Welcome to The Athletic Collectibles Staff’s 2025 Sports Card Power Rankings! Here we spotlight a mix of the most notable, eye-catching, and downright fun sports cards released so far in 2025.
Our selections and rankings are not based on anything scientific — not market value, rarity, or sales volume — it’s about highlighting cards we think stand out for their eye appeal, design, uniqueness, or the story they tell. All cards included were selected from products released during the 2025 calendar year (keep in mind that the set name or copyright year printed on a card doesn’t always reflect its actual release date).
Each month through the end of the year we’ll update and expand the rankings with new releases or cards we simply missed or reconsidered. There are so many releases in a given year that it’s impossible for our small staff to see an example of every card from every set, so if there’s a cool one that you think we’ve missed, call it out in the comments below and we’ll consider it for our next update.
1. 2025 Topps Chrome 1/1 Gold Logoman Autograph Relic Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani
Set: 2025 Topps Chrome BaseballRelease: July 2025
Following the success of the Rookie Debut Patches, Topps worked with MLB to add another unique, game-worn collectible to players’ jerseys: the gold Logoman. These patches only worn by the previous season’s award winners were put into cards for the first time this year, including one that features autographs reigning MVPs Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani. The unique blend of rare game-worn memorabilia, on-card signatures, and fresh chrome design highlighting two of the best in the game today makes it a true grail for collectors. The redemption for this card was pulled in July, and a non-autographed version recently sold at auction for just under $200,000.
2. 2024-25 Panini Rookie Royalty WNBA Kaboom! Caitlin Clark #1
Set: 2024-25 Panini Rookie Royalty WNBARelease: June 2025
2024 Panini Rookie Royalty included one of the most anticipated basketball cards of the year — Caitlin Clark’s Kaboom! rookie card. Yes, two of the three Clark Logowoman cards in this set have proven to be more valuable, but since none of them included game-worn patches (or even player-worn patches), they don’t make this list. Kaboom! cards have become highly coveted inserts of the modern era, driven by their rarity (at least initially) and explosive comic-book-inspired aesthetic. The vibrant foil design featuring the bold Kaboom! name behind a fun image of Clark presumably reacting to making a big bucket makes this one stand out among Clark cards.
3. 2025 Topps Tribute True To The Game Ken Griffey Jr. and Sr. Father/Son Dual Autograph
Set: 2025 Topps Tribute BaseballRelease: April 2025
Topps may have created their coolest dual autograph card of the year in the 2025 Tribute baseball release with this one. The Griffeys’ “True To The Game” dual autograph insert card has a horizontal layout on premium thick card stock, showcasing a classic photo from the historic moment in 1990 when Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. became the first father-son duo to play together in a Major League game. The side-by-side image paired with blue ink on-card signatures makes for a visually striking collectible that feels museum-worthy.
4. 2024 Topps Dynasty Sammy Sosa autograph 1/1 with Harry Caray tribute patch
This Sammy Sosa card with the Harry Caray tribute patch is awesome! 😏 pic.twitter.com/YYhzOrFeZ9
— WeTheHobby (@WeTheHobby) July 11, 2025
Set: 2024 Topps Dynasty BaseballRelease: June 2025
This Topps Dynasty 1/1 card features an iconic patch of legendary Chicago Cubs broadcaster Harry Caray, worn during Sosa’s epic 1998 MVP season and that year’s historic single-season home run chase with Mark McGwire. Caray died in February 1998, prompting the Cubs to pay tribute to him with this patch that season. It’s truly a unique piece celebrating Sosa’s dominant ’98 campaign and the voice that defined Wrigley Field for so many years, united on the same card.
5. 2024-25 Panini Prizm Black Stephen Curry Manga #2
Set: 2024-25 Panini Prizm Black BasketballRelease: September 2025
Panini’s Manga insers are super short printed cards showcasing athletes in comic-style designs. For “Chef Curry,” the Warriors’ great is depicted cooking up a stir-fry dish while chewing on his mouthguard, as he’s often seen doing during games. Victor Wembanyama relaxing on a UFO and Puka Nacua surfing from 2024 Prizm Football are two other fun examples of this insert.
6. 2025 Topps All Kings/All Aces
Set: 2025 Topps Baseball Series 2Release: June 2025
2025 Topps Baseball Series 2 introduced a bold new playing card inspired design insert card that makes collectors feel like they were dealt a royal flush when pulled from packs. Building on the success of the popular All Aces insert series that debuted in 2023, All Kings shifts from pitchers and celebrates the MLB’s most elite hitters. The checklist consists of 25 cards featuring current superstars like Judge and Ohtani, as well as legends Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, and Griffey Jr. All Kings are short-printed cards and are tough to pull, which adds another element of desirability beyond its clean and regal aesthetic. A basketball version of All Kings will appear in the upcoming 2025 Topps Basketball set.
7. 2024 Topps Transcendent Collection Shohei Ohtani 1960 Topps Superfractor Auto
It’s one of Ohtani’s first dual signed cards and his first Superfractor
This 2024 Transcendent Ohtani Superfractor is a Gem Mint 10 with 10 autos in both English and Kanji and #’d 1/1!
