2018 Guide to Baseball Card Variations
Last Updated 4/16/19 - Aaron B
Welcome to the 2018 Variation Guide! All information for all sets, will be on this one page. Instead of highlighting a few images from each set, there will be direct links to Cardboard Connection's full variation image galleries. Learn about tips to find variations, codes to be sure, and odds of finding them. Thanks for reading!
Variation vs Parallel??
First thing to clear up is, what’s the difference? A parallel is a card that is identical to the base but with a different color border, refractor, or other patterns. A lot of these can be serial numbered. Parallels are always easy to spot. A variation will always contain something different from the base card. Usually it’s a different image, nickname, or error. These also can be serial numbered, but usually a variation is just a “new version” of the base and are tougher to spot than parallels.
2018 Topps Series 1
Parallels
Rainbow Foil (1:10 packs), Gold (#/2018), Vintage Stock (#/99), Independence Day (#/76), Black (#/67 - Hobby/Jumbo only), Mother's Day Pink (#/50), Father's Day Blue (#/50), Memorial Day Camo (#/25), Platinum (1/1) and Printing Plates (1/1)
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SEARCH EBAY FOR BLACK PARALLELS
SEARCH EBAY FOR CAMO PARALLELS
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Variations
What to look for?
- Short Print (SP) and Super Short Print (SSP) are featured. SSP are Legends that replace the main player with that card #.
-Following a similar loose "theme" of casual photos as previous years. These photos will usually show the player off the field, pre-game, or activities away from baseball.
- Red-carpet photos.
- Layout orientation maybe flipped from the base card
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Codes
- BASE CARDS END IN - 1910
- SP VARIATIONS END IN - 1967
- SSP VARIATIONS END IN - 1968
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Odds
- SP 1:15 packs for Hobby - (not included in Jumbo formats, despite wrapper information)
- SSP 1:444 packs for Hobby
- SSP 1:574 packs for Jumbo
- SP 1:39 packs for Blaster boxes
- SSP 1:1,160 packs for Blaster boxes
- SP 1:20 packs for Hanger packs
- SSP 1:574 for Hanger packs
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SEARCH THE CARD SWAP FOR 2019 TOPPS SERIES 1
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Checklist
SP Variations
1 Ronald Acuña Jr. - Atlanta Braves
7 Gleyber Torres - New York Yankees
10 Clayton Kershaw - Los Angeles Dodgers
16 Charlie Blackmon - Colorado Rockies
32 Carlos Correa - Houston Astros
34 Josh Donaldson - Cleveland Indians
37 Marcus Stroman - Toronto Blue Jays
41 Corey Seager - Los Angeles Dodgers
46 Jose Abreu - Chicago White Sox
49 Michael Kopech - Chicago White Sox
50 Mookie Betts - Boston Red Sox
52 J.T. Realmuto - Miami Marlins
53 Brandon Crawford - San Francisco Giants
57 Justin Verlander - Houston Astros
60 Kyle Tucker - Houston Astros
62 Elvis Andrus - Texas Rangers
77 J.D. Martinez - Boston Red Sox
84 Matt Carpenter - St. Louis Cardinals
100 Mike Trout - Los Angeles Angels
107 Scooter Gennett - Cincinnati Reds
109 Michael Conforto - New York Mets
110 Trevor Bauer - Cleveland Indians
112 Joey Gallo - Texas Rangers
119 Willson Contreras - Chicago Cubs
125 Paul DeJong - St. Louis Cardinals
128 Yoenis Cespedes - New York Mets
130 Blake Snell - Tampa Bay Rays
133 Ryan Zimmerman - Washington Nationals
137 Carlos Rodon - Chicago White Sox
139 Mitch Haniger - Seattle Mariners
149 Khris Davis - Oakland Athletics
