No, mom, not my 1985 Schmidt! He's the key to the set!
First, and most importantly, the codes are not scratch offs. The code is there for you and the eBay seller you think you want to buy these cards from to see. I know it can be hard to believe, but not all people are honest, so it’s possible that, if you are shopping for these on eBay, that by the time the card reaches your mailbox the code on the back will be worthless.
In reality, though, most of the codes are probably worthless anyway. Here’s the deal with the actual giveaway. Topps is giving away one of each card it’s released since 1952, and I’m assuming this applies to baseball cards only, but I could be wrong. That, according to the Topps GM is around 38,000 cards, so some cards will have to be made available multiple times to get them up to the magic number of 1,000,000.
Figure around 26 copies of each card would be needed to reach a million. Then realize that Topps isn’t going to have 26 1953 Willie Mays to give away, which has to mean a lot more recent material to make up for it.
So while the potential is there for you to pull a nice ’52 Mantle, you are probably more likely to pull a 1987 Mark Huismann or a ’89 Expos team checklist card because those are cheaper and easier for Topps to find. For those of you still chasing down the overproduced sets of the 80’s and 90’s, it could be your lucky day. For those of you who have too many of these, well, it may be best just to turn up your nose and submit the code anyway (more on that in a minute). Topps has also said there will be autographs and relics given away as well.
Now, why would you enter the code for the chance at another Wayne Krenchicki? Well, there’s still the chance at ’54 Aaron rookie, and of course you can’t win if you don’t enter. And for each code you redeem you are entered into a drawing for a complete 1952 Topps set. That chance alone outweighs the addition of more Sal Buteras or John Pacellas to your collection if you ask me.
The insert cards will fall one in every six packs produced by Topps, which means that Topps will produce a total of six million packs of Series 1, 2 and Updates and Highlights. I’ve pulled two out of four packs, so your odds are now a little worse than 1:6, especially if you live in Southern California and shop at my local Target.
Here’s the back, in case you’re interested:
So, you’ll go to Toppsmillion.com and enter the code in the white box to see what great card you’ve won. Topps will hold that card for you as long as you want, and allow you to trade it with other winners if you so choose. So I could actually parlay this contest into my last 2008 Topps need or the final two cards on my ’86 Topps wantlist if I get Bipped. Once you’ve got what you want, you ask Topps to ship you your cards.
I’m almost certain that not all these cards will be mint condition. So your 1966 Jim Palmer card could have been bike spoked to death. Your ’82 Dan Driessen could have teeth marks. And there’s no word as to whether Topps will charge you for shipping and handling either, which would make winning a worthless card even worse.
Codes can be entered starting February 15th.
One last thing to note. You’ll see in the upper right on the back of the cards that these contest pieces are numbered as part of a set. That means they count as an insert and towards your X number of cards in the pack. Pretty shifty if you ask me.
Hand Collated 
I don’t really have a problem with this “contest”. You don’t have to ever redeem the cards (and hence, pay for shippinh) if you don’t want them, so what’s the harm? I think it’s kinda cool. Plus, I’d imagine Topps is putting some sort of stamp on the card, so even if you DO get something from, say, 1962, it’ll have some sort of “Million Card Giveaway” logo on the card. I could be wrong; it’s pure speculation on my part.
It sorta sucks that it counts as an insert, but so does Topps Town, and UD Retrospective, and million other crappy “inserts” over the past few years. Doesn’t make it right, but doesn’t change the way things have always been.
Hey, it’s no surprise what Topps puts in or leaves out 95% of the stuff isn’t worth putting on ebay anyway. A Topps RC compared to a SP Authentic RC… get it? Even Beckett Magazine lists only the major Topps cards and most fall away at under $20 unless there is an autograph. Even that’s a joke. Before they offer money to these jokers they ought to teach them how to write their names. Most can barely form two letters and a smudge…college grads??? And what’s the Topps Town crap about? Virtual cards that you never actually receive? You end up buying the whole set just to get the cards you need to redeem the pretend set anyways. You want vintage cards,(million card giveaway) go to target or walmart, they have packs of opened cards where someone has already taken out the good ones and leave you with 25 commons for $3.50. Then again you’ll probably get your money’s worth at that.
