---The Official *2020* Topps Home Run Challenge Thread---

[Juanny Chico]

The 2020 checklist was released today so we will start the thread for it here.

2018 Home Run Challenge Thread
https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=1199779

2019 Home Run Challenge Thread
https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=1271551

2020 Complete Contest Results


Rules of Note:
__________________________________

* The prize for picking the correct date of a HR is a month specific parallel card.
* There are 2 possible parallels ( July/August & September)
* You have until 9am EST the day of the game to enter the code online
* Once a date is picked, Topps will not allow you to change this
* If the player does not play that day for any reason (cancelled game or because they sit out) the play is considered a loss.
* You only win one parallel card no matter how many home runs that player hits that day.

**2020 Topps Home Run Challenge Rules are posted in the link below**
https://www.topps.com/media/pdf/HRch...0-%20FINAL.pdf

UPDATED RULES FOR THE SHORTENED SEASON
https://www.topps.com/media/pdf/HRch...0-%20COVID.pdf

A *NEW* UPDATED RULES FOR THE SHORTENED SEASON
https://www.topps.com/media/pdf/HRch...DUpdate723.pdf




HERE ARE EXAMPLES OF WINNER CARDS FROM PRIOR YEARS

2018 EXAMPLES


2019 EXAMPLES


2020 EXAMPLES



_________________________________________________________________________

The 2020 HR Challenge Checklist
HRC-1 Bryce Harper Philadelphia Phillies®
HRC-2 Ronald Acuña Jr. Atlanta Braves™
HRC-3 J.D. Martinez Boston Red Sox®
HRC-4 Freddie Freeman Atlanta Braves™
HRC-5 Mookie Betts Boston Red Sox®
HRC-6 Nolan Arenado Colorado Rockies™
HRC-7 Javier Baez Chicago Cubs®
HRC-8 Kris Bryant Chicago Cubs®
HRC-9 Anthony Rizzo Chicago Cubs®
HRC-10 Francisco Lindor Cleveland Indians®
HRC-11 Aaron Judge New York Yankees®
HRC-12 Giancarlo Stanton New York Yankees®
HRC-13 Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Toronto Blue Jays®
HRC-14 George Springer Houston Astros®
HRC-15 Juan Soto Washington Nationals®
HRC-16 Joey Gallo Texas Rangers®
HRC-17 Paul Goldschmidt St. Louis Cardinals®
HRC-18 Manny Machado San Diego Padres™
HRC-19 Fernando Tatis Jr. San Diego Padres™
HRC-20 Josh Bell Pittsburgh Pirates®
HRC-21 Pete Alonso New York Mets®
HRC-22 Gleyber Torres New York Yankees®
HRC-23 Christian Yelich Milwaukee Brewers™
HRC-24 Mike Trout Angels®
HRC-25 Cody Bellinger Los Angeles Dodgers®
HRC-26 Alex Bregman Houston Astros®
HRC-27 Yordan Alvarez Houston Astros®
HRC-28 Max Kepler Minnesota Twins®
HRC-29 Max Muncy Los Angeles Dodgers®
HRC-30 Rhys Hoskins Philadelphia Phillies®

[Juanny Chico]

HRC-1 Bryce Harper Philadelphia Phillies®
HRC-2 Ronald Acuña Jr. Atlanta Braves™
HRC-3 J.D. Martinez Boston Red Sox®
HRC-4 Freddie Freeman Atlanta Braves™
HRC-5 Mookie Betts Boston Red Sox®
HRC-6 Nolan Arenado Colorado Rockies™
HRC-7 Javier Baez Chicago Cubs®
HRC-8 Kris Bryant Chicago Cubs®
HRC-9 Anthony Rizzo Chicago Cubs®
HRC-10 Francisco Lindor Cleveland Indians®
HRC-11 Aaron Judge New York Yankees®
HRC-12 Giancarlo Stanton New York Yankees®
HRC-13 Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Toronto Blue Jays®
HRC-14 George Springer Houston Astros®
HRC-15 Juan Soto Washington Nationals®
HRC-16 Joey Gallo Texas Rangers®
HRC-17 Paul Goldschmidt St. Louis Cardinals®
HRC-18 Manny Machado San Diego Padres™
HRC-19 Fernando Tatis Jr. San Diego Padres™
HRC-20 Josh Bell Pittsburgh Pirates®
HRC-21 Pete Alonso New York Mets®
HRC-22 Gleyber Torres New York Yankees®
HRC-23 Christian Yelich Milwaukee Brewers™
HRC-24 Mike Trout Angels®
HRC-25 Cody Bellinger Los Angeles Dodgers®
HRC-26 Alex Bregman Houston Astros®
HRC-27 Yordan Alvarez Houston Astros®
HRC-28 Max Kepler Minnesota Twins®
HRC-29 Max Muncy Los Angeles Dodgers®
HRC-30 Rhys Hoskins Philadelphia Phillies®

*New Players on checklist


Joey Gallo is coming back from 2018. We also get the 3 big rookies from 2019 + the first rookie to appear on the checklist with Yordan Alverez.

