“They are who we thought they were.”
Arizona Cardinals head coach Dennis Green
It was October 2006 on Monday Night Football. Chicago Bears vs. Arizona Cardinals. The Dennis Green coached Cardinals were not a very good football team coming into their Monday night game with a 1-4 record having lost four in a row.
But Arizona looked great against the Bears on this night…for most of the game. The Cardinals held a 20-0 halftime lead, and a 23-3 advantage with under a minute to play in the third quarter. And then the Bears woke up.
Mike Brown picked up a Matt Leinart fumble just before the end of the third quarter and ran in for a touchdown to make it a 23-10 game. That score held until about five minute to play. Again…the Bears defense came through with a fumble recovery returned for a score by Charles “Peanut” Tillman. Arizona clung to a 23-17 lead.
Arizona’s offense could not stall and were forced to punt. Remember Devin Hester? Most teams kicked the ball away from arguably the NFL’s greatest return man in history. But, not the Arizona Cardinals. Hester returned the punt for 83 yards and with the extra point the Bears took a 24-23 lead.
Still, the Cardinals had almost three minutes of clock to work with. Arizona made it into field goal range for Neil Rackers setting up a game-winning 40-yard field goal. Rackers missed. Bears win. Dennis Green angry.
One of the greatest postgame quotes of all time was made by the late coach Green, which is exactly what I think back to when I looked at the 2020 Topps Update checklist, just changing the words around a bit.
It is what we thought it would be. The Topps Update checklist is bad, and we knew it would be. I think many of us were holding out hope that Topps would surprise us and include some rookie cards of players that were called up in the shortened 2020 baseball season. Our wish was not granted, and we are left with another Randy Arozarena rookie (which will carry the product), another Trent Grisham rookie card (now in a Padres uniform), and a handful of players that names looked as foreign to me as the Kazakhstan national bandy team.
The Cubs checklist includes players like Jharel Cotton who did not appear in a single Chicago Cubs game and was released on September 5. It also includes the team’s third string catcher – Josh Phegley. To be honest, I think it’s neat that these players are included. I would rather have flagship cards of Cotton and Phegley than another Kris Bryant or Anthony Rizzo.
Fact is, we knew 2020 Topps Update would be a lot different since the season did not begin until July after the deadline for players who debuted to make it into this product. There was also no All Star Game in 2020, and All Star cards and Home Run Derby cards are a large part of the Topps Update checklist. Topps did get creative with the latter using past All Star Games and Home Run Derbys.
Below you will find the 2020 Topps Update checklist. What do you think?
2020 Topps Update Checklist
U-1 Bo Bichette – Toronto Blue Jays RD
