COMC is Headed to the Burbank Card Show in Anaheim, CA: August 31–September 3

COMC is excited to announce our presence at this year’s Burbank Show in Anaheim, CA. Whether you’re new to COMC or a long-time user, be sure to come by our booth and say “Hello”!

The Burbank Card Show is a highly anticipated event in the world of sports cards and collectibles. The show provides a unique opportunity for collectors to browse through rare and valuable cards, engage in trading activities, and discover autographed memorabilia and other sought-after collectibles. With its dynamic atmosphere and an abundance of treasures waiting to be discovered, the Burbank Card Show promises an unforgettable experience for all sports card enthusiasts.

Accepting All Submission Levels

COMC will be accepting local drop-off submissions at the show. We will be accepting submissions using all our service levels.

Please have your submission paperwork completed in advance and included with your card submission.

To learn how to prepare your cards for submission please visit https://www.comc.com/AddingYourCards

For questions regarding the eligibility of products, please email staff@comc.com.

The Burbank Card Show Submission Promotion Discount Requirements

Take 50% Off Graded Elite, Select, and Standard submissions for items submitted onsite at the Burbank Card Show between Thursday, August 31st, and September 3rd!

Graded Card Submission discount applies to graded sports, non-sports, and TCG cards only, graded by a supported third-party grading company. 

Discount does not apply to raw cards, ungraded cards, or to uncirculated/encased, RCR, or factory-sealed toploaders. The discount also does not apply to third-party grading submission fees.

Write “SLAB50” on each submission paperwork slip to receive 50% off your graded submission’s total processing fee.

  • Cards must be provided to COMC securely packed. eg: In graded card boxes or BCW 300-800 count boxes. Submissions NOT properly packaged will be refused.
  • Please Note: COMC will NOT be accepting on-site drop offs for Comic Books. Raw or Graded.
  • Discount does not apply to raw cards, ungraded cards, or to uncirculated/encased, RCR, or factory-sealed toploaders.
  • The discount also does not apply to third-party grading submission fees.

Important Promotion Information

  • This discount does stack with other promotions: discounts such as eligible Fresh Pulls products can be combined with the discounts for this promotion!
  • The discount does not apply to the Mailbox package fee, toploader removal fee, or the missing/incorrect paperwork fee.
  • Cards must be provided to COMC securely packed. eg: In graded card boxes or BCW 300-800 count boxes. Submissions NOT properly packaged will be refused.

The savings don’t stop there! Take 50% off all cards submitted to our new Direct To Grading service level. Normally, $1 per card, now only $0.50. This one-week service is for cards you want to send directly to one of our grading partners. 

  • Write “SLAB50” on each submission paperwork slip to receive 50% off your Direct to Grading submission’s total processing fee. Maximum 300 Direct to Grading submission items (per user).
  • Maximum 150 total graded cards in submissions (per user, not per service level).

Important Submission Reminders

  • Each submission slip must have handwritten codes on the submission paperwork to qualify. There are no exceptions, and submissions without handwritten codes will not be eligible for a retroactive promotional discount.
  • Non-elite items submitted for reprocessing through the Elite service are not eligible for the discount.
  • Items must be submitted onsite at the Burbank Card Show between Friday, August 31st through Sunday, September 3rd in order to be eligible for the promotion discounts.

For questions regarding the eligibility of products, please email staff@comc.com.

Drop-Off Submission Information

We’re excited to offer our users the option to drop off their consignments at our booth. Whether you’ve already been preparing a new COMC submission or plan to consign cards you find at the show, save the cost of shipping by dropping off your submissions directly with COMC! Our team at the Burbank Show will be accepting submissions for the following consignment services:

  • Elite
  • Fresh Pulls
  • eBay Auctions
  • Select
  • Standard
  • Direct to Grading

Minimum submission quantities and add-on fees still apply for drop-off submissions. Please review our COMC Selling Rates page for more information.

To speed up the drop-off process, please pack your items securely and print your submission paperwork in advance. Be sure to select the Drop Off @ Burbank Show – Anaheim, CA within the Submission Wizard as shown below:

We will have computer stations set up for consignors to use at the show. These stations often get busy during peak show hours, so we encourage you to print your submission slips in advance to make your drop-off process quick and easy!

Meet With Our Leadership Team!

Are you a COMC user and going to the Burbank Card Show? Our leadership team will be on hand and would love the chance to meet up with you! Spots are limited, so please click the link below and we will connect with you to schedule a time.

We’ll See You in Anaheim!

Anaheim Convention Center

800 W Katella Ave

Anaheim, CA. 92802

Booth #200 B1

Website: burbankcardshow.com

As the countdown to the show continues, stay tuned for more updates about COMC’s presence and promotions at the Burbank Show by following us on social media: InstagramFacebook, and Twitter!

COMC is Headed to East Coast National in White Plains, NY: August 18–20

COMC is excited to announce our presence at this year’s East Coast National in White Plains, NY. Whether you’re new to COMC or a long-time user, be sure to come by our booth and say “Hello”! For more information about the show itself, please visit the official site.

The convention will be held at the Westchester County Center from Friday, August 18th through Sunday, August 20th in White Plains, NY. COMC will have a team of employees on hand to accept consignment submissions and answer any and all questions about COMC!

Here are some of the services and events you can look forward to at our booth:

  • Consignment Drop-Off Center
  • Promotional Discounts on Submissions

The East Coast National Submission Promotion Discount Requirements

Take 50% Off Graded Elite, Select, and Standard submissions for items submitted onsite at the East Coast National between Friday, August 18th, and Sunday, August 20th!

Graded Card Submission discount applies to graded sports, non-sports, and TCG cards only, graded by a supported third-party grading company. 

Discount does not apply to raw cards, ungraded cards, or to uncirculated/encased, RCR, or factory-sealed toploaders. The discount also does not apply to third-party grading submission fees.

Write “SLAB50” on each submission paperwork slip to receive 50% off your graded submission’s total processing fee.

  • Cards must be provided to COMC securely packed. eg: In graded card boxes or BCW 300-800 count boxes. Submissions NOT properly packaged will be refused.
  • Please Note: COMC will NOT be accepting on-site drop offs for Comic Books. Raw or Graded.
  • Discount does not apply to raw cards, ungraded cards, or to uncirculated/encased, RCR, or factory-sealed toploaders.
  • The discount also does not apply to third-party grading submission fees.

Important Promotion Information

  • This discount does stack with other promotions: discounts such as eligible Fresh Pulls products can be combined with the discounts for this promotion!
  • The discount does not apply to the Mailbox package fee, toploader removal fee, or the missing/incorrect paperwork fee.
  • Cards must be provided to COMC securely packed. eg: In graded card boxes or BCW 300-800 count boxes. Submissions NOT properly packaged will be refused.

