Absolutely insane how bad Chrome is this year from a value perspective. I know it's always a gamble, I love collecting but for the prices of even a blaster box it's just insane. 300 card check list is just way to much with the price of every format. Sure, you might pull more parallels but getting the players you want is going to be even more tough than 2023 or 2022 according to numbers I've seen.
Thanks for the spreadsheet and the breakdown of the odds per format Stryker! You are the best! I was initially very excited for chrome but with the price increase and the checklist going from 220 to 300 I'm not gonna be spending that much on chrome this year. Maybe ill pick up a monster box if I see one for 65.
Preordered 2 monster boxes from GameStop and if you have a pro membership you will score % off the $65 dollar tag. In addition using your rewards points on what youve spent and can get even more off. Got 2 monsters for like $119. So sneaky steal here.
Hobby boxes are too high. The checklist is 80 cards more. With blasters being $40 and monster boxes being a monstrous $65 or more, I think I may wait and just do an MVP buyback lot. Thank you for sharing. You're the best on breaking down product.
I started collecting a couple years ago and your vids play huge part of me getting in the hobby! Gonna be passing on this release most likely unless I see some price justification.
Just pulled a 1989 Red Ray Wave Redemption card for Pete Crow Armstrong…… Out of my second Monster box…. God is good. 1/120,185 AND it’s a rookie AND it’s mfn PCA. Wow. Monster Box off of Amazon.
Can’t do dollar per parallel anymore Stryker. Increased parallels and increased checklist every year will artificially inflate those numbers. Have to go dollar per “Good Rookie Parallel.” And let’s be honest, GRPs should be limited to the top 5 rookies to maybe 10 at most. The dollar per GRP is way down again this year with that big checklist increase. Hard pass on breaks and wax
Thanks for the video! Your breakdowns are always appreciated. This morning I picked up a couple of monster boxes at $59.99 from Fanatics before the website increased them to $64.99. I hope Fanatics honors my purchase price.
I hate to sound like cranky old man, but I started collecting in 1974. It was 10 cents for a pack, about a penny per card. Did I just see $1.43 per card from blasters? Granted these chrome cards are far cooler than those 1974 cards were. But that is just sobering especially if you don’t hit the right parallels and inserts. I’m just buying my team in breaks on this one. Thanks for this awesome breakdown, Stryker!
So base card print runs are down per player, BUT total base cards are up from 37.01 million in 2023 to 43.88 million in 2024. That's around 6.87 million more base cards, with fewer cards in blasters and monsters in years past. It's an 18.5% increase in base cards, and likely around a 20% increase in sealed boxes out there. For the love of Pete, don't overpay for boxes!
I’m just now trying to get into this because I’m carrying on my uncles collection he started in the 80s and I am so lost. Never realized all the different types/brands of boxes and have no idea what to get into unless I just have to go through all of these. Didn’t think it was this complex
Here’s what I know. I’m completely done buying overpriced boxes that are full of crap. I’ll let other suckers out their waste their income on these and I’ll buy their singles from them.
I’ve bought a ton of topps chrome since 2021, but unfortunately at $45 with tax for a blaster I won’t be able to anymore. There’s a chance it drops like 2021 and 2022 eventually on eBay and if it does I might consider it then.
The math gets even worse when you compare 2023 presale prices to 2024 presale. Hobby's were $125 presale on Topps for 2023 while Jumbo's were $300. I still can't believe that increased them as much as they did. Was all ready to throw down big on this release because I believe the rookie class has both a high floor and ceiling but can't justify it now.
Fanatical. New insert. Fanatic at its finest. Cool insert but anything that reminds me of them is sickening. Great video as always Stryker. You the man
I love topps chrome but the hobby is getting so expensive its absolutely insane. Hobby priced me out awhile ago and retail is getting horrific. I usually average a break even card 1 in 4 boxes.
I honestly thought they might expand the checklist to 250 cards... was not expecting 300 when they released it a few weeks ago when I pre-ordered 2 hobby boxes...
Most of us know that these are expensive and with a lot of these expensive boxes out price most genuine collectors who love how things used to be. The other thing is lots of this kind of boxes you may find it difficult to get your money back on resale if that why you buying these cards. I prefer to just get donruss and the like, in fact I got donruss hobby box and got loads of numbered cards and 2 autos with 1 mem card, loads of rated prospects, and many good names which I got at very good price with free packets of some from 91/92 which had good names and great to open.
