The world of baseball card collecting is set to be shaken by a royal proclamation as Topps declares its latest crowning glory: the All Kings insert. Set to debut in their 2025 Baseball Series 2, All Kings follows in the staggering success of its pitching counterpart, All Aces. Where the latter raised the bar by celebrating the sport’s elite pitchers, All Kings takes to the diamond to shine the spotlight on slugging savants and swing titans. It seems fitting for a sport built around its long-standing love affair with the triumphant crack of a well-struck ball.
At the forefront of this new regal lineup are Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, a pair of players who scarcely need an introduction. They are the present-day paladins of the plate, and their inclusion in any collector’s chest strengthens it immeasurably. Whether they’re smashing records or dazzling fans with otherworldly displays of power and athleticism, Judge and Ohtani encapsulate what it means to be the monarchy of modern baseball.
Joining these two titans are a further cast of today’s most formidable batters. Names like Juan Soto, known for his practically academic approach to batting, and Elly De La Cruz, whose precocious talent has left the baseball world buzzing, threaten to make the slugger-focused set a sell-out smash. Not wavering in demeanor, Bryce Harper and Bobby Witt Jr. also take their rightful places among this select group, each brandishing bats that can alter games and mindset alike with a single swing.
Of particular note is James Wood, the lone rookie featured in this collection, whose achievements thus far have already ignited imaginations. When your rookie season includes ranking 8th in home runs across the league and building a highlight reel adorned with 25 RBIs by the time the collection is announced, you’re playing in the big leagues right off the bat. Collectors revel in the hunt for the next big name, and Wood has offered plenty with his early season performance. Should Topps decide to add exclusive serial-numbered or autograph versions with his imprimatur, it might just send rookie chasers into a frenzy – a frenzied feast fit for card tribe royalty.
Yet, All Kings doesn’t just rest its crown upon the ballcaps of the current crowd. It reverentially reflects upon and pays homage to the diamond demigods of yore. The set welcomes legends such as Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Jackie Robinson, Derek Jeter, and Ken Griffey Jr. into its theme, proving that a mixture of eras can wield thrilling collectible magnetism. The old-school addition enriches the checklist, catering not only to the nostalgic memories of seasoned collectors but also to contemporary enthusiasts discovering the timeless wonder of baseball’s past masters.
In the marketplace, where values can fluctuate like a knuckleball in high wind, All Kings is already foretold to follow in its predecessor’s profitable cleat steps. All Aces has shown strong financial returns, with notable sales like Shohei Ohtani’s All Aces autograph numbered out of 10 fetching upwards of $6,500. Similarly, there was robust trading for the base insert, a PSA 10 from Series 1 that netted an impressive $1,775. Even for a fresh pitching prospect like Paul Skenes, his All Aces PSA 10s tantalizingly touched $1,800 previously. When compared to these records, the All Kings insert, riding on the hobby’s predilection for position players who don’t throw but rather make bat verge-on-blasphemy contact, has all the trappings of a value-doubling homerun.
For those who appreciate the art of collecting, the intricate blend of card design, historical regard, and frontier-focused storytelling culminates into what could become the pinnacle of Series 2. With Topps deftly leveraging both visually arresting mechanics and themes dear to the fan’s heart, All Kings seems set to be received with the same fervor that greeted its regal predecessor, yet with even more buzz and potential gain. Enthusiasts from all corners of baseball’s grand house will find much to fawn over, and perhaps – once or twice – might just salute the impeccable court composition with a knowing nod.
Understandably, the anticipation builds as release day approaches, promising dazzling displays of ink and imagery that are sure to entrance anyone with a penchant for the punctuated punch of a conceived grand slam. Long may All Kings reign, in the collections it graces and the hearts it captures, for fans of both big bats and moments that loom larger than life itself.
