1996 Topps

This is a list with brief descriptions of Topps trading card products for 1996. All cards listed are standard size (2½ × 3½ inches). Exceptions are noted.

The 1996 Topps set totals 440 cards, series one and two (220 cards in each series) and was issued in 12–card foil packs with a SRP of $1.29. The front features full-color photos surrounded by a white border. Information on the backs includes a player photo, season and career stats and text. Subsets include Star Power (1–6, 8–12), Draft Picks (13–26), AAA Stars (101–104) and Future Stars (210–219). A special Mickey Mantle card was issued as card number 7 in the base set. Notable rookie cards included in the set: Sean Casey, Raúl Ibañez, Matt Morris, Daryle Ward, Mark Bellhorn, Geoff Jenkins, Jarrod Washburn and Randy Winn.

These cards were inserted at a rate one in every five–card series one retail pack sold at Walmart. The first ten cards showcase hitters while the last five cards feature pitchers. Inside white borders, the fronts show player cutouts on a brownish rock background featuring a shadow image of the player. The player's name is in gold foil stamped across the bottom of the card. The horizontal backs of the hitters' are aqua and present headshots and statistics. The backs of the pitchers cards are purple and present the same information as the hitters' cards.

These cards honor New York Yankees great Mickey Mantle, who died, in August 1995 after suffering cancer. Randomly inserted in series one packs at a rate one and nine hobby packs, one in six retail packs and one in two jumbo packs. These cards are reprints of the original Mickey Mantle cards issued from 1951 through 1969. The fronts look the same except for a commemorative stamp, while the back clearly state that they are "Mickey Mantle Commemorative" cards and have a 1996 copyright date. Based on evidence from an uncut sheet auctioned off at the Kit Young Hawaii Trade Show, some collectors/dealers believe that cards 15 through 19 were slightly shorter printed in relation to the other 14 cards.

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