Thanks Stryker! Love these videos. Sad that it seems all the changes are for the worse for collectors. Higher price, higher checklist, some of those auto's are horrible. Pitchers who pitched 1-2 innings and never heard of again. Will be doing singles.
I don’t like the additional player check list. Makes it harder to pull a player you like and makes it seem like you are getting more bang for your buck but not really as the check list increases
I like all of the comments i have read! Alot of you, are making sense! Basically, if you have the money $$$, to burn? Blow it, as frequently as you need to! Buying this product!, or just buying singles, either way, you are still spending! Keep in mind, if you are gambling, on thinking, your going to land a $$$ big money card, out of this product, use better judgement!
Great breakdown and much appreciated. I have spent 5-6K per year on Topps retail products in previous years. It is hard for me to believe but I think I may not bother with Chrome this year. Blasters were my favorite but these look to be not good. Does the $708 for a rookie auto translate to 1 of those per 17.7 blasters? YIkes. Not that it matters that much because it feels like the good rookies are and have been 1/1K boxes for years. Now you can't even get the pitcher who played 2 games in 2023 before not getting a contract in 2024.
Here's what I know. It is ridiculously overpriced. Quality control will be terrible considering the price. There will be too few "hits" and I am only buying donruss baseball when it comes out for half the price. Make Fanatics and Topps panic.
The problem is that breakers will still break and therefore demand will be there and prevent price drops. I think Topps knew this release would be in demand from rookies and decided to milk it. You have to remember, their job is to string the hobby along as much as possible to balance supply and demand while maximizing profit. After all, it is a business.
Lmao price is ridiculous, there is no reason why this shouldn’t be affordable like I understand everyone wants the new rookie auto but imo no rookie in this class is better than Gunnar the numbers prove that but it’s whatever like this product will be bought by breakers and whatnot but people who just enjoy collecting will have a hard time with this
@@ljg13hockey99 just don't collect and watch the UA-cam videos while you're multitasking with other things like I do. No sweat off my back. The hobby has done nothing but disguise flooding the market by distracting people with 200 different types of parallels of a rookie player. To think history won't repeat itself would be foolish.
Not buying packs or boxes at all this year as much as i love the chase and the thrill of a big pull it's just not worth it you're better off just buying the individual cards you want.
Always love the breakdowns. Chrome is too damn pricey for my taste this year. I usually do retail, hobby when I can afford it, and retail is just, ouch this year. As per usual.
I think I’m done ripping for awhile. Haven’t gotten anything in the past $500 I’ve spent. Print runs/ prices are too high, when the value for singles aren’t there
You should be making a bigger deal about the added checklist. MVP buyback harder to get. Good rookie auto harder to get. Corporate greed at its finest.
Thanks for info stryker. Hopy moley theyve pumped up this checklist like crazy. Im not poor but cant say the itch is there to buy this. Corporate greed shining through
All the people praising topps taking over all other major sports are gonna be regretting it mark my words.. yes topps quality is much better, but panini has wayyy better sets and case hits..
yes and no. it puts it in perspective and lets you know how many chances you have per dollar spent. None of the odds are good but you can help make more educated decisions.
Actually, you haven’t accounted for the increase in checklist which actually makes it harder to pull a good card. Rookie sigs are up substantially. The math is flawed.
@@StrykerBreaksyes, read below. I could go deeper, but realistically the whole sheet is kinda off. It’s lamppost math. Not meant to be disrespectful. You’re spreadsheet, if 100% accurate, would make joining breaks buying boxes sophomoric because it’s ultimately less expensive to buy individual cards, period. The cost for the thrill of the rip is nonsensically high. I watch your breaks because I find them entertaining, but I doubt I’d buy in because I know there’s a minuscule chance of even getting 1/4 ROI and random team breaks are all about the ROI.
Print run up… No name rookie autos up… price up… Need to rip 2024 TC Baseball - Way Down ✌🏼
I see Elly De La Cruz and Jasson Dominguez
The goat of breakdowns strikes again. Appreciate the work as always Stryker!
Fanatics started the pre-order for Monster boxes at $59.99 and then increased it to $65 after a few hours. Ridiculous.
