Welcome to a special Monday edition Beckett Sports Card Hot/Cold. Put down those card stacks and let’s look at what’s hot and what’s not in the worlds of sports and sports cards over the last week or so.
In its first full week on the market, 2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball continues to dominate at hobby shops, retail and online breaks. There’s a reason why it’s typically the biggest set each year. Topps has done a good job of carving out Series 1 as being a key part of kicking off the new baseball season. Whether you’re casually buying some packs, building a set, chasing rookies, flipping over to the back looking for the foil SSP marker or studying stats, there’s plenty to go with on the checklist. And if you’re favorite player isn’t there, this is only the first part. Series 2 will following in a few months to fill in the gaps.
Mac McClung was the star of last weekend’s NBA All-Star festivities. His dunks and finesse brought attention to his otherwise dormant cards. While it makes for a great moment, don’t look for anything long-term, at least significantly. The contest will live on through highlight reels and YouTube, but it takes a lot more for longterm hobby stardom. Just ask Dee Brown, Cedric Ceballos and Derrick Jones Jr. That said, McClung’s Panini Instant card showing his leaping dunk is certainly impressive.