2025 Topps Black and White Scandal

bustsomewax · 01-09-2026, 01:26 PM

Came across this on Reddit. This is what I've been summarizing since release but someone actually took the time to put together the evidence. Holy crap.

Enjoy.

https://www.reddit.com/r/baseballcar..._hour_scandal/

hammertime · 01-09-2026, 01:33 PM

Expect more and more of this in the future. Thanks Fanatics.

Mister2Bits · 01-09-2026, 01:37 PM

Cliffs notes per the reddit post: It appears as though Topps did not pack out the Golden Hour parallels in "pre-order" boxes of Topps Black & White, realized the mix up and then packed out all Golden Hour parallels into the remaining "Release Day" boxes at a nearly 1 per box ratio.

4,818 pre-oder boxes have zero chance of a Golder Hour hit
2,217 release day boxes have a 1 per box hit rate.

oldgoldy97 · 01-09-2026, 01:38 PM

Which release will wood minis be in?

Imnottheonly · 01-09-2026, 01:42 PM

It’s interesting but ultimately meaningless. The evidence is very clear and the math is solid though the referenced evidence is not all included I’m inclined to believe the conclusions.

At the end of the day though there is 0 oversight, 0 accountability, and every single online exclusive release will sell out instantly. I do appreciate the OPs effort but expecting Fanatics to actually do something about it? Nah…

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Mister2Bits · 01-09-2026, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldgoldy97

Which release will wood minis be in?

2025 Topps OOPS We Did it Again - Breakers Delight boxes exclusively on Fanatics Live. $1k per random player. They're already sold out.

oldgoldy97 · 01-09-2026, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mister2Bits

2025 Topps OOPS We Did it Again - Breakers Delight boxes exclusively on Fanatics Live. $1k per random player. They're already sold out.

Shoot. I missed the EQL.

eastbayak · 01-09-2026, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldgoldy97

Shoot. I missed the EQL.

You never had a chance anyway! EQL success rate => 0.0005%

Bob Ross · 01-09-2026, 02:01 PM

bub838 · 01-09-2026, 02:13 PM

See last years Cosmic Baseball- There were loaded cases, all with the same (later) production code.

Bob Ross · 01-09-2026, 02:15 PM

What could go wrong with this face in charge.

crdbored · 01-09-2026, 02:26 PM

Clearly, those release day boxes were meant for Fanatics Live.

Bob Ross · 01-09-2026, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crdbored

Clearly, those release day boxes were meant for Fanatics Live.

First thing I thought of.

majestik101 · 01-09-2026, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hammertime

Expect more and more of this in the future. Thanks Fanatics.

Exactly.

Can’t wait to see what surprises are in store for all the suckers who pre-ordered Ginter X, thinking the release would be front-loaded like in previous years...

fabiani12333 · 01-09-2026, 02:50 PM

Pre-order buyers got screwed -- those Golden Hour cards are sweet looking.

Also, did Topps seriously rip-off Panini's Photogenic logo for their 2025 B&W design?:

StlBen · 01-09-2026, 03:09 PM

I don't remember anyone clamoring for this specific parallel till now...
To call it the biggest part of the releases seems to be quiet the stretch.

bustsomewax · 01-09-2026, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StlBen

I don't remember anyone clamoring for this specific parallel till now...
To call it the biggest part of the releases seems to be quiet the stretch.

Look at the prices on them and the Gold Inks…

dunquixote1 · 01-09-2026, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StlBen

I don't remember anyone clamoring for this specific parallel till now...
To call it the biggest part of the releases seems to be quiet the stretch.

It’s 1,000% the biggest draw to the set. The Golden Hour cards are one of the best inserts in any current product.

DioBrando · 01-09-2026, 03:22 PM

Eh, you love to see it. Topps is gonna do Topps stuff.

NYRE2PECT · 01-09-2026, 03:25 PM

Why anybody would Topps/Fanatics there money right now is the craziest part of all of this.

Far too many issues (cough*cough) coincidences for any sane person to overlook.

yoyosh · 01-09-2026, 03:41 PM

Oh good, another thread of that just turns into complaining (before we get back in line to pay up for the next product).
Anyone plan to vote with their wallets and stop buying Fanatics products?
Didn't think so

hotcalsun · 01-09-2026, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yoyosh

Oh good, another thread of that just turns into complaining (before we get back in line to pay up for the next product).
Anyone plan to vote with their wallets and stop buying Fanatics products?
Didn't think so

Nope, not when we have Bowman Draft and Gilded next week!

Bob Ross · 01-09-2026, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hotcalsun

Nope, not when we have Bowman Draft and Gilded next week!

I'm looking forward to complaining in those ones!

theredmenace · 01-09-2026, 05:18 PM

Similar printing issue occurred with 2023 Cosmic Chrome planetary pursuit.