150 Aaron Judge - New York Yankees
157 Buster Posey - San Francisco Giants
161 Eric Hosmer - San Diego Padres
163 Aaron Nola - Philadelphia Phillies
166 Matt Chapman - Oakland Athletics
168 Salvador Perez - Kansas City Royals
176 Trea Turner - Washington Nationals
178 Jose Altuve - Houston Astros
180 Justin Turner - Los Angeles Dodgers
183 Freddie Freeman - Atlanta Braves
200 Jacob deGrom - New York Mets
209 Nicholas Castellanos - Detroit Tigers
210 Kris Bryant - Chicago Cubs
213 Juan Soto - Washington Nationals
215 Didi Gregorius - New York Yankees
221 Luis Severino - New York Yankees
222 Zack Greinke - Arizona Diamondbacks
223 Jose Ramirez - Cleveland Indians
225 Yadier Molina - St. Louis Cardinals
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228 Rafael Devers - Boston Red Sox
230 Miguel Cabrera - Detroit Tigers
238 Whit Merrifield - Kansas City Royals
250 Shohei Ohtani - Los Angeles Angels
253 Starling Marte - Pittsburgh Pirates
258 Eddie Rosario - Minnesota Twins
262 Adam Jones - Baltimore Orioles
269 Francisco Lindor - Cleveland Indians
276 Nolan Arenado - Colorado Rockies
279 Rhys Hoskins - Philadelphia Phillies
284 Joey Votto - Cincinnati Reds
287 Jesus Aguilar - Milwaukee Brewers
292 Dee Gordon - Seattle Mariners
297 Paul Goldschmidt - Arizona Diamondbacks
300 Christian Yelich - Milwaukee Brewers
302 Jose Berrios - Minnesota Twins
306 Justus Sheffield - New York Yankees
310 Javier Baez - Chicago Cubs
311 Jake Bauers - Tampa Bay Rays
313 Robinson Cano - Seattle Mariners
323 George Springer - Houston Astros
330 Lorenzo Cain - Milwaukee Brewers
336 Corey Kluber - Cleveland Indians
344 Max Scherzer - Washington Nationals
349 Kyle Schwarber - Chicago Cubs
SSP Variations (Legends)
10 Sandy Koufax - Los Angeles Dodgers
21 Ozzie Smith - San Diego Padres
32 Cal Ripken Jr. - Baltimore Orioles
46 Frank Thomas - Chicago White Sox
50 Ted Williams - Boston Red Sox
57 Nolan Ryan - Houston Astros
100 Hank Aaron - Milwaukee Brewers
150 Don Mattingly - New York Yankees
172 Mike Piazza - New York Mets
176 Ty Cobb - Detroit Tigers
178 Jackie Robinson - Brooklyn Dodgers
215 Derek Jeter - New York Yankees
230 Lou Gehrig - New York Yankees
238 Rickey Henderson - Oakland Athletics
250 Babe Ruth - New York Yankees
253 Roberto Clemente - Pittsburgh Pirates
260 Reggie Jackson - New York Yankees
262 Wade Boggs - Boston Red Sox
276 Brooks Robinson - Baltimore Orioles
280 Bob Gibson - St. Louis Cardinals
289 Mark McGwire - Oakland Athletics
292 Ichiro - Seattle Mariners
330 Bo Jackson - Kansas City Royals
344 Pedro Martinez - Boston Red Sox
350 Carl Yastrzemski - Boston Red Sox
2019 Heritage
Parallels
Hot Box Refractors (Hobby and Blaster - 1 Box per Case), Black Border (50 copies - hobby) and Flip Stock (5 copies - hobby), Silver Metal Base (/70), Base Mini (/100), Chrome Refractor (#/570), Black (#/70), Gold (#/5; Hobby only) and SuperFractor (1/1)
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SEARCH EBAY FOR BLACK REFRACTORS
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Short Prints
Cards numbered 401-500 are SPs
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Variations
What to look for?
- Hobby-Only Action Image and Team Name Color Swap Variations
- SSP Variations include Error, Nickname, and Trade Variations
- SSP Throwback Variations again are the most rare
- French Text Variation features both English and French text on the back of the card
- Error, Trade, Throwback, Action Image, Team Color Swap, and Nickname variations will all feature text by the card number that will let you know it's a variation.
