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March Madness in Sports Card Releases: Basketball, Football, and Golf Highlights

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This week has seen a flurry of activity in the sports card market with new releases spotlighting both basketball up-and-comers and a notable post-season football edition. As March unfolds, the release calendar is brimming with a substantial influx of new products hitting the shelves.

Panini launched its 2023-24 Donruss Elite Basketball edition on Wednesday, highlighting the anticipated rookie sensation, Victor Wembanyama. His cards, including a variety of base cards, parallels, and distinctive inserts like "Craftsmen" and "Full Throttle," quickly caught the attention of collectors, with several transactions occurring and numerous listings appearing on eBay shortly after the release.

Each box of Donruss Elite Basketball promises to deliver two autographs, alongside ten inserts or insert parallels, and a selection of base or base parallels that feature both veteran players and rookies. These Elite Hobby boxes, containing six packs with eight cards each, are fetching prices ranging from $310 to $350.

Simultaneously, the 2023-24 Bowman University Best Basketball packs are now ripping, presenting 'Breaker’s Delight' boxes with three autographs and standard Hobby boxes with four autos, primarily featuring current college players. Among the highlights are over a dozen Caitlin Clark cards, spanning base versions, inserts, and autographs, including a notable Clark-Angel Reese dual auto.

In golf, Upper Deck's agreement with the PGA Tour has resulted in the launch of a flagship product for the first time in two decades. The 2024 UD Golf offers collectors the chance to find Tiger Woods cards, among others. Available in blaster boxes, tins, and regular Hobby boxes at relatively accessible price points, autographs are a rare but exciting find.

Upper Deck Golf is merely the first of four golf-themed releases planned for this year, with SP Game-Used, Upper Deck Portfolio, and Fleer Ultra also on the agenda.

Another highlight of Wednesday's releases was the 2023 Panini Illusions Football. Hobby boxes come packed with ten packs, each containing five cards. Panini promises an appealing mix of three autographs and two memorabilia cards per box, along with five numbered Trophy Collection Parallels. The inclusion of 10 acetate micro-etched inserts or parallels and rookie cards of CJ Stroud stand out as major attractions. These boxes are currently trading in the $375-$400 range.

Football fans can look forward to more with the upcoming 2023 Panini Limited Football release, which continues the NFL excitement. Boxes will offer three packs, each with five cards, including two autos and one memorabilia card. The return of the Limited Gamers game-worn memorabilia insert is anticipated, alongside an array of booklet cards. Collectors can expect to invest several hundred dollars for these packs, especially for the First Off The Line version featuring exclusive content.

Baseball collectors have the Topps Archives Signature Series Baseball to anticipate, known for its one pack boxes that contain a single buyback Topps card of an active player, now reissued with a signature and foil stamp, all within a sealed plastic case. With all cards numbered to 99 or less, boxes are available for around $85.

Additional upcoming releases include the 2024 Topps Chrome UFC and the 2022-23 Parkhurst Champions Hockey, further expanding the diverse and rich landscape of sports card collecting options available to enthusiasts and fans alike.