Topps Bunt Top 5 of 25

This post finishes up the series of Top 5s of three Topps Digital platforms. The Topps Bunt sets are massive compared to Marvel Collect and Star Wars Card Trader. I found that it is much more challenging to pick a top 5 in Bunt than on the other platforms. Generally, I flip through my sets and add to the favorites that I already marked throughout the year. With Marvel and Star Wars, I usually end up with 8-9 favorites that I need to weed down to the top 5. With Topps Bunt, I had over 20 cards in the favorites that needed to whittle down to a top 5. I left a lot on the cutting room floor, but I hope you agree this is good top 5 list and as a bonus I always include my lowest card count card of the year. So, here we go with my top 5 Topps Bunt of 25.

5. Rickey Henderson, Topps Chrome 25, Series 1 - Ultraviolet All-Stars, Super Rare, Card Count 2515

This groovy card stands out! There isn’t a single player style that I don’t like, but Rickey Henderson is a classic. When a baseball card looks like the next baseball card, this one brings it. I love the classic action shot of Henderson with the circle cut-out with a face image, and his name shooting out of the top of the wavey checkerboard is his name Rickey Henderson.

4. Pete Crow Armstrong, Creature Feature 25, Series 1 - Moonlight, Rare, Card Count 11,355

Holiday cards are a ton of fun, and this creepy motion shot with the broken screen, static view, vampire castle in the background of this PCA card is great. What more is needed for some Halloween spooks?

4. Riley Greene, 12 Days of Topps 25, Special Event - Relic, Super Rare, Card Count 1,419

Seems like I made a mistake and have a tie. I mean, I did say it was hard to narrow down to the top 5. It is fitting however, because they are both special event, holiday cards. Like the Halloween card, this card is a motion with snow falling and every now and then Santa flies by on his sleigh pulled by reindeer. It even comes with a little present uniform patch in the card.

3. Tarik Skubal, Postseason Match-ups 25, Wild Card Round - Gold, Super Rare, Card Count 909

There is so much cool stuff happening on this card. First the text, making it feel like the playoffs with “The Matchups,” “Tigers Vs. Guardians,” and the Wildcard Logo. Yes! This is a playoff card! The feature player, Tarik Skubal, prominently displayed on the front and in the back a Guardians opponent waiting for the pitch. This design does exactly what it is supposed to do, build anticipation in the playoffs.

2. Greg Maddux, Icons of the MLB 25, Series 2 - Bronze, Uncommon, Card Count 25,780

Yes, clearly this top 5 is heavily dominated by Tigers and Cubs (don’t worry, #1 isn’t either). But, it really is more about the design of the card than the subject…until this card. This is all about the subject. I love this entire set that celebrates some of the best from the past like Carlos Delgado, Trevor Hoffman, Larry Walker, and Frank Thomas. I chose the Greg Maddux card because he is one of my top 3 pitchers of all time. I really like the late 1980s uniform and his high kick delivery. This card is also a motion card where the boarders slide in to frame the Icon of the past.

1. Squirrel, Topps Now 25, August - August 22, Uncommon, Card Count 24,041

I promised that the number one card of 2025 would not be a Tiger or Cub, so here you go, it is the cute squirrel that snuck into Yankee Stadium on August 22. I don’t recall if they caught him or he got away, but this Topps photographer caught the whole thing. This has to be one of the most unique cards celebrating the human or natural side of the game. It is my #1 Topps Bunt card of 2025.

Bonus Entry: Lowest Card Count of 2025

Jason Varitek, 1990 Topps Baseball 25, Series One - Gold Signature, Legendary (Super Premium Pack Exclusive), Limited Edition Count 50

Top 5 Topps Bunt Cards for 2024

My Fantasy Baseball Teams in 2024 were horrible.  Thank goodness my teams did not reflect the season and the Topps Bunt cards that were released in 2024.  Unlike my fantasy teams, Topps released some really amazing sets from the base set style, to my favorite Bowman common set to some of the higher end limited edition sets.  