• WHO GOT CUT
Jose Ramirez, *Khris Davis, Shoehi Ohtani, Carlos Correa, Andrew Benintendi, Ozzie Albiez, *Joey Votto, Trevor Story, Jose Altuve, Matt Carpenter, *Gary Sanchez, Kyle Schwarber, Miquel Andujar
(* was on checklist for both 2018 & 2019)

-The checklist isn't fully comparable to the 2019 HR leaders, so its picked specifically just like the previous years.
-Checklist reduced from 50 in 2018, to 35 in 2019, to 30 in 2020
-17 team represented on this checklist compared to 16 team last year


We'll try to see if any cards are short printed on this checklist as they were in 2019. The checklist isn't alphabetical like 2018 but more selected in a particular order like last year. Series 1 is released next week so I hope to see some identifying numeric or patterns so this can be identified again.

[salthill]

Can’t see the codes being different PRs with that list. (eg three Cubs in the first ten.)

[Juanny Chico]

From blowout buzz:

[The Chad]

what were the prizes for these last year if you hit?

[bn2cardz]

Originally Posted by salthill

Can’t see the codes being different PRs with that list. (eg three Cubs in the first ten.)

Or at least not with the same methodology as last year.

[youseekyoda421]

Here's the list with 2019 HR totals added:

HRC-1 Bryce Harper Philadelphia Phillies® 35HR
HRC-2 Ronald Acuña Jr. Atlanta Braves™ 41HR
HRC-3 J.D. Martinez Boston Red Sox® 36HR
HRC-4 Freddie Freeman Atlanta Braves™ 38HR
HRC-5 Mookie Betts Boston Red Sox® 29HR
HRC-6 Nolan Arenado Colorado Rockies™ 41HR
HRC-7 Javier Baez Chicago Cubs® 29HR
HRC-8 Kris Bryant Chicago Cubs® 31HR
HRC-9 Anthony Rizzo Chicago Cubs® 27HR
HRC-10 Francisco Lindor Cleveland Indians® 32HR
HRC-11 Aaron Judge New York Yankees® 27HR
HRC-12 Giancarlo Stanton New York Yankees® 3HR
HRC-13 Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Toronto Blue Jays® 15HR
HRC-14 George Springer Houston Astros® 39HR
HRC-15 Juan Soto Washington Nationals® 34HR
HRC-16 Joey Gallo Texas Rangers® 22HR
HRC-17 Paul Goldschmidt St. Louis Cardinals® 34HR
HRC-18 Manny Machado San Diego Padres™ 32HR
HRC-19 Fernando Tatis Jr. San Diego Padres™ 22HR
HRC-20 Josh Bell Pittsburgh Pirates® 37HR
HRC-21 Pete Alonso New York Mets® 53HR
HRC-22 Gleyber Torres New York Yankees® 38HR
HRC-23 Christian Yelich Milwaukee Brewers™ 44HR
HRC-24 Mike Trout Angels® 45HR
HRC-25 Cody Bellinger Los Angeles Dodgers® 47HR
HRC-26 Alex Bregman Houston Astros® 41HR
HRC-27 Yordan Alvarez Houston Astros® 27HR
HRC-28 Max Kepler Minnesota Twins® 36HR
HRC-29 Max Muncy Los Angeles Dodgers® 35HR
HRC-30 Rhys Hoskins Philadelphia Phillies® 29HR

I was really looking forward to the HR Challenge this year. Afterall, the Twins set the MLB HR record with 5 players recording 30+ HRs in 2019. So I'll lodge my "homer" complaints with Topps here: how do only have 1 Twins player and yet 3 Cubs players, two of which didn't even clear 30HRs? Further, how do you have 3 Cubs players and leave out Schwarber? How does Eugenio Suárez not make the cut? I don't understand Topps logic for this checklist.

[BIGMONEY80]

I’m still waiting on my 2019 September Albies

[salthill]

Originally Posted by youseekyoda421

So I'll lodge my "homer" complaints with Topps here: how do only have 1 Twins player and yet 3 Cubs players, two of which didn't even clear 30HRs? Further, how do you have 3 Cubs players and leave out Schwarber? How does Eugenio Suárez not make the cut? I don't understand Topps logic for this checklist.

The curse of following a small-market team. Lots of Cubs collectors out there.
As for Schwarber, I like him, but the other three are more popular with collectors (and fans).

