Bob Ross +Topps?
A few months ago, the news of a Bob Ross-themed Topps issue swept social media. Posters raced to be first to break the news of one of the more bizarre set releases of the last decade. Interestingly, most of the reaction to the release was positive. Instead of being a punchline, the Joy of Baseball (great title) became one of the most intriguing sets of the year.
What is the Joy of Baseball?
The set featuring the artwork of Bob Ross comes in either Happy Little Boxes which come with an easel parallel as well as another parallel or SP or Collector’s Boxes which come with a sweet Topps pen, more cards, and a guaranteed auto. The autos seem to be generously inserted in the Happy Little Boxes so the autos aren’t exclusive to the Collector’s Boxes as some thought they would be.
Happy Little Boxes are moving briskly at $65 and Collector’s Boxes are selling at a robust $330. Given that these sold initially for $25 and $200, it’s safe to say the public has appreciated the set. It’s unclear exactly how the Collector’s Boxes will be configured as they haven’t hit the market yet, but it is safe to say the Happy Little Boxes are providing more bang for the buck than expected with some estimating the auto rate as low as 1:2 boxes.
Does it Have Legs?
The set has clearly tapped into the zeitgeist, but does it have any staying power? The obvious key card is the Bob Ross SSP card. It’s hit $600 and will be highly sought after by Topps completionists. Corbin Carroll autos have also proven popular with the expected high prices. The big surprise is some of the more common parallels selling for unexpectedly decent amounts. A lot are going for a buck or so, but there are also random players hitting $10 to $20 as well. I think this set will be popular with player collectors for a while.
The best products have more than just hits that hold value. Base cards from this set have done well so far. Corbin Carroll rookies are trading for around $30 and Gunnar Henderson is moving steadily at $20. These are dropping a bit, but I think the Bob Ross rookies will be desirable enough to stand out in a crowded market.
What’s Next
Any time a product hits big, the next question is always what’s next. This one was pretty much out of nowhere so there is nothing that is jumping out. There are some smaller releases to look out for like Topps 3D and Topps Mini but neither of those have ever triggered the same response as this Bob Ross set has. Instead, just stay focussed for the next wacky set that looks of interest.