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Codes
- BASE CARDS END IN - 092
- BASE SP (401-500) ENDS IN - 112
- FRENCH TEXT - 093
- SILVER METAL - 120
- ERROR - 121
- TRADE - 122
- THROWBACK - 123
- ACTION IMAGE - 124
- TEAM NAME COLOR SWAP - 125
- NICKNAME - 126
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SEARCH THE CARD SWAP FOR 2019 HERITAGE
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SEARCH EBAY FOR THROWBACK VARIATIONS
SEARCH EBAY FOR NICKNAME VARIATIONS
SEARCH EBAY FOR TRADE VARIATIONS
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Checklist
30 Gregory Polanco - Throwback
52 Chris Archer - Trade
78 Mookie Betts - Action
78 Mookie Betts - Team Name
83 Noah Syndergaard - Nickname
138 James Paxton - Trade
278 Josh Donaldson - Trade
322 Ivan Nova - Trade
323 Robinson Cano - Trade
384 Michael Kopech - Action
387 Luis Urias - Action
388 Carlos Santana - Trade
392 Danny Jansen - Action
393 Corbin Burnes - Action
394 Kyle Tucker - Action
401 Francisco Lindor - Action
401 Francisco Lindor - Team Name
404 Kris Bryant - Action
404 Kris Bryant - Nickname
404 Kris Bryant - Team Name
406 Anthony Rizzo - Action
406 Anthony Rizzo - Nickname
406 Anthony Rizzo - Team Name
409 Jose Altuve - Action
409 Jose Altuve - Nickname
409 Jose Altuve - Team Name
410 Christian Yelich - Action
410 Christian Yelich - Team Name
411 Blake Snell - Throwback
413 Gleyber Torres - Action
413 Gleyber Torres - Error
413 Gleyber Torres - Team Name
415 Bryce Harper - Action
415 Bryce Harper - Nickname
415 Bryce Harper - Team Name
419 Jacob Degrom - Action
419 Jacob Degrom - Team Name
423 Carlos Crrea - Throwback
424 Alex Bregman - Action
424 Alex Bregman - Team Name
424 Alex Bregman - Throwback
426 Justin Verlander - Team Name
429 Gerrit Cole - Throwback
430 Shohei Ohtani - Action
430 Shohei Ohtani - Error
430 Shohei Ohtani - Nickname
430 Shohei Ohtani - Team Name
430 Shohei Ohtani - Throwback
432 Khris Davis - Team Name
432 Khris Davis - Throwback
436 Ozzie Albies - Action
436 Ozzie Albies - Team Name
436 Ozzie Albies - Throwback
440 Javier Baez - Action
440 Javier Baez - Team Name
441 Paul Goldschmidt - Trade
442 Zack Greinke - Team Name
442 Zack Greinke - Throwback
447 Edwin Encarnacion - Trade
450 Jean Segura - Trade
451 Edwin Diaz - Team Name
451 Edwin Diaz - Trade
452 Starlin Castro - Throwback
454 Max Scherzer - Team Name
458 Rhys Hoskins - Action
458 Rhys Hoskins - Nickname
458 Rhys Hoskins - Team Name
458 Rhys Hoskins - Throwback
468 Nolan Arenado - Action
468 Nolan Arenado - Team Name
475 J.D. Martinez - Action
475 J.D. Martinez - Team Name
477 Mitch Haniger - Throwback
481 Juan Soto - Action
481 Juan Soto - Error
481 Juan Soto - Team Name
483 Jose Abreu - Throwback
485 Mike Trout - Action
485 Mike Trout - Error
485 Mike Trout - Nickname
485 Mike Trout - Team Name
489 Freddie Freeman - Throwback
499 Aaron Judge - Action
499 Aaron Judge - Nickname
499 Aaron Judge - Team Name
500 Ronald Acuna Jr. - Action
500 Ronald Acuna Jr. - Error
500 Ronald Acuna Jr. - Nickname
500 Ronald Acuna Jr. - Team Name
2019 Donruss
Parallels
Independence Day, Career Stat Line (/500 or less), Season State Line (/500 or less), 150th Anniversary (/150), Holo Back (/99),
Father's Day Ribbon (/49), 42 Tribute (/42), Mother's Day Ribbon (/25), Artist Proof (/10), Press Proof (/5), and Printing Plates (1/1)
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Rated Rookie Parallels
Orange Holo, Pink Holo, Red Holo, Independence Day, Career Stat Line (/500 or less), Season State Line (/500 or less), 150th Anniversary (/150), Holo Back (/99), Father's Day Ribbon (/49), 42 Tribute (/42), Mother's Day Ribbon (/25), Artist Proof (/10), Press Proof (/5), and Printing Plates (1/1)
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Variations
What to look for?
