2021 Donruss: Quick Thoughts and Variation Guide

 2021 Donruss has just hit the shelves, and I thought I would take a quick look at the set before explaining the variations. Why the variations? Because as I write this post, nobody has posted one yet. I'm sure Cardboard Connection and/or Beckett will have a full guide eventually, complete with photos, but for now, this might help set builders out there. (Perhaps by the time this goes live, there will be a better guide?)

The base set and its many parallels have a parallelogram design; the throwback subset at the end of the base checklist pays homage to the 1987 design. The borders are a bit bigger than I'd like, but with all of the emoji parallels, I suppose they need to be big. There are a total of 18 parallels, two of which are 1/1 (Number One and the four colors of Printing Plates). Of note are the mask emoji parallels, numbered out of 19 copies. I guess that's one way to recognize the pandemic.

The first thirty cards of the set are Diamond Kings, with the next 32 being Rated Rookies. Throwbacks featuring retired players are #213-262, with the final two cards going to the San Diego Chicken and Domingo Ayala. The DKs have a 1985 feel to them, and have the painted-style photoshop filter applied to them. I do miss hand-painted Diamond Kings.

As for inserts, most of the regulars are back: Elite, Dominators, Highlights, Rated Prospects, The Rookies. Livestream has nice photos but just batters swinging their bats. Trending is run-of-the-mill. Whammy is still fun, but remains tough as a case hit, and while the new Unleashed set has a great background, that same background is on every card. Of course, there are plenty of autographs and relics, with many using the 1987 design.

Thoughts? I don't see any neat inserts like last year's Division set. And as always, Panini pumps out the parallels. The set looks nice but there are no surprises, nor anything that stands out as a must-have. I'm going to go for the base set and a second DK set for my collections, and the type cards, and call it done; none of the insert sets make my want list this year.

Okay, let's get to the variations. There are a few types. The most obvious are player name or team name variations. Most of these switch out a nickname. There are some photo variations and a couple back variations to keep you on your toes. Here is the full list with what to look for (if you have any corrections, let me know).

Note: for variations other than names, I'll describe both versions of the card. As far as I can tell, variations aren't actually short printed. Also, some cards have multiple differences; I tried to use the easiest one to identify. If you have any corrections or other updates regarding this, let me know.

Regular Base Set

• 67 "Yaz" nickname
• 71 "Slam Diego" team name
• 79 "Mini Apple" team name
• 82 "Kestdaddy" nickname
• 90 "Big Foot" nickname
• 101 "Buetane" nickname
• 105 photo variation: hands apart/hands together
• 107 "Tony Two Bags" nickname
• 130 photo variation: batting/throwing
• 139 photo variation: batting/fielding
• 143 "La Pantera" nickname
• 146 photo variation: batting/fielding
• 150 "Big Apple" team name
• 154 back variation: between team name and game stats, spacing is either approximately "I" width or "A" width. This is a very difficult variation to identify! See image below.
• 155 "Bamm-Bamm" nickname
• 161 "Windy City" team name
• 165 "The 6" team name
• 170 photo variation: batting/wearing a mask
• 172 "The Low" team name
• 173 photo variation: batting/running
• 174 "H-Town" team name
• 182 photo variation: batting/throwing
• 183 "Forest City" team name
• 189 "Pico de Gallo" name
• 200 back text: "ways" is either on first or second line
• 202 "Gigante" nickname
• 206 photo variation: black jersey/white jersey
• 212 "Chef G" nickname

1987 Throwback Subset

• 216 "Thomenator" nickname
• 223 "Big Puma" nickname
• 228 back text: "time" is either on first or second line
• 235 photo variation: light jersey/dark jersey
• 236 "354 Career Wins" replaces name
• 239 photo variation: white jersey/blue jersey
• 240 "Big Sexy" nickname
• 247 "1406 Career Steals" replaces name
• 253 "14x All Star" replaces name
• 257 photo variation: closeup (no black between legs) or full body (black visible between legs)

I hope this helps some of you trying to figure out the variations for your sets!

The above image can be enlarged.