THE ATHLETIC: Elly De La Cruz, Paul Skenes ‘ultimate rookie cards’ highlight 2024 Topps Chrome Update release

Topps has officially released its highly-anticipated 2024 Chrome Update Series, which the company is calling “arguably the biggest baseball set of the last decade.” Given the current hype around the class of players with rookie cards in this set, headlined by Elly De La Cruz and Paul Skenes, and their one-of-a-kind autographed Debut Patch cards that collectors will be chasing, that may not be an exaggeration.

The MLB Debut Patch, which was first introduced last year, has been one of Fanatics’ most prominent innovations since acquiring Topps. Before each player’s first MLB game they play, a small patch is placed on the sleeve of their uniform. Once that game is complete the patch is removed, put into a trading card that the player autographs and it goes into a set and becomes a highly coveted and unique collectible. This is also currently being done in MLS, for which Topps also has a trading card license. And with Topps acquiring the licenses for both the NFL and NBA in the coming years, plans for expanding the program to those leagues are also being made…