Led by flagship releases such as National Treasures Basketball, Topps Update Series Baseball and Upper Deck Series 1 Hockey, the month of October is packed with some of the biggest trading card drops of the year.
Here’s a glance at the top products currently scheduled to release this month and the key things you should know before you buy.
Oct. 2: 2024 Panini Donruss Elite Football
Panini Elite Football returns for another season with 100 rookies and the popular “Pen Pals” autograph sets. Among the inserts will be “Throwback Threads,” the popular “Spellbound” set, where collectors put together individual letters of a player’s name, and the case hit “First Class,” which features a classroom chalkboard behind the player.
- Hobby configuration: Two autos, one memorabilia, three rookie cards, six parallels, 11 inserts
- Box break: 20 packs per box, five cards per pack
- Secondary market value: $299.95 (subject to change)
Oct 4: 2023-24 Panini Noir Basketball
One of Panini’s most expensive basketball sets, Noir also delivers some of the best designs in the hobby.
This year’s release will exclusively feature on-card autographs, including the “Sneaker Spotlight Signatures” set, which highlights the footwear of popular players.
Other chases include the Metal Frame inserts, such as “Feature Length,” “Vintage Art,” “Motion Picture” and “Critically Acclaimed.”
- Hobby configuration: Three base, base parallels or inserts, three memorabilia cards, four autos
- Box break: One pack per box, 10 cards per pack
- Secondary market value: $2,599.95 (subject to change)
Oct 4: 2024 Panini Origins Football
Considered one of Panini’s best-designed football sets, Origins returns with another lineup of on-card autographs and multiple booklet sets, including “Rookie Booklet Patch Autographs” and “Origins of Greatness Booklet Autographs.”
Most associated with Panini’s basketball sets, the “Blank Slate” insert returns to Origins with a player action shot over a (mostly) blank canvas.
- Hobby configuration: One Jumbo Rookie Jersey Auto, One additional auto, one memorabilia card, two base cards, two base parallels
- Box break: One pack per box, seven cards per pack
- Secondary market value: $324.95 (subject to change)
Oct 4: 2024 Topps UFC Knockout
With the UFC license back under Topps, Knockout returns with another lineup of booklets, relics and autographs. Insert sets like “Craftmaster,” “Lights,” “Camera” and “Action” fall once in every seven packs.
Autograph Relics are flanked by Dual Autographs /25 and Triple Autographs /10.
- Hobby configuration: Two autographs, one autograph relic, one relic, three numbered parallels, four inserts
- Box break: Four packs per box, 10 cards per pack
- Secondary market value: $289.95 (subject to change)
Oct 9: 2023-24 Marvel Annual
Likely for the final time, Upper Deck’s flagship Marvel Annual set arrives as an entry-level set perfect for set collectors or those new to the trading card space.
After years with Upper Deck, the Marvel trading card license has switched to Topps, with the first North American set likely to arrive in early 2025.
- Hobby configuration: TBD
- Box break: Five cards per pack, 16 packs per box
- Secondary market value: $84.95 (subject to change)
Oct. 9: 2024 Bowman Sterling Baseball
One of Topps’ most elegant sets, Bowman Sterling is anchored by a 50-card Prospect and 50-card Rookie chrome set.
Among the top chases are sets such as “Sterling Extravaganza Autographs,” the “Triple Refractor Autographs” numbered to 25 and “Sterling-Tek Autographs,” which pull some inspiration from the Topps Tek sets.
- Hobby configuration: Five packs per box, six cards per pack
- Box break: Five autographs
- Secondary market value: $409.95 (subject to change)
Oct 9: 2023-24 Upper Deck Skybox Metal Universe Hockey
As usual, Upper Deck reaches back to bring some of its rich history to an ultra-modern set. Along with the typical rookies to chase, collectors can find throwback inserts such as “Soul of the Game,” “Premium Player,” and the ultra-popular “Z-Force” cards.
- Hobby configuration: 15 packs per box, seven card per pack
- Box break: Three Skybox Premium Prospects Cards, three 2008-09 Metal Universe Retro cards, one Soul of the Game, Premium Player, 9.461e KM card, one Z-Force card
- Secondary market value: $199.95 (subject to change)
Oct 9: 2023-24 Topps Mercury: Victor Wembanyama
Announced for the first time last month, Topps Mercury will follow a single player during their first professional season — this time it’s Victor Wembanyama.
The $8,000-per-box price shocked collectors, though the set is packed with 6,000 numbered autographs and a variety of game-worn memorabilia cards.
- Hobby configuration: Eight cards per box
- Box break: One Chrome Autograph, one Relic Autograph
- Secondary market value: $10,000 (subject to change)
Oct. 11: 2024 Topps Cosmic Chrome Baseball
One of Topps’ most unique designs, Cosmic Chrome Baseball plays into the planetary theme whenever possible with inserts including “Into the Cosmos,” “Star Command” and “Launched into Orbit.”
The “Stella Nova” set arrives just once per case while the “Supernova” insert remains an SSP. As with previous Cosmic sets, collectors will chase cards through the Solar System with the “Planetary Pursuit,” which features planet-themed parallels that get tougher to find as you get further from the Sun.
- Hobby configuration: 20 packs per box, four cards per pack
- Box break: One Nucleus Refractor, two additional parallels
- Secondary market value: $419.95 (subject to change)
Oct. 11: 2023-24 Upper Deck SP Authentic Hockey
The chase continues for Connor Bedard rookie cards, this time with the Autograph Future Watch Rookies playing a leading role. Collectors also have the chance to score Future Watch Auto Patches, 2003-04 Retro Future Watch Autos and 2013-14 Retro Future Watch Auto Patches.
