News

In an intriguing twist to the 2024 Series 1 Baseball release, Fanatics/Topps had excitedly announced a new "First Card" parallel, a one-of-a-kind addition meant to highlight the first printed copy of each base set card. However, despite the buzz and the opening of countless packs, these "First Card" variations remained elusive, not because they weren't there, but due to an oversight: the front stamp meant to identify these rarities was missing.

The discovery came after collectors noticed that none of the opened packs contained cards with the "First Card" designation visible on the front. It was only upon closer inspection, by turning the cards over, that the unique "1/1" stamp could be found on the back, indicating the card's special status as the first off the press for its respective series.

An example of this oversight includes the rookie card of Jose Fermin, which, while missing the front stamp, features the "1/1" marking on its back. This card recently fetched $400 on the secondary market, signifying the high value and interest among collectors for these unique finds.

Given the vast number of packs opened and potentially overlooked, Topps' acknowledgment of the error has sparked a renewed interest in examining base cards more closely. Collectors are now urged to flip over their base cards to discover if they possess one of these rare "First Card" 1/1s, hidden among their collections.

In response to the oversight, Topps has extended an offer to collectors who find these cards to have them officially stamped with the "First Card" designation and to receive Topps credit as compensation. Collectors who uncover these rarities can initiate a claim through their Topps.com account, ensuring that these unique pieces of baseball card history receive the recognition they were originally intended to have. This situation has turned into a treasure hunt for collectors, adding an unexpected layer of excitement to the 2024 Series 1 Baseball release.