U-2 Adam Engel – Chicago White Sox
U-3 Turner/Difo – Washington Nationals Combo
U-4 Mike Trout – Los Angeles Angels AS
U-5 Starlin Castro – Washington Nationals
U-6 Mike Moustakas – Cincinnati Reds
U-7 Bregman/Alvarez – Houston Astros Combo
U-8 Buster Posey – San Francisco Giants AS
U-9 Ken Griffey Jr. – Seattle Mariners HR
U-10 Anthony Alford – Toronto Blue Jays
U-11 Chris Owings – Colorado Rockies
U-12 Aaron Bummer – Chicago White Sox
U-13 Jose Martinez – Tampa Bay Rays
U-14 Giancarlo Stanton – Miami Marlins HR
U-15 Aaron Judge – New York Yankees AS
U-16 Phillip Diehl – Colorado Rockies RC
U-17 Josh Fuentes – Colorado Rockies
U-18 Felix Pena – Los Angeles Angels
U-19 Yasmani Grandal – Chicago White Sox
U-20 Francisco Cervelli – Miami Marlins
U-21 Kyle Lewis – Seattle Mariners RD
U-22 Cody Stashak – Minnesota Twins RC
U-23 Cheslor Cuthbert – Chicago White Sox
U-24 Buck Farmer – Detroit Tigers
U-25 Josh Taylor – Boston Red Sox RC
U-26 Kyle Gibson – Texas Rangers
U-27 Kyle Ryan – Chicago Cubs
U-28 Eduardo Nunez – New York Mets
U-29 Aristides Aquino – Cincinnati Reds RD
U-30 Yasmany Tomas – Arizona Diamondbacks
U-31 Curt Casali – Cincinnati Reds
U-32 Drew Pomeranz – San Diego Padres
U-33 Alex Verdugo – Boston Red Sox
U-34 Justin Verlander – Houston Astros AL
U-35 Kyle Farmer – Cincinnati Reds
U-36 Robinson Cano – New York Yankees HR
U-37 Yoenis Cespedes – Oakland Athletics HR
U-38 Albert Pujols – Los Angeles Angels AL
U-39 Kevin Plawecki – Boston Red Sox
U-40 Antonio Senzatela – Colorado Rockies
U-41 Josh Lindblom – Milwaukee Brewers
U-42 Kris Bryant – Chicago Cubs AS
U-43 Alex Blandino – Cincinnati Reds
U-44 Jorge Alcala – Minnesota Twins RC
U-45 Zack Wheeler – Philadelphia Phillies
U-46 Jose Suarez – Los Angeles Angels
U-47 Jose Peraza – Boston Red Sox
U-48 Sandy Leon – Cleveland Indians
U-49 Jared Walsh – Los Angeles Angels
U-50 Nolan Arenado – Colorado Rockies AS
U-51 Matt Davidson – Cincinnati Reds
U-52 Kyle Higashioka – New York Yankees
U-53 Brad Miller – St. Louis Cardinals
U-54 Alex Avila – Minnesota Twins
U-55 Miguel Cabrera – Detroit Tigers AS
U-56 Lane Thomas – St. Louis Cardinals
U-57 Yoan Lopez – Arizona Diamondbacks
U-58 Erick Mejia – Kansas City Royals RC
U-59 Ryan Howard – Philadelphia Phillies HR
U-60 Brendan McKay – Tampa Bay Rays RD
U-61 Jedd Gyorko – Milwaukee Brewers
U-62 David Ortiz – Boston Red Sox HR
U-63 Terrance Gore – Los Angeles Dodgers
U-64 Alex Bregman – Houston Astros AS
U-65 Yoshi Tsutsugo – Tampa Bay Rays RC
U-66 Max Scherzer – Washington Nationals AL
U-67 Michael Fulmer – Detroit Tigers
U-68 Greg Garcia – San Diego Padres
U-69 Derek Holland – Pittsburgh Pirates
U-70 Skye Bolt – Oakland Athletics
U-71 Jesus Aguilar – Miami Marlins
U-72 Drew Butera – Colorado Rockies
U-73 Todd Frazier – Texas Rangers
U-74 Harper/Segura – Philadelphia Phillies Combo
U-75 Pedro Martinez – Boston Red Sox AS
U-76 Edwin Encarnacion – Chicago White Sox AL
U-77 Jalen Beeks – Tampa Bay Rays
U-78 Joe Jimenez – Detroit Tigers