Absolutely insane how bad Chrome is this year from a value perspective. I know it's always a gamble, I love collecting but for the prices of even a blaster box it's just insane. 300 card check list is just way to much with the price of every format. Sure, you might pull more parallels but getting the players you want is going to be even more tough than 2023 or 2022 according to numbers I've seen.
Buy singles
And buy them next year.
Or in 5-10 years after the hobby crashes and resets.
Not fun
@@ericwatts6291 but smart
Thanks for the spreadsheet and the breakdown of the odds per format Stryker! You are the best! I was initially very excited for chrome but with the price increase and the checklist going from 220 to 300 I'm not gonna be spending that much on chrome this year. Maybe ill pick up a monster box if I see one for 65.
Preordered 2 monster boxes from GameStop and if you have a pro membership you will score % off the $65 dollar tag. In addition using your rewards points on what youve spent and can get even more off. Got 2 monsters for like $119. So sneaky steal here.
To add, im going to nuke only mega boxes this year. Had the best pulls off my retail career in 2023
Hobby boxes are too high. The checklist is 80 cards more. With blasters being $40 and monster boxes being a monstrous $65 or more, I think I may wait and just do an MVP buyback lot. Thank you for sharing. You're the best on breaking down product.
i will be buying all the bryce harpers i can get lol
I started collecting a couple years ago and your vids play huge part of me getting in the hobby!
Gonna be passing on this release most likely unless I see some price justification.
Just pulled a 1989 Red Ray Wave Redemption card for Pete Crow Armstrong……
Out of my second Monster box….
God is good. 1/120,185 AND it’s a rookie AND it’s mfn PCA.
Wow.
Monster Box off of Amazon.
Can’t do dollar per parallel anymore Stryker. Increased parallels and increased checklist every year will artificially inflate those numbers. Have to go dollar per “Good Rookie Parallel.” And let’s be honest, GRPs should be limited to the top 5 rookies to maybe 10 at most. The dollar per GRP is way down again this year with that big checklist increase. Hard pass on breaks and wax
What is crazy to me I was able to buy 40 Box Blaster Cases for $25 each the week before the buyback last year.
Thanks for the video! Your breakdowns are always appreciated. This morning I picked up a couple of monster boxes at $59.99 from Fanatics before the website increased them to $64.99. I hope Fanatics honors my purchase price.
$65 for 42 cards...yeah, that's gonna be a no for me dawg
Much respect for doing the breakdown, you’re awesome! Always appreciate the content sir, good luck ripping
I’m not purchasing any Chrome this year. I was considering maybe some blasters, but they look like $40, so I’ll pass.
New subscriber and newbie to this product very informative thank you 👍
I hate to sound like cranky old man, but I started collecting in 1974. It was 10 cents for a pack, about a penny per card. Did I just see $1.43 per card from blasters? Granted these chrome cards are far cooler than those 1974 cards were. But that is just sobering especially if you don’t hit the right parallels and inserts. I’m just buying my team in breaks on this one. Thanks for this awesome breakdown, Stryker!
Wish these videos showed what the cards look like for the newer collectors like me.
So base card print runs are down per player, BUT total base cards are up from 37.01 million in 2023 to 43.88 million in 2024. That's around 6.87 million more base cards, with fewer cards in blasters and monsters in years past. It's an 18.5% increase in base cards, and likely around a 20% increase in sealed boxes out there. For the love of Pete, don't overpay for boxes!
I think I'm done buying sealed Topps at release price for the foreseeable future.
The thing with this product is that it’s to expensive so I don’t know if I’m going to be able to get any
Exactly. They screwed over the common fan with Blaster Boxes.
I’m just now trying to get into this because I’m carrying on my uncles collection he started in the 80s and I am so lost. Never realized all the different types/brands of boxes and have no idea what to get into unless I just have to go through all of these. Didn’t think it was this complex
Here’s what I know. I’m completely done buying overpriced boxes that are full of crap. I’ll let other suckers out their waste their income on these and I’ll buy their singles from them.
I’ve bought a ton of topps chrome since 2021, but unfortunately at $45 with tax for a blaster I won’t be able to anymore. There’s a chance it drops like 2021 and 2022 eventually on eBay and if it does I might consider it then.
if you could make these excel sheets public on like a cloud service it would be nice af
I grabbed the last blaster at Target....Bryce Harper Superfractor.
