Quick facts
| Brand | Topps (Fanatics Collectibles) |
| First year | 1998 |
| Release window | Early to mid March when active |
| License | Full MLB and MLBPA |
| Box formats | Hobby, Blaster, Hanger Pack |
| Guaranteed hits | None; autographs and relics were random inserts |
| Hobby box (live) | $60-$95as written · live listings look off |
Box formats for Topps Opening Day
Hobby Box
The Opening Day hobby box was unusual for a Topps hobby product because it had no hit guarantee. The 2022 box held 36 packs of 7 cards for a distributor price around $50-$60, with the pitch being one insert per pack and a shot at an autograph, mascot autograph or Diamond relic somewhere in the box. Hobby boxes were the only place to find hobby-exclusive parallels in some years, and a case was 20 boxes. As of August 2026 the 2022 hobby box trades at $60-$95 sealed, the 2021 box at $60-$90 and the 2020 box at $80-$130.
Blaster Box
The blaster was the format most people actually bought: 20 packs plus two bonus packs of 7 cards (154 cards) for a $19.99 MSRP in 2021-2022, sold at Target, Walmart and grocery stores. Blasters carried the Opening Day Blue Foil parallel (numbered to the year, 2,022 copies in 2022) and were the cheapest way to get a stack of flagship-design rookies. Sealed 2022 blasters sell for $30-$50, 2021 blasters for $30-$50 and 2020 blasters for $40-$70; the 2018 blaster, with Ohtani, Acuna and Torres rookies, runs $80-$140.
Hanger Pack
Hangers were single large packs at $9.99 retail, typically 2-3 dollars a pack in secondary bulk lots. They carry no exclusive content and are not a sealed-investment format; buy them to rip.
Recent years: prices and key rookies
| Year | Hobby box (Aug 2026) | Blaster box | Key rookies / chase |
|---|
| 2022 | $60-$95 | $30-$50 | Wander Franco, Cal Raleigh, Jarren Duran, Bobby Witt Jr. (via Series 1 timing), Luck of the Irish inserts, final edition |
| 2021 | $60-$90 | $30-$50 | Randy Arozarena, Alec Bohm, Ke'Bryan Hayes, Jo Adell, Sixto Sanchez |
| 2020 | $80-$130 | $40-$70 | Luis Robert, Gavin Lux, Yordan Alvarez, Bo Bichette |
| 2019 | $90-$150 | $50-$90 | Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Opening Day insert), Eloy Jimenez, Pete Alonso, Fernando Tatis Jr. |
| 2018 | $120-$200 | $80-$140 | Shohei Ohtani, Ronald Acuna Jr., Gleyber Torres, Rhys Hoskins, Rafael Devers |
The 2018 box is the one that turned Opening Day into a sealed product people watch: the Ohtani rookie with the Opening Day stamp sells for a meaningful premium over the flagship card and the print run was small relative to Series 1. The 2019 box benefits from Guerrero and Tatis, and 2020 from Robert and Alvarez. The 2021 and 2022 boxes are cheap, and the 2022 edition has a modest "last one" premium building; neither has a rookie class strong enough to drive them on their own, so they are a bet on nostalgia for the line rather than on a player.
Chase cards, parallels and hit rates
Opening Day's inserts were the identity of the set: Mascots, Opening Day (first-game photography), Bomb Squad, Triple Play, Dugout Peeks, Walk This Way and the St. Patrick's Day themed Luck of the Irish, each at one per pack combined. The parallel structure was simple, with Opening Day Blue Foil numbered to the year, Red Foil in some years, and Black Foil 1/1s. Hits were random: player autographs, mascot autographs (the most collected Opening Day card type), Diamond Relics holding stadium dirt, Major League Mementos game-used relics and Autograph Diamond Relic books. Topps published odds by year and they were long, generally one autograph per several hobby boxes, so the practical hit rate is best described as "some cases have one, some do not." The mascot autographs and the numbered Blue Foil rookies are where the secondary value sits.
Is Topps Opening Day worth buying sealed?
As a rip, no: there is no hit guarantee, the base cards are flagship photos with a stamp, and a blaster's contents rarely sell for the blaster's price. As a sealed hold, the case is better than the product deserves. Print runs were smaller than flagship, the 2018 boxes have already appreciated three to four times over MSRP, and discontinuation means the supply of every year is fixed. The 2019 and 2020 hobby boxes at $80-$150 are the reasonable middle ground, and 2022 blasters at $30-$50 are a low-risk hold on the final edition. Do not pay 2018 prices for 2021-2022 product on the strength of the "last edition" story alone.
How to spot fakes and resealed boxes
Opening Day was a searcher's product because autograph and relic packs were thicker and the packs were thin, so retail blasters from all years are frequently opened, searched and re-shrunk. Look for the factory wrap with a clean bottom seam and no scuffing on the flaps, and be suspicious of blasters with loose plastic or "as-is" language. Hobby boxes carried standard Topps shrink and lid seal; 36 packs should sit tightly in the tray with no gaps. Bulk "sealed pack" lots sold by the hundred are usually searched hobby packs, which is fine for base-card ripping but not worth a sealed premium. Mascot autographs sold as pulled from a box are on sticker and should show the Topps foil stamp on the front.
Where to buy Topps Opening Day sealed
Because the line has been out of print since 2022, shops with older retail stock and show dealers are the main sources. Search the card shop directory for shops that carry back-year retail, and visit card shows where 2018-2022 blasters and hobby boxes show up in dealer bins. For eBay use:
Frequently asked questions
Is Topps Opening Day still made?
No. The 2022 edition, released in March 2022, was the last Topps Opening Day after a 25-year run. Topps now covers the early-season retail slot with Series 1 mega boxes and the Series 1 Celebration Mega Box.
What was in a Topps Opening Day hobby box?
The 2022 hobby box had 36 packs of 7 cards with one insert per pack and no guaranteed hit. Autographs, mascot autographs and relics were random inserts.
How much is a Topps Opening Day box worth?
As of August 2026, 2022 hobby boxes sell for $60-$95 and blasters for $30-$50. The 2018 edition with Ohtani and Acuna rookies is the most valuable at $120-$200 for a hobby box.
Are Topps Opening Day rookie cards worth anything?
The Opening Day version of a rookie is a stamped variant of the flagship photo. It sells at a discount to the Series 1 card for most players but at a premium for a few, notably the 2018 Ohtani.
What is the difference between Opening Day and Topps Series 1?
Opening Day used a subset of the Series 1 checklist and design with a red foil stamp, its own insert sets and mascot cards, and much lower pricing. Series 1 is the full flagship set with a guaranteed hit in hobby boxes.
Is Topps Opening Day licensed by MLB?
Yes. Every Opening Day set carried the full MLB and MLBPA licenses, including licensed mascot cards.
Prices in this guide were last reviewed 2026-08. Live eBay listings above update daily.