U-79 Sean Poppen – Minnesota Twins RC
U-80 Cody Bellinger – Los Angeles Dodgers AS
U-81 Junior Guerra – Arizona Diamondbacks
U-82 Kenley Jansen – Los Angeles Dodgers AL
U-83 Trent Grisham – San Diego Padres RC
U-84 Yusmeiro Petit – Oakland Athletics
U-85 Felix Hernandez – Seattle Mariners AS
U-86 Josh Harrison – Philadelphia Phillies
U-87 Zack Greinke – Houston Astros AL
U-88 Craig Kimbrel – Chicago Cubs AL
U-89 Brian Johnson – Boston Red Sox
U-90 Clayton Kershaw – Los Angeles Dodgers AL
U-91 Julio Teheran – Los Angeles Angels
U-92 Jacob deGrom – New York Mets AL
U-93 Tyler White – Los Angeles Dodgers
U-94 Jesus Luzardo – Oakland Athletics RD
U-95 Domingo Santana – Cleveland Indians
U-96 Logan Morrison – Milwaukee Brewers
U-97 Donovan Solano – San Francisco Giants
U-98 Jose Iglesias – Baltimore Orioles
U-99 Cesar Hernandez – Cleveland Indians
U-100 David Price – Los Angeles Dodgers
U-101 Nick Dini – Kansas City Royals RC
U-102 Kevin Ginkel – Arizona Diamondbacks RC
U-103 Michael Hermosillo – Los Angeles Angels
U-104 Grayson Greiner – Detroit Tigers
U-105 Jake Newberry – Kansas City Royals RC
U-106 Meibrys Viloria – Kansas City Royals
U-107 Eric Thames – Washington Nationals
U-108 Taylor Ward – Los Angeles Angels
U-109 Pedro Strop – Cincinnati Reds
U-110 Mark McGwire – St. Louis Cardinals HR
U-111 Rich Hill – Minnesota Twins
U-112 Nik Turley – Pittsburgh Pirates RC
U-113 Devin Williams – Milwaukee Brewers RC
U-114 Josh Phegley – Chicago Cubs
U-115 Brad Peacock – Houston Astros
U-116 Robinson Chirinos – Texas Rangers
U-117 Cameron Maybin – Detroit Tigers
U-118 Frank Schwindel – Detroit Tigers RC
U-119 Mike Trout – Los Angeles Angels AL
U-120 Stevie Wilkerson – Baltimore Orioles
U-121 Ichiro – Seattle Mariners AS
U-122 Tino Martinez – New York Yankees HR
U-123 Neil Walker – Philadelphia Phillies
U-124 David Ortiz – Boston Red Sox AS
U-125 Chris Martin – Atlanta Braves
U-126 Jhoulys Chacin – Minnesota Twins
U-127 Ryan Weber – Boston Red Sox
U-128 Jonathan Davis – Toronto Blue Jays
U-129 Hunter Pence – San Francisco Giants
U-130 Richie Martin – Baltimore Orioles
U-131 Alex Reyes – St. Louis Cardinals
U-132 Daniel Descalso – Chicago Cubs
U-133 Chris Iannetta – New York Yankees
U-134 Gleyber Torres – New York Yankees AS
U-135 Brandon Dixon – Detroit Tigers
U-136 David McKay – Detroit Tigers
U-137 Touki Toussaint – Atlanta Braves
U-138 Tommy Pham – San Diego Padres
U-139 Greg Allen – Cleveland Indians
U-140 Clayton Kershaw – Los Angeles Dodgers AL
U-141 Jonathan Villar – Miami Marlins
U-142 Albert Pujols – Los Angeles Angels AL
U-143 Francisco Lindor – Cleveland Indians AS
U-144 Betts/Torres – American League Combo
U-145 Ronald Acuña Jr. – Atlanta Braves AS
U-146 Andrew Knizner – St. Louis Cardinals
U-147 Robinson Cano – New York Mets AL
U-148 Pete Alonso – New York Mets HR
U-149 Nick Solak – Texas Rangers RD
U-150 Ken Griffey Jr. – Seattle Mariners HR
U-151 Jairo Diaz – Colorado Rockies
U-152 Sam Haggerty – Seattle Mariners RC
U-153 Robert Stephenson – Cincinnati Reds
