Parallel

Year: 2011

Manufacturer: Topps

Set: Gypsy Queen

Card Number: 61

Card Type: Mini parallel

Parallel set: Sepia

Card Attributes: Serial Numbered

Serial Number: 81/99

I'm a sucker for gimmicks.  And the gimmick I'm the biggest sucker for are the tobacco mini's.  I don't know why.  Maybe it's the homage to the birth of baseball cards and baseball card collecting.  Pacific may have been the first to put out the first tobacco sized mini insert, but it was Topps' 2002 206 set that really hooked me.  I'll be honest they are one of my favorite inserts and parallels.  And I really love it when I can chase cards with Robin on them.  In 2011, Topps decided to cash in on the retro card market it had helped pioneer by creating a new retro-vintage card set with Gypsy Queen.  Robin was include in the set, and many since, and of course that means mini parallels and parallels of those parallels.  The 2011 set was a direct homage to the original Gypsy Queen sets from the late 1800's and the sepia parallel really kind of captures that.  Sure the black border parallels look cool, but I think the sepia has a great vintage feel.  

2016 Topps Allen and Ginter X - Mini

Year: 2016

Manufacturer: Topps

Set: Allen and Ginter X

Card Type: Mini Parallel Base

Card Number: 117

A black card from Black Friday.  Well at least from my Black Friday shipment. I picked this up quite a while ago.  Allen and Ginter X is one of those Topps.com online only exclusive money grabs that pretty much is just like regular Allen and Ginter, just with few inserts and the background is all black.  Still a Yount is a Yount and it's got a place in my collection along side it's full size counterpart.

2015 Topps Gypsy Queen Mini

Card Manufacturer: Topps

Year: 2015

Card Set: Gypsy Queen

Card Number: 21

Card Type: Mini Parallel

Parallel Type: Base Mini Parallel

I'm a sucker for these mini cards.  I love'em.  Robin's been a fixture in every Gypsy Queen set since the inaugural release in 2011.  More often then not he's got a base card in the set, sometimes it's just a relic or other insert.  He's also been award a pretty prestigious honor of also being paralleled in the exclusive mini box variations that get put in hobby boxes.  This card is not one of those variations.  It's just the plain old base mini parallel.  But still a nice looking card.

2011 Topps Gypsy Queen Mini parallel

Year: 2011

Manufacturer: Topps

Set: Gypsy Queen

Card Number: 61

Card Type: Mini Parallel

Mini Set: Base

I do love the tobacco sized mini cards.  Robin's grace the checklist of Gypsy Queen many times and he's also been lucky enough to included in the variation checklist.  This card is just the base mini parallel to the main set.  Just smaller and skinnier.  You can see his mini variation here.

2011 would be the inaugural year for Gypsy Queen a brand that is still being produced today.  It was pretty popular when it came out back in 2011.  Not one of my personal favorites, I'm more of an Allen and Ginter fan, I just love the oddball stuff Topps puts in it.  This set also had some neat relic cards featuring stamps and coins.

2002 Topps 206 Piedmont Black Back Mini Blue Jersey

Card Manufacturer: Topps

Year: 2002

Card Set: Topps 206

Card Number: 289

Card Type: Mini Parallel Variation

Parallel Type: Mini Piedmont Black back

Variation: Blue Jersey

I really like the 2002 Topps 206 set.  I opened quite a bit of it back in 2002.  My card collecting has had some  hills and valleys in terms of what I collected and opened in my life and 2002 marked a definite resurgence in my collecting.  Spurred by Robin being featured in a lot of the sets with some great cards and it's also the year I started using eBay.  The 206 set marked the start of Topps' vintage brands that were not just reprints or reuses of their old brands.  And while this set isn't the first modern set to insert tobacco sized mini's, that honor goes to the 1999 Pacific Private Stock set, it does mark the starting point where they become a lot more common.  It also is the start of the manufactured short print in the base set.

Topps 206 was issued in three series for a total of 526 base cards.  Robin's two cards are found in the second series.  Not all, but some players had multiple variations to mimic the variations found in the original T-206 set.  Robin has two variations, one featuring him in a blue jersey and the other in pinstripes with a bat on his shoulder. He also has all the mini parallels that goes with that.  Each series had their own backs. Series 2 featured Polar Bear, Piedmont red and black backs, and the rarest Carolina Brights.

This product was a blast to open with the possibility of original T206 cards, I pulled one of those, some great autographs, I pulled a Joe Mauer rookie auto, and some great relics featuring players from the modern era and the T206 era.  

2015 Topps Gypsy Queen Silver Mini

Card Manufacturer: Topps

Card Set: Gypsy Queen

Year: 2015

Card Number: 21

Card Type: Insert Parallel

Insert Type: Mini 

Parallel Type: Silver 

Card Attributes: Serial Numbered

Serial Number 039/199

I recently added a few of Robin's 2015 Gypsy Queen cards.  My favorite out of the bunch was this numbered Silver Mini parallel card.  Robin's been featured in just about every Gypsy Queen release and has all the mini parallels and framed parallels that go along with that this year.  I like this year's card. The classic pose and the very vibrant jersey really pop on the card.

2002 Topps 206 Mini Blue Jersey Polar Bear back

Card Manufacturer: Topps

Card Set: Topps 206

Year: 2002

Card Number: 289

Card Variation: Blue Jersey

Card Type: Tobacco Size Mini parallel

Card Back Variation: Polar Bear

I vividly remember when Topps 206 came out.  I opened a ton of this stuff. Left me rephrase that I opened a ton of Series 2 of this stuff.  Mainly because Robin had not one, but two base cards, or rather a base card and two variations.  Plus the mini's and the back variations.  I pulled some great card from this set.  I pulled an original T206 buyback, some bat cards featuring vintage players from the original set, and a Joe Mauer rookie autograph, among others. It also came out right about the time I really started getting back into card collecting and my discovery of eBay.

It was also the birth of using vintage designs for a products that paved the way for Allen and Ginter, Goodwin Champions, Champ's, Turkey Red, Topps 205, Mayo, and two more sets of 206.

And while this isn't first time tobacco sized mini's had been inserted in a current product, that belongs to Pacific Private Stock, it is the start of the trend. This set does start the overall return of the tobacco size insert, but wouldn't be used again till 2006 with the inaugural Allen and Ginter set.

Each of the three series featured different mini back parallels.  Robin's card was featured in Series 2 and has the Polar Bear, Piedmont, red and black, and Carolina Bright's backs.

The Polar Bear backs are the most common and can be considered the base backs, then rarity goes, Piedmont Black, Piedmont Red, and Carolina Bright's being the rarest.

I love that the variations for Robin's cards in the set pretty much bookend his career with this blue jersey, classic 70's Brewers, representing the start of this career and the Pinstripe variation representing the end.  

2014 Topps Gypsy Queen Younts Gallery

This year's Topps' Gypsy Queen was released this Wednesday and Robin has a base card and all the parallels that go with that and an autographed card and those parallels as well.  Robin's base card is #3 in the set and he also made the framed parallel checklist. With blue framed parallels numbered to 499 and silver framed numbered to just one and there are retail white framed cards. I'll post images of cards when I find them.

Base card #3

Blue bordered parallel #d to 499

Sepia Mini #d to 50 front

Red bordered mini numbered to 99

graphite mini 1 of 1 front

graphite mini 1 of 1 back

Red Bordered Autograph #d to 49

Gold Autograph #d to 25 front

Gold Autograph card #d to 25 back