The savings don’t stop there! Take 50% off all cards submitted to our new Direct To Grading service level. Normally, $1 per card, now only $0.50. This one-week service is for cards you want to send directly to one of our grading partners. 

  • Write “SLAB50” on each submission paperwork slip to receive 50% off your direct to grading submission’s total processing fee. Maximum 300 Direct to Grading submission items (per user).
  • Maximum 150 total graded cards in submissions (per user, not per service level).

Important Submission Reminders

  • Each submission slip must have handwritten codes on the submission paperwork to qualify. There are no exceptions, and submissions without handwritten codes will not be eligible for a retroactive promotional discount.
  • Non-elite items submitted for reprocessing through the Elite service are not eligible for the discount.
  • Items must be submitted onsite at the East Coast National between Friday, August 18th through Sunday, August 20th in order to be eligible for the promotion discounts.

For questions regarding the eligibility of products, please email staff@comc.com.

Drop-Off Submission Information

We’re excited to offer our users the option to drop off their consignments at our booth. Whether you’ve already been preparing a new COMC submission or plan to consign cards you find at the show, save the cost of shipping by dropping off your submissions directly with COMC! Our team at the East Coast National will be accepting submissions for the following consignment services:

  • Elite
  • Fresh Pulls
  • eBay Auctions
  • Select
  • Standard
  • Direct to Grading

Minimum submission quantities and add-on fees still apply for drop-off submissions. Please review our COMC Selling Rates page for more information.

To speed up the drop-off process, please pack your items securely and print your submission paperwork in advance. Be sure to select the Drop Off @ East Coast National – White Plains, NY within the Submission Wizard as shown below:

We will have computer stations set up for consignors to use at the show. These stations often get busy during peak show hours, so we encourage you to print your submission slips in advance to make your drop-off process quick and easy!

We’ll See You in New York!

As the countdown to the show continues, stay tuned for more updates about COMC’s presence and promotions at the East Coast National by following us on social media: InstagramFacebook, and Twitter!

COMC at the National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago, IL: July 26–30

COMC is excited to announce our presence at this year’s 43rd National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago (Rosemont), IL. Whether you’re new to COMC or a long-time user, be sure to come by our booth and say “Hello”! For more information about the show itself, please visit NSCCShow.com.

The convention will be held at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center from Wednesday, July 26th through Sunday, July 30th in Rosemont, IL. COMC will have a team of employees on hand in the corporate area at Booth #325 to accept consignment submissions and answer all questions about COMC. We have some very special weekly announcements to share leading up to the National!

Don’t miss out! Stay tuned for weekly announcements up until the National!

Here are some of the events and services you can look forward to at our booth:

  • Submission Promotion
  • Grade With PSA
  • Direct To Grading
  • Ask The Grader
  • Time With Tim
  • Where to Find COMC

Submission Promotion

Take advantage of this event-only promotion to submit your graded items at the National using our Elite, Select, and Standard services at a reduced price. If you have been waiting for a discount on submissions, now is your chance to save BIG!

Please Note: COMC will NOT be accepting on-site drop offs for Comic Books. Raw or Graded

The National Submission Promotion Discount Requirement

Take 50% Off Graded Elite, Select, and Standard submissions this year for items submitted onsite at the National between Wednesday, July 26th, and Sunday, July 30th!

Graded Card Submission discount applies to graded sports, non-sports, and TCG cards only, graded by a supported third-party grading company. 

Discount does not apply to raw cards, ungraded cards, or to uncirculated/encased, RCR, or factory-sealed toploaders. The discount also does not apply to third-party grading submission fees.

Write “SLAB50” on each submission paperwork slip to receive 50% off your graded submission’s total processing fee.

The discount also does not apply to third-party grading submission fees.

  • Write “SLAB50” on each submission paperwork slip to receive 50% off your graded submission’s total processing fee.
  • Elite submissions are normally $2.00/card, now $1.00/card! There is no Elite submission minimum. Maximum of 300 graded cards.
  • Select submissions are normally $1.50/card, now $0.75/card! Select submissions must contain a minimum of 10 cards. Maximum of 300 graded cards.
  • Standard submissions are normally $1.00/card, now $0.50/card! Select submissions must contain a minimum of 20 cardsMaximum of 300 graded cards.

Maximum 300 total graded card submissions (per user, not per service level).

The savings don’t stop there! Take 50% off all cards submitted to our new Direct To Grading service level. Normally, $1 per card, now only $0.50. This one-week service is for cards you want to send directly to one of our grading partners. 

  • Write “SLAB50” on each submission paperwork slip to receive 50% off your direct to grading submission’s total processing fee. Maximum 300 Direct to Grading submissions (per customer). 

The promo is good for a maximum of 300 Direct To Grading submissions per user. Any cards submitted to Direct to Grading over the 300 card maximum, will not receive the 50% off discount. 

Each user may submit 300 graded cards using the 50% off promo and submit 300 cards for direct to grading using the 50% off promo at the National. 

Important Promotion Information

  • This discount does not stack with other promotions: discounts such as eligible Fresh Pulls products cannot be combined with the discounts for this promotion.
  • The discount does not apply to items submitted using our eBay Auction service level.
  • There is a maximum quantity limit. You may only submit a total of 300 graded cards as part of submissions across all service levels. You may not submit 300 graded cards at each service level. If you plan to drop off a submission of 300 or more graded cards at the event, please contact staff@comc.com prior to the event for approval.
  • For graded Elite, Select, and Standard items, oversized cards larger than 2 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ (modern size), 2 5/8″ x 3 3/4″ (vintage size), coins, and comic books incur an additional $3.00 processing add-on fee per item.

Important Submission Reminders

  • Each submission slip must have the handwritten code SLAB50 on the submission paperwork to qualify. There are no exceptions, and submissions without the handwritten code will not be eligible for a retroactive promotional discount.
  • Our mail-in submission services in the United States and Canadian offices are not eligible for this promotion.
  • Items must be submitted onsite at the National between Wednesday, July 26th through Sunday, July 30th in order to be eligible for the promotion discounts.

For questions regarding the eligibility of products, please email staff@comc.com.

Drop-Off Submission Information

We’re excited to offer our users the option to drop off their consignments at our booth. Whether you’ve already been preparing a new COMC submission or plan to consign cards you find at the show, save the cost of shipping by dropping off your submissions directly with COMC! Our team at the National will be accepting submissions for all our consignment services:

  • Elite
  • Select
  • Standard
  • Direct To Grading
  • eBay Auctions
  • Fresh Pulls

Please carefully read the instructions below for best practices for prepping your consignments for drop-off:

1) All submissions must have complete and accurate printed paperwork by using our Submission Wizard. To speed up the drop-off process, please pack your items securely for shipment and print your submission paperwork in advance. Be sure to select the Drop Off @ Rosemont, IL – National Sports Collectors Convention option within the Submission Wizard as shown below:

2) Ensure your submission is packed properly and securely. We strongly recommend using one-row boxes for your submissions instead of multi-row boxes (such as 660 or 800-count boxes). Please, no loose card submissions, or submissions in boxes not intended for trading cards. COMC will not be providing boxes for card submissions.

