Why do we buy Topps Baseball Series 1 year after year?

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Topps Baseball Series 1.

So many collectors go crazy for it – present company not excluded.

It’s not a high-end product. It’s printed to the moon (which I have no problem with it). There are too many parallels to even count. It contains traded stars and DFA’d players.

And, yet, we love it.

But why?!

Here is what makes Topps Baseball Series 1 so special every year.

Time of Year

Football season is over and pitchers and catchers are reporting to Spring Training.

Topps Baseball Season 1 is the unofficialstart of the baseball season. It’s the first chance we get to associate the new year with a new season on the diamond.

Rookie Potential

Despite rookie card rules, there is a big contingent of rookie cards in Series 1. This year, even moreso since the cut off for rookies in 2022 was earlier than ever.

So now it means rookie cards of players such as Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, Michael Harris II, Riley Greene, Brett Baty and so many more have finally appeared.

Are their base rookie cards worth anything? Not really. But there is a chance for low-numbered parallels and autographs.

Longevity

Topps’ flagship baseball is the longest consistently running brand. Since 1952 there has been a Topps flagship baseball set produced every year. No other sport or company can claim that.

Nostalgia

This may be the biggest reason of them all, but nostalgia always brings collectors back. Topps knows it too. It’s why designs like 1987 are used consistently, and the 1988 Topps design is also used in this year’s release.

1988 Topps celebrates its 35^th anniversary, and 35 years is that sweet spot with collecting as a kid and now having disposable money as an adult to buy product.

It’s not just in flagship either, but Topps capitalizes on nostalgia with Archives, Heritage, Chrome Platinum Anniversary and Throwback Thursday.

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Interview: On The Cardhedge Podcast

I had a chance to chat with the folks at The Cardhedge Podcast. I had a really great conversation with Omar and JD.