This week, the trading card release calendar slows down a bit as 2021-22 Upper Deck Series 1 Hockey and 2021 Topps WWE Women’s Division are the only sets due out. Find out which trading cards are the most popular, which are the most expensive, and which are dropping this week in this monthly special edition of The Rip.
February’s Best Trading Cards
Pokémon Celebrations Ultra-Premium Collection Box
Since its release last October, Pokémon Celebrations has held the top spot for the most sold trading card set on StockX and February was no different. With fans chasing the nostalgia of hitting the beautiful Base Set Charizard 25th Anniversary reprint, there is no sign of the Celebrations slowing down anytime soon.
2021-22 Panini NBA Hoops Basketball
2021-22 Panini NBA Hoops carries on the tradition of being the first NBA trading card set of the year to feature the current season’s rookies in their NBA uniforms. Basketball fans are chasing after some very talented youngsters with players like Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley, and Jalen Green at the top of the list. Cade Cunningham certainly added to the hype of the set taking home the Rising Stars Challenge MVP award during NBA All-Star Weekend.
February’s Top Trading Card Sales
2020 Panini Flawless Football 1st Off The Line Box
In just his second season in the NFL Joe Burrow started living up to expectations leading the Bengals to a surprising AFC Championship and Super Bowl appearance. His cards shot up in value leading up to the Super Bowl, and so did the prices of the boxes that hold his rookie cards. Last month, a 2020 Panini Flawless Football 1st Off The Line Box sold for $12,000. With Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert having rookie cards and autographs with print runs no higher than 25, $12,000 could prove to be a very good price for this box in the future.
Kobe Bryant 1996 Topps Chrome Rookie #138 PSA 10
With football season over, all eyes in the sports card world have turned to the NBA, and this month the high sale belongs to one of the greatest to ever play the game. February saw the Kobe Bryant 1996 Topps Chrome Rookie #138 PSA 10, a card with a population report of only 833, sell for $11,547. Before Panini took over the NBA trading card hobby in 2009 with their exclusive licensing, Topps Chrome was the most sought-after annual set, so it is no surprise to see this classic Kobe rookie trade for five figures.
MetaZoo Cryptid Nation 1st Edition Kickstarter Booster Box
MetaZoo took the card world by storm after its debut in 2021 as the first TCG to “break the 4th wall” by incorporating your surroundings into the gameplay. For example, if you are playing on a rainy day, your water Beasties and spells gain a power-up. The Trading Card Game went viral before it even existed, as it utilized Kickstarter to raise the funds for its launch. 25,000 donors to that campaign received limited-edition branded MetaZoo TCG Cryptid Nation 1st Edition Kickstarter Booster Boxes. One of these limited edition boxes sold for $7,640 on StockX last month.
Shining Charizard Pokémon Neo Destiny 107/105 PSA 9
A Shiny Pokémon is a Pocket Monster with different coloration than what is typical for its species. The Shining Charizard Pokémon Neo Destiny 107/105 was the first English Pokémon card to feature a Shiny version of the iconic Fire-type Pokémon. This card shows a dark-blue variation of Charizard and was included as a secret card in the checklist with a Triple Star Shining Holo rarity symbol. The Shining Charizard Pokémon Neo Destiny 107/105 PSA 9 was this month’s top TCG card sold on StockX hitting a price of $1,838.
New Releases
2021-22 Upper Deck Series 1 Hockey
For fans of the NHL, 2021-22 Upper Deck Series 1 Hockey means the first round of Young Guns cards which are considered the core rookie cards for players making a splash during their first season. The base set totals 250 cards, 49 of which are Young Guns that include promising first years like Trevor Zegras, Tanner Jeannot, and Cole Caufield, among others.
Inside of the 2021-22 Upper Deck Series 1 Hockey Hobby Box you will find eight cards per pack, and 24 packs per box. You can expect to find six Young Guns Rookie cards and one hit card that will most likely come in the form of a Clear Cut parallel or Upper Deck Game Jersey card.
The 2021-22 Upper Deck Series 1 Hockey Hobby Box will release on March 2nd, with retail boxes hitting shelves around that same time.
2021 Topps WWE Women’s Division
2021 Topps WWE Women’s Division celebrates the top names in the sport with a mix of base cards, sticker autographs, and relic cards that feature a mix of event-used pieces such as wrestling mats, as well as factory, manufactured relics. Look for names such as Charlotte Flair, Dakota Kai, Asuka, and more.
The 2021 Topps WWE Women’s Division Hobby Box holds seven cards per pack, and 24 packs per box, promising one autograph and one additional autograph or relic card.
You can look to find the 2021 WWE Women’s Division Hobby Box starting on March 4th.
