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The most valuable cards of 2024 Topps Series 1 include rookie card parallels and variations specifically of Elly De La Cruz and others like Evan Carter and Jasson Dominguez. Other valuable cards to watch for include Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto rare image variations (of them in their Dodgers and Yankees uniforms, respectively), new “First Card” parallels, Kevin Hart Easter Eggs, Base Card True Photo Variations, and Base Card Team Color Variations (more below).
Of course, we all know a Shohei Ohtani auto would be valuable as well, but my goal here is to educate on the cards most people have a chance of pulling, rather than those lucky select few.
And I hate to jump on early pricing because they’ll be inflated for the most part, the most expensive cards sold so far include these below. (It’s tough to tell the actual price sold because may were best offer and I don’t see true values in the eBay price guide)
You can easily check values for yourself right now:
2024 Topps Series 1 released February 14, 2024, and my jumbo hobby box from Blowout Cards came early. I pulled a Henry Davis Black Auto /199 which I sold for $65, a Jose Ramirez relic /199 and a Ronny Mauricio Commemorative relic /75.
These are the top rookie cards I’ll be setting aside to double check:
- Elly De La Cruz – Reds
- Evan Carter – Rangers
- Jasson Domínguez – Yankees
- Ronny Mauricio – Mets
- Nolan Schanuel – Angels
- Sal Frelick – Brewers
- Zack Gelof – Athletics
- Christian Encarnacion-Strand – Reds
- Andrew Abbott – Reds
- Endy Rodríguez – Pirates
- Colton Cowser – Orioles
- Johan Rojas – Phillies
- Jordan Westburg – Orioles
- Marco Luciano – Giants
- Curtis Mead – Rays
- Gavin Williams – Guardians
- AJ Smith-Shawver – Braves
- Ceddanne Rafaela – Red Sox
- Henry Davis – Pirates
- Luis Matos – Giants
It’s also worth nothing that these young stars will have cards, but only in silver packs:
- Junior Caminero (Auto/Sliver packs only)
- Noelvi Marte (Auto/Silver packs only)
- Jordan Lawlar (Auto/Silver packs only)
- Pete Crow Armstrong (Auto/Silver packs only)
- Heston Kjerstad (Auto/Silver packs only)
- Masyn Winn (Auto and silver packs only)
You might be asking, double check for what?
While most of the rookie card parallels and variations are obvious from their card design, some can fly under the radar. For that reason, I really do suggest you put any of these big name rookies (and stars) to the side and then double check them for numbering or anything that might make them different from their base counterparts.
| Parallel Name | Numbering |
| Gold Foil Parallel | Not numbered |
| Rainbow Foil Parallel | Not numbered |
| Gold Parallel | /2024 |
| Blue Holofoil board Parallel | /999. |
| Purple Holofoil board Parallel | /799. |
| Green Crackle Foil board Parallel | /499 |
| Orange Crackle Foil board Parallel | /299 |
| Red Crackle Foil board Parallel | /199 |
| Vintage Stock Parallel | /99 |
| Independence Day Parallel | /76 |
| Black Parallel | /73 |
| Mother’s Day Hot Pink Parallel | /50 |
| Father’s Day Powder Blue Parallel | /50 |
| Memorial Day Camo Parallel | /25 |
| Clear Variation | /10 |
| Printing Plates | 1/1 |
| Platinum Parallel | 1/1 |
Of course, back for 2024 are Golden Mirror Short Prints, and while the photos of many of these are fun, playful, and obviously different, you just never know. Luckily, these cards are easily distinguishable from their gold backs, so make sure to flip them over to check for the gold design. Here is a Mike Trout a lucky Reddit user hit and posted:
See, pretty obvious no? Trickiest of all hough, are vintage stock parallels, which are only distinguishable from their “retro” Topps logos on the front of the card, and their /99 numbering on the back. (They also feel different thanks to their cardboard stock.)
Here is an example of what a 2023 Topps base card looked like compared to the vintage stock parallel.
Now, for what’s new, we have four parallels (and variations) from 2024 Topps.
- First Card Parallel
- Base Card True Photo Variation
- Base Card Team Color Variation
- Kevin Hart Easter Egg /52
The “true photo” variation will have all base card elements removed thus providing a full uncluttered look at the card’s photo, while the team color variation (1 per case) will be fashioned in a way to match the player’s team color.
What we don’t know yet, though, is what a “First Card” parallel might be. Does that mean the first card printed? The first card designation as in “Bowman 1st”? A throwback to that player’s first Topps card?
And yes, amazingly, there was a “secret” Kevin Hart parallel version of Phillies cards recently discovered.
For more checklist details and notes, check out Topps Ripped.
