2018 Donruss Variation Guide
Release Date: March 7
Donruss jumped on the variation bandwagon this year with the amount of variations included in this set combined with how easy they were able to pull. Collectors have gotten used to variations holding their value, not in the case of 2018 Donruss. Too many variations in this set to seem like a special pull. Variation “subjects” doubled from the previous year. A great entry set for beginners in the hobby, or folks looking to come back and not spend a lot. Obviously the big drawback here is the no logos.
What to Look For?
One fun thing about the Donruss variations is that they are easier to identify than the competitors. Though the value may not be there, the instant gratification of pulling a variation might be. One thing I learned from Cardboard Connection was a “Variation Trick” for Donruss (image below). On the back of the card, there is a baseball graphic on the top left-hand corner. Variations will feature a black filled-in baseball graphic. The base will have a white filled in baseball. This shouldn’t come in handy too much because of the other easy identifiers of the front of the cards. There are no codes to search on the back but here is the list of variations to look for.
PHOTO VARIATION
NICKNAME VARIATION
NOTABLE STATS VARIATION - printed on front
BLACK & WHITE VARIATION
1984 RETRO PHOTO VARIATION
MULTIPLE VARIATION - multiple changes on one card
*** VARIATION “TRICK” - black shaded baseball is variation (opposite for 84 retro)
2018 Donruss Variation Checklist
59 Eddie Mathews - Stat
64 Cal Ripken - Nickname
65 Jim Palmer - Black & White
69 Jackie Bradley Jr. - Nickname
86 Jose Abreu - Black & White
87 Frank Thomas - Nickname
92 Joe Morgan - Team Nickname
100 Roberto Alomar - Nickname
104 Charlie Blackmon - Image
108 Reggie Jackson - Image
110 Al Kaline - Nickname
120 George Brett - Black & White
123 Rod Carew - Black & White
134 Marcell Ozuna - Image
141 Anthony Rizzo - Image
142 Kirby Puckett - Stat
143 Giancarlo Stanton - Nickname
144 Noah Syndergaard - Nickname
148 Aaron Judge - ROY
148 Aaron Judge - Nickname
149 Cody Bellinger - ROY
149 Cody Bellinger - Image
150 Gary Sanchez - Nickname
153 Corey Kluber - Nickname
154 Clayton Kershaw - Nickname
155 Mike Trout - Nickname
157 Francisco Lindor - Nickname
158 Corey Seager - Image
159 Andrew McCutchen - Nickname
162 Alex Bregman - Image
163 Carlos Correa - Nickname
165 Tony Gwynn - Nickname
166 Jose Altuve - Nickname
167 Buster Posey - Nickname
167 Buster Posey - Image
169 Andrew Benintendi - Black & White
169 Andrew Benintendi - Nickname
172 Nolan Arenado - Image
173 Jose Ramirez - Image
175 Ken Griffey Jr. - Nickname
176 Yadier Molina - Nickname
183 Kris Bryant - Nickname B/W
183 Kris Bryant - Image
187 Nolan Ryan - Nickname
189 Manny Machado - Image
191 Mookie Betts - Nickname
191 Mookie Betts - Nickname / Image
192 Bryce Harper - Nickname
195 Chipper Jones - Nickname
200 Mickey Mantle - Nickname
225 Anthony Rizzo - Retro 1984 Image
227 Andrew Benintendi - Retro 1984 Image
228 Kris Bryant - Retro 1984 Image
230 Yoan Moncada - Retro 1984 Image
234 Francisco Lindor - Retro 1984 Image
242 Mike Trout - Retro 1984 Image
243 Cody Bellinger - Retro 1984 Image
253 Aaron Judge - Retro 1984 Image
254 Mickey Mantle - Retro 1984 Image
256 Nolan Ryan - Retro 1984 Image