- No clear way to determine variations from looking at the back
- Some claim darker back on base variations, and darker striping on throwback 85 variations
- Variations consist of Nickname, Image Swap, or a combination of the two.
- 50 players have variations
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SEARCH THE CARD SWAP FOR 2019 DONRUSS
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Odds
- Average odds of variations are one per pack
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Checklist
51 Chris Sale - Boston Red Sox
55 Jose Ramirez - Cleveland Indians
57 Kris Bryant - Chicago Cubs
61 Juan Soto - Washington Nationals
62 J.D. Martinez - Boston Red Sox
68 Francisco Lindor - Cleveland Indians
70 Jose Altuve - Houston Astros
76 Andrew Benintendi - Boston Red Sox
80 Adrian Beltre - Texas Rangers
81 Yadier Molina - St. Louis Cardinals
82 Austin Meadows - Tampa Bay Rays
86 Corey Kluber - Cleveland Indians
87 Ronald Acuna Jr. - Atlanta Braves
90 Miles Mikolas - St. Louis Cardinals
101 Mookie Betts - Boston Red Sox
104 Rhys Hoskins - Philadelphia Phillies
105 J.T. Realmuto - Miami Marlins
121 Aaron Judge - New York Yankees
123 Jacob deGrom - New York Mets
126 Kyle Freeland - Colorado Rockies
128 Rafael Devers - Boston Red Sox
129 Miguel Andujar - New York Yankees
133 Walker Buehler - Los Angeles Dodgers
145 Aaron Nola - Philadelphia Phillies
152 Paul Goldschmidt - Arizona D-backs
156 Ozzie Albies - Atlanta Braves
157 Gleyber Torres - New York Yankees
164 Shohei Ohtani - Los Angeles Angels
165 Javier Baez - Chicago Cubs
166 Jesus Aguilar - Milwaukee Brewers
170 Mike Trout - Los Angeles Angels
172 Justin Verlander - Houston Astros
179 Salvador Perez - Kansas City Royals
181 Blake Snell - Tampa Bay Rays
182 Alex Bregman - Houston Astros
183 Bryce Harper - Washington Nationals
185 Trevor Story - Colorado Rockies
187 Anthony Rizzo - Chicago Cubs
190 Christian Yelich - Milwaukee Brewers
192 Matt Chapman - Oakland A's
201 Trevor Richards - Miami Marlins
207 Fernando Romero - Minnesota Twins
211 Max Muncy - Los Angeles Dodgers
213 Daniel Palka - Chicago White Sox
215 Justin Williams - St. Louis Cardinals
218 Stephen Gonsalves - Minnesota Twins
223 Josh James - Houston Astros
232 Brandon Lowe - Tampa Bay Rays
239 Rowdy Tellez - Toronto Blue Jays
244 Luke Voit - New York Yankees
2019 Topps Opening Day
Parallels
Limited Parallels in Opening Day. Blue Foil (2,019 copies, unnumbered), Opening Day 1/1 Edition, and Printing Plates (1/1)
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SEARCH EBAY FOR OPENING DAY 1/1'S
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Variations
What to look for?
