Ryan Barone (@ballcardgenius, Card Expert) is a lifelong member of the hobby. He has been quoted in PSA Magazine, and his content has regularly been mentioned in “Quick Rips” (the Topps RIPPED Newsletter) and across other hobby publications. hello@ballcardgenius.com; Last Time Ago LLC dba Ballcard Genius.
Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As I am a part of the eBay Partner Network and other programs, if you follow these links and make a purchase, I’ll receive commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Each year, the release of new card sets brings a fresh wave of anticipation. Even with what some would say is a watered down release calendar, there are still plenty of favorites that hobbyists from every corner can look forward to. 2023 Topps Chrome is one of those releases (coming out July 26, 2023), and is sure to be on the list of best baseball card packs and boxes to buy.
(Well, it also comes with a little bit of heartburn this year—have you heard about the Tacofractor? Also new and box-related, what is a Breaker’s Delight box?)
So, while I love card boxes of all shapes and sizes, set’s take a more in-depth look at what makes an exciting Jumbo Hobby box and a potential must-rip for collectors.
2023 Topps Chrome Jumbo Box Price History
First off, any discussion about how much a box is “worth it” should start with the actual cost of the box. Thanks to Waxstat, the current average price for a 2023 Topps Chrome Jumbo Hobby Box is $349.95. If you were lucky, you could have grabbed these for about $20 lower from particular retailers, as you can see below (I grabbed mine from Diamond Cards).
What’s Inside the Box?
The 2023 Topps Chrome Jumbo Box is filled with 12 packs, each with 13 cards, offering a combination of modern card designs and traditional shiny chromium finishes. This mix captures the spirit of older collections (with plenty of throwback players) while nodding to the modern era of card collecting that is all about the shimmer.
Read More: 2023 Topps Series 1 Valuable Cards
While the aim for set collectors would be to obtain all 220 cards on the base checklist – a huge decrease from the nearly 700 cards on Topps Series 1 and Series 2 – there are plenty of chasers for those looking to hit a big card. Not to mention the added value of the Topps MVP Buyback program, big name rookies, and more.
Topps MVP Buyback Program
A significant part of the value of a 2023 Topps Chrome Jumbo Box is the reintroduction of the MVP Buyback program. As a refresher, those who have 2023 Topps Chrome cards of players who win the MLB MVP awards can exchange these cards for hobby store credit (both online and in-person).
While the 2022 program was announced after the season and at a point where we already knew Aaron Judge and Paul Goldschmidt took home the crowns, this year will involve an element of strategy, as collectors try to guess which players will continue shining during the rest of the season all the way to the MVP achievement.
In terms of eligible cards, you’ll want to hang on to base and refractors of MVP hopefuls, as they can be redeemed for the following credit amounts.
- Base: $20
- Refractors: $20
- Numbered > 100: $100
- Numbered < 100: $200
Here is a great tweet that helps uncover the odds and value of hitting presumed MVPs:
2023 Rookies to Look For
Each year, new talents emerge, and even when you think you’ve seen players of every skill level and ability, there is always a new crop (not to mention that we haven’t even seen an Elly De La Cruz rookkie card yet, and won’t until 2024).
Here are some of the rookies you’ll want to set aside:
- Corbin Carroll: As a top pick and touted prospect, Corbin Carroll’s cards are gaining traction because of his amazing play on the field. Does he have an outside shot at MVP?
- Gunner Henderson: Gunner is already popular due to his evident talent, and collectors want his cards to place alongside the rest of the young Orioles lineup.
- Adley Rutschman: Speaking of Orioles, Adley continues to perform well, and while his Series 1 rookie card seems like ages ago, his cards continue to make waves.
- Anthony Volpe: Volpe is gaining attention, and in a much bigger market. I think many collectors are still on the fence and waiting for him to truly blossom, but there is till quite a bit of value.
Other Cards in the Box
Besides rookies, the 2023 Topps Chrome Jumbo Box has a variety of other cards. Collectors can find a number of different versions, from shiny refractors to colorful parallels.
Read More: 2023 Topps Series 2 Most Valuable Cards
Here is a run down of the newer sets and parallels:
Ultraviolet All-Stars featuring top-notch players in awesome blacklight-inspired designs by artist Mitch O’Connell. Green, Gold, Orange, Red, and Superfractor versions.
Topps Chrome Titans: These baseball standouts are the champions of their city and strike fear into their opponents. Again, Green, Gold, Orange, Red, and Superfractors. They come one in 12 Jumbo packs, so you should receive one in the box.
Topps in Technicolor: Capturing baseball wonders in vivid colors. Same color parallels as mentioned above. These are 1:24 packs, so if you’re luck you’ll hit one, but it might take a couple of boxes.
Getting down to the rare stuff, Topps Chrome Exposé cards are limited to 10 available per player. Tacofractors are the talk of the town, limited to just 5 cards (so a delicious find for any collector). Subzero Frozenfractors are just as limited, numbered to 5. And don’t forget about the Hidden Gems which are sure to pop up in Topps Chrome.
Last but not least, I’m excited about LET’S GO! with Red Refractor and Superfractor variaitions (pictures to come!)