3) The cut-off time for accepting submissions at all events is one hour before the show ends each day.

4) Please allow up to 7-10 days for consignments submitted at the event to reach our Redmond, WA facility. Your submissions from the event will be entered into your account and begin processing during that time period following the event.

5) If you plan to drop off a submission of 3,000 or more raw cards, or 300 or more graded cards at the event, please contact staff@comc.com prior to the event for approval. Large submissions of 3,000 raw cards or 300 graded cards may require additional coordination and will not be accepted without approval.

Minimum submission quantities and add-on fees still apply for drop-off submissions. Please review our COMC Selling Rates page for more information.

We will have computer stations with printers set up for consignors to use at the show. These stations often get busy during peak show hours, so we encourage you to print your submission slips in advance to make your drop-off process quick and easy!

For questions regarding the eligibility of products, please email staff@comc.com.

Grade With PSA

COMC is thrilled to introduce our new partnership with Professional Sports Authenticator PSA! With over 30 million raw cards available through our marketplace, COMC is expanding upon our effortless grading experience for you to Buy, Sell, and Grade your Sports, Marvel, and TCG cards.

We’re excited for our collectors to get started with PSA! The COMC Grading Team is ready to provide an incredible service to our customers and help add more graded cards to your collection and to the COMC Marketplace. PSA is a premier grading service with a leading track record in both grading quantity and quality of items graded! The PSA brand brings value, security, and respected grading standards to your cards and the hobby overall.

Direct to Grading

COMC is now your one-stop shop for Group Grading with our new Direct to Grading submission service! This streamlined Direct to Grading option will allow your cards to be submitted for third-party grading more quickly and features a hands-off ingestion process, meaning the cards will not be touched by the COMC team.

We are very proud to offer this new submission level for fast and simple grading with CGC and all future grading companies for just $1 dollar per card! With the addition of Direct to Grading, COMC is the obvious choice to submit, grade, & sell your cards!

Ask The Grader 

Curious to know how your cards might grade if you submit them to Direct To Grading? Come let the team from CGC review your cards!  

On Thursday, July 27th, from Noon to 1 pm, stop by our booth and let the expert grading team from CGC Grading review your cards and give you their expert opinion on how your card might grade. This is a free event and is open to all show attendees.  

Andy Broome, the Vice President and Senior Grade Finalizer for CGC, and his team will review your cards and give you their expert opinion on how your cards will grade.  

Andy Broome started grading sports cards professionally in 2000. Since then, he has graded millions of cards, including the most iconic ones such as the T206 Honus Wagner, T206 Doyle Nat’l, and T206 Ty Cobb Back. Broome also helped create the baseball card exhibit at the National Baseball Hall of Fame.  

COMC is an authorized CGC Official Submission Center! This allows you to send cards directly from your inventory to CGC to be graded, whether the cards were purchased on COMC, transferred to your account, or consigned directly to us. 

The COMC Grading Team is excited to provide an incredible service to our customers and help add more graded cards to your collection and to the COMC Marketplace.  

Time with Tim

Our executive team is looking forward to meeting with our users as well as members of the trading card community to hear their feedback, ideas, and experiences they’ve had with our services.

If you would like to request to meet with our executive team for up to 30 minutes at the NSCC, please email us at timewithtim@comc.com. In your email, please include the dates and times you are available to meet, as well as a short list of the topics you wish to discuss. Please send your meeting request by no later than Monday, July 17th. You will be notified by email of your appointment time on Thursday, July 20th.

Where to Find COMC at the Show

COMC will be in the heart of the showroom floor within the Corporate Pavilion at Booth #325, where we will be neighbors with Heritage Auctions and Robert Edwards Auctions.

We’ll See You in Chicago!

Our team is excited to return to the National and connect with members of the COMC community. The show is an incredible opportunity to celebrate the growth and the future of the trading card hobby that we all love so much.

As the countdown to the show continues, stay tuned for more updates about COMC’s presence and promotions at the National by following us on social media: InstagramFacebook, and Twitter!

COMC at the Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle, WA: August 18–21

COMC @ The ECCC

COMC is excited to announce our presence at this year’s Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle, WA. Whether you’re new to COMC or a long-time user, be sure to come by our booth and say “Hello”! For more information about the show itself, please visit the official site.

The convention will be held at the Seattle Convention Center from Thursday, August 18th through Sunday, August 21st in Seattle, WA. COMC will have a team of employees on hand in the corporate area at Booth #215 to accept consignment submissions and to answer any and all questions about COMC!

Here are some of the services and events you can look forward to at our booth:

  • Consignment Drop-Off Center
  • Promotional Discounts on Submissions
  • Scratch-To-Win Cards
  • Giveaways, Games, and Prizes!

Where to Find COMC at the Show

COMC will be at the heart of the show located by the sky bridge in Booth #215!

Emerald City Comic Con Submission Promotion and Discount Requirements

Take advantage of this event-only promotion to submit your items at the Emerald City Comic Con using our Elite and Select services at a reduced price. If you have been waiting for a discount on submissions, now is your chance to save BIG: 40% off Elite & 30% off Select submissions for items submitted onsite between Thursday, August 18th and Sunday, August 21st!

  • Elite: write “ELITE40” on each Elite submission paperwork slip to receive 40% off your Elite submission’s total processing fee—normally $2.00/card, now $1.20/card! (There is no Elite submission minimum.)
  • Select: write “SELECT30” on each Select submission slip to receive 30% off your Select submission’s total processing fee—normally $1.00/card, now $0.70/card! (Select submissions must contain a minimum of 10 cards.)
  • This promotion only applies to Pokémon, MTG, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Marvel TCG, and Marvel cards. The discount does not apply to any comics and/or other TCG cards not listed.

Which Cards Are Best for Elite?

The Elite service is intended for raw and graded single trading cards with a sale value of more than $50. Elite items are guaranteed a 2-week turnaround time and are eligible to list at auction on eBay at any time.