Happy i preordered a hobby. Great video!
The math gets even worse when you compare 2023 presale prices to 2024 presale. Hobby's were $125 presale on Topps for 2023 while Jumbo's were $300. I still can't believe that increased them as much as they did. Was all ready to throw down big on this release because I believe the rookie class has both a high floor and ceiling but can't justify it now.
Still kickin self for selling Gunnar red auto from last year chrome dome
I’m gonna keep an eye on the market but I’ll be passing on this release for now . If skenes is in regular update later this year I’ll be a buyer .
Appreciate the info!🤝
Fanatical. New insert. Fanatic at its finest. Cool insert but anything that reminds me of them is sickening. Great video as always Stryker. You the man
Is the odds based just on the amount of cards per type of pack or do they tend to load specific boxes more?
Oh man I’m early!!! Let’s goooooooo get some Chrome!
Great insight
Made a bigger checklist, pulled some of the hits out of retail and raised the price. When will we wake up
Awesome breakdown 🍀🤘 I appreciate it 🍻
I love topps chrome but the hobby is getting so expensive its absolutely insane. Hobby priced me out awhile ago and retail is getting horrific. I usually average a break even card 1 in 4 boxes.
Great stuff, is there a way we can see your spreadsheets to update as prices go up or down?
I'll make an updated video if anything changes significantly.
Great Work as usual. Thank you Stryker. I think I'll hit up some monsters and hobbys. And also can't turn down a blaster if I see them.
You will see a lot of available blasters. Tread carefully
I'm probably passing on wax this year, but may buy a monster box if I find one around $65.
Please do this for basketball and football 🙏🏼
I honestly thought they might expand the checklist to 250 cards... was not expecting 300 when they released it a few weeks ago when I pre-ordered 2 hobby boxes...
Most of us know that these are expensive and with a lot of these expensive boxes out price most genuine collectors who love how things used to be. The other thing is lots of this kind of boxes you may find it difficult to get your money back on resale if that why you buying these cards. I prefer to just get donruss and the like, in fact I got donruss hobby box and got loads of numbered cards and 2 autos with 1 mem card, loads of rated prospects, and many good names which I got at very good price with free packets of some from 91/92 which had good names and great to open.
Thanks Stryker! Love these videos. Sad that it seems all the changes are for the worse for collectors. Higher price, higher checklist, some of those auto's are horrible. Pitchers who pitched 1-2 innings and never heard of again. Will be doing singles.
We have any info on code identification yet?
Appreciate it my man
Will the vet autos be in hobby or just breakers delight
I don’t like the additional player check list. Makes it harder to pull a player you like and makes it seem like you are getting more bang for your buck but not really as the check list increases
So this is my first year back in the hobby. Does the buy back extend to series 1, 2, and update also?
No only chrome
I like all of the comments i have read! Alot of you, are making sense! Basically, if you have the money $$$, to burn? Blow it, as frequently as you need to! Buying this product!, or just buying singles, either way, you are still spending! Keep in mind, if you are gambling, on thinking, your going to land a $$$ big money card, out of this product, use better judgement!
Great breakdown and much appreciated. I have spent 5-6K per year on Topps retail products in previous years. It is hard for me to believe but I think I may not bother with Chrome this year. Blasters were my favorite but these look to be not good. Does the $708 for a rookie auto translate to 1 of those per 17.7 blasters? YIkes. Not that it matters that much because it feels like the good rookies are and have been 1/1K boxes for years. Now you can't even get the pitcher who played 2 games in 2023 before not getting a contract in 2024.
Here's what I know. It is ridiculously overpriced. Quality control will be terrible considering the price. There will be too few "hits" and I am only buying donruss baseball when it comes out for half the price. Make Fanatics and Topps panic.
The problem is that breakers will still break and therefore demand will be there and prevent price drops. I think Topps knew this release would be in demand from rookies and decided to milk it. You have to remember, their job is to string the hobby along as much as possible to balance supply and demand while maximizing profit. After all, it is a business.
Lmao price is ridiculous, there is no reason why this shouldn’t be affordable like I understand everyone wants the new rookie auto but imo no rookie in this class is better than Gunnar the numbers prove that but it’s whatever like this product will be bought by breakers and whatnot but people who just enjoy collecting will have a hard time with this
@@ljg13hockey99 just don't collect and watch the UA-cam videos while you're multitasking with other things like I do. No sweat off my back. The hobby has done nothing but disguise flooding the market by distracting people with 200 different types of parallels of a rookie player. To think history won't repeat itself would be foolish.