U-154 Mariano Rivera – New York Yankees AS
U-155 Zach Davies – San Diego Padres
U-156 Wilmer Flores – San Francisco Giants
U-157 Deivy Grullon – Philadelphia Phillies RC
U-158 Jason Kipnis – Chicago Cubs
U-159 Steven Souza Jr. – Chicago Cubs
U-160 Richard Bleier – Baltimore Orioles
U-161 Jake Marisnick – New York Mets
U-162 Giovanny Gallegos – St. Louis Cardinals
U-163 JT Riddle – Pittsburgh Pirates
U-164 Sam Travis – Texas Rangers
U-165 Kyle Wright – Atlanta Braves
U-166 Adolis Garcia – Texas Rangers
U-167 Yoshi Hirano – Seattle Mariners
U-168 Keynan Middleton – Los Angeles Angels
U-169 Yadier Molina – St. Louis Cardinals AS
U-170 Travis Shaw – Toronto Blue Jays
U-171 Bryse Wilson – Atlanta Braves
U-172 Tyler Wade – New York Yankees
U-173 Edwin Encarnacion – Chicago White Sox
U-174 Logan Forsythe – Philadelphia Phillies
U-175 Diego Castillo – Tampa Bay Rays
U-176 Brock Holt – Milwaukee Brewers
U-177 Andy Burns – Toronto Blue Jays RC
U-178 Jarrod Dyson – Pittsburgh Pirates
U-179 Jeff Hoffman – Colorado Rockies
U-180 C.J. Cron – Detroit Tigers
U-181 Mitch Moreland – Boston Red Sox
U-182 Josh Tomlin – Atlanta Braves
U-183 Steve Cishek – Chicago White Sox
U-184 Miguel Cabrera – Detroit Tigers AL
U-185 Max Scherzer – Washington Nationals AS
U-186 Rowdy Tellez – Toronto Blue Jays
U-187 Pete Alonso – New York Mets AS
U-188 Luis Severino – New York Yankees
U-189 Johnny Davis – Tampa Bay Rays RC
U-190 Ken Griffey Jr. – Seattle Mariners AS
U-191 Zack Greinke – Houston Astros AL
U-192 Ian Miller – Chicago Cubs RC
U-193 Miguel Cabrera – Detroit Tigers AL
U-194 Justin Verlander – Houston Astros AS
U-195 Daniel Hudson – Washington Nationals
U-196 Nestor Cortes – Seattle Mariners RC
U-197 Zach Green – San Francisco Giants RC
U-198 Hunter Renfroe – Tampa Bay Rays
U-199 Adeiny Hechavarria – Atlanta Braves
U-200 Anthony Rendon – Los Angeles Angels
U-201 Anthony Rizzo – Chicago Cubs AS
U-202 Asdrubal Cabrera – Washington Nationals
U-203 Austin Pruitt – Houston Astros
U-204 Eric Davis – Cincinnati Reds HR
U-205 Kenta Maeda – Minnesota Twins
U-206 Asher Wojciechowski – Baltimore Orioles
U-207 Jorge Lopez – Kansas City Royals
U-208 Randy Arozarena – Tampa Bay Rays RC
U-209 Cal Ripken Jr. – Baltimore Orioles AS
U-210 Gabe Speier – Kansas City Royals RC
U-211 Drew Smyly – San Francisco Giants
U-212 Jordan Lyles – Texas Rangers
U-213 Keury Mella – Arizona Diamondbacks
U-214 Kendall Graveman – Seattle Mariners
U-215 Joey Votto – Cincinnati Reds AL
U-216 Sean Murphy – Oakland Athletics RD
U-217 Andrew Suarez – San Francisco Giants
U-218 Chapman/Olson – Oakland Athletics Combo
U-219 Zack Greinke – Houston Astros AL
U-220 Alec Mills – Chicago Cubs
U-221 Joe Panik – Toronto Blue Jays
U-222 Scott Barlow – Kansas City Royals
U-223 Chris Devenski – Houston Astros
U-224 Cy Sneed – Houston Astros RC
U-225 Jharel Cotton – Chicago Cubs
U-226 Franchy Cordero – San Diego Padres
U-227 Garrett Richards – San Diego Padres
U-228 Starling Marte – Arizona Diamondbacks
U-229 Giancarlo Stanton – Miami Marlins AS