I was able to acquire six legendary cards and seven iconic cards in the 2024 set with the Nolan Gorman Future Stars 25 card count highlighting top elite status of my set.  

Here are my Top 5 Topps Bunt Cards for 2024: 

5.  Topps Chrome 24, Oneil Cruz, Series 1 - Base - Common, N/A Card Count (12/27/24)

You must know, after viewing my Top 5 2024 Topps Bunt Base Cards post, that I love action cards.  This
card is just that on a really nice card design.  On one corner of the card the team name is written in a clear, team color themed font and on the opposite corner the team logo is prominently displayed.  The player name and position is printed in the lower right corner and the card delivers a nice "shiny" look as one tilts the device on which they are viewing the card.  Then, on this particular card we get a nice landscape image of Oneil Cruz in full arm-extension mid-throw.  It is a marvelous card that draws in the collector the moment it is revealed in the pack.  

4.  Topps Heritage 24, Dansby Swanson, Series 1 - Clubhouse Collection Relic - Rare, 4,393 Card Count

This card and set are classic. This is a card layout that I had in my early days of collecting cards. You
know, those days when the doubles or cards of players we didn't like ended up in the spokes of our bikes. The Heritage Collection has a simple yet eye catching yellow and purple boarder.  The title of the set at the top, "Clubhouse Collection."  On the bottom of the card is Dansby Swanson's name with a classic spring training-like photo of Dansby holding a bat out front of him.  Then what makes this card really unique is the uniform piece in a circle feature between the image and the bottom boarder.  If there was any doubt, this is a classic baseball card and it makes my number four top card of 2024.  

3.  Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary 23, Dave Winfield, Series 2 - Base - Uncommon, 10,299 Card Count

The Chrome sets return for another look at my top 5 Topps Bunt cards of 2024.  This is a Platinum
anniversary card that has the same "shiny" feature that the Oneil Cruz card has as mentioned above with the number 5 card.  There are a couple features that highlight this card for me.  First, I love it when Topps highlights players from the past, especially when the player happens to be one of my favorite players of all time, Dave Winfield!  Another feature of the card is the dual images on the card.  On the right side of the card Topps gives us a full card portrait image in color of Winfield while on the left side of the card we get a smaller full black and white image of Winfield as he appears to be on the base paths.  Finally, who doesn't love a signature on the card?  

2. 1989 Topps Baseball 24, Wade Boggs, Series 1 - Signature - Super Rare, 1,864 Card Count

Speaking of signatures on baseball cards from above, the number two card of this year's top cards
makes this spot largely because of the signature.  Who doesn't love a signature series card with the signature of a super star of the past, Wade Boggs?  Not only an awesome player with an awesome signature, but Topps gives us a 35th anniversary card style from the 1989 set.  I always loved this card set with the large, colorful team name and banner under the team name for the player's name.  Like the Dansby Swanson card in the number 4 slot of this list, this Wade Boggs card just screams baseball card!  

1.  Allen & Ginter 23, Al Kaline, Series 1 - Uniform Countdown - Rare, 7,954 Card Count

Uniqueness wins in this years Top 5 Topps Bunt cards of 2024.  I love these Allen & Ginter cards. 
They are the old school cigar box type cards with a smaller dimention than a regular baseball cards.  They are drawn cards instead of photos of the players with a classic font that screams a yesteryear time period.  This card was chosen in particular because of, keeping very much to this year's theme of classic players, Al Kaline of my second favorite Detroit Tigers.  This is the kind of card I would put into a frame and hang on my wall.  I mean on the wall of my living room.  

I hope you enjoyed this list of my Top 5 Topps Bunt digital cards from 2024.  Let me know what your top cards are from the set or did my list resonate with you as well?  Let me know and Happy New Year!  Here is to looking forward to a great 2025 baseball season.   

