What's in the 2025 Topps Series 1 Checklist?

The 2025 Topps Series 1 trading cards are generating a massive buzz in the hobby, and for good reason! With a 350-card base set, new exclusives, and exciting autographs to chase, this series is set to be one of the most collectible in recent years. Whether you're into flipping cards, breaking boxes, or hunting for that rare parallel, there's something for everyone here.

Massive Checklist and New Parallels

The base set consists of 350 cards featuring veterans, rookies, Future Stars, League Leaders, and team cards. If you're into the parallels, buckle up! There are over 50 different versions of each card, including hobby and retail exclusives.

One of the biggest surprises? A brand-new Wood Parallel! Fans of heavy lumber inserts will want to chase this one hard. Unfortunately, some long-time favorites—like Black, Father's Day, and Mother's Day parallels—did not make it into this release. But for those who love color variations, pink foil is making its debut, and there are still gold, blue, green, and red foils to chase!

Autographs and Memorabilia Galore

For autograph hunters, this set offers some amazing opportunities:

• 1990 Topps Autographs: A nostalgic throwback with on-card signatures from legends and current stars.
• Baseball Stars Autographs: A mix of top talent and deep-cut players—hit or miss, but potential for big pulls.
• Heavy Lumber Autographs: Extremely rare but absolutely stunning—signed game-used bat pieces.
• New Flagship Real One Autographs: Taking a page from Heritage, these base card-style autographs offer a fresh collectible option.

Plus, Barry Bonds is back with certified autographs in Topps products for the first time in years!

Major Rookie Cards to Look Out For

Every collector wants to know: who are the top rookies in this set? Here’s a quick rundown of the biggest names:

• James Wood (Nationals) - A power-hitting phenom and arguably the top chase in this product.
• Dylan Crews (Nationals) - Another star rookie, making Washington the go-to team for breaks.
• Brooks Lee (Twins) - A top-end prospect poised for a breakout.
• Kobe Mayo (Orioles) - A potential sleeper hit with Baltimore’s stacked farm system.
• Rhett Lowder (Reds) - One of the top rookie pitchers to chase this year.

The checklist isn't as weak as people initially feared, but expect high demand in breaks for Nationals spots because of Crews and Wood.

Special Inserts and Hobby-Only Variants

This set introduces amazing short prints and SSP variations, including the brand-new Dancing Dodgers short print set—where every featured Dodger is mid-celebration in a dance move. These are exclusive to hobby boxes.

The long-running Golden Mirror Super Short Prints return, offering different images while keeping the base card design.

The Best Formats to Buy

Not all formats are created equal, so here’s a rundown of the best ones to target:

• Jumbo Hobby Boxes: The best guaranteed-hit format with multiple numbered parallels, autographs, and relics.
• Hanger Boxes: Retail’s best value for pulling Golden Mirror SSPs, parallels, and color variations.
• Mega Boxes: Cracked Ice exclusives and solid value for collectors looking for something more premium than blasters.

Blasters, on the other hand, are looking rough. With no holiday parallels, no guaranteed hits, and a tough pull rate, they may not be worth it this year.

Final Thoughts

Despite some concerns around the higher print run, 2025 Topps Series 1 is shaping up to be an exciting release. Between the return of beloved designs like 1990 Topps, new autograph sets, and unique parallels, there’s a lot to love for collectors of all levels.

For those looking to break and sell, focus on hobby formats for the best value. If you’re hunting for rookie cards, hangers and jumbos offer the best chances.

With a mix of nostalgia, modern designs, and exclusive inserts, 2025 Topps Series 1 is looking like one of the most exciting releases of the year. What are you most excited to pull? Let us know in the comments!