U-230 Cal Ripken Jr. – Baltimore Orioles HR
U-231 Jordy Mercer – Detroit Tigers
U-232 Jason Castro – Los Angeles Angels
U-233 Mike Montgomery – Kansas City Royals
U-234 Gavin Lux – Los Angeles Dodgers RD
U-235 Javier Baez – Chicago Cubs AS
U-236 Bartolo Colon – New York Mets AL
U-237 Clayton Kershaw – Los Angeles Dodgers AS
U-238 Tim Locastro – Arizona Diamondbacks
U-239 Jefry Rodriguez – Cleveland Indians
U-240 Justin Verlander – Houston Astros AL
U-241 Tyler Heineman – San Francisco Giants RC
U-242 Ty France – San Diego Padres
U-243 Mike Trout – Los Angeles Angels AL
U-244 Wade LeBlanc – Baltimore Orioles
U-245 Justin Verlander – Houston Astros AL
U-246 Greg Holland – Kansas City Royals
U-247 Kole Calhoun – Arizona Diamondbacks
U-248 Miguel Cabrera – Detroit Tigers AL
U-249 Aroldis Chapman – New York Yankees AL
U-250 Omar Narvaez – Milwaukee Brewers
U-251 Nico Hoerner – Chicago Cubs RD
U-252 Alex Wood – Los Angeles Dodgers
U-253 Peter Lambert – Colorado Rockies
U-254 Taijuan Walker – Seattle Mariners
U-255 Bryce Harper – Washington Nationals HR
U-256 Ramirez/Lindor – Cleveland Indians Combo
U-257 Derek Jeter – New York Yankees AS
U-258 Todd Frazier – Cincinnati Reds HR
U-259 Albert Pujols – Los Angeles Angels AL
U-260 Kyle Crick – Pittsburgh Pirates
U-261 Trout/Upton – Los Angeles Angels Combo
U-262 Ty Buttrey – Los Angeles Angels
U-263 Miguel Cabrera – Detroit Tigers AL
U-264 Aaron Judge – New York Yankees HR
U-265 Dario Agrazal – Detroit Tigers RC
U-266 Andrew McCutchen – Pittsburgh Pirates AS
U-267 Albert Pujols – St. Louis Cardinals AS
U-268 Mookie Betts – Boston Red Sox AS
U-269 Christian Yelich – Milwaukee Brewers AS
U-270 Dustin Garneau – Houston Astros
U-271 Kevin Pillar – Boston Red Sox
U-272 Joey Votto – Cincinnati Reds AS
U-273 Devers/Bogaerts – Boston Red Sox Combo
U-274 Jordan Montgomery – New York Yankees
U-275 Brett Anderson – Milwaukee Brewers
U-276 Joe Kelly – Los Angeles Dodgers
U-277 Jose Altuve – Houston Astros AS
U-278 Austin Allen – Oakland Athletics
U-279 Bryce Harper – Washington Nationals AS
U-280 Albert Pujols – Los Angeles Angels AL
U-281 Joel Kuhnel – Cincinnati Reds RC
U-282 Christian Arroyo – Cleveland Indians
U-283 Tomas Nido – New York Mets
U-284 Buehler/Martin – Los Angeles Dodgers Combo
U-285 Billy Hamilton – San Francisco Giants
U-286 Chase Anderson – Toronto Blue Jays
U-287 Chris Sale – Boston Red Sox AS
U-288 Giancarlo Stanton – New York Yankees AL
U-289 Myles Straw – Houston Astros
U-290 Alonso/McNeil – New York Mets Combo
U-291 Trayce Thompson – Arizona Diamondbacks
U-292 Mike Trout – Los Angeles Angels AL
U-293 Mike King – New York Yankees RC
U-294 Adam Plutko – Cleveland Indians
U-295 Chris Sale – Boston Red Sox AL
U-296 Mark McGwire – Oakland Athletics HR
U-297 Jesus Tinoco – Colorado Rockies RC
U-298 Magneuris Sierra – Miami Marlins
U-299 Jacob deGrom – New York Mets AS
U-300 Yordan Alvarez – Houston Astros RD
One of the anticipated insert sets in 2020 Topps Update is the prospects set.
