First Buzz: 2026 Topps Series 1 baseball cards

[Adrenalized87]

Topps/Fanatics continue to take away, but will probably expect us to pay the same. Appears that they've reduced the number of hits in a jumbo to 2 - 1 auto and 1 relic now...

[ewokpelts]

Originally Posted by bub838

I like the box design

I don’t like the modern player photos. The tipping the cap while holding a bat is an odd look.

[MSU Bulldogs]

Originally Posted by Adrenalized87

Topps/Fanatics continue to take away, but will probably expect us to pay the same. Appears that they've reduced the number of hits in a jumbo to 2 - 1 auto and 1 relic now...

If they are getting rid of the stupid manufactured relic, I am fine with that.

[scotchtape0]

Originally Posted by MSU Bulldogs

If they are getting rid of the stupid manufactured relic, I am fine with that.

They didn’t have manufactured relics in 2025

[DylanPowers92]

Originally Posted by StlBen

Yes he was just showing the date for comparison.

Makes sense, carry on

[tyrith]

Even reducing the number of random junk base relics in the wild is fine. An unnumbered napkin patch or bat relic doesn't do anything for anyone unless it's Ohtani or Judge.

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by tyrith

Even reducing the number of random junk base relics in the wild is fine. An unnumbered napkin patch or bat relic doesn't do anything for anyone unless it's Ohtani or Judge.

Just get rid of relics, period.

They were new and cool 25 years ago....now they're just tired and old, and nobody trusts them or wants them.

[DioBrando]

Originally Posted by mfw13

Just get rid of relics, period.

They were new and cool 25 years ago....now they're just tired and old, and nobody trusts them or wants them.

This would be a huge improvement. I have always hated the "relics", the few that I pulled back in the day always got traded/sold.

[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by Adrenalized87

Topps/Fanatics continue to take away, but will probably expect us to pay the same. Appears that they've reduced the number of hits in a jumbo to 2 - 1 auto and 1 relic now...

pay the same? Ha! People will pay more, and like it!

[Americards]

Originally Posted by DioBrando

This would be a huge improvement. I have always hated the "relics", the few that I pulled back in the day always got traded/sold.

Might as well buy retail display boxes for $70

[DioBrando]

Originally Posted by Americards

Might as well buy retail display boxes for $70

LOL, retail is trash and always has been. I also haven't opened a pack or box since 2018. Singles only

[Jboff73]

Originally Posted by DioBrando

LOL, retail is trash and always has been. I also haven't opened a pack or box since 2018. Singles only

To each his own, but I just pulled an Ohtani relic out of Ginter fat pack this week and someone here was just saying the Ohtani and Judge are the only relics worth having.

While I don't want to go back to the junk wax era where there's no chance of getting anything other than base cards in $1 packs, plentifully available cards at lower prices with a very small chance of getting something like that Ohtani is a part of the market, too, for people who cannot spend half of their paycheck on collecting.

[JAM061200]

Originally Posted by MSU Bulldogs

If they are getting rid of the stupid manufactured relic, I am fine with that.

This kind of thinking will allow Topps to continue to take away what they call "HITS" and have collectors still pay the same prices. And we're OK with this? How about get rid of the relic and throw in another auto. Or how about change this to 1 auto and 3 numbered cards instead of 1 auto and 2 relics. Take something but give something in return.

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by JAM061200

This kind of thinking will allow Topps to continue to take away what they call "HITS" and have collectors still pay the same prices. And we're OK with this? How about get rid of the relic and throw in another auto. Or how about change this to 1 auto and 3 numbered cards instead of 1 auto and 2 relics. Take something but give something in return.

The problem is virtually all hits are pretty worthless, not just relics.

Most autos are $5 relief pitchers or non-prospects who were in the majors for a week. Most numbered cards are numbered so high than nobody wants them.

Blacks and golds are the only color parallels most people actually collect.....red are popular ONLY because they're the color #/'d to 5.....if they were numbered to /99 instead nobody would care about them.

[Jboff73]

Originally Posted by mfw13

The problem is virtually all hits are pretty worthless, not just relics.

