As we stride into the first two weeks of May 2024, a thrill goes through the sports card community with a flurry of new releases touching down in the baseball, basketball, golf, and racing arenas. So, whether you dig vintage vibes or freshly minted collectibles, here’s a comprehensive sneak-peek into the exciting epoch ahead, showcasing both tried-and-true and novel card styles from some of the most anticipated series.
Kicking off on May 1st are the 2024 Topps Heritage Mini Baseball and the 2022-23 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Hockey along with the 2023-24 Panini Recon Basketball cards.
The online-exclusive Topps Heritage springs forth, mirroring the elusive charm of the 1975 mini set. Its headlining feature is a 500-card base set while the Hobby variant offers 24 packs per box, brimming with nine cards apiece. Additionally, you’ll find an autograph or relic plus a box loader. A standout in this set is baseball star Juan Soto’s first on-card autograph doused in Yankee blue.
Meanwhile, the much-loved Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Hockey card graces the scene with a box containing a single pack of four cards. From an autograph and a high-end memorabilia or autograph, to a supplementary memorabilia card and a base or rookie card, each box delivers a captivating mix. You can snag a box for an online price around $160.
Over on the basketball court, Panini Recon drops more rookie cards of Victor Wembanyama. Their Hobby box is loaded with ten packs of six cards each, blessing collectors with two autographs and 20 inserts.
Gaining momentum on May 8th are the 2024 Bowman Baseball, 2023-24 Panini Crown Royale Basketball, 2024 Upper Deck SP Game Used Golf, and 2023 Panini National Treasures Racing cards.
Bowman, a living legend since its 1989 comeback, keeps the hits coming across various sports. The 2024 iteration brings Hobby boxes flaunting a Chrome autographed card and Jumbo boxes delivering three autographs. Retail boxes stand out with exclusive green parallels.
Amid the NBA playoffs, Panini Crown Royale strides in, each box packed with eight cards, which includes an autograph, a memorabilia card, and two inserts or parallels. Adding to the allure are rare Tim Duncan autographs, making their presence in boxes priced around $500.
Catering to golf and racing aficionados, the Upper Deck SP Game Used Golf and Panini National Treasures Racing make their stylish entrance, promising high-end collectible delights.
By May 10th, the 2023-24 Panini Select Basketball and 2023/24 Donruss Soccer card sets grace the market.
A steadfast feature of Panini’s basketball series, Select boxes come packed with twelve packs, each holding five cards, inclusive of three autographs or memorabilia cards. Noteworthy are its Prizm parallels and memorabilia-ridden rookie cards. Meanwhile, more details about another heart-racing release from Donruss’s soccer series are on the horizon.
The first half of May 2024 is shaping up to be a riveting playground for sports card collectors. Fans of classic sports like baseball and basketball, or those seeking a touch of the modern in the forms of golf and racing, will find the early May card release diary an abundant source for their collecting pleasure. Noteworthy mentions this period include Juan Soto’s first Yankees autograph in the Topps Heritage Mini set and Tim Duncan’s hard-to-come-by autographs in Panini Crown Royale, further enriching the fascinating world of sports card collecting.