[stevenab87]

Really conflicted on whether I even bother again this year. Last year was so frustrating. Maybe I’ll just pick a few of the guys I PC and won’t go after anyone else.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Juanny Chico]

The Official Rules have been posted. Nothing seems different from last year. The cards are only available in Series 1 & 2. The approximate parallel cards available from each set is exactly as last year. Series 1 being 478,000 and Series 2 being 285,000.

https://www.topps.com/media/pdf/HRch...0-%20FINAL.pdf

[Juanny Chico]

Originally Posted by Juanny Chico

The Official Rules have been posted. Nothing seems different from last year. The cards are only available in Series 1 & 2. The approximate parallel cards available from each set is exactly as last year. Series 1 being 478,000 and Series 2 being 285,000.

https://www.topps.com/media/pdf/HRch...0-%20FINAL.pdf

Edit: The Rules also state:

In both 2020 Topps Baseball Series I and Series II, thirty-five (35) different Major League Baseball players will be identified on HRICs

The checklist for 2020 is only 30 players...makes me think this was more likely copied and pasted from years template, so who knows

[glassofwater]

Do 2nd year players get a gold cup on their card like tatis vlad, and Alonso?

[salthill]

Originally Posted by glassofwater

Do 2nd year players get a gold cup on their card like tatis vlad, and Alonso?

Nope.

[Juanny Chico]

Watching the Million card live break and Topps is really bring the advertisements to it for this promo. Lots of talk about it, commercials and info cards in the packs.

[salthill]

Not sure if we’ve seen the cards already...

(from eBay)

[Juanny Chico]

Originally Posted by salthill

Not sure if we’ve seen the cards already...

(from eBay)

I’ll add with a back picture of one I pulled today. Interesting to note there’s no manufacturing# next to the code. Will be tough to tell now if these aren’t evenly printed.

[Juanny Chico]

My way to early take-For the sake of discussion, I've decided to take the stance that these inserts aren't printed equally. COMPLETE SPECULATION as we wont be getting as much evidence as last year.

I know its only been 3 days since these have started breaking but just using the eye test on new items, lot compilations, multiple item BINs, sold listings, etc., there seems to be more of some players, less of others, out there on the market (only 3 days, I know...)***The market for some players is much higher than others so this could take account for what's being listed and who is perhaps being held.***

This is what i'm personally seeing/using as a buying guide. Lots of tweaking to come. We've got a small enough following here so no harm in sharing-Feel free to use it or not.




I do think this promo is getting more popular. Ive messaged more than a few guys who ordered tons of 2020 stuff and some are keeping these to play.

[Soxfanguy]

No Eloy?

[notoriousrmb]

Originally Posted by Juanny Chico

My way to early take-For the sake of discussion, I've decided to take the stance that these inserts aren't printed equally. COMPLETE SPECULATION as we wont be getting as much evidence as last year.

I know its only been 3 days since these have started breaking but just using the eye test on new items, lot compilations, multiple item BINs, sold listings, etc., there seems to be more of some players, less of others, out there on the market (only 3 days, I know...)***The market for some players is much higher than others so this could take account for what's being listed and who is perhaps being held.***

This is what i'm personally seeing/using as a buying guide. Lots of tweaking to come. We've got a small enough following here so no harm in sharing-Feel free to use it or not.




I do think this promo is getting more popular. Ive messaged more than a few guys who ordered tons of 2020 stuff and some are keeping these to play.

Interesting that after opening a bunch of blasters, I've noticed most of the ones you are considering "SP" are appearing in retail.

In 6 blasters, I hit Stanton, Torres, Yelich and Soto.

[Juanny Chico]

Originally Posted by notoriousrmb

Interesting that after opening a bunch of blasters, I've noticed most of the ones you are considering "SP" are appearing in retail.

In 6 blasters, I hit Stanton, Torres, Yelich and Soto.

Hadn't thought of that. Very well could be player stacked retail vs hobby. I very well could be completely off too

[Eckstein197]

I’ve bought about 7 Kepler cards so far

[ThunderFan25]

Originally Posted by notoriousrmb

Interesting that after opening a bunch of blasters, I've noticed most of the ones you are considering "SP" are appearing in retail.

In 6 blasters, I hit Stanton, Torres, Yelich and Soto.

Not bad odds for blasters then?

It definitely appears to be more difficult to determine SP early on this year.

Still want some Trouts lol

[ThunderFan25]

Originally Posted by ThunderFan25

Not bad odds for blasters then?

It definitely appears to be more difficult to determine SP early on this year.

Still want some Trouts lol

Definitely pretty good odds with blasters...pulled 3 (Torres x2, JD) in 3 blasters.

[brothertona]

I really wish they'd add other surprises to these, occasional autos or special edition cards.