The sports card market is crackling with anticipation as we stride into the first two weeks of May 2024. Fans and collectors will find a diverse range of options to enhance their collections, with both regular and unique card formats from some of the most keenly awaited series.
We kick off at the very start of the month with the 2024 Topps Heritage Mini Baseball; an intriguing curation, echoing the rare 1975 mini set. This online-exclusive series is making a grand comeback with a 500-card base set. Moreover, the Hobby version features 24 sets per box, with each set comprising a generous nine cards, and notably includes the first on-card autograph of Juan Soto flaunting a Yankees uniform.
On the same day, returning to keep the hockey fans engrossed is the 2022-23 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Hockey. The series is equipped with a single pack of four cards per box but doesn’t miss out on the quality. The pack includes one sparkling autograph, one high-end memorabilia or autograph memorabilia card, another delectable memorabilia card, and a base or rookie. Captivatingly, the autographs are guaranteed to be on-card.
Then we have the 2023-24 Panini Recon Basketball, which rings in more rookie cards of the prolific Victor Wembanyama. The Hobby box of this series is comprised of ten packs, with six cards each, promising two autographs and 20 inserts.
As the second week of May begins, the beloved 2024 Bowman Baseball is making another run. A flagship since its 1989 revival, the 2024 edition presents Hobby boxes with a single Chrome autographed card and Jumbo boxes featuring three autographs.
Running parallel is the 2023-24 Panini Crown Royale Basketball series, hitting the market just in time for the NBA playoffs. Each box includes one autograph, one memorabilia card, and two inserts or parallels. Tim Duncan autographs are the star of this series.
That’s not all; serving the taste buds of the golf and racing buffs are the 2024 Upper Deck SP Game Used Golf and the 2023 Panini National Treasures Racing. These high-end collections, set for release during the same week, assure a wealth of memorabilia to aficionados.
Entering the second week, the 2023-24 Panini Select Basketball promises Prizm parallels and memorabilia-laden rookie cards. It offers twelve packs of five cards each, featuring three autographs or memorabilia cards.
Following in its footsteps, the 2023/24 Donruss Soccer series promises an abundance of excitement. Details on the configuration of these sports card boxes and their unique features are yet to be disclosed. Yet, we expect nothing less than high-caliber cards.
These upcoming releases, with their diverse offerings and special features, are all set to enrapture collectors. Whether you lean towards traditional sports like baseball and basketball or fancy something a bit off-beat like golf and racing, early May presents a wide panorama for ardent card collectors.
In short, the first half of May 2024 is a smorgasbord of thrilling sports card releases, running the gamut from baseball to basketball, golf to racing, and then some. The spotlight undoubtedly falls on Juan Soto’s first Yankees autograph on the Topps Heritage Mini set and the coveted Tim Duncan’s autographs in the Panini Crown Royale. So, prepare your shopping baskets and let the fun of collection commence!