Yeah, I’ll type in my redeption codes and I gaurentee if I get the Mantle RC, it’ll have a big ole square stain on it from the wad of gum they used to put in the packs…who knows, maybe I’ll just get the gum….what’s a 1952 gum stick worth these days?
Man; you are really angry.
A lot of people are not in it just for the dollar value of the card, but for the baseball history that the cards reflect.
On another note: I have had two redemption codes so far and to be honest, the cards I unlocked were really disappointing. Both were from the 87 set, and were commons. I do not think I will even bother having them shipped.
I think this is a good promo, however, it would be cool for all of the cards to be 1970’s or earlier. I would be less disheartened with a couple of 78 commons than what I unlocked.
The mystery is still there though. Just like you never know what you are going to get when you rip open a pack or a box; you never know what you might unlock. It might be something great or it might be bicycle spoke material.
If anyone doesn’t understand this giveaway, or lets it confuse them, they’re basically idiots. It’s a pretty simple concept to grasp.
I don’t mind this being counted as an insert, mostly because it will (eventually) become a “real card”…even if that card is a 1990 Topps or something. I’d rather have that than another UD Retrospective.
Good use of the term “Bipped” in a news article. It may actually be the first use of the Word in an informational piece.
Thanks for the good advise everyone needs soom help for time to time. Thanks alot Hillbilly-1
ugh, I didn’t know til now that those stupid toppstown cards were considered part of the pack # of cards….you can see how seriously I have taken Topps base since getting back into collecting. they lost me in 93.
I got three of these suckers in a blaster of 7 packs…your chances are getting worse while you read this…
I think what tops did is good for the young collector to haqve a chance of getting a high dollar card at a good price. To pull a high end card anymore you have to send alot on packs. and the kids can’t afford to pay the price. with all the poeple out of work I think that the high dollar packs aren’t selling to good. I lost my job and I can’t buy the high dollar packs are boxs anymore. you can’t pack search for these cards so I hope alot of kids may end up with a nice card.
It’s February 15th where I live and still no dice on the Toppsmillion.com website. You get redirected to Toppscards.com which is just a come on for the contest.
It’s 10 a.m. out here on the Left Coast and still not live. Topps wins the PR snafu of the year, and it’s only mid-February! (Maybe somebody forgot that today’s a holiday, and nobody’s at the company to push the buttons on the Web site; that’d be my guess).
Their web site has on going problems to this day. 5/9/10
It sucks that these count as insert cards, unless you stop and think…dont look at the card itself as the insert, look at the card your winning as the insert. Would you rather get “When they were young” insert card, or a 1959 Bob Gibson as an insert. And even if it is a common, maybe its a common from the 50s, which Id rather have than a picture of Johnny Damon as a kid.
Thanks for 1958 Mickey Mantle All star card 487!!
can someone tell me what an insert card is?
An insert is a special card found in the pack that supplements the base (common) card that would have normally been there instead. The people arguing are stating that it should be an “extra” card, rather than an insert, but who cares. Do you want just another 2010 Topps common card anyway? No one buys packs for base cards anymore, so the inserts are all that people hope for. I love this contest. Think about it this way….you’re getting a chance (albeit a slim one) of pulling some great cards. You would have to spend $200+ to buy any of these unopened packs, and if you wanted a chance at a 1952 mantle, you would have to either 1) Purchase one outright for tens of thousands of dollars, 2) Find an unopened 1952 High Series pack that has a) not been tampered with, b) not been searched, and c) costs thousands of dollars.
If anyone is familiar with the Grand Treasures “Card Chase” products, you will probably see that this contest is very similar, but free since you’re buying the cards anyway. In comparison, this giveaway is well worth the time, and is actually quite exciting (if you’re a baseball fan and not just a card critic) to receive a random card from 1952 and up. I do agree however that including common cards from the 90’s is very disappointing.
All in all, I’m excited about this contest, and can’t wait to enter some more codes. I’ve even bought 20 on eBay to increase my chances of pulling something decent (not that 20 codes will get me something decent). I purchased one pack ($9.99) at Target, and received one code that got me a 1966 Washington Senators team card. At least it’s a card from the 60’s.
Someone mentioned the possibility that Topps would stamp the cards with a “Topps Giveaway” banner, however I think it is very unlikely. Just like Fleer does with their buyback cards, they will likely (at most) include some kind of card that says “Congratulations, you have received an original 1966 card that was purchased from a previous product, and re-introduced for your enjoyment”. But since we already know we’re getting the cards, they probably do not even need to do this.