@@Carado5150 you are so right
PANINI OR ANY OTHER NON LICENSED BASEBALL ARE GARBAGE
Not buying packs or boxes at all this year as much as i love the chase and the thrill of a big pull it's just not worth it you're better off just buying the individual cards you want.
Are the short print rookies from series two also gonna be short printed for chrome?
No, they are not short printed. They're in the base set checklist.
Always love the breakdowns. Chrome is too damn pricey for my taste this year. I usually do retail, hobby when I can afford it, and retail is just, ouch this year. As per usual.
Hopefully this drops 2023 chrome only positive that can come from this release
I think I’m done ripping for awhile. Haven’t gotten anything in the past $500 I’ve spent. Print runs/ prices are too high, when the value for singles aren’t there
Thanks!
Do we know when logofractor comes out?
Sorry if I missed it in your comments, but are you surprised no Skenes in the checklist at any offering?
Chrome update
$40 a blaster…. Jesus! That’s a hard pass this year. Gonna open up my two hobby boxes then be done with it. No retail for me this year.
IT'S STRYKER ⚾️🔥⚾️🔥⚾️🔥
Solid breakdown!! Thanks!
I'm buying singles and the Pirates team set
Sounds good, Erik Jabs.
Paul Skenes is being held back to be next year's cover star...?
Probably topps chrome update
Scottie B cards had a good video. Early 2000s checklist had 14 rookies in it. This one 150 lmao
Affiliate link for the Monster Boxes takes you to GameStop, not Fanatics.
They didn't have a Fanatics monster box affiliate link available yet so I used Game Stop. I did have a Blaster Box link for Fanatics that I included.
@@StrykerBreaks Gotcha. Always appreciate these breakdown videos. They are very helpful!
I just want a evan carter and imanaga radiating rookies lol
You should be making a bigger deal about the added checklist. MVP buyback harder to get. Good rookie auto harder to get. Corporate greed at its finest.
A lot of people on here complaining. Great cards, I was happy with my pulls
Thanks for info stryker. Hopy moley theyve pumped up this checklist like crazy. Im not poor but cant say the itch is there to buy this. Corporate greed shining through
So you’re telling us high parallels are base cards from the past.
So many no name rookies in both 'hobby box' configurations.
Soooo when is this bubble gonna pop? It’s getting super ridiculous
The junk parallel era
Pass for me if anything I’ll buy singles
Almost $70 for about 40 cards lol. Pretty soon it will be $2 per card
I’m not sure it’s a stellar rookie class. Quantity yea, quality, no
All the people praising topps taking over all other major sports are gonna be regretting it mark my words.. yes topps quality is much better, but panini has wayyy better sets and case hits..
IT COST TO BE THE BOSS 😂 I GUESS THIS HOBBY ONLY FOR THE BIG DAWGS NOT THE PENNY PINCHING COLLECTORS 😂😂
Buy singles. That is all.
I think this years cards are just ugly. 23 looked so much better ino
Price is awful
I hate fanatics. What a joke
🙀🙀
Gamestop has retail chrome. I have a pro account so hopefully, the discount works. 39.99 blasters and 64.99. megas
2:18 Who is Showa Noel? 🤣🤣🤣
early
yuck
This is silly math. Seriously
What do you mean? Did I get something wrong?
yes and no. it puts it in perspective and lets you know how many chances you have per dollar spent. None of the odds are good but you can help make more educated decisions.
Actually, you haven’t accounted for the increase in checklist which actually makes it harder to pull a good card. Rookie sigs are up substantially.
The math is flawed.
@@StrykerBreaksyes, read below. I could go deeper, but realistically the whole sheet is kinda off. It’s lamppost math. Not meant to be disrespectful. You’re spreadsheet, if 100% accurate, would make joining breaks buying boxes sophomoric because it’s ultimately less expensive to buy individual cards, period.
The cost for the thrill of the rip is nonsensically high. I watch your breaks because I find them entertaining, but I doubt I’d buy in because I know there’s a minuscule chance of even getting 1/4 ROI and random team breaks are all about the ROI.