In a light week for the major sports, key releases arrive from Upper Deck for hockey, while NASCAR fans get a new Donruss line from Panini.
Here’s a look at the key details you need to know before you buy.
2023/24 Upper Deck Extended Series Hockey
Release date: Wednesday
Overview: Completing this year’s lineup of flagship Upper Deck Hockey products, Extended Series delivers another 250-card base checklist, while adding new Young Guns to chase.
While veterans take up 200 cards in the base set, the 50 Young Guns and 1st Round Rookies are the key chases. Hobby Boxes contain six Young Guns or 1st Round Rookies on average. Collectors hoping to complete the 2023-24 run with Series 1 and Series 2 will now have 750 total cards to chase.
Parallels: The parallel lineup is again led by Outburst, Deluxe, Outburst Red and Outburst Gold. The popular Hobby-exclusive Clear Cut parallels also return.
Inserts: UD Canvas returns as a popular chase, including UD Canvas Young Guns for key rookies. Black & White variations are available as Hobby-exclusives. Another 50-card set of Dazzlers lands in Extended with Blue Dazzlers parallels falling once per box, on average.
Upper Deck also reaches back into its throwback bag with 2008-09 Retro Young Guns and 2007-08 Black Diamond Retros. The ultra-popular SPx design makes an appearance as well with 1997-98 SPX Holoview Retro, including Red and Gold parallels.
- Hobby configuration: 12 cards per pack, 12 packs per box
- Hobby box break: Six Young Guns or 1st Round Rookies, four UD Canvas cards, one Base Set Outburst Parallels and more
- Secondary market price: $149.95 (subject to change)
2024 Panini Donruss Racing
Release date: Friday
Overview: A key release for racing collectors, 2024 Donruss Racing drops this week with autographs, memorabilia cards and the always-popular Rated Rookies lineup.
A “revamped parallel structure” also features additional color from the chromium Optic brand.
Parallels: Red and Blue parallels are all-new for 2024. Optic parallels such as Pink Velocity and Black Velocity also make their transition into Donruss for this cycle, specifically for a popular insert.
Inserts: The popular Downtown SPs return and feature a 10-card checklist that includes Chase Elliot, Joey Logano, Kyle Busch and more. Production Line is all-new for 2024 Donruss and highlights important moments for key drivers. Race Kings returns and features the previously mentioned Pink Velocity and Black Velocity parallels.
Autos and relics: Autographs appear with cameos from the Optic brand — Optic Signatures come with a variety of parallels like Pandora, Gold and Gold Vinyl. Optic Season Highlights Signatures show off big upsets, winning streaks and career milestones.
There’s memorabilia, too, with three new sets focusing on different types of material. Suited Up Swatches features firesuits, Pedal to the Metal Materials has pieces of sheet metal and Burning Rubber Materials contains pieces of race tires.
- Hobby configuration: Eight cards per pack, 24 packs per box, 20 boxes per case
- Hobby box break: Three autographs or memorabilia cards, 24 base parallels, 24 Optic cards and 24 inserts
- Secondary market price: $79.95 (subject to change)
Other releases:
- 2024 Leaf Lumber Baseball (Friday)
- 2023-24 Topps UEFA Club Competitions Museum Collection Soccer (Friday)
- 2023-24 Wild Card 5-Card Draw Basketball (Friday)
Ben Burrows is a reporter and editor for cllct.