2024 Topps Chrome Update: MLB Prospects, Rookie Cards We’re Hunting & MLB Debut Patch Chase
There’s a buzz in the air anytime “Chrome” is in the title of a new card release, and it’s no different for 2024 Topps Chrome Update.
Set to release this Wednesday, November 13, Chrome Update will feature some of the most sought-after rookie cards to hit the hobby in 2024: the MLB Debut Patch Autographs, which will be findable in all formats. There are 251 players in the set and exactly 251 cards as each card is autographed, features a full-size, game-worn MLB Debut patch and is stamped 1/1. With usual suspects Paul Skenes (Pittsburgh), Jackson Merrill (San Diego), Elly De La Cruz (Cincinnati) and Jackson Chourio (Milwaukee) all featured in the set, collectors are excited to get their hands on sealed wax.
More on the MLB Debut Patch Autographs
I know we highlighted the return of the MLB Debut Patch Autograph set back in October, but this set is so big and unique for the hobby that it warrants further attention. The tricky thing about this set is that there are only 251 cards and they are all 1/1s, so to pull one at all would be like getting struck by lightning. But that also means your fateful lightning bolt could be Lane Ramsey (White Sox) or Jacob Lopez (Rays). No knock on those players, but for such a momentous pull, they aren’t the most collectable.
The Chrome Update checklist is entirely dictated by players who made their big league debuts between June 1, 2023 and May 24, 2024. That means it’s chock-full of top-prospects like Skenes, Merrill, De La Cruz and Chourio, but also features a healthy dose of journeymen, cup-of-coffee-sippers and low-leverage relievers. Whatever the case may be, this set is one of the biggest draws to finish out the 2024 calendar year. The fact that they snuck these highly-coveted collectables into hobby, jumbo, breaker’s delight and mega boxes means that Skenes could be in that case of jumbo being cracked on a group breaker’s stream or just on the shelf at your local Walmart.
Paul Skenes Topps Chrome Rookie Card
It’s here. Last month’s release of Topps Update Series brought upon a frenzy of collectors hunting down the flagship Paul Skenes Topps Rookie Card. Since release, variations and parallels are selling for hundreds of dollars and shelves are barren everywhere. Chrome Update is coming in hot in November with a loud encore; brace yourselves for Paul Skenes Topps Chrome Rookie Card. In a world without the MLB Debut Patch Autograph set, the Skenes Topps Chrome Rookie Card (and other variations) carries the hype of Topps Chrome Update on its own.
What We’re Hunting
Paul Skenes, duh. Skenes Chrome rookie cards will quickly flood the market and overshadow the paper rendition from Topps Update Series last month. If you are lucky enough to pull a Skenes numbered refractor, image variation or autograph, tuck it away in your collection for safekeeping. Or do what I’d do, and flip it into a really big card of one of your favorite players. In all reality, a $500+ Skenes Topps Chrome rookie card parallel will change hands and become a Tom Brady for my personal collection. Fingers crossed. Don’t hate, that’s good business.
I think one of the coolest inserts in all of Topps’ flagship releases in 2023 was the Celebracion set in 2023 Chrome Update. It’s returning for 2024, and I am stoked to lay eyes on the 20-card set. Last year’s set was vibrant and featured fun photography of players celebrating (of course). It gave me a little bit of a jazzed-up-Stadium-Club-feel with the no-borders approach. This year’s checklist features big names like Juan Soto, Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, Skenes and more.
Last year, I had a dream that I pulled an MLB Debut Patch Autograph from a mega box at Target. It was just a dream, but, that doesn’t mean I’m not going to try again this year! There are a lot of really cool players in the MLB Debut Patch Autograph checklist. For me, pulling a Jonny Deluca, Sal Frelick or Jordan Westburg would have me leaning more towards keeping than selling. Whoever pulls the Skenes will be able to put a down payment on a house.
Breaker Value
For all you group breakers out there, here’s a look at the best value teams. The Orioles, Pirates and Reds are going to be popular for obvious reasons. When assessing best team value, I’m looking at volume (of inserts, autographs, etc.) and primarily quality of position players.
- Pirates: Paul Skenes makes the price tag for the Pirates worth it when it comes to team breaks. I wouldn’t shy away; Skenes’ market is red hot. Beyond Skenes, the Pirates are tied for the most players (13) with an MLB Debut Patch Auto 1/1. Jared Jones and Gold Glove winner Jared Triolo are other notables with MLB Debut Patch Autos.
