Pop Culture Trading Cards

2011 Topps American Pie Checklist and Trading Cards Details

January 31, 2023

2011-Topps-American-Pie-196-Taylor-Swift-Kanye-West-Feature

The 2011 Topps American Pie checklist uses trading cards to chronicle more than 50 years of news and pop culture moments. At the time of its release, it wasn’t dismissed, however it wasn’t a runaway hobby hit, either. In the years since, though, several cards on the 2011 Topps American Pie checklist have emerged, filling a void where not a lot of other cards exist.

2011 Topps American Pie Checklist Details

The 2011 Topps American Pie checklist starts with a 200-card base set. It begins at the end of World War II and charts historical moments in news, entertainment, technology and culture. From the Doomsday Clock to the introduction of McDonald’s Happy Meals to the death of Steve Jobs, there are few sets that cover this kind of ground.

2011 Topps American Pie might not cover all the biggest moments, but it does a good job of mapping out our celebrity-driven culture. Examples of this can be seen with the spike some singles have seen. The biggest of these shows the moment when Kanye West stormed the stage at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards while Taylor Swift was accepting an award. It turns out the card is the first for both musicians.

Steve Jobs has multiple cards on the 2011 Topps American Pie checklist, highlighting both Apple achievements and his passing not long before the set came out. His cards are also far from “commons.”

Other standouts in the 2011 Topps American Pie base set include Seinfeld, Kurt Cobain and Bill Gates.

All base cards have two parallels. Foil cards combine to land 1:4 packs while Spotlight versions, which have a dotted background, are numbered to 76 copies each.

2011 Topps American Pie Autographs and Memorabilia Cards

Every 2011 Topps American Pie hobby box has three total autographs, memorabilia cards or manufactured relics.

Autographs have more than 30 signers on the checklist. Jamie Foxx, Mickey Rooney and Bob Costas are among the headliners. Appropriately enough, “American Pie” singer Don McLean is also in the set. The Autograph Relics checklist is nearly identical. These have a swatch of clothing worn by the featured person.

Cut Signatures come in a few different forms including cards with relics and some with as many as four signers. No matter the type, these are all one-of-a-kind.

Also available on the 2011 Topps American Pie checklist are Buyback Autographs featuring Adam West, Lou Ferrigno, Joey Fatone and Jimmie Walker. Signatures on these are on original Topps cards from the past. Each has a foil stamp and numbering to add a layer of authenticity.

2011 marked Topps’ 60th anniversary in baseball cards. One of the many ways they commemorated the occasion was with a special set of 60th Anniversary Autographs that were spread throughout several products. Here, there’s one of Charlie Sheen. It has just 60 copies.

American Pie Relics share a checklist with the similarly designed autographs.

For something a little different, American Pie Pieces have dirt and relics from historical places like the Lewis and Clark Trail, Statue of Liberty and Gettysburg.

Coin Collection cards have a coin embedded in them. They come from the same year the featured celebrity was born. Cards have five different versions: Penny, Nickel, Dime, Quarter and Half-Dollar. No matter the level, individual cards are numbered to 25.

Stamp Collection cards take a similar approach, only with stamps instead of coins. These have 76 copies each.

Other 2011 Topps America Pie Inserts

Hollywood Sign Letter Patches rank among the premium hits on the 2011 Topps American Pie checklist. Each of these has an embroidered patch featuring one of the letters from “Hollywood.” Although individual cards are numbered to 25, each celebrity has six different cards. A total of 25 stars are on the checklist. The idea with these is that one could build “HOLLYWOOD” using letters from one person or combine several and make the sign.

There are also Fold-Out Booklets that come already assembled as one massive card. These are are one-of-ones.

With 50 cards, Hollywood Walk of Fame is the largest standard insert set in 2011 Topps American Pie. Landing 1:3 packs, the list of names is filled with entertainment legends. Cards also have Star Patches versions that are each numbered to 50. These replace the star icon with an embroidered patch.

2011 Topps American Pie Hollywood Walk of Fame John Belushi

Fads and Fashions (1:4 packs) looks at various trends that ruled over the decades. Pet rocks, lava lamps, pogs, Beanie Babies and even Tickle Me Elmo are on the 30-card checklist.

Taking a similar route but sticking to hairstyles is Hirsuite History (1:6 packs). In case you’ve ever wanted a trading card commemorating the mullet or the soul patch, you’re in luck. 2011 Topps American Pie has them.

2011 Topps American Pie Hirsute History The Mullet

2011 Topps American Pie Buybacks

Every box of 2011 Topps American Pie includes one buyback. These are all original Topps trading cards from throughout their history. A special foil stamp has been added to show they’re from the product. In the process, they’ve been made new again. A detailed checklist of specific sets, cards and print runs was never released.