With the calendar flipped to the sunny side of May 2024, sports card collectors are teetering on the brink of excitement. An array of releases across different sports, including baseball, basketball, golf, and racing, are lined up for the first two weeks, ensuring a flurry of activity in the sports card market.
Kicking off the month on May 1st is the 2024 Topps Heritage Mini Baseball release. A throwback to the elusive 1975 mini set, this web-only series returns with an impressive 500-card base set. The Hobby version grants collectors the joy of sifting through 24 packs per box, with each pack boasting nine cards. In addition, expect an autograph or relic and a box loader. The cherry on the top? Juan Soto’s highly coveted first on-card autograph in a Yankees uniform.
Not to be outdone, the 2022-23 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Hockey card set also debuts the same day. A cornerstone of hockey card collecting, each box teems with a single pack flaunting four cards, promising an autograph, a premium memorabilia, or an autographed memorabilia card, another memorabilia card, and a base or rookie card. Pledging on-card autographs and an affordable price of approximately $160 per box, these packs are sure to temp hardcore Hockey fans.
Basketball aficionados, rest assured, you’re not being sidelined. The 2023-24 Panini Recon Basketball release showcases more rookie cards for Victor Wembanyama. Each Hobby box comes chock-full with ten packs, six cards each. And there’s more! Be prepared for two autographs and 20 inserts rattling inside these boxes.
As the first week of May 2024 approaches its end, the long-standing Bowman Baseball offers its 2024 edition. A grand brand since its reincarnation in 1989, the fresh edition presents Hobby boxes with an exclusive Chrome autographed card and the Jumbo boxes with not one, not two, but three autographs. For a little extra pizzazz, the retail boxes feature exclusive green parallels.
Reflecting the fever-pitch of the NBA playoffs, 2023-24 Panini Crown Royale Basketball release makes its entry in the market, featuring eight cards per box. Covered in this release are a signature, a memorabilia card, and a couple of inserts or parallels. But the star of the show is undoubtedly the Tim Duncan autographs, commanding a price of roughly $500 a box.
But that’s hardly all. For the niche fans of golf and racing, 2024 Upper Deck SP Game Used Golf and 2023 Panini National Treasures Racing are released. High-end collectibles are on the menu for these sport enthusiasts.
Cruising towards midway into the month on May 10th, 2023-24 Panini Select Basketball release flaunts its place in Panini’s basketball line. One can anticipate twelve packs per box, each cradling five cards which include three autograph or memorabilia cards. This release gets hands clapping for its Prizm parallels and pristine rookie cards worth holding onto.
Not to be left out of the action, the Donruss Soccer series prepares for another blast, with details yet to trickle out about box configurations and captivating features.
The sports card scene this early May 2024, therefore, promises a thrilling journey for collectors. Regardless if you’re a purist who loves traditional baseball and basketball cards or if you’re keen on mixing up your collection with golf and racing collectibles, the roster of releases planned promises a shower of richness. So, buckle up, folks. This month is bound to be a wild ride!