Most autos are $5 relief pitchers or non-prospects who were in the majors for a week. Most numbered cards are numbered so high than nobody wants them.

Blacks and golds are the only color parallels most people actually collect.....red are popular ONLY because they're the color #/'d to 5.....if they were numbered to /99 instead nobody would care about them.

But yet, if you told me that EVERY box of cards would have at least one auto, I'd consider that an improved over relics counting as the hit. Personally, I'd take an auto of a relief pitcher or a non-prospect over most relics. Topps should be getting autos of more players. There's a whole swath of regular MLB players that don't have autos and I think they'd be better than relics.

[Jaypers]

edit - wrong thread

[tyrith]

Originally Posted by Jboff73

But yet, if you told me that EVERY box of cards would have at least one auto, I'd consider that an improved over relics counting as the hit. Personally, I'd take an auto of a relief pitcher or a non-prospect over most relics. Topps should be getting autos of more players. There's a whole swath of regular MLB players that don't have autos and I think they'd be better than relics.

Autos are harder for them from a production perspective, and frankly, they have most of the guys that are going to be worth anything. An RP RC or a vet auto of a 2-3 WAR player aren't substantively different in terms of the value.

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by Jboff73

But yet, if you told me that EVERY box of cards would have at least one auto, I'd consider that an improved over relics counting as the hit. Personally, I'd take an auto of a relief pitcher or a non-prospect over most relics. Topps should be getting autos of more players. There's a whole swath of regular MLB players that don't have autos and I think they'd be better than relics.

It all depends on the product, the checklist, and the inserts.

As an example, for Heritage, most collectors would take more SP's over most of the junk that Fanatics includes as hits nowadays, because most people who buy Heritage are set-builders.

A product like Cosmic Chrome has some really cool inserts......I'd take most of of those over an auto.

It all depends on the product and who is on the auto checklist....

[JAM061200]

Originally Posted by mfw13

It all depends on the product, the checklist, and the inserts.

As an example, for Heritage, most collectors would take more SP's over most of the junk that Fanatics includes as hits nowadays, because most people who buy Heritage are set-builders.

A product like Cosmic Chrome has some really cool inserts......I'd take most of of those over an auto.

It all depends on the product and who is on the auto checklist....

Basically my point is if Topps wants to take away their classified “HIT” from the box, then fine. How about drop the price by $50. Otherwise aren’t Jumbos now just glorified Hobby Boxes which are $90? The difference is you get both the auto and relic instead of getting an auto OR a relic. Does that justify Jumbo being $100 more than Hobby? I think not. Jumbo Boxes should now be $150 at best. But we all know Topps will hold at the $190-$200 per Jumbo price.

[premium1981]

Originally Posted by JAM061200

Basically my point is if Topps wants to take away their classified “HIT” from the box, then fine. How about drop the price by $50.

You want the price dropped by $50 because a plain white $3 relic is not included anymore? I don't understand that logic. Other than a 6 year old kid, I don't know of many people who are excited when they pull that. Even as a Braves collector, pulling an Ozzie Albies jersey card doesn't move the needle and it doesn't get to fill up any space in our PC. As Jboff73 stated, I would rather have an autograph of someone who doesn't have any. Give me a Jesse Chavez autograph in a Braves uniform. We would keep that.

[JAM061200]

Originally Posted by premium1981

You want the price dropped by $50 because a plain white $3 relic is not included anymore? I don't understand that logic. Other than a 6 year old kid, I don't know of many people who are excited when they pull that. Even as a Braves collector, pulling an Ozzie Albies jersey card doesn't move the needle and it doesn't get to fill up any space in our PC. As Jboff73 stated, I would rather have an autograph of someone who doesn't have any. Give me a Jesse Chavez autograph in a Braves uniform. We would keep that.

So you're OK with Topps removing the so called "HIT" and still paying the same price? Don't you think they should drop the price if they are taking away cards? I don't care if its a $1 card or a $100 card. The relic in Topps' eyes is a "HIT". I understand most of us don't care about them but there are still plenty that do. Just because YOU don't like the relic, doesn't mean someone else doesn't as well. Now me personally, I agree with you. If you're taking the relic away and adding a second auto in its place, GREAT!! All for it! But that doesn't seem to be the case here. It looks like this will be a "HIT" removal and they'll charge collectors the same move.

