April has a lot of big releases from all major sports, and in this article, we’ll look at a few of the biggest.
As always, here are the CardLines picks for cards to watch in April 2025. And, also as always, a feature on this list doesn’t mean it’s a must-buy. We’re sharing honest thoughts on all products.
Please note: the release schedules are very fluid and move frequently. These dates are not guaranteed (and with so many releases tentatively scheduled for April, it’s a safe bet many will not release this month).
2024/25 Upper Deck Series 2 Hockey continues the flagship tradition with the next 250 cards of the season’s base set. This annual release remains one of the most widely collected in hockey, featuring 198 veteran cards, 49 Young Guns rookie cards, and three checklist cards.
The Young Guns subset is always a highlight, offering some of the most anticipated rookie cards of the year.
Collectors can also look forward to the return of UD Canvas, which showcases both established stars and Young Guns rookies. Dazzlers appear with a fresh 2024-25 design, available in both Blue and Pink versions.
The UD Portraits set receives a new theme and updated paper stock, too. New to Series 2 is Young Guns Renewed, which reimagines classic Young Guns cards from 2013-14 onward with original artwork by Luke the Cardist.
Releasing at $299, 2024/25 Bowman Chrome University Basketball returns with a full chrome release featuring licensed cards from top college basketball programs. The base set includes 100 cards, highlighting up-and-coming talent across the collegiate landscape.
Each box contains 24 packs with four cards per pack and delivers two autographs, two base refractor parallels, six X-Fractor parallels, four additional base parallels, and ten inserts.
This set should come out near the tail end of March Madness and should feature autographs of some of the top players still dancing. Cooper Flagg’s 1st Bowmn auto will be included.
2024 Topps Inception Football brings the brand’s signature patch autograph content to the football market. The release features a range of rookie relic autos, including formats like Rookie Jumbo Relics, Dual Relics, and Franchise Foundation Autographs.
Each box includes one pack with seven cards, offering two autographs, one memorabilia card, one base card, one rookie card, and two rookie parallels. And while this set will have autographs of top rookie quarterbacks, it will also suffer from the same issues and limited checklist as Topps Chrome Football.
At about $300/box, 2024/25 Panini Donruss Basketball returns to spearhead the collecting season (sorry, Hoops). It offers a large base set, rookie autographs, and a mix of inserts. Each box includes one autograph and 60 inserts or parallels across 10 packs of 30 cards.
Autograph sets include Rated Rookie Signatures, Dominators Autographs, and Next Day Autographs, with new additions such as Net Marvels Signatures and Retro 2014 Autos. The insert lineup features Crunch Time, Unleashed, Hardwood Masters, Zero Gravity, Net Marvels, and Swish, with Hobby-exclusive Diamond Red (#’d/75) and Holo Blue Laser (#’d/49) parallels.
Collectors can also find Hobby-exclusive SSP Night Moves and Optic Rated Rookies Preview cards, which are numbered from 75 to 1.
Releasing at over $2,000/box, 2023/24 Panini Immaculate Basketball returns as a high-end product focused on premium memorabilia and autograph content. Each box contains one pack with six cards, including three autographs, two memorabilia cards, and one base or parallel.
The set features on-card Rookie Patch Autographs with acetate finishes, oversized memorabilia pieces, and multi-signature cards like Dual, Triple, and Quad Autographs. New additions this year include Base Variation and Base Action subsets, as well as a Bronze parallel numbered to 3. But remember, you won’t be pulling Wemby rookie autos out of this set.
Releasing on April 11, 2025, 2024 Donruss Optic Football blends the classic Donruss design with chrome-style Optic technology. Each box contains 20 packs with four cards per pack, offering one autograph, 20 Rated Rookies, 12 parallels (including nine numbered and three Holo), and four inserts.
Even though the $850 release price is steep, this is still one of the most exciting releases of the year since it isn’t autograph-driven.
Key highlights include on-card Rated Rookie autographs from the 2024 draft class and Rookie Patch autographs, along with the return of Downtown case hits, which feature both International and Super Bowl-themed versions.
This is an unlicensed release that should probably make you roll your eyes, but we’ve gotten enough questions about it that I wanted to include it here. Scheduled to release at $480, 2023/24 Topps Three Basketball is a high-end product where every card is autographed and numbered to 49 or less.
Each box contains one pack with three encased cards, including two autographs and one base or insert card. Yes, there will be more Wemby rookie autographs, and yes, they’ll come a year after his rookie year.
Autograph content includes Rookie 3 Patch Autographs, Triple Relic Autographs, Raindrops Signatures, Serendipitous Sigs, and more. The product focuses on limited print runs and premium presentation.
Releasing at $350, 2024/25 Donruss Optic Basketball brings back its 300-card chromium base set, featuring 225 veterans, 50 Rated Rookies, and 25 Legends. Each hobby box includes 20 packs with four cards per pack, delivering one autograph, 11 parallels, and nine inserts or insert parallels.
Parallels include Hobby-exclusive options like Pink Velocity (#’d/79), Black Velocity (#’d/39), Gold (#’d/10), Green (#’d/5), and Gold Vinyl (1/1), along with new additions like Cracked Ice (#’d/25) and Black Pandora (#’d/15).