- 30 Base Variations
- Similar "theme" to traditional Topps variations as of late. Photos taken not during active play. Look for images in the dugout, pre-game, or celebrating
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Codes
- BASE CARDS END IN - 853
- VARIATIONS END IN - 871
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SEARCH THE CARD SWAP FOR 2019 OPENING DAY
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SEARCH EBAY FOR OPENING DAY VARIATIONS
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Checklist
3 Justin Verlander - Houston Astros
15 Aaron Judge - New York Yankees
22 Bryce Harper - Washington Nationals
24 Mike Trout - Los Angeles Angels
31 Nolan Arenado - Colorado Rockies
33 Mookie Betts - Boston Red Sox
34 Trevor Story - Colorado Rockies
39 Christian Yelich - Milwaukee Brewers
41 Jose Altuve - Houston Astros
44 Trey Mancini - Baltimore Orioles
45 Kris Bryant - Chicago Cubs
46 Clayton Kershaw - Los Angeles Dodgers
51 Ronald Acuña Jr. - Atlanta Braves
53 Carlos Correa - Houston Astros
67 Max Muncy - Los Angeles Dodgers
69 Alex Bregman - Houston Astros
84 Francisco Lindor - Cleveland Indians
86 Anthony Rizzo - Chicago Cubs
95 Javier Baez - Chicago Cubs
98 Ozzie Albies - Atlanta Braves
102 Yadier Molina - St. Louis Cardinals
105 Buster Posey - San Francisco Giants
106 Gleyber Torres - New York Yankees
107 Rhys Hoskins - Philadelphia Phillies
128 Juan Soto - Washington Nationals
138 Luis Urias - San Diego Padres
150 Jacob deGrom - New York Mets
183 Max Scherzer - Washington Nationals
185 Khris Davis - Oakland Athletics
196 Blake Snell - Tampa Bay Rays
2019 Gypsy Queen
Parallels
Missing Nameplate, Bazooka Back, Indigo (#/250), Black & White (#/50; Hobby only), Red (#/10) and Black (1/1)
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SEARCH EBAY FOR BLACK & WHITE PARALLELS
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Short Prints
Card #'s 301-320
- Look for Legends
- These will also feature missing nameplate, logo swap, bazooka back, and Black 1/1
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Variations
What to look for?
- 4th of July Variations (15 cards)
-Jackie Robinson day Variations (28 cards Logo Swap/Black)
- Player's Weekend Variations (20 Cards - Logo Swap/Black)
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Codes
- BASE SP (#301-320) - END IN - 323
- JACKIE ROBINSON VARIATIONS END IN - 328
- PLAYERS WEEKEND VARIATIONS END IN - 331
- 4TH OF JULY VARIATIONS END IN - 334
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SEARCH THE CARD SWAP FOR 2019 GYPSY QUEEN
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SEARCH EBAY FOR JACKIE ROBINSON
SEARCH EBAY FOR PLAYERS WEEKEND
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Checklist
* card has a signed version as well
1 Mike Trout - Jackie Robinson Day *
1 Mike Trout - Players Weekend
3 Khris Davis - Jackie Robinson Day *
6 Yadier Molina - Jackie Robinson Day *
10 Giancarlo Stanton - Jackie Robinson Day
11 Charlie Blackmon - Jackie Robinson Day
18 Cody Bellinger - Players Weekend
26 Dee Gordon - Jackie Robinson Day
31 Jake Arrieta - Players Weekend
32 Anthony Rizzo - Jackie Robinson Day *
32 Anthony Rizzo - Players Weekend
35 Starling Marte - Players Weekend
37 Eddie Rosario - Players Weekend
41 Mookie Betts - Players Weekend
53 Freddie Freeman - Jackie Robinson Day *
55 Shohei Ohtani - 4th of July
59 Zack Wheeler - Players Weekend