It finds a new home next weekhttps://t.co/QQmIitFRXY pic.twitter.com/LieysJio7g
— Heritage Auctions Sports (@Heritage_Sport) May 5, 2025
Set: 2024 Topps Transcendent CollectionRelease: January 2025
Transcendent was arguably the best baseball sets released this year and this card was the crown jewel of it. A gorgeous 1-of-1 Ohtani in the 1960 Topps design featuring both his English and Kanji autographs on the same card. Kanji autos always command a premium and to have both version of his signature together really puts this card over the top. It sold for $189,100 at auction in May.
8. 2024-25 Upper Deck Extended Series UD Canvas Young Guns Macklin Celebrini #C360
Set: 2024-25 UD Extended SeriesRelease: May 2025
Sometimes all it takes to make a great card is a great photograph and this one ticks that box. It just doesn’t get much better than a top rookie skating out of a giant shark mouth. The black and white variation of this card is also spectacular.
9. 2024-25 Panini Obsidian Soccer Iridescent
Set: 2025-25 Panini Obsidian SoccerRelease: July 2025
Front and back, these inserts just look stunning. Obsidian sets always put an emphasis on design and these cards are a prime example of that.
10. 2024 Panini One Football One Moment in Time Terrell Owens Autograph #386
Set: 2024 Panini One FootballRelease: September 2025
Terrell Owens is the undisputed king of touchdown celebrations and his popcorn shower is among his most memorable. A unique (and hilarious) image that is an instant must-have for any TO fan.
11. Topps FC Barcelona 125th Anniversary Camp Nou Triple Relics
Set: Topps FC Barcelona 12th AnniversaryRelease: February 2025
The Topps FC Barcelona 125th Anniversary set features one of the coolest soccer memorabilia card releases of the year. As the back of the card states, these unique relics “are pieces of the goal net used at the last game at Camp Nou, of a tifo displayed at the stadium’s closing ceremony and of a Camp Nou stadium seat.” Not only does it offer tangible mementos of the club’s iconic stadium, but these are pieces of history. Very special cards (unless you’re a Real Madrid fan).
12. 2025 Topps Tier One Evan Longoria 1/1 Charizard bat knob
This card features a game-used Charizard bat knob 🤯 pic.twitter.com/wKxQIeXg02
— Fanatics Collect (@FanaticsCollect) August 30, 2025
Set: 2025 Topps Tier OneRelease: September 2025
Bat knob cards are inherently cool and when you add the most popular character from the hottest property in trading cards right now you’ve got a spectacular combination. This card has multiple six-figure bounties out on it, which illustrates its appeal. It also gets bonus points for having an image of Longoria using the Charizard bat on the card.
13. 2024 Panini Photogenic In-Motion Patrick Mahomes #5
Set: 2024 Panini Photogenic FootballRelease: February 2025
Mahomes’ In-Motion insert from Panini’s 2024 Photogenic set has a classic lenticular card design, a printing technology that’s been used in sports cards for over 50 years. The image of the three-time Super Bowl winner throwing a pass on the run comes to life when viewed from different angles, showing each moment of action in motion. The background’s circular holographic effect and black borders add depth and contrast to the card’s horizontal presentation, giving it a mesmerizing, ultra-modern look.
14. 2024-25 Panini Noir City Edition Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #215
Set: 2024-25 Panini Noir BasketballRelease: July 2025
Panini’s Noir sets have an old Hollywood/art deco aesthetic that make them stand out every year. The 2024-25 Noir Basketball’s City Edition inserts are particularly striking with their heavy metal feel and artistic representation of players wear their City Edition uniforms. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s fadeaway jump shot pose and a cinematic backdrop that looks like skyscrapers reflecting off one another, the card feels more like a movie poster than a trading card.
15. 2024 Parkside NWSL Pacific Next Wave
Set: 2024 Parkside NWSL PacificRelease: February 2024
Parkside has been making NWSL cards for several years now, but the nautical-themed Pacific set has been their most ambitious and visually appealing to date. These Next Wave inserts look like trading cards designed by Wes Anderson.
16. 2025 Topps x Bob Ross: The Joy of Baseball Happy Mistakes
Set: 2025 Topps x Bob Ross: The Joy of BaseballRelease: July 2025
Staying in the more whimsical end of the sports card world we also find the 2025 Topps x Bob Ross Happy Mistakes short print variations. As with all cards in the Topps Bob Ross Series, the background features a classic Ross-inspired landscape, showing soft scenic elements like mountains, trees, clouds, and serene lakes or rivers. Each of the Happy Mistakes variations playfully replace the player’s hair with Ross’ iconic ‘do. The card is framed by a clean white border with the Topps and Ross branding in the top corners, and the player’s name and team printed along the bottom. It’s pieces like these that remind collectors that sometimes, sports cards can be art, too.
Honorable mentions: Topps MLB World Tour Tokyo Series Takashi Murakami set, 2024-25 Panini Select Visionary LeBron James #11, 2024 Skybox Metal Universe Champions Michael Jordan SP #1, 2024-25 Bowman U Now Sarah Strong auto and game-used NCAA Tournament ball relic #107A
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