[premium1981]

Originally Posted by JAM061200

So you're OK with Topps removing the so called "HIT" and still paying the same price? Don't you think they should drop the price if they are taking away cards? I don't care if its a $1 card or a $100 card. The relic in Topps' eyes is a "HIT". I understand most of us don't care about them but there are still plenty that do. Just because YOU don't like the relic, doesn't mean someone else doesn't as well. Now me personally, I agree with you. If you're taking the relic away and adding a second auto in its place, GREAT!! All for it! But that doesn't seem to be the case here. It looks like this will be a "HIT" removal and they'll charge collectors the same move.

Yes, I'm fine with it going away and the price being the same. It doesn't change the value in my opinion up or down. With the napkin relic or without the napkin relic, the product doesn't change. Also, keep in mind, that almost every product that Topps releases as seen an increase in value on the secondary market. So that means they are already selling "too low" according to the actual market. To expect them to lower the price by $50 because they removed a $3 relic when they are already under market maketh no sense.

EDIT - Without making another post, ask yourself this. If they added another $3 relic would you be ok paying $50 more per box? That's a good logic barometer in my mind. I reverse my opinion and see if it makes sense the opposite direction too.

[JAM061200]

Originally Posted by premium1981

Yes, I'm fine with it going away and the price being the same. It doesn't change the value in my opinion up or down. With the napkin relic or without the napkin relic, the product doesn't change. Also, keep in mind, that almost every product that Topps releases as seen an increase in value on the secondary market. So that means they are already selling "too low" according to the actual market. To expect them to lower the price by $50 because they removed a $3 relic when they are already under market maketh no sense.

EDIT - Without making another post, ask yourself this. If they added another $3 relic would you be ok paying $50 more per box? That's a good logic barometer in my mind. I reverse my opinion and see if it makes sense the opposite direction too.

I like looking at it that way too. And NO I would NOT want to pay more for an added relic. I'd understand the price increase though. It's cause they added something. Maybe not $50 but $10-$15, sure. But I don't think Topps should get away with taking away "HITS" and not reducing the price. We're telling them "Give us less cards and we're happy to pay the same or more." How about this, if the paper towels you normally buy are a 6 pk for $8, but one day those same paper towels are a 4pk for the same $8, would you be happy? Probably not. Same situation here. It isn't right. And the secondary market being higher priced is absurd. I understand shops got to make a little $$, but it's greed and collector FOMO that drive that price. Mostly greed from the LCS'. There's no way a $90 hobby box should be $150 and a $195 Jumbo be $350. Price gouging to the MAX!

[premium1981]

Originally Posted by JAM061200

How about this, if the paper towels you normally buy are a 6 pk for $8, but one day those same paper towels are a 4pk for the same $8, would you be happy? Probably not. Same situation here.

Its really not. One has utility, the other doesn't. One is reducing the value by maybe 1%-2% while the other is cutting 33%. Use more accurate comparisons. Its more like taking 1-2 sheets off of a roll of paper towels. Doesn't really matter.

[Jboff73]

Originally Posted by JAM061200

How about this, if the paper towels you normally buy are a 6 pk for $8, but one day those same paper towels are a 4pk for the same $8, would you be happy? Probably not. Same situation here.

I agree that this is a classic case of "shrinkflation," well except they are ALSO increasing the price. Usually when companies reduce the size of the product, they are doing so to keep the pricepoint the same. Here, we don't really know the reason.

Perhaps, costs are going up, not limited to printing costs, distribution costs and maybe even the costs of producing relic cards and acquiring autos. I am sure that the auto acquisitions cost is big driver or this.

But what if FEELS like is that Fanatics is simply increasing prices and lowering hits to increase profitability. It was pretty clear that Fanatics bought Topps because they thought Topps was underperforming. They (probably accurately) analyzed that there was a lot more money to be made and so they are primarily pumping up the value of the company without really caring about the average consumers of their product because they've calculated they just need to keep the breakers happy in the short term. This is a summary of what I think most of these complaints in these threads about the present and future of the hobby see as the problem.