The 2024 Topps Update Series Baseball set brings forth some delightful surprises and hidden treasures for collectors to uncover. Among these unexpected finds is the crossover no one anticipated—Aaron Judge making his way into the animated world of Paw Patrol. In a unique episode of Rubble & Crew, Judge finds himself in Builder Cove, a whimsical town where dogs talk and construction projects take on a life of their own. Collaborating with his four-legged friends, Judge embarks on a mission to construct a stadium from the ground up, missing out on a home run derby in the process.
The Paw Patrol adventure featuring Aaron Judge has been immortalized in two special trading cards within the update set, known as PP-1 and PP-2. These cards showcase a cartoon version of the renowned Yankees’ powerhouse and have swiftly become highly sought-after items among collectors. With Judge’s legendary status in baseball combined with this unique crossover event, the Paw Patrol cards have generated significant buzz within the collecting community.
Adding to the allure of the 2024 Topps Update Series is a hidden gem in the form of a short-print (SSP) variation highlighting Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s debut with the New York Yankees. Following his trade from the Miami Marlins just before the trade deadline, Chisholm was not featured in the main base set due to the timing of the transaction. However, collectors can track down his special variation card, #US1, marking his inaugural flagship card as a Yankee.
Interestingly, Chisholm’s variation card lacks a CMP code on the back, a usual feature utilized by collectors to confirm short prints, making it a bit more challenging to identify. The odds of acquiring this card, akin to the Aaron Judge Paw Patrol variations, remain unspecified, enhancing the thrill of the hunt for collectors seeking these elusive gems.
Furthermore, the 2024 Update Series introduces Golden Image Variations, presenting alternative images for all 350 base cards, infusing each pack with a fresh and exciting perspective of beloved players. However, a minor oversight has been observed with the Black parallels in the set, which are mistakenly numbered up to 74 instead of the standard 73, deviating from the numbering pattern established by the 2024 Series 1 and Series 2 releases. While this numbering error does not detract from the overall collectibility of the cards, it serves as an intriguing detail for enthusiasts keen on tracking continuity across Topps’ sets.
As collectors delve deeper into the contents of the 2024 Topps Update Series, the whimsical inclusion of Aaron Judge’s animated Paw Patrol cards and Jazz Chisholm’s momentous Yankees SSP offers a glimpse into the unexpected surprises and hidden treasures waiting to be discovered. These enchanting additions fuel excitement and underscore the notion that amidst the realm of diminishing SSPs, Topps retains the ability to deliver the excitement and intrigue of the unknown within their flagship baseball sets. Whether enthusiasts are pursuing Judge’s animated alter ego or Chisholm’s Yankees debut, the 2024 Topps Update Series promises a multitude of reasons to continue unwrapping packs in search of newfound delights.