Important Promotion Information

  • This discount does stack with other promotions: discounts such as eligible Fresh Pulls products can be combined with the discounts for this promotion!
  • The discount does not apply to the Mailbox package fee, toploader removal fee, or the missing/incorrect paperwork fee.
  • There is no maximum quantity limit; submit as many cards as you would like!
  • Items submitted to the Select service level are not eligible to be listed at auction on eBay; please use Elite processing for cards that you may want to list at auction.
  • For Select items, cards that need to be removed from protective holder (e.g. toploaders, pages, card savers, one-touches) incur an additional $0.50 processing add-on fee. There is no additional charge for cards submitted in penny sleeves per item.
  • For Select items, third-party graded cards and cards encased with a manufacturer seal incur an additional $0.50 processing add-on fee per item.
  • For Select and Elite items, oversized cards larger than 2 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ (modern size), 2 5/8″ x 3 3/4″ (vintage size), coins, and comic books incur an additional $3.00 processing add-on fee per item.

Important Submission Reminders

  • Each submission slip must have handwritten codes on the submission paperwork to qualify. There are no exceptions, and submissions without handwritten codes will not be eligible for a retroactive promotional discount.
  • Non-elite items submitted for reprocessing through the Elite service are not eligible for the discount.
  • Our mail-in submission services in the United States and Canadian offices are not eligible for this promotion.
  • Items must be submitted onsite at the Emerald City Comic Con between Thursday, August 18th through Sunday, August 21st in order to be eligible for the promotion discounts.

For questions regarding the eligibility of products, please email staff@comc.com.

Drop-Off Submission Information

We’re excited to offer our users the option to drop off their consignments at our booth. Whether you’ve already been preparing a new COMC submission or plan to consign cards you find at the show, save the cost of shipping by dropping off your submissions directly with COMC! Our team at the Emerald City Comic-Con will be accepting submissions for the following consignment services:

  • Elite
  • Fresh Pulls
  • eBay Auctions
  • Select
  • Standard

Minimum submission quantities and add-on fees still apply for drop-off submissions. Please review our COMC Selling Rates page for more information.

To speed up the drop-off process, please pack your items securely for shipment and print your submission paperwork in advance. Be sure to select the Drop Off @ Emerald City Comic-Con – Seattle, WA within the Submission Wizard as shown below:

We will have computer stations set up for consignors to use at the show. These stations often get busy during peak show hours, so we encourage you to print your submission slips in advance to make your drop-off process quick and easy!

Scratch-to-Win Prize Cards

Stop by our booth for your chance to win COMC Store Credit or free shipping! Just show one of our COMC team members at our booth your COMC account on your phone, and we will award you one (1) prize card with a scratch-off code. If you don’t have a COMC account, sign up for one now or while at the show, and you’ll receive a prize card, too!

The prize code can be redeemed online here. Log in to your COMC account and enter the prize code to reveal your prize. The prize code must be redeemed by 8/31/2022 to be valid. Limit one (1) prize card per COMC user.

Check out the prizes you could win!

  • $5.00 COMC Store Credit
  • $10.00 COMC Store Credit
  • $25.00 COMC Store Credit
  • $100.00 COMC Store Credit
  • $1,000.00 COMC Store Credit
  • Free Shipping*

*This promotional shipping credit expires 10/31/2022 and cannot be combined with other shipping promotions.

Giveaways and Prizes

Be sure to stop by our booth and register to win a SGC 9.5 2020 Pokemon Darkness Ablaze Charizard VMAX card we will be giving away.

Test your knowledge of TCG cards with games and contests we will have as well. Plus, come hang out for live breaks we will be doing at our booth and sign up to win the cards from the breaks.   

We’ll See You in Seattle!

Our team is excited for this highly regarded show in our beautiful hometown of Seattle and to connect with members of both the COMC and TCG communities. The Emerald City Comic Con is an incredible opportunity to celebrate the growth and also the future of the TCG hobby that we all love so much!

As the countdown to the show continues, stay tuned for more updates about COMC’s presence and promotions at the Emerald City Comic Con by following us on social media: InstagramFacebook, and Twitter!

Collecting Soccer Cards

Guest Post by Mitch – LDN Cards

So, you’d like to get involved with soccer cards, but you’re not sure where to start?

Maybe you’ve always been a fan of the sport, but you’re new to collecting. Perhaps you’ve always collected other sports, but you’ve just discovered the beautiful game. Maybe, you saw the incredible hype around the soccer card hobby during the Covid delayed Champions League, and you want a bit of the action.

Whatever your reason for wanting to get involved, know that you are not alone – in recent months, many people have taken their love of the beautiful game and extended it to ‘the hobby.’

After all, it was a hobby boom that was always coming. The most recent World Cup Final in 2018, hosted and won by the French, saw 1.1 BILLION viewers. The Premier League estimated that for their 18/19 season, they drew a viewership of 1.35 Billion, a growth of 11.5% in the prior year. These are huge numbers and give you some idea of the global appeal. Soccer is a juggernaut that keeps getting bigger.  For comparison, the 2020 NFL Super Bowl drew an estimated 102 million viewers.

For many around the world, collecting football (as I know it) cards and stickers is second nature. I can only speak directly about my own experiences, but most of us know it as part of growing up as an Englishman. It was simple as a child – we had stickers, and sometimes cards, for each season and tournament – you collected the set and traded your ‘swaps’ – but now it’s true that times have changed and maybe collecting isn’t so simple from the outside looking in.

So, where to start?   

There are plenty of topics to cover to bring you fully up to speed, but the first thing we need to talk about is the type of item you can collect. It doesn’t tend to go much further for most sports than cards, but for soccer, however, it is generally accepted that there are three main options that you can choose to collect.

1. TCG – Trading Card Games

You’ve probably seen these in stores, but you may not have looked twice at them. TCG cards are collectible soccer cards that can be used as playing cards. Think Pokemon or MTG, and you’ll get the idea.

These are typically targeted at a younger audience, and the price reflects this. That said, for some collectors, cards from these sets can hold genuine collectible value (if not always monetary) as it is frequently within these sets where many soccer stars make their first ‘hobby’ appearance.

Cast an eye at this year’s ‘Golden Boy’ shortlist, and you’ll struggle to find an earlier mass-produced item for Mitchel Bakker than his Adrenalyn card. What constitutes a rookie, or even a true-rookie, is often of immense consternation in the soccer hobby, but we will leave that for another day!

Brands to look for are both Panini with ‘Adrenalyn’ and Topps with ‘Match Attax.’ It may be that ‘Match Attax’ is a more recognizable brand name currently as they have benefited from a lot of hype due to inserting random autographs in their £1 packs (UK only). 

If you want to buy these, you can find them in most of your stores, and you can also order them online direct from the manufacturers.

2. Stickers

Across the world, stickers have been collected for a long time and in many forms. Everything from cards with areas you’d glue and stick down into albums to the modern style sticker you see now. Some of the oldest cards that vintage collectors hold in high regard were intended to be stuck down into an album.

Stickers are typically much cheaper than main hobby releases, and pricing for packs tends to be closer to what you’d pay for TCG cards.