Aside from the contest itself, this is a major breakthrough in the sports trading card industry. Topps has innovated through the use of technology to offer an exciting new way of getting cards, and trading them. Imagine a reputable card company that worked exclusively online. They house the cards that you purchase from them until you want them shipped. This saves them distribution costs, and makes it easier for them to offer better cards with the money they are saving. It takes away part of the hobby of “busting” packs, but would be a very nice alternative for someone like me who is too busy to locate card shops and pay premium prices for packs or boxes of cards.
This contest is better than the 1991 Topps promotion, my family opened over 100 boxes and not one original card. Maybe you get a bunch of commons, but hey, you can TRADE them! Which is awesome, as I am trying to complete Topps sets from the years I wasn’t collecting. How about complaining to Topps about the LACK of checklists in 2009 and 2010? Maybe at the end of the contest all you have is commons, sell your account on eBay perhaps? Someone out there may want them.
i hate topps million the web site is hard to open, given users nameand still willnot open
do you want to sell them
yes i do want to sell them in return maybe a trade for 1963 pete rose rookie
I have had all kinds of problems with their web site since the beginning.
i think the contest is a great idea. some of the cards are crap, some are real jems, regardles of condition. i so far have uncovered a few cards from the 50s n 60s, even a 62 hillebrew and a 65 stargell. even better , i am gettin cool offers for these cards. just gotta wait for those cardinals cards.
i am really saden to here what everybody is saying about topps i am so sorry i got into this million card giveaway i put a lot of efford into buying pack after pack and getting nothen but the standered cards over and over . i went to target and bought all but two 19.00 dollar boxes only to be disapointed with topps no autograft cards at all after buying packs mostly boxes at 19.00 a clip i have about 700.00 into the million card giveaway i know now im stupid im 62 years old and on social security i always loved collecting cards since i was a young boy then i use to flip cards put maybe a 52 mantle or mays on the spooks of my bike and mom use to get mad because i had my baseball cards every where on the the carpet in the living room on the kitchen table mom would get mad and throw them in the garbage i would get them out but sometimes i could not be i had to go to school. oh yes i remember those days im sadden that i cant even get a set complete because of to many copies i get doubles in a single pack over in over i have to slow down because of i dont get much money . i love buying my baseball cards you could say ive been hooked for years. this has been a strain on me because of the giveaway i wish i was lucky but im not i will keep trying to get a good old card my favorite player is roger maris it would be nice to have his rookie . ill keep dreaming your friend james
hello james. i too am a roger maris fan. i don’t have his rookie card but i do have several jersey cards. i have a few that i would be willing to trade. my favorite player is mickey mantle. if you would like to talk trade or just talk about collecting , contact me at my e mail address. i am sixty years old and would like to talk to collectors my age about trading and just about the pulls that we get. i purchase most of my cards from dave and adams and a few blaster boxes of retail from time to time. good luck on your maris collection
I got 6 millino card giveaway cards and I got a 1984 Ozzie Smith, a 1977 Pete Rose, 2001 Ichiro Suzuki, 1954 Paul Minner, 1958 Bob Anderson, and some crappy 1994 checklist. Other than the checklist, I got incredibly lucky, and btw James, good luck on your Roger Maris collection. I just wish I had one to trade you.
WELL GUYS AND GALS EAT MY WORDS THIS IS JAMES AGAIN I SAID ALOT OF NEGATIVE THINGS ABOUT THIS MILLION DOLLAR GIVEAWAY 0N CARDS FROM TOPPS IVE OPENED UP 400 PACKS OF CARDS AND I FINAILY GOT A GOOD CARD A 1952 BOB FELLER I WAS SHOCKED WHEN I TURNED MY HEAD BECAUSE I SAID TO MYSELF THAT HERE GOES ANOTHER 1989 TO 2000 PLUS BUT WHEN I SAW 1952 AND THEN LOOKED WHAT I GOT I WAS VERY HAPPY BOB FELLERS CARD BOOKS FOR $250.00 DOLLARS NOW I GOT SOMETHING TO TRADE WITH IM LOOKING FOR PETE ROSE 1963 OR 64 TOPPS CARD.
