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From junk wax to high-end, to a lot in between, I’ve opened every type of baseball card pack there is. Most have been with my own hands, while others have been through breaks or personal rips. Some have been hobby, others have been retail; there have been jumbo packs, cello packs, hanger packs, and more.
The one common denominator? Well, there are always cards inside of each pack, but there isn’t much in common beyond that. Point being, not every pack of baseball cards is going to be the same, nor should they be. With so many different collector preferences and varying price points, the best pack of baseball cards for me might be something totally different for you.
1. Topps Chrome Packs: Best for Rookie Card Collectors
While it’s true you can find a “rookie card” in pretty much every pack of cards, the absolute best pack for rookie cards is going to be Topps Chrome. Sure, Topps flagship has many great aspects, including rookie cards – which we will get to later – but Topps Chrome has become known as “standard” for rookie cards, which capitalizes on the classic Topps flagship design with its chromium finish, more limited checklist, and of course, refractors.
Here you can see the difference between paper flagship base, chrome base, and chrome refractor for someone like Anthony Volpe.
2. Bowman Packs: Best for Prospect Card Collectors
Now, for all of the reasons why Topps Chrome is better for rookies, Bowman is the best for Prospects. But this statement also requires a bit of dissecting so lets get into it.
If you’re new to baseball card collecting, there is a difference between a rookie card and a player’s “1st Bowman” card. The former is that player’s first official Topps flagship release while the latter is that player’s first official Bowman appearance. (This is not a perfect system by any means, with many caveats and oopsies, but that’s for another time.)
And in addition to being an entirely different brand of cards, Bowman “1st” cards are minor leaguers, while Topps “rookie cards” don’t get printed until that player has made their Major League debut.
So, now knowing all of that, the 1st Bowman Chrome card is typically more covered and valuable than a player’s rookie card.
3. Topps Flagship Packs: Best for Traditional Collectors
Even with the glitz and glam of the different refractors, prospects, autos, and other unique cards that have hit the hobby scene, Topps flagship remains a constant favorite thanks to its checklist depth, inserts, SPs, and more.
Specifically, though, it’s just about as traditional as you can get by today’s card collecting standards. So, those who yearn for simple cardboard times and just want to collect a set, they certainly have the opportunity to do so.
Yes, there are foil parallels, the aforementioned hits, but that’s simply where the hobby has evolved (I mean, not many packs would be sold if they only game with cards and bubblegum or a holographic sticker). So, flagship is a more than suitable alternative, featuring everything I’ve already mentioned along with inserts, checklists, league leader cards, and more.
4. Archives & Heritage Packs: Best for Nostalgic Collectors
While some call recycling of old designs “lazy” those of us who prefer old retro and vintage looks love to open packs like Archives and Heritage. Both sets feature card designs from yesteryear, with Heritage being more straightforward with one main set design and a large checklist of current players, Archives features a few different designs, and more of a mix between current players and retired legends.
For example, 2023 Topps Heritage featured the 1974 Topps design exclusively for the base set, while 2023 Archives boasts a checklist split up between 1956, 1965, and 2003.
5. Chrome Black & Archives Signature: Best for the Hits!
I get it, not everyone wants to sift through hundreds of base cards just to get to the hits. If that’s you, one pack to try is Topps Chrome black, which contains four cards and one auto for around $160.
If you want even less cards, how about just ONE card per pack? That’s what you’ll get with Archives Signature Series (and the Retired Edition), which can be found around $80-$90. While a product like Chrome Black will feature its own, new design every year, Archives Signature Series is made up of buyback cards (cards that have already been released) that have been autographed. So, if you’re more of a traditionalist, this might be the way to go.
In both instances, these are essentially one-pack boxes, so unlike the options above where you’d be choosing a pack from a larger box of cards, you’ll be buying the one sealed box/pack.