- Athletics: The A’s are tied with the Pirates for most MLB Debut Patch Autos with 13. Their autograph volume is really strong with 26 total cards on the checklist. Lawrence Butler is your big draw here. Rickey Henderson also makes an appearance. A trio of former top prospects in Mason Miller, Tyler Soderstrom and Zack Gelof have all signed for the product, as well. No Brent Rooker unfortunately, but the A’s have quality and quantity.
- Cubs: The Cubs have pretty good volume with 20 unique autographed cards in the set, eight of which are MLB Debut Patch Autos. Pete Crow-Armstrong is a generational defender who flashed with the bat late in the year. Shota Imanaga is old for a rookie, but he’s a wizard on the bump. Beyond that, Dansby Swanson signed for the product and Michael Busch is in there, as well. There’s quantity and also some quality, even if it lacks the top-end appeal. I’ve got a gut feeling that PCA is going to be a hot name in 2025.
Inserts and Parallels
Topps Chrome Update is full of fun inserts and variations, some of which are much rarer and more collectable than others. While most of the inserts detailed below are available across all formats, I used hobby box odds to give a rough feel for rarity.
I mentioned the Celebracion set above. This set is quite rare and the odds of hitting a Celebracion insert are 1 in almost 150 hobby boxes. Last year, the base insert was numbered to 99 with parallels /50, /25, /10, /5, and Superfractor (1/1). Another big insert set to keep eyes out for is the Helix insert. Falling 1 in every 190 hobby boxes, this 10-card set features Skenes, Chourio, Witt Jr. and Judge to name a few and has Superfractor variations, as well. I liken these sets to Donruss Optic’s “Downtown” and or Panini’s “Kaboom.” While it may not have the same level of notoriety yet, between the rarity and the vibrant visuals, the potential is there for both sets.
Other inserts to keep your eyes out for: Future Stars (three per hobby box on average), All-Etch (at least one per hobby box), Home Field Advantage (one in every 33 hobby boxes), Crushed (roughly one in every 40 hobby boxes), Diamond Dominance (Mega exclusive) and Let’s Go (one in every 382 hobby boxes).
The whole rainbow of Refractors, Waves, Raywaves, Mini-Diamonds, Lava Lamps, Negatives, etc. return again for Chrome Update. There are also Frozen Fractors if you’re into an icy looking variation.
Other big chase cards include a triple auto card featuring the three Jacksons — Holliday, Chourio and Merrill …
… and legend autographs, including Ozzie Smith, Chipper Jones, Carlos Beltran and Rickey Henderson.
Where to Buy, Formats & Pricing
2024 Topps Chrome Update is another flagship release from Topps, so expect this product to be everywhere in a variety of formats for all types of collectors. From hobby shops to big box retailers, keep reading for formats, expectations and price ranges.
Hobby Box
Each hobby box features 24 packs with four cards per pack and will have, on average, one autograph. Hobby boxes are listed in a pre-sale drop on Fanatics for $199.99 (usually a good indicator of what the Topps website price will be on Wednesday) and are trending around $240 on popular hobby websites.
Hobby Jumbo Box
Hobby jumbo boxes feature 12 packs with 11 cards per pack and, on average, three autographs. With three guaranteed autographs, jumbos won’t come cheap. They are listed at $419.99 on the Fanatics pre-sale drop and are trending around $450-$500 on popular hobby websites ahead of release.
Breaker’s Delight
The breaker’s delight boxes (HTA choice) are for the collector’s that want autographs and parallels without all of the filler. Each box will feature one pack with 10 cards and a guaranteed two autographs. Also, expect six base refractors, a Youthquake insert, and three other parallels to round out the box. All killer, no filler. The breaker’s delight format is trending around $400 per box ahead of release.
Mega Box
Each Mega Box of Topps Chrome Update will feature seven packs with four card per pack. Each box will be chock full of exclusive parallels with a guaranteed 10 X-Fractors and two Raywave parallels. You’ll find Mega Boxes at your big box retailers like Target and Walmart for somewhere around $50-$60 per box.
You can see the full Topps Chrome Update checklist here, and you can get the set in all the usual places on Wednesday, including Topps.com.