THANKS TOPPS FOR FINAILY MAKING ME A BELEAVER JAMES BLACKBURN A CARD BOMB FOREVER!!!!!!!!!
Good luck with that Bob Fellers card. I to received a 1952 topps card #122 Jack Jensen of the Yankees. I have received this card via UPS. What a joke rounded corners and a small crease in the upright hand corner. People listen DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS MARKETING SCAM!!! Topps invested little money in this. When i called customer service to ask about shipment i was told all cards from the 52 topps set were considered Grand Prizes. Don’t buy it. I could get this lucky digging thru someones commons box at a flea market. These are not even close to nrmint card or excellent for that matter. Vg at best. Get out and invest your money in something worth while.
i would TO TRADE MY 52 BOB FELLER FOR A 63 PETTE ROSE ROOKIE CARD IF ANYBODY HAS ONE IT EVEN CAN BE JUST IN GOOG SHAPE OR TRADE FOR SOMETHING ELSE THANKS JAMES
I WILL BE VERY MAD IF I GET A USED CARD I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THEY HAVE DOUBLE OR EVEN TRIPLES IN MORE THEY SHOULD GIVE EVERYBODY A NEW CARD IN NOT A COPY JAMES
DOESNT ANYBODY WANT TO TAJK OR WRITE SOMEBODY SAY SOMETHING
Hi James,
I have been wondering what kind of condition these cards are in. I am under the impression that they are circulated. Have you had your 1952 Bob Feller shipped to you yet? If so, what kind of condition is it in? Depending on the condition, your card could sell between $30 or $500+. Pretty big difference.
I hope the 1952 Mantle that they’re giving away is in at least decent condition. It would be a shame to see the winner of this whole thing get a PSA 1 Mantle (although still worth thousands I suppose…). I stick by my original post, I love the giveaway contest. To be honest, I would have stopped after my first box of 2010 Topps, as I’m not too interested in any of the other cards. Series 2 is coming out soon, and has some pretty cool inserts. They’re also going to include T206 cards in the giveaway, so I’m going to get a few boxes of those when they come out soon, to see what kinds of cards I can get with the Series 2 giveaway cards.
So far, I have 40 cards in my collection. I haven’t gotten anything as cool as a ’52 Feller, but I’ve gotten some decent cards from the 50’s and 60’s. Out of 40 cards, I’ve gotten 3 from the 50’s, 8 from the 60’s, 18 from the 70’s, 7 from the 80’s, 2 from the 90’s, and 2 from the 2000’s. Seems like the most common are from the 70’s, which isn’t terrible.
My favorite card is the 1954 Hank Aaron rookie. I don’t have one yet, but have been looking all over for one in decent condition (maybe PSA 5 or higher). If anyone has one, I’d be a buyer!
anybody have a pete rose 1963 too trade for a 1952 bob feller
will are we having fun i have some nice offers for my bob feller but still not a 1963 pete rose anybody getting good cards
i still will trade my bob fellwr for 63 rose
IM STILL DRAWING GOOD CARDS HOW ABOUT YOU YOUR FRIEND JAMES
I GOT A BOB FELLER FOR TRADE LOOKING FUR 1963 PETTE ROSE OR 1960 MARIS OR MANTLE
these cards suk i wanted to get different cards but i got these ihate these cardsssssssssssssssssssssssss
I STILL HERE I HAVE 107 CARDS IN MY CLLECTION STILL HAVE MY 1952 BOBFELLER I WILL TRADE FOR A 63 PETE ROSE OR 58 ROGER MARIS ANYBODY DOING ANY GOOD LATELY IVE BEEN OFFERED AS MANY AS 32 CARDS FOR MY 52 BOB FELLER FROM 1979 TO 1953BOB FELLER PRETTY TEMPING BUT STILL LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT TRADE YOUR BASEBALL FRIEND JAMES
This started off as a great promotion and a way for Topps to re-connect with collectors it lost in last 15+ years.
When I learned that the codes aren’t tied to specific cards but random I was disappointed. Then when they included the Strasburg card I thought how disingenious; I’m pretty sure my Mom didn’t throw away the 2010 Strasburg card nor ANYONE’s Mom.