Outside of the USA, stickers are likely most collectors’ entry point into the world of sports collecting. It’s easy, accessible, and has a massive nostalgia factor that draws someone like me back to them all the time. In the middle of a World Cup Summer, it isn’t rare to see a man in his mid-’30s sneaking a few packs of stickers into the shopping basket while out with the family as he tries to complete his album.

Why collect stickers now? Much like TCG, stickers can often be a superstar player’s earliest appearance but tend to carry more respect within the hobby. Want to pick up Erling Haaland’s ‘true rookie’? Well, I hope you like Austrian football stickers. Do you think Tariq Lamptey is the best full-back since Cafu? Again, grab yourself a sticker, my friend!

If you want to buy stickers, it boils down to your location. In Europe, you can buy these in your local stores or online from the manufacturer. In the US, you need to order them from the manufacturer or possibly turn to eBay for packs and boxes. Singles are available on eBay and, of course, through COMC.com!

3. Hobby Cards

As a third option, hobby cards are an area of enormous growth, both in terms of interest and monetary value. The premium releases are made by Panini and Topps, who hold varying licensing for different leagues, countries, and tournaments.

If you know the hobby, you already know the names, I’m sure – Panini Prizm, Panini Select, Topps Chrome, all popular releases, also seen in soccer year-on-year. This year we have even seen the release of Topps Bowman for the MLS!

These cards tend to be viewed as the creme de la creme and can often prove more popular than other items, even if they are not the first releases of a specific player. For example, Erling Haaland’s first release is his Austrian Bundesliga sticker, but for some, nothing can beat his Topps Chrome 19/20 card in Red Bull Salzburg colors. It’s all comes down to personal preference.

With this high level of desirability, there also come higher costs. The product does tend to be of better quality than TCG, and typically features include relic cards and top stars’ autographs. Topps Museum Collection was £100/$125 for eight cards, but you could potentially open up an autograph of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, or Robert Lewandowski – nothing to shrug at.

So, how do you buy these hobby cards? You’ve got options, particularly in the US. For boxes and packs, you can buy directly from the manufacturer, online retailers, and your local hobby stores. Many releases even feature cheaper ‘retail’ options, such as a blaster and cello packs, where the rewards are not so large, but the cost is far lower.

If you’re in the UK or Europe, the kicker has been a lack of access to hobby products for a long time, but that seems to be changing as both Topps and Panini offer limited availability direct from their online e-commerce websites. There’s nothing to stop you from ordering directly from the USA either, but you should think about customs and tax charges before you do.

Finally, if you don’t want to open packs yourself, you have the option of joining group breaks or buying singles on eBay or COMC just as you do any other sport. Group breaks for soccer have been fewer with the largest most well-known breakers, but they are often breaking new products as the interest increases.

I hope that a brief introduction to your options is a helpful first step into the world of soccer card collecting. I’ll be back with more features soon, but you can always reach out to me on social media or YouTube, and I’ll be happy to chat.

And with that, it just leaves me to wish you ‘happy collecting’!


About the Author:

Mitch is a London based sports card collector, with a Soccer Card focused YouTube channel and an ever-growing collection of David Beckham cards.

The Best 2020 Topps Series 1 Rookies to Watch!

Looking to find those early rookie cards of this years potential young stars? 2020 Topps Series 1 is newly available on the COMC Marketplace! In this article we will look at some of the big name rookies and a few we think have a chance to make a big splash this season.

Yordan Alvarez Card  #276

The obvious player to look for in this year’s Topps Series 1 is Yordan Alvarez. Coming off a 2019 campaign where he was deemed the American League Rookie of the Year. In only 87 games for the Houston Astros, he cranked 27 home runs and batted in 78 runs. With an OPS over 1.000, its safe to say Alvarez is one to watch. The one downside of his game is the number of strikeouts, he will have to try to limit those this upcoming 2020 season.

Aristides Aquino – Card #20

Although a little older than the average rookie, Aristides Aquino has a lot of tools to like. He stands at 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 220 pounds. That’s a lot of potential power and he showed that when he knocked in 19 homeruns in only 56 games played for the Cincinatti Reds. Although he did not hit for a great average, .259, it was a serviceable number and now having a full off season, he should be able to bump it up.

Bo Bichette – Card #78

Bo Bichette did not have your typical rookie issues when it came to getting on base, as he averaged .311 at the plate. At 21 years of age, Bichette has already shown he could be a special shortstop. In the 46 games he appeared in, Bo had 61 hits, stole 4 bases and accounted for 32 runs for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Gavin Lux – Card #292

Gavin does not have as large of a sample size as the rest of the guys mentioned on this list, but he has a lot of tools. He can play both shortstop and second base which makes he a nice versatile piece that the Los Angeles Dodgers can use. Lux is one of the younger guys to have seen some big-league time as he is just 21 years old. With the Dodgers a clear front runner to represent the NL in the World Series, there is a lot to like with this kid.

Nico Hoerner – Card #70

With the loss of Russell Addison, Nico Hoerner has a lot of opportunity to showcase his talent this upcoming season. Don’t be surprised if we see him in the starting lineup after the end of this spring training. A rookie of Nico’s caliber could be just the rejuvenation the cubs need to turn it around from their 3rd place finish in the NL Central in 2019.

Trent Grisham – Card #9

Trent Grisham, formerly known at Trent Clark, was the 15th overall pick in the 2015 draft. Although he has not been explosive like one would assume a first-round pick would be, he has been a solid player so far in his 51 major league games. Also noteworthy is the fact he just turned 23 a few months ago, and he should slot in nicely on an already stacked Milwaukee Brewers team.

Kyle Lewis – Card #64

Kyle Lewis was also put on this list for his small sample size. He was the 11th overall pick in the 2016 draft, and he showed why at the end of last season. In only 18 games with the Seattle Mariners, Lewis belted 6 homeruns, 13 RBIs and accounted for another 10 runs himself. One thing to keep an eye on with Lewis is the amount of strikeouts, but the Mariners should do a good job protecting him in the lineup as the youth movement in Seattle is all about patience.

That’s going to do it for our list, but now we want to hear from you! Let us know in the comments below which rookies you’ll be stashing from 2020 Topps Series 1? Who do you think will stand out as the top rookie in the set? We’d love to hear your thoughts, and we’ll see you again for Series 2 later this year!

BEST OF 2019: 20 Rookies to Watch in 2018-19 Panini Prizm Basketball

(Editor’s Note: With the end of the calendar year approaching, we like to take a moment on the COMC Blog to look back at some of our favorite and most memorable posts of the year. With 2019-20 Panini Prizm Basketball set dropping earlier this month, we thought we’d take you back to our projection of 20 of the rookies featured in the 2018-19 Panini Prizm set.)

