Collecting Basics 5: Parallel Cards

Now that you have chosen your sport, picked up a couple of packs or boxes of cards, now comes the best part. Opening them. However, if you are new to collecting, you may not know what you are looking for or what to find. That's where I hope to come in to help. For the next few posts of Collecting Basics, I hope to break down what you can find in a pack of cards. From base cards to insert cards to parallel cards to memorabilia cards to autographs.

Today's topic will be covering PARALLEL CARDS. Parallel cards are as stated in the name. Parallel.  In this case they are just like the base card, but slightly different. This may mean a different border color, a shine or rainbow effect, a little stamp in the corner to having the persons name being gold or blue instead of silver. Here are a few examples below.

As you can tell with the 2014 Topps Jurickson Profar below. The only difference in this parallel compared to its base card on the front is a gold border . This particular parallel is also numbered. Not all parallels are numbered but some are.

The Profar can also be found in this blue parallel version as well among others that Topps baseball 2014 has to offer.

 

It's not just 2014 and just baseball either. You can find parallels in many sports and many years. Check out some more examples below!

Here is a regular Topps Chrome card of Victor Cruz and underneath is just SOME of the parallels for this edition of Topps Chrome:

 

Overall, parallels should be pretty easy to spot once you know what you are looking for. There is always something a little different compared to its base card counterpart. Some may be more obvious than others.

I hope my tips will help you be able to spot them in packs. If you have anymore questions about parallels, feel free to ask!

Next up on our journey of sports cards is inserts and what they are and what some may look like.

As always, HAPPY COLLECTING!