In the land of cards and collectibles, where heroes swing heavy bats and legends come to life on glossy paper, Topps is the kingmaker. The esteemed card manufacturer has announced the crowning piece of their 2025 Series 2 Baseball set—the All Kings insert. If last season’s All Aces was a royal flush for pitching aficionados, All Kings takes the throne for hitters by celebrating the most regal sluggers in the game today and those from yesteryear.
To understand the hype behind this new insert, first imagine a gallery where modern majesty meets eternal greatness. At the forefront, wielding swagger and raw power, we have Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani. These two not only reign supreme in present-day baseball but also command reverence in the collecting world, each swing etching their names into the annals of the sport. Known for sending crowds into frenzied roars every time they step to the plate, they are the poster children for this lavish collection.
The All Kings insert features 25 mighty names in total. Think of it as a brunch of baseball royalty where everyone brings their A-game. Judge and Ohtani aren’t the only ones invited to this illustrious set. Joining them, we have a lineup of contemporary titans like Juan Soto, Elly De La Cruz, Bryce Harper, and Bobby Witt Jr. Each of these stars is having a season that belongs in the record books, captivating fans’ hearts and minds while keeping collectors’ wallets wide open.
But what’s a royal assembly without an exciting young upstart? Enter James Wood, the sole rookie amidst these grand kings. Playing with the National brings a new sparkle to the collection. As he continues to rack up impressive stats—his home run tally waving at the top echelons of the league—Wood captivates the rookie card chasers who constantly hunger for the next big thing. It wouldn’t be surprising if Topps decides to tempt collectors further with serial-numbered or autographed versions of Wood’s card, making it a prime possession.
This grand insert doesn’t just stop with contemporary stars. It winds the clock back, placing in the spotlight icons whom many consider gods of baseball. The likes of Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Jackie Robinson, Derek Jeter, and Ken Griffey Jr. are not mere names, but foundational chapters in baseball’s enchanting saga. Their presence in the All Kings collection adds a historical heft, ensuring that nostalgia and admiration float gently together in collectors’ pools of yearning.
Here’s a nugget of wisdom from the collecting world—hitters generally inspire more excitement than their pitch-throwing peers. Case in point: Shohei Ohtani’s All Aces autographed card from the first series, limited to just 10, has been sold for a staggering $6,500. Even his base insert card, marked by a pristine PSA 10 grade, fetched $1,775. With hitters holding more allure, who’s to say All Kings won’t storm the market like a majestic, muscle-flexing monarch?
The preference for position players is as clear as a home run’s trajectory, so with an assembly of such caliber, gamblers and collectors alike are betting on ‘All Kings’ to enhance the lure of Series 2. Whether it’s picking up the next transcendent rookie, revering timeless legends, or hoarding more Judge and Ohtani memorabilia, this insert provides a wealth of possibilities and pretty pictures.
Topps’ knack for marrying sleek design with themes that resonate deeply with fans has paved a golden path in card collecting circles—a domain where they are undeniably crowned. The All Aces insert already won the hearts of many and set barbs on the secondary market. Now, All Kings is poised to not merely follow suit but outrun its predecessor with more flash, brilliance, and potential worth. For the aficionados who adore monstrous home runs and iconic legacies, this is one set of cards they’ll wish to court and covet.
As the dawn of this splendid series approaches, it seems clear that collecting All Kings will bring not just joy in the present moment but also the thrill of owning a piece of history. Topps knows how to build a spectacle, and with this array of mighty heroes, they’ve once again graced the baseball card pantheon, ink in hand, ready to draw collectors into an epic saga fit for kings.