Uranus cards were printed at the Venus odds. Venus cards only started appearing on Ebay 6 months after the product was released and the print run matches the Uranus odds. To my knowledge Topps/Fanatics never admitted to the printing error.

Lonewolf · 01-09-2026, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hammertime

Expect more and more of this in the future. Thanks Fanatics.

Yup. Perhaps even worse.

But whatever, Topps would never funnel boxes filled with hits to select clients and breakers.../s

01-09-2026, 01:26 PM	#1
bustsomewax Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: USA Posts: 6,939	2025 Topps Black and White Scandal Came across this on Reddit. This is what I've been summarizing since release but someone actually took the time to put together the evidence. Holy crap. Enjoy. https://www.reddit.com/r/baseballcar..._hour_scandal/

01-09-2026, 01:33 PM	#2
hammertime Member Join Date: May 2020 Location: OH->MI->MD->VA Posts: 6,940	Expect more and more of this in the future. Thanks Fanatics. __________________ Collecting foci: E98 master set, HOF rookie autos, Reds HOF autos, All-time top southpaws (Plank, Waddell, Grove, Hubbell, Spahn, Ford, Koufax, Carlton, Johnson, Kershaw), Ohtani

01-09-2026, 01:37 PM	#3
Mister2Bits Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Florida Man Posts: 5,368 mistertwobits mistertwobits	Cliffs notes per the reddit post: It appears as though Topps did not pack out the Golden Hour parallels in "pre-order" boxes of Topps Black & White, realized the mix up and then packed out all Golden Hour parallels into the remaining "Release Day" boxes at a nearly 1 per box ratio. 4,818 pre-oder boxes have zero chance of a Golder Hour hit 2,217 release day boxes have a 1 per box hit rate. __________________ Collecting: Ohtani, Judge \| Skateboarding Cards, Autographs & Decks

01-09-2026, 01:38 PM	#4
oldgoldy97 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 52,261	Which release will wood minis be in? __________________ Truly riveting discussion: that’s what your wife/girlfriend/sheep said.

01-09-2026, 03:22 PM	#19
DioBrando Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 2,626	Eh, you love to see it. Topps is gonna do Topps stuff. __________________ 1312 no gods, no masters On leg day we do chest

01-09-2026, 01:42 PM	#5
Imnottheonly Member Join Date: Sep 2019 Posts: 270	It’s interesting but ultimately meaningless. The evidence is very clear and the math is solid though the referenced evidence is not all included I’m inclined to believe the conclusions. At the end of the day though there is 0 oversight, 0 accountability, and every single online exclusive release will sell out instantly. I do appreciate the OPs effort but expecting Fanatics to actually do something about it? Nah… Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

01-09-2026, 02:01 PM	#9
Bob Ross Member Join Date: Oct 2019 Posts: 5,788

01-09-2026, 02:13 PM	#10
bub838 Member Join Date: Mar 2022 Posts: 5,205	See last years Cosmic Baseball- There were loaded cases, all with the same (later) production code.

01-09-2026, 02:15 PM	#11
Bob Ross Member Join Date: Oct 2019 Posts: 5,788	What could go wrong with this face in charge.

01-09-2026, 02:26 PM	#12
crdbored Member Join Date: Dec 2023 Posts: 525	Clearly, those release day boxes were meant for Fanatics Live.

01-09-2026, 02:50 PM	#15
fabiani12333 Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 12,641	Pre-order buyers got screwed -- those Golden Hour cards are sweet looking. Also, did Topps seriously rip-off Panini's Photogenic logo for their 2025 B&W design?:

01-09-2026, 03:09 PM	#16
StlBen Member Join Date: May 2020 Location: St Louis Posts: 1,128 Stl_tophits	I don't remember anyone clamoring for this specific parallel till now... To call it the biggest part of the releases seems to be quiet the stretch.

01-09-2026, 03:25 PM	#20
NYRE2PECT Member Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: San Antonio Posts: 8,218	Why anybody would Topps/Fanatics there money right now is the craziest part of all of this. Far too many issues (cough*cough) coincidences for any sane person to overlook. __________________ Primarily retired from collecting, but doing a Greatest Sho-man binder thing. I do love California Angels baseball.

01-09-2026, 03:41 PM	#21
yoyosh Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: USA Posts: 4,488 partyauctions yoyosh	Oh good, another thread of that just turns into complaining (before we get back in line to pay up for the next product). Anyone plan to vote with their wallets and stop buying Fanatics products? Didn't think so

01-09-2026, 05:18 PM	#24
theredmenace Member Join Date: Jul 2023 Posts: 864	Similar printing issue occurred with 2023 Cosmic Chrome planetary pursuit. Uranus cards were printed at the Venus odds. Venus cards only started appearing on Ebay 6 months after the product was released and the print run matches the Uranus odds. To my knowledge Topps/Fanatics never admitted to the printing error. __________________ Sent from my LG Smart Refrigerator