In the first fortnight of May 2024, the sports card market is crackling with an array of baseball, basketball, golf, and racing card releases. Let me seize this opportunity to give you a vivid picture of your sports card collecting journey through this scintillating period.
May 1, 2024 kicks off with the 2024 Topps Heritage Mini Baseball making a grand return, reviving the vibe of the scarce 1975 mini set. This online-exclusive series rumbles with a whopping 500-card base set. For our avid hobby collectors, each Hobby box is stacked with 24 packs, each carrying nine cards including an autograph or relic plus an exclusive box loader. It’s worth a mention that Juan Soto’s first on-card autograph in a Yankees uniform is a centerpiece of this set.
Hockey enthusiasts, this is your moment! May embraces the comeback of 2022-23 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Hockey, a titan in the hockey card collecting world. A single pack, humming with four cards, is nestled in each box, offering an autograph, a high-end memorabilia or autograph memorabilia card, an additional memorabilia card, and a base or rookie card. A delightful treat is that on-card autographs are an assured catch. Each box stands ready for grabs online for roughly $160.
On the hoops side, we have 2023-24 Panini Recon Basketball serving up a fresh plate of Victor Wembanyama rookie cards. Akin to your favorite ten-course meal, the Hobby box encompasses ten packs, each loaded with six cards. Two autographs and 20 inserts add to the enticing flavor.
May 8, 2024 brings the 2024 Bowman Baseball into the arena. Since its rebirth in 1989, Bowman continues to dazzle across diverse sports, building a fortress of fans. The latest launch offers the revered Hobby boxes with a Chrome autographed card and Jumbo boxes brimming with three autographs. A sprinkle of green parallels exclusive to retail boxes adds to the visual feast.
Parallel to NBA playoffs, the release of 2023-24 Panini Crown Royale Basketball unfolds. Stuffed with eight artic cards, in each box lurks an autograph, a memorabilia card, and a pair of inserts or parallels. Casually standing out are Tim Duncan’s autographs, slip-cased in boxes with price tags swinging around the $500 mark.
For aficionados who lean towards the greens or racing circuits, the 2024 Upper Deck SP Game Used Golf and 2023 Panini National Treasures Racing collections are worth a glance. These releases are tailored to gratify with premium collectibles.
2023-24 Panini Select Basketball makes an entrance on May 10, 2024. A cornerstone in Panini’s basketball domain, Select boxes pack twelve units, each holding five cards inclusive of three autographs or memorabilia cards. The Prizm parallels and memorabilia-stuffed rookie cards make this release a hot ticket.
A new chapter of the Donruss Soccer series is also keenly anticipated, with box configurations details and leading features soon to be unveiled.
This May, sports card collectors are in for a treat with this diverse palette of releases boasting distinct features. Baseball and basketball traditionalists, golf and racing mavericks, there’s plenty in the early May card release diary to elevate your collections. McMahon