My Top 5 Topps Bunt 2024 Base Cards

Ah, collecting the classic Topps baseball cards as a kid in the 1980's.  That was me.  Coming home from the drug store with 3-4 packs in my pocket.  I was looking for Chicago  Cubs players: Ryne Sandberg, Ron Cey, Leon Durham, and others.  My friends and I would trade, but we would always end up with doubles of players we didn't know or care about.  So, we would slap a clothespin on the back forks of our bike, slide that baseball card double in the clip and stick it through the spokes.  We would cruise up and down the street with our bike-cycle buzzing.  Base cards of a set are like that; you end up with a whole bunch.  But they are a great way to get a good look at who these players are.  Some card pictures are staged and profile-like.  Some cards are position players up to bat, and the pitchers often get a mid- throw shot.  All of them are pretty cool when flipping through the cards and checking career stats on the back of the card. 

In Topps Bunt digital card trading app, there are 450 series 1 base cards, and while I haven't checked recently, I would bet I have dupes of most of them if not all.  The other day I decided to flip through the base cards, since I don't really take a good look at them after the initial release.  Who are the names?  Who has had a good season?  Are there any rookie sensation base cards?  It is fun; it's why we collect.  

Here are my Top 5 Bunt 2024 Base Cards with a comment about the style of each one:  

5.  Brandon Lowe, 2024 Bunt Base Series - White

Classic shot of the backswing of a hitter while catching most of his face so fans can recognize him.  Also does a nice job of showing the "battle worn" helmet.  Super cool.  

4.  Andrew Abbott, 2024 Bunt Base Series 1 - White

If I were a pitcher, this mid-pitch action shot is definitely what I would want on my base card!  

3.  Ezequiel Tovar, 2024 Bunt Base Series 1 - White

The action shots get my attention, and what better way to capture a short stop than on a throw over to first base.  This is a great mid-motion shot for Tovar.  

2.  Kyle Hendricks, 2024 Bunt Base Series 1 - White

I love this "in the stretch" position for a pitcher's card.  This card also gives a good sense of background.  A good card will also place you in the game like you are there watching.  This card, blurred, has lots of fan space.  That is a good quality for a card.  

1.  Francisco Alvarez, 2024 BUNT Base Series 1 - White

I love this in-game action of Alvarez lifting his mask and his colorful chest pad popping on this card.  It also has the background factor too.  

I want to take a second to discuss the boarder features.  The boarder has a modern look all the way around with the right side multilayered.  Pretty coo.  I like the team logo in the bottom right.  It is clear, but it doesn't dominate the picture/card.  The name of the players is clearly found at the bottom of the card.  The only criticism is the that the player's position does blend in at the bottom.  I don't mind the placement, but maybe a bit larger font.  Still, I really liked this set.  How about a bonus card?  

Bonus: Austin Gomber, 2024 BUNT Base Series 1 - White

What's up the the bonus?  It is my list and I couldn't leave this one off.  As the top 5, this card has good action in mid pitch, but what I really like about this card is it shows rain falling.  The drops are all around him.  Once again, anything that makes me, the collector, feel like I was there to take the picture myself is awesome.    

Top 5 Marvel Collect Digital Cards of 2023

It is time to continue looking at the top 5 digital cards from Topps.  Marvel Collect is up and there were some really great sets and cards this year that it was difficult to keep up and not completely run out of credits.  These 2023 Marvel Collect cards all come from the rare variant and are, in my opinion, the Top 5 of my collection.  There are many, many more insert sets that I don't have that might very well be much more interesting or coveted, but I am only going with what I've collected.  That said, I may not have succeeded in completing the set, but they are cards that I pulled from those sets.  You might recognize those last three sentences because they came right off the post from last week when I looked at the Top 5 Star Wars Card Trader 2023 cards.  If you didn't get a look at that post, you can click right here and then come back for the Marvel Top 5.  

Here are the Top 5 Marvel Collect cards from the account of CYCLELIBRARIAN: 

5. Guardians of the Galaxy Collection, Major Victory, Series 1 - Galactic Heroes - Static 10,083 Global Count

Okay, so right out of the gate I did a little cheating.  This card is actually from the Uncommon variant, but I knew I had a Major Victory card.  Major Victory is a really cool character with lots of interesting history, and he doesn't make many appearances in the digital card world.  He had to be on my Top 5.  