Arguably the most anticipated basketball release of each calendar year over the last several years has been Panini Prizm Basketball. Panini’s stranglehold over the NBA trading card landscape over the last ten years thanks to an exclusive agreement with the NBA has resulted in the disappearance of once established key rookie sets like the Topps Chrome Refractor and Ultimate Collection Rookie Materials Autographs. In their place rose the new heirs to the throne such as the National Treasures Rookie Patch Auto and the Panini Prizm Silver Prizm.

Silver Prizms and their respective lower numbered parallels are the beck and call of NBA basketball collectors and speculators. We’ve seen meteoric rises of Silver Prizms of some of the game’s newest established stars in recent years. Jayson Tatum silvers were all the rage in 2017-18, while Ben Simmons set new heights in 2016-17. Kristaps Porzingis won collector’s hearts in 2015-16 Prizm, while others waited on Joel Embiid in 2014-15 Prizm. While Giannis Antetokounmpo proved everyone wrong when his 2013-14 Prizm skyrocketed, we can’t forget that the 2012-13 inaugural Prizm set featured a strong crop of rookies including Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, and Kyrie Irving among others.

So now here we are in 2019 and the 2018-19 Panini Prizm market is truly starting to take form. There’s no doubt you’ve probably heard the names of the top rookies all making waves in the NBA this season. But what about the rest? That’s why we’ve got you covered with our list of 20 rookies to watch in 2018-19 Panini Prizm Basketball

Head of the Class

  1. Luka Doncic – Doncic established himself internationally before making the leap to the NBA and has not disappointed. Averaging nearly 20 points a game this season, his meteoric rise can be attributed not only to his stellar on-court performance, but also his charisma and personality. He has all the makings of an NBA Superstar and is easily the Rookie of the Year up to this point.
  2. Deandre Ayton –  The first overall pick of the 2018 NBA Draft has lived up to the hype, with the big man posting over 16 points and 10 rebounds per game. The Phoenix Suns might be having a rough go at it this season, but a strong young core will eventually tip the scales the other direction.
  3. Trae Young –  The Atlanta Hawks Point Guard came out of the gate strong before cooling down, but still owns an impressive 15+ points and seven assists per game stat line.
  4. Kevin Knox – Thrust into the scrutiny of the Madison Square Garden faithful, Knox has delivered, posting over 12 points per game with a 35% 3-point percentage. A big market only means big potential for the 19 year old.
  5. Jaren Jackson Jr. – The fourth overall pick rose his stock tremendously with a 36 point performance back in November, and has elevated his game ever since.
  6. Marvin Bagley III – Prior to sustaining an injury, we loved the direction the Kings PF was headed in. That brief scope of work was enough to nudge him ahead of our #7

Rounding out the Top 12…

7. Michael Porter Jr. – Speculation is building on Porter, who missed the majority of the 2017-18 season at Missouri and has yet to play in an NBA game. With no timetable for his return, the five star recruit out of high school doesn’t have the stat lines to back it up, but that hasn’t stopped his Silver Prizm from reaching the $50+ mark.
8. Collin Sexton – Sexton suffers the misfortune of playing for a post-Lebron Cleveland Cavaliers team, but he has performed impressively so far, posting almost 15 points per game.
9. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – The Canadian Point Guard from ‘The 6’ has wasted no time getting acclimated to the west coast. Strong defense and the ability to score earns him a well deserved spot in our top 10.
10. Rodions Kurucs – The Latvian small forward has come on strong as of late, and has played well in limited time this season. He’s posted 24 points twice this season, earning him recognition among collectors and speculators.
11. Lonnie Walker IV – Suffering a torn meniscus in preseason was a setback, but the Spurs love what they see in the shooting guard from the University of Miami. Recently posted a 34 point performance in G-League action.
12. Mo Bamba – The Orlando Magic big man has posted decent numbers in his rookie campaign, logging 1.4 blocks per game so far. It also doesn’t hurt that a friendship with a popular rapper has resulted in off-court attention for Mo.

Don’t Sleep on These Guys..

13. Wendell Carter Jr. – Carter has shown flashes of brilliance mixed with inconsistency under center for the Chicago Bulls. Still, a 28 point performance is noteworthy enough to find his way into our favorite sleeper pick.
14. Miles Bridges – The 12th overall pick of the draft finds his way into #14 on our list as a strong sleeper pick. The versatile small forward has all the athleticism to either erupt into a play maker or carve our a niche as a solid role player.
15. Allonzo Trier – The Knicks shooting guard has garnered attention coming off of the bench, warranting play time as the Knicks look to get young. Suffered a small set back with a hamstring injury a few weeks back.
15.  Robert Williams III – Drew attention with two blocks on Anthony Davis in a game back in December.  Strong flashes of defense and playing for a large market earns him considerations for our list.
17. Mikal Bridges – Playing along side Deandre Ayton, the small forward from Villanova has performed commendably, posting nearly eight points per game.
18. Anfernee Simons – He has displayed phenomenal talent at the preps, and has the athleticism to boot, but has yet do anything of importance at the NBA level during his rookie campaign. Still, we have the optimism and Pacific Northwest bias to land Simons a spot on this list.
19. Kostas Antetokounmpo – The last name alone is going to draw him attention and speculation. The younger brother of Giannis was the 60th overall pick of the 2018 draft by the Philadelphia 76ers and then traded to the Dallas Mavericks. Let’s be honest, we all know what Giannis did, emerging from the ashes of mediocre stat lines to become a mega star.
20. Josh Okogie – Quickly becoming a T’Wolves fan favorite, Okogie has split time between starting and coming off the bench. We like the shooting guard’s potential.

One of the things we enjoy about these lists involving sleepers is that no one seems to want to tell us if they disagree for the sake of not drawing attention to the prospect they’re stashing! There are 53 rookies total in the 2018-19 Prizm base set, meaning 33 did not make the cut here. Who else deserves consideration? Let us know in the comments below!

BEST OF 2019: ‘Living 200’: Ranking Our Favorite Baseball Cards from Topps Living Set #101-200

(Editor’s Note: With the end of the calendar year approaching, we like to take a moment on the COMC Blog to look back at some of our favorite and most memorable posts of the year. Topps Living Set is still going strong, and card #300 should come our way on February 5th, 2020 if the three cards per week model that TLS has utilized since it’s inception stays true. Rest assured we’ll be back in a few months with our favorites from 201-300!)

Last year Topps surprised the trading card industry with a unique one-of-a-kind set like no other produced before. The baseball card set was called ‘The Living Set‘, and each week three new trading cards would be released and sold only online for a seven day span. Once that window was over, the cards would never again be printed. Players could only be featured in the set one time per team they’ve played for, and the set would feature rookies, veterans, and legends. Produced entirely using the artwork of legendary sports card artist Mayumi Seto, the set is stylized after the iconic 1953 Topps baseball design.

