I'm thinking about buying boxes of 2003,4,&5 topps chrome

[Mr.1989]

and I just wanted to know what prices you guys think are fair/about right per box. I'm paying in cash, if that changes anything.

 

[ThoseBackPages]

which series? Hobby?

 

[Mudcatsfan]

2005 Chrome UPDATE is the winner there, everything else is pretty cheap.

200 bucks a box on the Update last time i checked, but should have come down a bit as people cooled on Jay Bruce and McCutchen autos. Garza auto in there too.

Still a great BASE rookie class with chromes, refractors, and red xfractors of Braun, Weaver, Kemp, Ellsbury, Cargo, Nelson Cruz, Chris Young (AZ), Romero, Zimmerman, Jurrjens, Jon Sanchez, Mike Morse, Motte, Rasmus, St Drew, Russ Martin, John Mayberry,

 

[Sjrmn91]

There's a hobby box of '05 chrome at a store here for $60 which I thought wasn't too bad.

 

[Mr.1989]

which series? Hobby?

hobby, but i can't remember what series. i'll be checking that soon.

 

[Mr.1989]

2005 Chrome UPDATE is the winner there, everything else is pretty cheap.

200 bucks a box on the Update last time i checked, but should have come down a bit as people cooled on Jay Bruce and McCutchen autos. Garza auto in there too.

Still a great BASE rookie class with chromes, refractors, and red xfractors of Braun, Weaver, Kemp, Ellsbury, Cargo, Nelson Cruz, Chris Young (AZ), Romero, Zimmerman, Jurrjens, Jon Sanchez, Mike Morse, Motte, Rasmus, St Drew, Russ Martin, John Mayberry,

Thanked.

I'm not much for prospecting, I just figured that the boxes would go up in price and getting those cards as time goes on will only get harder.

 

[Topnotchsy]

2005 Chrome UPDATE is the winner there, everything else is pretty cheap.

200 bucks a box on the Update last time i checked, but should have come down a bit as people cooled on Jay Bruce and McCutchen autos. Garza auto in there too.

Still a great BASE rookie class with chromes, refractors, and red xfractors of Braun, Weaver, Kemp, Ellsbury, Cargo, Nelson Cruz, Chris Young (AZ), Romero, Zimmerman, Jurrjens, Jon Sanchez, Mike Morse, Motte, Rasmus, St Drew, Russ Martin, John Mayberry,

Thanked.

I'm not much for prospecting, I just figured that the boxes would go up in price and getting those cards as time goes on will only get harder.

If the goal is as an investment, I would recommend staying away. In general prospect products and their prices are not great long term investments. What generally happens with products with a solid prospect class is that they increase in price as players succeed and then peak a few years after they are released, at a time when some players are already succeeding in the Majors, but not so far along that those prospects that have not succeeded yet are considered busts. After that time the boxes tend to languish or decrease in price as 90% of the prospects wind up as average major leaguers at best, (and their rookie autographs sell for a few dollars) and the odds of pulling the big names are remarkably slim. (It is a rare set that is so good that this is not the case 4-7 years after release and even a set like 2002 Bowman Chrome, with Wright and Mauer may not look so good 5 years after that (as was the case with 2002 Bowman Chrome.)

Another thing to consider with the sets you mention is that most people favor Bowman Chrome over Topps Chrome for rookie cards.

If you are buying them to rip and just enjoy, I'd say they are definitely worth considering. As an investment I would not recommend it. Just my two cents though.

 

[ffgameman]

As Mudcats fan mentioned, Update is where all the fun is at; unfortunately, is also the most expensive. I opened a blaster in early 2006 and pulled a Garza ref autograph.

Plus, the rookie/first year class was outstanding (both in Update and Chrome Update).

 

[Mr.1989]

2005 Chrome UPDATE is the winner there, everything else is pretty cheap.

200 bucks a box on the Update last time i checked, but should have come down a bit as people cooled on Jay Bruce and McCutchen autos. Garza auto in there too.

Still a great BASE rookie class with chromes, refractors, and red xfractors of Braun, Weaver, Kemp, Ellsbury, Cargo, Nelson Cruz, Chris Young (AZ), Romero, Zimmerman, Jurrjens, Jon Sanchez, Mike Morse, Motte, Rasmus, St Drew, Russ Martin, John Mayberry,

Thanked.

I'm not much for prospecting, I just figured that the boxes would go up in price and getting those cards as time goes on will only get harder.

If the goal is as an investment, I would recommend staying away. In general prospect products and their prices are not great long term investments. What generally happens with products with a solid prospect class is that they increase in price as players succeed and then peak a few years after they are released, at a time when some players are already succeeding in the Majors, but not so far along that those prospects that have not succeeded yet are considered busts. After that time the boxes tend to languish or decrease in price as 90% of the prospects wind up as average major leaguers at best, (and their rookie autographs sell for a few dollars) and the odds of pulling the big names are remarkably slim. (It is a rare set that is so good that this is not the case 4-7 years after release and even a set like 2002 Bowman Chrome, with Wright and Mauer may not look so good 5 years after that (as was the case with 2002 Bowman Chrome.)

Another thing to consider with the sets you mention is that most people favor Bowman Chrome over Topps Chrome for rookie cards.

If you are buying them to rip and just enjoy, I'd say they are definitely worth considering. As an investment I would not recommend it. Just my two cents though.

Thanked. I was considering buying just to rip, and maybe on the really really off chance of pulling something major with Michael Young in it. I'll take what everybody here has to say about buying them, and in the investing part, thanks for be detailed.

 

[tramers]

Hit any Pirates lmk

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

2003 has great box toppers, 2005 has the first supers. All have great color but for the price 2003 may be the best.

 

[Mr.1989]

Hit any Pirates lmk

ok

2003 has great box toppers, 2005 has the first supers. All have great color but for the price 2003 may be the best.

thanks.