Maybe ppl @ Topps are just bipolar or forgetful; I’m pretty sure the tagline is “the cards you’re mom threw away”
Cheers to Topps for brainstorming & executing a cool promotion
Jeers to Topps for adding the Strasburg card
ToppsMillion.com barely works anyway how hard would it be to create another poorly constructed website for a Strasburg promo.
hi guys and girls i james who pulled a bob feller card im still buying cards just yesterday i went to majors in bought several packs of cards i went home opened them got three codes to enter first code i entered was a #661 card picture i didnt get it at first theres only 660 a set then i looked again and i was shocked i got a STRAUSBURG ROOKIE CARD MAN I COULD OF ALMOST CRYED WHEN IT HIT ME THEN I RAN THROUGH THE HOUSE CALLED MY BROTHER AND ALL MY FRIENDS I HAD THE CARD AUTO TO. IM STILL BUYING MORE TOPPS JUST TO SEE IF I CAN POOL OTHER CARDS AND HAVING FUN DOING SO PLUS IT WOULDNT HURT TO GET A SECOND STRAUSBURG THANKS TOPPS I HAVENT RECIEVED MY STRAUSBURG CARD YET
do u still got ur 52 bob feller? if so im very nterestd in it i dnt have maris or roses or any cardz online that r good enuf 4 it but i do got alot in my home collection that i would trade u for it. i dnt have any 52 topps thats y i want it and i got a 49 leaf stan musial rookie #4 i would be willng to trade if n wen u get ur card deliverd 2 ur house n its n prety good shape
i do regret not evr buyn any pete rose i just wuznt ntrestd n him and i thought he wuz blak flagd due to the gambling thing but here lately i been readn up on him and ive changed my mind about him. I never knew he holds the record for the most hits ever thats prety cool so im gna start getn all the cards i can of him.
Don’t waste money buying the Strasburg! It is included in the factory set!!!!!!!!!
The Strasburg in the factory set is not the same as the Million card giveaway Strasburg. They feature two different poses, most likely from the same first pitch.
thanx 4 tha heads up altho it stil prbly boox tha same or maybe more i hadnt even noticed. and i have 3 of them in my home collection and offerd a 61 rizzuto mvp for 1 but didnt get it so i wound up traden it for a 53 charlie bishop.
Ok, this has been going on for awhile. I find it highly addictive! I’m having a great time trading cards up and down trying to build a set of 1972 Tigers and Detroit tigers team photos. Pulled some old stuff that is just cool because it is old stuff. Just owning any card from 1955 or 56 is alright by me. I am wondering why there’s only 1 of certain star guys and over 3000 Ivan Rodriguez from 2001 Side contests seem to include who can collect the most of that card.
yea im getn tired of seein that damn 2001 rodriguez n evry trade offer lol. but yea i have the same ? about all the great cards only haven a qty of 1. Are they actualy unlokd by real ppl or r they just a prop put ther by topps so evry1 can make offerz on them? Maybe ther saven them to give away to contest winners who knowz…?
i unlokd a 61 rizzuto mvp n held on to it for like 2 weeks before traden it for a 53 charlie bishop only because i didnt have any 53z n my home collection. i like this contest alot altho i started playing very late like rite after christmas lol. i also unlokd a carl yaz 82 that i didn have altho i have much older 1z its still pretty cool so i unlokd more great cards and traded around til i had 9 dale murphys that i didn have so thanx guyz!
I have about 10 pete rose RC all topps but not from millon card giveway my own collection , james
Finally received my cards today. What a total rip-off! Spent $20 on shipping to receive a batch of cards that are nearly worthless. My 58 Bolling looks like someone walked a mile with it taped to the bottom of their shoe. Every 1972 or older card has massive damage. Not a decent corner on any card in the bunch! Corners missing. Paper tears. Huge creases. Scuffed fronts. Cards so miscut their isn’t even a border. To say they are in POOR condition would be to overrate them! Even a totally common 1989 Ozzie Smith has the white paper torn off one corner. Topps should be ashamed.
Topps is disgusting with this million dollar bs. topps wanted me to pay $30.00 for 60 cards which probably have the value amount of $ 10.00 if that,
i’m dissapointed with topps taking advantage of the little guy, they can keep the cards, this was a sham, no more topps pproducts for me, it a principle thing to me, good luck on those who had luck with topps, but the dissapointed out wiegh the satisfied by far…