SSP (Super Short Print)
SSP (noun): short for super short print — a card printed in drastically smaller quantities than the rest of its set, rarer than a standard short print (SP) and usually not serial numbered.
SSPs in More Detail
In modern Topps products, SSPs are most often photo variations: same player and card number as the base card, but a different image — a celebration, a throwback uniform, or a legend in a modern set. An SP might fall every few boxes; an SSP can take a case or more.
To confirm a Topps variation, check the small alphanumeric code on the card back near the copyright line — the ending digits differ between base cards and variations, and checklist sites publish the codes for each product.
FAQ
What's the difference between SP and SSP?
Degree of rarity. Both are short-printed relative to the base set, but SSPs are dramatically rarer — often roughly one per case versus a few per box for SPs.
Are SSPs serial numbered?
Usually not — scarcity comes from insertion odds. A stamped print run like /99 makes a card a numbered parallel, not an SSP.
Related Resources
- Full guide: What Does SSP Mean in Cards?
- Glossary: Parallel Card · Case Hit
- Shop: Numbered Cards · Rookie Cards