Money down the drain

 

I don't like saying cards are "a waste of money" because collectors get so much of that nonsense from noncollectors during their lifetime.

 

Generally card collecting is not a waste of money for a myriad of reasons, from being educational to improving mental health. But as the hobby continues to sink under Fanatics' heavy-handed rule, there are times when, yes, even I have to admit that cards can be money down the drain.

 

Here is what made me think this way:

 

I received not one, but two Target gift cards for my birthday. I was determined to use them on cards (I may become very boring and rethink that strategy thanks to this). Instead of purchasing another Series 2 box, which was quite productive for me, I selected the latest Topps Chrome Platinum offering. Not a smooth move.

 

I knew I was doing something dumb yet I am very confident in justifying my card purchases. "It'll all work out" I rationalized -- because quite often it does. But the following was staring me in the face:

 

1. The card set is from 2025. It says so right on the box. It was released in early June. Topps is asking you to buy old product.

 

2. It's insanely overpriced, especially for out-of-date cards. This box was 89 DOLLARS. That took up both gift cards and comes out to 3 bucks per card when you include shipping -- because there are only 32 cards in the box. There is no justification for that. It's outrageous.

 

3. The 1955 design is boring. I've thought that since the first time I saw it.

 

4. IMO, the Chrome Platinum series should not even be a series. I liked it when it started with 1952. I've ignored it ever since. The color parallels used with this set I find gross, especially the year the series used the 1953 design.

 

But hell let's look at the cards and try to find something redeeming.

 

Pack 1

 

301 - Spencer Bivens, Giants

129 - Logan Gilbert, Mariners

55WS-1 - Roy Campanella, Dodgers

116 - Adolis Garcia, Rangers

 

The Campanella insert, which is from a series that commemorates the 1955 World Series, is a good pull. Spencer Bivens has spent just about all of 2026 in Triple A and Adolis Garcia has been a member of the Phillies since the start of the season.

 

 

Pack 2

 

182 - Will Smith, Dodgers

26 - Cody Bellinger, Yankees

55DH-19 - Bob Gibson/Lou Brock, Cardinals

123 - Jackson Merrill, Padres

 

Another Dodger pull, though I suspect Johnny already has the Will Smith card queued up for shipment to the night owl nest.

 

The double-sided Gibson/Brock card is from the Doubleheaders insert set. This set is already 500 cards without the inserts and you're not getting many cards per box so Fanatics is actively rooting against set collectors.

 

 

Pack 3

 

235 - Jose Canseco, Athletics

111 - Matt Chapman, Giants

153 - Christopher Morel, Rays, Topps logo refractor /499

31 - Javier Baez, Tigers

 

As you can imagine there are approximately 50 different refractor parallels -- more if you include the autograph cards. Christopher Morel has been a Florida Marlin since season's start.

 

 

Pack 4

 

406 - Vladimir Guerrero, Expos

242 - Andres Galarraga, Expos, prism refractor

231 - Jackson Jobe, Tigers

144 - Gerrit Cole, Yankees, blue prism refractor

 

I did fairly well with Expos pulls in this box, although two of them are parallels. Andres Galarraga's name is misspelled with the extra "L" added in his last name. Also, I had enough of pulling Jackson Jobe cards last year. I don't need to be doing it in 2026 especially since he hasn't pitched this year.

 

 

Pack 5

 

177 - Josh Smith, Rangers

355 - DJ Herz, Nationals

136 - Aaron Judge, Yankees, orange vibration parallel, /25

252 - Brooks Baldwin, White Sox

 

I couldn't have pulled a better player (well, it could've been a Dodger) for a numbered-to-25 card even if the parallel is silly. It looks like some 1970s Scooby Doo cartoon graphic to convey time travel. ... Brooks Baldwin hasn't been in the majors since last year and Herz hasn't been in the majors since 2024.

 

 

Pack 6

 

267 - Marcelo Mayer, Red Sox

10 - Colton Cowser, Orioles

55RS-13 - Pedro Martinez, Red Sox, 1955 Rails and Sails insert

261 - David Morgan, Padres

 

All three current players still with the same team! 

 

 

Pack 7

 

444 - Billy Martin, Yankees

167 - Manny Machado, Padres

156 - Aaron Nola, Phillies

465 - Mike Piazza, Mets

 

It's cool to see Billy Martin in this set. It's probably too much to expect but I'd like to see more time-appropriate players in this set each year. Mike Piazza means little to me in a set with the 1955 design but '50s players do.

 

This is the first pack without an insert or a parallel, which again underlines how stacked the deck is against set collectors.

 

Pack 8

 

39 - Teoscar Hernandez, Dodgers

435 - Pedro Martinez, Expos, prism refractor

474 - Mark Buehrle, White Sox

423 - Jimmy Rollins, Phillies

 

Another Dodger and a second Pedro Martinez in the box.

 

If I was collecting this set, I got a grand total of 23 cards from the set for the low low price of $89.

 

None of this is shocking to me. I knew what I was getting into and had the gift cards to soften the blow. It was not my money down the drain but it was somebody's. (I did not let the gift-card providers know what a sad commentary this box was on the current state of the hobby).

 

Sure, everyone collects differently and sees value in different cards, but nobody likes getting ripped off. I'd recommend not buying this.