The set started off extremely strong with Aaron Judge (Print Run 13,256) earning the coveted first card in the set. The set was overall met with optimism and speculation, as many of the key rookie cards in the set produced huge print runs, such as Ronald Acuna Jr. (PR: 46,809) and Gleyber Torres (PR: 28,550). While superstars, rookies, and hall of fame players still generate large numbers (such as #200 Mike Trout with a print run of 22,017), the set has come back to earth in weeks, with most print runs hovering in the 3000 range.

COMC Communications Manager James Good and Senior Business Analyst Grant Wescott each own a copy of the full set from #1 to #200 and counting. Some 30 plus weeks ago, we asked them to talk about the set and give their 10 favorite cards from the first 100 in the set. You can read that blog here. With the set now surpassing 200 cards, we’ve asked them to chime in with their 10 favorite cards from #101 – 200. 

Grant Wescott (In no particular order)

Topps Living Set Card #200 – Mike Trout – Print Run: 22017

Topps has historically saved round numbers on many of their checklists for the very best in the game. Remember Babe Ruth at #100? I don’t think there was much doubt leading into the card #200 release day who would be featured on it.

Topps Living Set Card #193 – Ken Griffey Jr. – Print Run: 8369

Beautiful card of my all-time favorite player. That swing never gets old.

Topps Living Set Card #180 – Nelson Cruz – Print Run: 3581

The Nellie you see on this card is the Nellie you see in every game he plays, defying multiple laws of nature while wearing a grin.

Topps Living Set Card #173 – Fernando Tatis Jr – Print Run: 10099

One milestone for any young professional baseball player is when they get to see their first Topps card. There has to be a little extra appreciation from this 20 year old star when that card happens to be such an amazing hand-drawn portrait.

Topps Living Set Card #154 – Stan Musial – Print Run: 4575

One of baseball’s good guys, Stan the Man was famous for making people happy both on and off the field.

Topps Living Set Card #132 – Daniel Mengden – Print Run: 3250

Topps Living Set has seen a few errors along the way, but none so blatant as the Rollie Fingers wrong name error (I kid).

Topps Living Set Card #127 – Kris Bryant – Print Run: 5361

A striking image of Kris Bryant, who appears is now back to his 2016 MVP form.

Topps Living Set Card #192 – Wade Davis – Print Run: 2605

Nick Markakis famously held the long-standing record for low print run since week 2 of TLS with 2,678 copies. That is, until Howie Kendrick came along at card #183 with 2,633 copies. That is, until just a few weeks later when Wade Davis set the new low with this card. As someone who plans to buy the set forever, it’s kind of fun to watch my complete set become even rarer.

Topps Living Set Card #109 – Nolan Arenado – Print Run: 4065

Artist Mayumi Seto captured some big emotion on this one. Arenado is one of the elite players in the game today, yet for some reason still a bit overlooked in the hobby. I love this card.

Checklist Card 1-100 & 101-200 – Print Run: 4393

I’m going a little off script here because 1) these are two cards, not one, and 2) they aren’t technically part of the set. Doesn’t matter. I was more excited than I had reason to be when these were released. I’ve never checked a single box on a checklist. I’m not about to start now. Why does this make me happy?

James Good (Ranked in order of favorites)

Topps Living Set Card #193 – Ken Griffey Jr. – Print Run: 8369

There was no other pick for me. Griffey was an unexpected surprise at #193, and tops my list as my favorite TLS card in the entire set, surpassing Babe Ruth (#100) and Mitch Haniger (#54) in my top 3. That iconic Jr. smile is infectious.

Topps Living Set Card #179 – Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – Print Run: 27749

This was clearly a landmark card for Topps and Seto, so I’m guessing that she had plenty of time to work on this portrait. It clearly shows in the photo-realism of Vladdy Jr.’s first true Topps RC. The level of detail of this card, especially when it’s in-hand, is unreal. The hat logo, the hair, the Nike swoosh logo. I’ll take this card all day long over his first flagship Topps RC in series 2.

Topps Living Set Card #200 – Mike Trout – Print Run: 22017

We all knew that Mike Trout was going to be #200, and the card delivered exactly what we wanted, and what the set needed. The huge print run was a shot in the arm to TLS at the right time.

Topps Living Set Card #127 – Kris Bryant – Print Run: 5361

I love the sideways glance of Bryant in this card. The Cubbies deep blue jersey is among my favorite jerseys of all-time, so I might be a bit partial here.

Topps Living Set Card #156 – Ryon Healy – Print Run: 2765

Healy has a lot of critics here in Seattle, but I’ve been a big support since the day we traded for him. This card that broke a 102 card drought for the Mariners in Topps Living Set and also captured Healy’s positive personality and his professed enjoyment for the game the baseball so very well. It’s a shame he’s dealing with spinal stenosis, the same ailment that shortened the career of fellow 3B David Wright.

Topps Living Set Card #136 – Mariano Rivera – Print Run: 8945

The timing of this card was impeccable – right after Mariano became the first player to unanimously be voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in the first year eligible.

Topps Living Set Card #118 – Nolan Ryan – Print Run: 6745

Ryan’s career spanned the course of 4 different decades. Ask 10 different fans about Ryan, and you might get 10 different memories. My earliest memories as a fan of the game were of ‘The Ryan Express’ as a non-nonsense 40-something fireballin’ Texan. This card brings me back to all those early 90’s junk wax cards of him that helped kick start my passion for the hobby.

Topps Living Set Card #178 – Xander Bogaerts – Print Run: 3776

I’m not much of a Red Sox fan. Correction, I slightly despise most Boston-area teams (Ya’ll aren’t the underdogs, ever, just stop). But I love this card of Bogaerts. Again, the artwork on this card when it’s in-hand truly makes me appreciate the card so much more.

Topps Living Set Card #106 – Cal Ripken Jr. – Print Run: 6423

Similar to my memories of Nolan Ryan, I best remember Cal Ripken Jr. during his iron man stretch, with the gray hairs on the sides of his head becoming more prominent each year. That said, I love the throwback artwork on this card, and the white Orioles cap really seals the deal.

Topps Living Set Card #121 – Buster Posey – Print Run: 3990

Catchers get the short end of the baseball bat when it comes to trading cards, often depicted wearing their full gear. This card steps away from that, giving us an excellent portrait of Buster that shows a side of him that few cards have. Now let me get on my soapbox…

Buster Posey is one of the most underappreciated players of this era. Even Giants fans will credit the team’s three World Series in six years to their stellar pitching, pointing to Madison Bumgarner, and I don’t disagree. But who do you think called all those games behind the plate? Three Rings, Four Silver Sluggers, 2010 ROY, a Gold Glove, and a Batting Title later, I can’t wait until Cooperstown calls for Buster Posey.