4. Collector' Reserve '23, Moon Knight, Volume 1 - Across the Universe - Silver, 12,823 Global  Count

Why did this card make my top 4?  Take a minute to look at the art on this card.  It comes right off of the cover of a book or off of a framed picture on the wall.  It is beautiful artwork.  On top of the realism of the card, it has great action where we can guess where he is coming from and where he is going.  What is his next move?  You tell me!  

3.  Avengers/X-Men 60th Anniversary Box, X-Men #6, Series 1 - Anniversary Varients - Group 1 - Red, 12,223 Global Count

I had this cover back in the day, and it is a classic.  It is an appropriate card image for an Anniversary set.  I love the action of the X-Men as they move from left to right on the page with classic poses from Cyclops, Psylocke, and Wolverine front and center.  In the background, the title of the team and book are carved into the mountain, rock solid.  Just awesome!  

2. Artist Spotlight 2023, Cable, Kael Ngu - White - Volume 1, N/A Global Count

First, thank you, Marvel Collect, for this set highlighting the awesome artists of the cards which we love.  Second, thanks for the Cable card.  It is no secret that Cable is my favorite X-Men character, but Kael Ngu pulled the image of how I see Cable right out of my head and put it on this card.  This is why it is number 2 on my Top 5.  

1. Women of Marvel 2023, Elektra, Series 2 - Silver, 8,865 Global Count

This may be more of a tip of the hat to the series than necessarily this card, but I don't think many could argue that this isn't a great card.  That is really the standard of this set that highlights many women of Marvel like Ghost Spider, She-Hulk, Black Cat, Wasp, Magik, and so many more.  Anyway, this card of Electra is just, well, electric.  

I decided to highlight one more card.  It is more of a gold star of my collection as it comes from the highest variant that I have, Epic, and it is the lowest Global Count card in my 2023 collection.  

Artist Spotlight 2023, Spider-man, Gabrielle Dell'Otto - Gold Motion - Volume 1, 127 Global Count

Thanks for taking a look at what I think are the Top 5 Marvel Collect digital cards from 2023 in my collection.  What do you think?  Would you have chosen these cards too?  Do you collect Marvel Collect too?  Give me a follow on the app CYCLELIBRARIAN and give me a follow right here on Seeking Positivity in the Galaxy.  

Top 5 Topps Bunt Cards of 2022

Another year of Topps Bunt digital card trading in 2022 brought out some really cool and fun sets.  This is a Top 5 list of some of my favorite cards and sets.  I digitally own all of the cards shown, but I may not own the complete sets.  Here we go!  

5.  Topps Original Artwork 22, Juan Soto, Rare, 13,111 card count

Original art always stands out to me, and while there isn't anything particularly fancy about these cards themselves, I really like the simple nature of them.  The focus is very much on the players.  I also like that this variant of the set only has five cards.   

4.  Halloween Collection 22, Javy Baez, Uncommon, 64.626 card count

While I don't always collect all of them, I do enjoy the holiday sets that come out.  This Halloween collection stands out.  It is very colorful and has a real, spooky feel.  A lot of variants and subsets came with collecting cards from this set.  To quote my digital card-collecting friend and host of the Rebel Base Card podcast, Greg McLaughlin, "this set has lots of tasty nuggets."  I think what he meant is with all the uncommon, rare, and super rare variants, there were a lot of insert cards to collect, and once you got deep into cracking packs, the odds were that something would be popping out often.  I have four copies of this Javy Baez card, so I am trading for any uncommon 2022 card I don't have if you are in need of this card.  I highly recommend checking out the cards in this set.  They are full of spooky baseball fun.  