Insert sets include Elite Dominators, Lights Out, and the debuting Net Marvels, while SSP inserts like Slammy!, Alter Ego, and Downtown return with limited parallels down to One-of-One Gold Vinyl.
2024 Panini Phoenix Football continues its focus on colorful parallels and rookie-driven content. Each box contains 12 packs with five cards per pack, offering two autographs (including one rookie material autograph), one memorabilia card, 12 parallels (eight numbered), 12 rookies, and six inserts.
The checklist includes various autograph and memorabilia sets, such as Franchise Future Materials, Rising Star Autographs Jersey, and Phenomenal Duo Jersey Autographs. Case hits include short print inserts like Phoenician, Color Blast, and Gridiron Crowns, adding additional chase value.
At $280/box, 2024 Topps Cosmic Chrome Football makes its debut with a space-themed twist on chrome technology. The product features a 200-card base set alongside various themed inserts and parallels.
Each box contains 20 packs with four cards per pack, delivering one Nucleus Refractor, two standard refractor parallels, and two additional base parallels.
Insert sets include Launched Into Orbit, Galaxy Greats, and Star Clusters, with short print chases like Cosmic Dust, Stella Nova, and the debut of Planetary Pursuit, a tiered insert based on planetary distance. Autographs are also included, though not guaranteed per box.
2024 Panini National Treasures Racing returns as one of the most high-end NASCAR products of the year. Each box includes one pack with 10 cards, delivering eight autographs or memorabilia cards and two inserts or base cards.
The product features new insert themes including Darlington winners, door-to-door finishes, and classic paint schemes, as well as booklet cards containing race-used materials like tires, sheet metal, and firesuits.
A special focus this year is on the Hendrick Motorsports 40th Anniversary, which includes autographs from past and present drivers.
2024/25 Panini Prizm Premier League Soccer features a 300-card base set covering all 20 clubs in England’s top division. Each $250 box includes 12 packs with 12 cards per pack, delivering one autograph, four Silver Prizms, five numbered Prizms, eight additional Prizms, and six inserts or insert parallels.
Key insert highlights include Color Blast, Prizmania, and Manga, all of which return as super short prints. The Prizm Flashback – 2014 insert also debuts with a retro design.
Autograph signers include a mix of legends, managers, and emerging stars such as David Beckham, Pep Guardiola, and Cole Palmer.
2024/25 SP Game Used Hockey returns with a focus on event- and game-used memorabilia. Each box contains one pack with nine cards, including four autograph, memorabilia, tech, or auto-mem cards, three parallels, and two base or rookie cards.
The base set features 200 cards, spotlighting star veterans and legends. Key inserts include Draft Day Marks, where each letter features a hard-signed autograph, along with returning favorites like Supreme Patches (#’d to 15), Inked Sweaters, Frameworks, and Authentic Rookies.
New additions for this year include Websites Glove Relics and Visible Spectrum.
At nearly $900, 2024 Panini Select Football returns with a 500-card base set divided into five tiers, each increasing in rarity. Each box includes 12 packs with five cards per pack, delivering two autographs, one memorabilia card, 15 Prizm parallels, six inserts, and two Field Level base cards.
The product includes a variety of autographs and memorabilia from rookies and legends, along with inserts like Starcade, Color Wheel, and Watercolors. The popular XRC “Mystery” Redemption program is also back, offering future rookie redemptions ahead of the next draft class.
Releasing on April 27th, 2025, 2024/25 Panini Select La Liga Soccer features all 20 teams from Spain’s top division.
The 250-card base set is structured into three levels—Terrace, Mezzanine, and Field Level—with a variety of parallels, including the new Bronze Checker (#’d/59) and Honeycomb SSP. These boxes are pre-ordered for around $450.
Each box contains 12 packs with five cards per pack and offers three autographs or memorabilia cards, seven inserts or insert parallels, nine unnumbered base parallels, and five numbered base parallels.
Insert sets include Equalizers, Select Future, Unstoppable, and the new Snapshots, while collectors can also chase case-hit inserts like Stained Glass, Artistic Impressions, Visionary, and Team Badges.
Autograph and memorabilia hits feature players such as Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, and Nico Williams, making Select a key release for La Liga collectors.
Some big releases are dropping in April and we’ve got our eye on several. Let us know what you’re most excited about on X at @card_lines, and subscribe to our free newsletter right here. Twice a week, we’re bringing exclusive hobby news, offers and tips straight to your inbox.
Panini Downtown Guide! Plus an update on the health of the hobby.
32 Spot Random Team 2024 NFL Mosaic Mega 8 Box Break
32 Spot Random Team 2024 NFL Mosaic Blaster 10 Box Break.
Sealed Blaster Box of 2022 Topps MLB Baseball Update Series.
Sealed box of 2019 Topps MLB Baseball Series 2 Hobby Box. 1 autograph or relic card guaranteed. Great rookie class.
Sealed Box of 2021 Panini Prizm Baseball Cello. 12 packs per box, 18 cards per pack.
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