Upper Deck is also offering a bounty program, with the first 50 collectors to complete the 91-card Spectrum FX set getting a free 100-card Gold Spectrum FX set, a nine-card Spectrum FX Bounty Award set and another surprise bounty.
- Hobby configuration: 10 packs per box, nine cards per pack
- Box break: 10 Collaborations, Evolve, and/or Freshman Focus cards, 10 Limited Red cards, four Pageantry cards, 1 or more Autograph Future Watch Rookies
- Secondary market value: $499.95 (subject to change)
Oct. 16: 2023-24 Panini Impeccable Soccer
Considered one of Panini America’s ultra high-end sets, Impeccable delivers a number of designs featuring metal, including the “Stainless Stars” cards with Gold and Silver. Among the autographs are the “Canvas Creations” and “Immortal Ink” sets.
- Hobby configuration: One pack per box, eight cards per pack
- Box break: Four autographs, one additional autograph or memorabilia card, one insert, one parallels and one base card
- Secondary market value: $974.95 (subject to change)
Oct. 16: 2024 Panini Origins WNBA Basketball
Possibly the most important WNBA product to date, this Origins set will contain the first flagship WNBA rookie cards for Caitlin Clark and a number of other rookies from an iconic rookie class.
Among the insert chases will be popular sets like “Tiger Eyes” and the fan-favorite “Blank Slate” set.
- Hobby configuration: One pack per box, 10 cards per pack
- Box break: Two autographs, one memorabilia card
- Secondary market value: $399.95 (subject to change)
Oct. 16: 2024 Topps Update Series Baseball
The final Topps flagship set from 2024, Update covers a number of new rookies as well as events from All-Star Weekend. Insert sets include “Let Him Cook,” “Autumn Tales” and “2024 All-Star Game.”
Featuring a 350-card base set, Topps Update is another major target for the yearly set collectors.
- Hobby configuration: 20 packs per box, 12 cards per pack, one silver pack
- Box break: One autograph or relic
- Secondary market value: $124.95 (subject to change)
Oct 16: 2024-25 Upper Deck Series 1 Hockey
Upper Deck’s flagship hockey set, Series 1 delivers a new lineup of top rookies to chase, including the iconic Young Guns set. Among the key chases will be the UD Canvas cards, which come with a different cardstock, as well as the popular Outburst parallels.
New for Series 1 are video game-themed inserts, including “Gaming XP,” “Gaming Co-Op,” “Gaming POV” and “Gaming PVP.”
- Hobby configuration: 12 packs per box, 12 cards per pack
- Box break: Six Young Guns cards, four UD Canvas cards, one Blue Dazzlers card, 1 base set Outburst Silver parallel
- Secondary market value: $119.95 (subject to change)
Oct. 23: 2024 Panini Select WNBA Basketball
Panini isn’t taking long to drop a second flagship product for Caitlin Clark, this time with Select making its WNBA debut.
Among the top chases will be the iconic “Black Color Blast” insert set — that card will likely end up as one of Clark’s most important rookie cards.
- Hobby configuration: 12 packs per box, five cards per pack
- Box break: Three autographs or memorabilia, 12 Prizms
- Secondary market value: $749.95 (subject to change)
Oct 23: 2024 Panini Absolute Football
While the Absolute Football base cards don’t inspire collectors much, the “Kaboom!” inserts remain some of the most important and coveted in the trading card hobby.
The recent addition of the “Explosive” insert, which has a similar feel, has been a big boost to the set as well.
Beyond inserts, relics such as “Tools of the Trade Materials” and “Rookie Premiere Materials” are expected to be favorites among collectors.
- Hobby configuration: Three packs per box, five cards per pack
- Box break: One Rookie Premiere Materials Autograph, two additional autographs, two memorabilia cards, one insert, two parallels, six base cards
- Secondary market value: $499.95 (subject to change)
Oct. 30: 2024 Panini Certified Football
While Certified is anchored by the “Freshman Fabric Signatures,” a number of popular inserts are highly-chaseable as well, including SSPs like “The Mighty” and “Night Moves.” The horizontal “Rookie Certifications” should also display well.
- Hobby configuration: 10 packs per box, five cards per pack
- Box break: One Freshman Fabric Signatures, one additional autograph, two memorabilia cards, 10 inserts
- Secondary market value: $324.95 (subject to change)
Oct 30: 2023-24 Panini Obsidian Soccer
A growing favorite among soccer collectors, Obsidian has unique geometric designs and an impressive lineup of SSP inserts worth chasing.
Along with the “Electric Etch” parallels, collectors will put a priority on insert sets like “Vitreous,” “Supernova,” “White Night” and the ultra-popular “Black Color Blast.”
- Hobby configuration: One pack per box, seven cards per pack
- Box break: Four autographs or memorabilia cards, one parallel, one insert or insert parallel
- Secondary market value: $309.95 (subject to change)
Oct 30: 2023-24 Panini National Treasures Basketball
One of the most important basketball sets released every year, National Treasures returns as one of the hobby’s biggest boom-or-bust products.
As always, the “Rookie Patch Autographs” will be the major chase as the one of the flagship cards for every key player.
The “Rookie Patch Autographs Logoman” cards expect to be among the most coveted cards in the hobby for another year with “Colossal Logoman” and “Highly Treasured” relics supporting the veterans.
- Hobby configuration: One pack per box, 10 cards per pack
- Box break: Four autographs, four memorabilia cards, one printing plate, one base card
- Secondary market value: $3,699.94 (subject to change)
Ben Burrows is a reporter and editor for cllct.