Prospect Insert Checklist
PA-AB Alec Bohm – Philadelphia Phillies
PA-BD Bobby Dalbec – Boston Red Sox
PA-BDA Brennen Davis – Chicago Cubs
PA-BS Brady Singer – Kansas City Royals
PA-CM Casey Mize – Detroit Tigers
PA-CP Cristian Pache – Atlanta Braves
PA-CS Clarke Schmidt – New York Yankees
PA-CW Colton Welker – Colorado Rockies
PA-ES Ethan Small – Milwaukee Brewers
PA-EW Evan White – Seattle Mariners
PA-JA Jo Adell – Los Angeles Angels
PA-JB Joey Bart – San Francisco Giants
PA-JJ Josh Jung – Texas Rangers
PA-KR Keibert Ruiz – Los Angeles Dodgers
PA-LG Luis Garcia – Washington Nationals
PA-MG MacKenzie Gore – San Diego Padres
PA-NM Nick Madrigal – Chicago White Sox
PA-NP Nate Pearson – Toronto Blue Jays
PA-RM Ryan Mountcastle – Baltimore Orioles
PA-WF Wander Franco – Tampa Bay Rays
1985 Topps Baseball Autographs
85A-ARE Anthony Rendon – Los Angeles Angels
85A-DJ Derek Jeter – New York Yankees
85A-JM Joe Mauer – Minnesota Twins
85A-LR Luis Robert – Chicago White Sox
85A-MT Mike Trout – Los Angeles Angels
85A-PA Pete Alonso – New York Mets
85A-RDO Randy Dobnak – Minnesota Twins
85A-RM Ryan McBroom – Kansas City Royals
85A-SG Sonny Gray – Cincinnati Reds
85A-TA Tyler Alexander – Detroit Tigers
85A-TL Tim Lincecum – San Francisco Giants
85A-YD Yonathan Daza – Colorado Rockies
85A-YT Yoshi Tsutsugo – Tampa Bay Rays
85A-JRO Josh Rojas – Arizona Diamondbacks
85BA-HD Hunter Dozier – Kansas City Royals
85BA-TLS Tommy La Stella – Los Angeles Angels
85A-SC Shin-Soo Choo – Texas Rangers
85BA-JA Jim Abbott – Los Angeles Angels
85BA-YC Yu Chang – Cleveland Indians
85BA-JD Justin Dunn – Seattle Mariners
85A-ZG Zac Gallen – Arizona Diamondbacks
85A-RHE Rickey Henderson – Oakland Athletics
85A-RLA Ramon Laureano – Oakland Athletics
85BA-DL Domingo Leyba – Arizona Diamondbacks
85A-OM Oscar Mercado – Cleveland Indians
85A-MO Matt Olson – Oakland Athletics
85A-MA Max Kepler – Minnesota Twins
85A-KS Kyle Schwarber – Chicago Cubs
85A-MS Max Scherzer – Washington Nationals
85BA-SN Sheldon Neuse – Oakland Athletics
85A-RD Rafael Devers – Boston Red Sox
85BA-MB Mike Brosseau – Tampa Bay Rays
85BA-JBU Jay Buhner – Seattle Mariners
85A-MCA Miguel Cabrera – Detroit Tigers
85A-JC Jose Canseco – Oakland Athletics
85A-PC Patrick Corbin – Washington Nationals
85A-JH Josh Hader – Milwaukee Brewers
85BA-DV Dan Vogelbach – Seattle Mariners
85A-JJ Josh James – Houston Astros
85A-AKA Anthony Kay – Toronto Blue Jays
85A-MK Mitch Keller – Pittsburgh Pirates
85BA-SL Shed Long – Seattle Mariners
85A-JMA James Marvel – Pittsburgh Pirates
85BA-AO Adam Ottavino – New York Yankees
85BA-JS Jorge Soler – Kansas City Royals
85A-GS George Springer – Houston Astros
85BA-GU Gio Urshela – New York Yankees
85A-BR Bryan Reynolds – Pittsburgh Pirates
85A-DGO Dwight Gooden – New York Mets
20 Years of The Captain Checklist
20CA-00 Derek Jeter – New York Yankees
20CA-01 Derek Jeter – New York Yankees
20CA-02 Derek Jeter – New York Yankees
20CA-03 Derek Jeter – New York Yankees
20CA-04 Derek Jeter – New York Yankees
20CA-05 Derek Jeter – New York Yankees
20CA-06 Derek Jeter – New York Yankees
20CA-07 Derek Jeter – New York Yankees
20CA-08 Derek Jeter – New York Yankees
20CA-09 Derek Jeter – New York Yankees
20CA-10 Derek Jeter – New York Yankees
20CA-11 Derek Jeter – New York Yankees
20CA-12 Derek Jeter – New York Yankees
20CA-13 Derek Jeter – New York Yankees
20CA-14 Derek Jeter – New York Yankees
20CA-95 Derek Jeter – New York Yankees
20CA-96 Derek Jeter – New York Yankees
20CA-97 Derek Jeter – New York Yankees
20CA-98 Derek Jeter – New York Yankees
20CA-99 Derek Jeter – New York Yankees
For the rest of the 2020 Topps Update checklist for relics, insert sets, and retail exclusives.
Overall, it’s a bad checklist in my opinion. It was also expected based on the abbreviated season. I will still try to find some retail blaster boxes, but I am staying far, far away from hobby boxes at the asking prices.