2023 Chrome Jumbo Odds
For a full rundown of 2023 Topps Chrome Jumbo odds, please consult the table below, which includes odds for both jumbo box packs and boxes, along with print runs, and more. You can search and sort however you’d like.
| Description | Numbered To | Jumbo Pack Odds | Jumbo Box Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Card Refractor Parallel | - | 1:3 | 12:1 |
| Base Card Prism Refractor Parallel | - | 1:6 | 24:1 |
| Base Card Negative Refractor Parallel | - | 2:06 | 5:1 |
| Base Card Purple Refractor Parallel | #/299 | 1:25 | 2:1 |
| Base Card Blue Refractor Parallel | #/150 | 1:50 | 1:1 |
| Base Card Green Refractor Parallel | #/99 | 2:06 | 5:1 |
| Base Card Green Wave Refractor Parallel | #/99 | 2:06 | 5:1 |
| Base Card Blue Wave Refractor Parallel | #/75 | 2:28 | 3:1 |
| Base Card Gold Refractor Parallel | #/50 | 3:12 | 2:1 |
| Base Card Gold Wave Refractor Parallel | #/50 | 3:12 | 2:1 |
| Base Card Orange Refractor Parallel | #/25 | 5:25 | 1:1 |
| Base Card Orange Wave Refractor Parallel | #/25 | 5:25 | 1:1 |
| Base Card Red Refractor Parallel | #/5 | 1:1,326 | 1:5 |
| Base Card Red Wave Refractor Parallel | #/5 | 1:1,326 | 1:5 |
| Base Card SuperFractor Parallel | #/1 | 1:6,629 | 1:25 |
| Base Card Printing Plates | #/1 | 1:1,657 | 1:6 |
| 1986 Topps Baseball Autograph Parallel | #/50 | 1:2,648 | 1:10 |
| 1986 Topps Baseball Orange Refractor Autograph Parallel | #/25 | 1:5,295 | 1:20 |
| 1986 Topps Baseball Red Refractor Autograph Parallel | #/5 | 1:26,474 | 2:40 |
| 1986 Topps Baseball SuperFractor Autograph Parallel | #/1 | 1:132,368 | 9:20 |
| Future Stars Autograph Parallel | #/99 | 1:1,326 | 1:5 |
| Future Stars Orange Refractor Autograph Parallel | #/25 | 1:5,295 | 1:20 |
| Future Stars Red Refractor Autograph Parallel | #/5 | 1:26,474 | 2:40 |
| Future Stars SuperFractor Autograph Parallel | #/1 | 1:132,368 | 9:20 |
| Freshman Flash Autograph Parallel | #/99 | 1:1,326 | 1:5 |
| Freshman Flash Orange Refractor Autograph Parallel | #/25 | 1:5,295 | 1:20 |
| Freshman Flash Red Refractor Autograph Parallel | #/5 | 1:26,474 | 2:40 |
| Freshman Flash SuperFractor Autograph Parallel | #/1 | 1:132,368 | 9:20 |
| Prismic Power Autograph Parallel | #/99 | 1:1,326 | 1:5 |
| Prismic Power Orange Refractor Autograph Parallel | #/25 | 1:5,295 | 1:20 |
| Prismic Power Red Refractor Autograph Parallel | #/5 | 1:26,474 | 2:40 |
| Prismic Power SuperFractor Autograph Parallel | #/1 | 1:132,368 | 9:20 |
| Captain's Cloth Chrome Relic Autograph Parallel | #/99 | 1:1,326 | 1:5 |
| Captain's Cloth Chrome Relic Orange Refractor Autograph Parallel | #/25 | 1:5,295 | 1:20 |
| Captain's Cloth Chrome Relic Red Refractor Autograph Parallel | #/5 | 1:26,474 | 2:40 |
| Captain's Cloth Chrome Relic SuperFractor Autograph Parallel | #/1 | 1:132,368 | 9:20 |
| Base Rookie Autograph Refractor Parallel | #/499 | 1:33 | 1:1 |
| Base Rookie Autograph Purple Refractor Parallel | #/250 | 2:06 | 5:1 |
| Base Rookie Autograph Blue Refractor Parallel | #/150 | 3:12 | 2:1 |
| Base Rookie Autograph Blue Wave Refractor Parallel | #/150 | 3:12 | 2:1 |
| Base Rookie Autograph Gold Refractor Parallel | #/50 | 7:36 | 1:1 |
| Base Rookie Autograph Gold Wave Refractor Parallel | #/50 | 7:36 | 1:1 |
| Base Rookie Autograph Orange Refractor Parallel | #/25 | 14:13 | 1:2 |
| Base Rookie Autograph Orange Wave Refractor Parallel | #/25 | 14:13 | 1:2 |
| Base Rookie Autograph Red Refractor Parallel | #/5 | 1:3,964 | 1:10 |
| Base Rookie Autograph Red Wave Refractor Parallel | #/5 | 1:3,964 | 1:10 |
| Base Rookie Autograph SuperFractor Parallel | #/1 | 1:19,821 | 1:50 |
| Base Rookie Autograph Printing Plates | #/1 | 1:4,955 | 1:12 |
Is a Jumbo Box Good Buy? Different Perspectives…
For many, the experience of opening a new pack is the primary joy. They see the new cards, their favorite players, and might even hit something big. It’s a thrill.
Some see it as a business, buying the box, opening it, and then selling the cards for profit. Others believe in the long-term value of the box. They keep it sealed, hoping its value will go up.
Then there are those who just want a complete set and enjoy the process of collecting every card.
All that said, the worth of the 2023 Topps Chrome Jumbo Box depends on individual goals and love for the hobby. For some, it’s about the potential profit, while for others, it’s about the pure joy of collecting.
