Sports card shops, online retailers and case breakers will have some fresh products to offer over the holidays with at least five new issues set to arrive between now and December 29.
Courtesy of Maine Sports Cards, here’s a look at what’s ahead:
2017 Bowman’s Best Baseball (12/20)
Promising four autographs in each two pack box, Bowman’s Best is sort of a throwback to the 1990s with its Atomic Refractors (more this year, Topps says). While there are rookies and veterans on the checklist, there’s a strong emphasis or draft picks and top minor leaguers here.
Topps partnered with Baseball America to rank next season’s top prospects and you’ll find BA-branded content inside the boxes, which are being offered online for a little over $100.
Maine Sports Cards will be offering breaks beginning on release day.
2017 Panini Flawless Baseball (12/20)
Collectors who insist on MLB-licensed products with logos may scoff, but it’s not hard to see Flawless selling fairly well in the weeks to come. The high-end issue has ten cards per pack, including six autographs, plus memorabilia and jewel cards. Aaron Judge and other top rookies have signed for Flawless, with each card numbered to just 25 or less.
The product includes the first Mickey Mantle Flawless cards with four base, three memorabilia and 20 cut signatures hiding somewhere in the product. There are other iconic cut signatures to chase including Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, etc.
As usual with Flawless, boxes aren’t cheap–currently at about $1,500.
2017 Donruss Optic Football (12/20)
A glossy version of what is now considered the NFL’s flagship football card set, Optic returns for a second season. It’s more about the card quality, rookies, Rated Rookies and parallels which make up about half the box but there is one auto too. Rated Rookie autographs are numbered to 150 or less and signed on-card.
Optic runs about $90 per box online. Look for box breaks at Maine Sports Cards starting Wednesday night.
2017 Panini Contenders Football (12/29)
Traditionally among the most sought after rookie cards, Contenders ‘Tickets’ are the big draw here. Each hobby box will have 24 five-card packs with five or six autographed cards in each (at least one or two on card), along with one parallel and 18 inserts.
Pricing on Contenders is currently running about $140 online.
2017-18 Panini Absolute Basketball
If you’re not into base cards, Absolute is for you. Boxes contain only six cards, two of which are autographed. Two others are relic cards and two “Uncirculated” cards round out the box. The latter are encapsulated. Tools of the Trade is the hallmark of this issue with pieces of jerseys, basketballs and hats (?) included on the relic menu. Look for quite a bit of rookie content on the checklist including first and second round draftees.
Absolute is online at around $125 per box.
Maine Sports Cards offers daily breaks of current and past products you can watch online. You can learn more about how to get involved in their box and case breaks and even sell your cards through their website by clicking here.
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