63 Carlos Correa - Jackie Robinson Day
76 Marcus Stroman - 4th of July
77 Andrew McCutchen - Jackie Robinson Day *
77 Giancarlo Stanton - Players Weekend
81 Trevor Bauer - 4th of July
82 Whit Merrifield - Jackie Robinson Day *
92 Gleyber Torres - Jackie Robinson Day
92 Gleyber Torres - 4th of July
94 Francisco Lindor - Jackie Robinson Day *
94 Francisco Lindor - Players Weekend
99 Christian Yelich - 4th of July
100 Kris Bryant - Jackie Robinson Day *
105 Bryce Harper - Jackie Robinson Day
114 Chris Davis - 4th of July
118 Starlin Castro - Players Weekend
127 Sean Doolittle - Jackie Robinson Day *
132 Blake Treinen - 4th of July
138 Chris Sale - Jackie Robinson Day
147 Rafael Devers - 4th of July
150 Ronald Acuña Jr. - 4th of July
153 Trevor Story - Jackie Robinson Day *
155 Javier Baez - Jackie Robinson Day *
155 Javier Baez - 4th of July
166 Jose Altuve - Jackie Robinson Day *
166 Jose Altuve - Players Weekend
166 Jose Altuve - 4th of July
171 Clayton Kershaw - Jackie Robinson Day
173 Scooter Gennett - Players Weekend
173 Scooter Gennett - 4th of July
177 Zack Godley - Jackie Robinson Day
196 Yoan Moncada - 4th of July
198 Joey Lucchesi - Jackie Robinson Day
199 Brandon Nimmo - Jackie Robinson Day
201 Marcus Semien - Players Weekend
210 Paul Goldschmidt - Jackie Robinson Day
233 Harrison Bader - 4th of July
238 Jose Berrios - Players Weekend
247 Edwin Diaz - Players Weekend
271 Trea Turner - Jackie Robinson Day
274 Nicholas Castellanos - Players Weekend
289 Franmil Reyes - Players Weekend
291 Noah Syndergaard - Jackie Robinson Day *
297 Michael Conforto - Players Weekend
299 Odubel Herrera - 4th of July
300 Aaron Judge - Jackie Robinson Day *
300 Aaron Judge - Players Weekend
2019 Diamond Kings
Parallels
FRAME PARALLELS: Blue, Plum, Red, Black (1/)
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ARTIST PROOF PARALLELS: Artist Proof, AP Blue, AP Masterpiece
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SEARCH EBAY FOR RED FRAMED PARALLELS
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Short Prints
Card #'s 101-150
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Variations
Panini Variation Tell
- Panini didn't make it easy to find the variations in Donruss, not the case in DK
- Base cards feature Brown Frame on the back
- Variations features Gray Frame on the back
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Image Variations
- 20 Players have Image Variations
- Consists of HOFers, Rookies, and Young Stars
- Have the same parallels as base
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SEARCH THE CARD SWAP FOR 2019 DIAMOND KINGS
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SEARCH EBAY FOR IMAGE VARIATIONS
SEARCH EBAY FOR VARITATION PARALLELS
Checklist
21 Satchel Paige - St. Louis Browns
22 Wade Boggs - Boston Red Sox
26 Ty Cobb - Detroit Tigers
33 Nolan Ryan - Texas Rangers
43 Gleyber Torres - New York Yankees
44 Javier Baez - Chicago Cubs
60 Alex Bregman - Houston Astros
64 Ryan O'Hearn - Kansas City Royals
65 Juan Soto - Washington Nationals
80 Ichiro - Seattle Mariners
81 Ozzie Albies - Atlanta Braves
85 Rickey Henderson - Oakland A's
91 Vladimir Guerrero - Montreal Expos
95 Mookie Betts - Boston Red Sox
105 Ryne Sandberg - Chicago Cubs
112 Yusei Kikuchi - Seattle Mariners
124 Shohei Ohtani - Los Angeles Angels
130 Jose Ramirez - Cleveland Indians
139 Kris Bryant - Chicago Cubs
144 Gleyber Torres - New York Yankees