We’re 200+ cards into the set, and yet there are so many players who haven’t earned a spot into the coveted Living Set yet. Who do you want to see in the next 100 cards? Let us know in the comments below! 

Retail Therapy: 2018-19 Panini Chronicles Basketball

Welcome back to Retail Therapy, a blog series where we like to venture down to our local retailer and snag some of those trading card hangers and blaster boxes that are too irresistible pass up! We all know the drill – the odds of a big hit aren’t nearly as good as buying a hobby box at your local card shop or online, but when you’ve got the urge to rip a few packs, convenience is king!

The corner damage to the box didn’t concern us, the cards are safe within the bottom portion of the hanger.

This time around we’re taking a look at 2018-19 Panini Chronicles Basketball. Chronicles has become Panini’s catch-all set for all of the basketball products and set designs of years past that didn’t get their own release during a calendar year. If you missed opening products from sets such as Panini Marquee, Studio, Luminance, Gala, and Crusade, you’ll find loads of rookie cards that utilize these set designs and many more. It truly is one of the most fun and interesting breaks in all of the basketball trading card world, offering a much different experience focused on collecting and enjoying the hobby first.

We only managed to find two of the 22 different RC’s for Luka and Trae, but we also pulled a couple retail exclusive green parallels.

This product is absolutely dominated by rookie cards. In our five hanger packs, roughly 80% of all of the cards we pulled had an RC logo on them. There are 21 different insert sub-sets with unique designs that are entirely composed of rookie cards to be found within Chronicles. Yes, that means for some of the more popular rookies (such as Luka Doncic and Trae Young) there are 22 different rookie cards to be found.

The only non-rookie cards to be found in the product are either autographed cards, or from the 100-card Chronicles base set. The base set is the only real low point of the product, as the design is ironically hideous in contrast to all of the other great sets found within the product:

Each $9.99 hanger box yields one 30-card sealed pack.

Even though the base set is nothing to write home about, there are some gorgeous looking cards in this product. It would have been very easy and somewhat forgivable for Panini to save money by printing all the different sets on the same card stock, or cheaper card stock than the original sets, but they didn’t do that. They also did an excellent job curating and choosing which past sets to feature in the product. Crusade and Luminance stand out as being our favorites.

How could you not like the epic Crusade design?

All-in-all in our five hangers, we saw a total of 13 of the designs featured as shown in the picture above. And yes, that is in fact six different Michael Porter Jr. rookie cards! Having so many rookie cards in this product will dilute the value of these cards, and none will be able to compete with the more desirable Prizm Basketball RC’s of the world, but for those collectors looking to bolster their collection, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better product to fill up your binders and boxes. Younger collectors less focused on the value of their cards will be over the moon with this product.

In five hanger packs we did not see an autograph or relic, and our only numbered card was this Classics Allonzo Trier Purple parallel numbered to 49. However, the real fun is just enjoying this product for what it is, rather than searching out the big hits. You will likely not make your money back opening retail Chronicles products, but as long as you go into opening the product knowing that, your experience will be substantially better.

Now hobby products of this set are a different story – with two autographs falling per box from an autograph checklist that features everything from legends (Kobe, Dirk), to retired fan-favorites and stars (Sean Elliot, Marcus Camby), to active players and of course, plenty of rookies.

That said, with each hobby box you’re only going to get six packs with eight cards each, so a $100+ hobby box is going to only yield 18 more cards than a $10 hanger pack. If you’re trying to put together a particular set found in Chronicles, or stash a pile of rookie cards for a few years or decades, retail products area actually the better option. That’s what makes this product so unique.

Of course, there is no better option than simply buying the 2018-19 Panini Chronicles cards that you want on the COMC Marketplace! We have over 2,500 unique Chronicles cards in stock, and any cards you see in this blog, or any retail therapy blog for that matter can be found in our COMC_Breakhits account.

Until next time, see ya’ in the card aisle!

2019 COMC Pack League Fantasy Baseball Team Results

Earlier this year we introduced you to our latest iteration of fantasy sports meets trading card collecting concept when we presented our 2019 Topps Opening Day Fantasy Pack Team. If you missed that blog, you can check it out here and learn about this fun and unique way to play fantasy sports using packs of trading cards! Today we want to share with you how our team did now that the 2019 MLB regular season has concluded.

If you remembered how scoring works, or read the blog linked above, you’d know that points are calculated as WINS. The ultimate goal of the game is to have more wins than the other players in your league if you’re playing with friends. If you’re playing alone, the goal is to have more wins than any team in the Major Leagues this season.

Scoring System:

Hitting Scoring 
Every 40 runs = +1 win
Every 15 Home Runs = +1 win
Every 15 Stolen Bases = +1 win
Every 30 RBI’s = +1 win
Every 50 walks = +1 win

Pitching Scoring:
 Every 5 Wins = +3 Wins
Every 5 losses = -1 Win
Every 5 Saves = +1 Win
Every 75 Strikeouts = +1 Win

The 2019 COMC Fantasy Baseball Team & Results

Designated Hitter: Mark Trumbo (Missed 2/3rds of the season, replaced by bench player Max Muncy)
Catcher: J.T. Realmuto (5 Wins)
First Base: Anthony Rizzo  (7 Wins)
Second Base: Gleyber Torres  (8 Wins)
Short Stop: Francisco Lindor (6 Wins)
Third Base: Rafael Devers  (9 Wins)
Outfield: Ronald Acuna (11 Wins)
Outfield: Mike Trout (10 Wins)
Outfield: Mitch Haniger  (Missed 2/3rds of the season, replaced by bench player Juan Soto)

Pitching Staff

SP: Justin Verlander (14 Wins)
SP: Gerrit Cole (12 Wins)
SP: Trevor Bauer (7 Wins)
SP: Blake Snell (3 Wins)
SP: Jacob Degrom (8 Wins)
Closer: Edwin Diaz  (5 Wins)

Bench:

Hitter: Juan Soto (9 points)
Hitter: Max Muncy  (8 points)
Hitter: Whit Merrifield
Pitcher: Dereck Rodriguez
Pitcher: German Marquez

All in all, our team put up a total of 122 wins, which is six wins above the all-time record of 116 set by the 2001 Seattle Mariners. Our win total is a little bit inflated thanks to the stellar performances of Verlander and Cole, as well as our team being stacked with top-tier talent on rookie contracts. For that reason, in future years, we’ll propose a rule to the salary cap where all players on a rookie contract will automatically be bumped to $5 million.

We know that some readers of the COMC Blog were  also playing along at home. How did your teams do this season? Did you beat us? If you weren’t playing along, have you found a different way  to turn your trading card collecting experience into a game? We want to hear about it! Drop a comment below and let us know!