3. MLB at Field of Dreams 22, Wilson Contreras, Uncommon, 31,286 card count

The Field of Dreams games that the MLB has played in Dyersville, Iowa at the sight of the filming of the iconic film Field of Dreams the last two seasons have been very successful and brought lots of attention.  When Topps Bunt brought out a set of the two teams who played there in 2022, I knew I would have to pick up this set of 50 cards, because my beloved Chicago Cubs played and are highlighted in the set along with their opponent the Cincinnati Reds.  I love the classic look of the border and font with a different player from each team highlighted on the card with a cornfield in the background.  So cool.  I have all but 3 cards in this set with lots of dupes.  I would love to fill this set if you have the cards I need. 

2. Topps Now 22, Aaron Judge, Uncommon, 18,024 card count

This is one of my favorite sets.  I don't collect them all, in fact, I don't come anywhere close to collecting all of these daily sets of the season and off-season.  I generally collect when players of my teams (Cubs and Tigers) appear on the Topps Now cards, or I will chase them when I feel something significant has happened like a No-Hitter or something.  So, when Aaron Judge belted home run 62, that seemed appropriate.  These cards always have sharp images of the highlights of the prior day's games.  

1. Topps 206 22, Anthony Rizzo, Uncommon 42,530 card count

This set topps my list (pun intended).  I really enjoy when Bunt creators use throwback borders and card styles.  These mini-cards from way before my time are cool when they show players of today.  This set had 4 series in 2022, and I didn't get nearly enough of these cards.  I am very willing to trade dupes of these cards for cards of this set that I didn't get which is a pretty significant number.  

Baseball Cards: How much are they worth?

To be able to answer the question of how much baseball cards are worth, I think we have to explore to whom baseball cards are meant.  At first, I think about when I fell in love with baseball cards, and that was when I was a kid.  Is that who the cards are meant?  It seems, given the packaging, placement on the shelves, and the stick of gum inside (old-school, I know), that they were intended for kids.  If we go far enough back, however, some of the most famous (and expensive) baseball cards came out of cigarette packs.  That changes the audience a little, even in those times.  This makes the answer simple; baseball cards are for baseball fans. 

I love the idea that cards are a great way to introduce kids to the game.  I happened upon a blaster box (I'm not even sure I know what that means) of 2021 Topps Baseball cards at Target a few weeks ago, and with the excitement of the new baseball season and a few extra dollars in my pocket, I picked it up.  But who seemed to be as excited about the purchase as my nine-year-old daughter.  She knows I love the Cubs and watching baseball, so she seemed interested.  She convinced me to let her open the packs with her.  So what is the value of baseball cards?  I have no idea in this case.  How do you put value on your child asking to spend time with you to open baseball cards?  Dare I say that these packs of cards are priceless when the payout is time with our own children.  

As she was opening the cards, she was tossing them in a pile on the ground, then sliding them together and using the floor to create a nice stack.  The instinct in me was to say, "Careful!  Don't bend the corners!"  I stopped myself. What was I thinking?  This is supposed to be fun.  She is supposed to enjoy looking at them, opening them, organizing them, not get yelled at because she isn't being "careful" enough.  Heck, I used to stick them in the spokes of my bike!!  What is the value of a baseball card?  The value is looking at them, checking stats and stories on the backs, organizing them and then reorganizing them, talking about the players and the teams.  

I am sure this treatment makes some collectors cringe, but what is the value of a baseball card?  Ninety-five percent of the cards will be worth less than twenty-five cents years from now!  Heck, my Topps Rookie Ken Griffey Jr. card from the 1990 set is only worth $1.00.  Is that what that card is worth?  Heck no!  That card is worth the stories and my history with the card, my history of watching Ken Griffey Jr. play baseball, my history of trading that card with friends.  That card and set is a history book when I open it up with my kids.  I share those cards and tell stories of the season and the players.  They look at the backs of the cards to discover which players were the greats of my time growing up.  What is that worth?  More than any money, that is no doubt.  

When the season starts, I can't wait to put these new cards into sleeves and a binder.  But this year, my daughter will organize them.  Knowing her, she will ignore the numbers on the back.  She will probably organize them by team, or by position, or maybe by which uniforms she likes best.  But the most important part to me, is that she wants to organize them with me.  What is the value of that?