The wait is basically over. If you’ve been staring at your Series 1 base set wondering when the rest of the 700-card checklist is finally going to show up, you can stop guessing. June is the month. Specifically, the 2025 Topps Series 2 release date is June 11, 2025.
It’s a big day. Honestly, it’s the midpoint of the collecting season where things either get really exciting or people start saving their pennies for Update Series and Chrome. This year, the vibe is a little different. While Series 1 is always about that "new car smell" of a fresh baseball season, Series 2 is where the meat of the mid-season call-ups and the weird, niche inserts live.
When Can You Actually Buy It?
Topps isn’t exactly subtle about these things. June 11 is the hard date for Hobby and Jumbo boxes hitting your Local Card Shop (LCS) and the big online retailers like Fanatics and DA Card World. But if you’re a retail hunter—the kind of person who stalks the aisles of Target or Walmart—you might see a slight stagger.
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- Hobby and Jumbo Boxes: Dropping June 11.
- Retail (Blasters/Hangers): Usually shows up the same week, but depends on the vendor.
- Mega Boxes: These are scheduled a bit later, specifically June 28, 2025.
Price-wise, things haven't spiraled too out of control yet. Pre-orders for Hobby boxes hovered around $89.99, while the big-boy Jumbo boxes—which are honestly the only way to go if you want a guaranteed auto—sat at $184.99. Expect those prices to tick up about 10% once the "ripping" frenzy starts on release day.
The Rookie Class Problem (And Why SPs Save It)
Let’s be real for a second. The base rookie checklist for Series 2 this year isn't exactly "generational." We aren't seeing a repeat of the 2022 craze. However, Topps is getting sneaky with how they handle the top-tier prospects.
Instead of putting everyone in the base set, they’ve tucked three massive names into the Short Print (SP) slots. If you're hunting for Cam Smith, Matt Shaw, or Kristian Campbell, don't expect to find them in every other pack. These are numbered #698, #699, and #700, and they are tough pulls.
In a standard Hobby box, you’re looking at odds of about 1 in 1,693 packs to find one of these guys. If you spring for a Jumbo, those odds improve to 1 in 508. It’s a chase. It’s supposed to be hard. But it also means that the "base" version of these cards will actually hold value because they aren't being printed into oblivion.
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Other names to keep an eye on in the standard checklist:
- Jackson Jobe (The Tigers' future ace)
- Rōki Sasaki (The Japanese sensation everyone is tracking)
- Luisangel Acuña (The name alone carries weight)
Inserts That Don't Suck
Topps is leaning hard into the 35th-anniversary nostalgia this year. The 1990 Topps design is back, and it looks surprisingly clean with modern photography. But the real "wow" factor is the Heavy Lumber insert. These are printed on wood-grained cardstock and limited to just 500 copies each. They look incredible in person, and since they feature the league's best power hitters, they are instant hits on the secondary market.
Then there’s the K-Zone die-cuts. These are for the pitching nerds. If you find one with a "Reverse K," you’ve hit the SSP (Super Short Print) version. Paul Skenes is the big chase here, obviously.
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The Fanatics Fest NYC Exclusive
If you happen to be in New York for Fanatics Fest, there's a specific version of Series 2 you need to know about. They’re called "Big Apple Variations." Basically, they take the base cards and swap the background for the New York City skyline.
They aren't cheap. The Hobby boxes for this version were listed around $300. It’s a niche product for the "completionist" collectors, but the resale value on the parallels (/50 or less) has been historically strong for these location-specific drops.
What Should You Actually Buy?
If you’re just in it for the fun of the rip, grab a Value Box (Blaster) for $24.99. You’ll get the exclusive "Holiday" parallels—stuff like the Beach Umbrella /25 or the Fireworks /5. They’re goofy, but people love them.
But if you’re looking for ROI? Jumbo is the only answer. You get a guaranteed autograph, two relics, and two Silver Packs (those Chrome Mojo cards that everyone obsesses over). The Silver Packs in Series 2 continue the 1990 design theme, and the autograph checklist in this series is actually deeper than Series 1. You’ve got a better shot at hitting a legend like Rickey Henderson or a current superstar like Juan Soto.
Looking Past the Release Date
Don’t forget that Series 2 is just the middle child. The Topps Complete Sets usually arrive in August, containing all 700 cards from both series. If you hate gambling and just want the cards, wait for August.
But for those of us who live for the "hit," June 11 is the day. Mark the calendar. Call your LCS. Make sure your PayPal is ready. The 2025 Topps Series 2 release date is the unofficial start of summer for the hobby, and even with a "weak" rookie base, the chase for those SPs and Heavy Lumber wood cards is going to keep the market moving.
Next Steps for Collectors:
- Check your local shop's allocation: Many stores are limiting Jumbo boxes to one per customer due to high demand for the Silver Packs.
- Verify the "Golden Mirror" SSPs: Remember, these don't look different from the front at a glance. You have to check the back—if it’s gold and has an alternate photo, you just found a monster.
- Watch the waiver wire: Players who debut in May or June won't be in Series 2; they’re being saved for Topps Update in November. If your favorite prospect just got called up, you've got another few months of waiting ahead.