You’re standing in the aisle at Walmart. It’s cold outside, the shelves are messy, and there it is—the 2024 Topps Holiday Mega Box. It’s got that familiar snowy design. It looks like a cheap stocking stuffer. But if you’ve been tracking the hobby lately, you know these "retail-only" boxes aren't just for kids anymore.
Honestly, the 2024 edition is a weird beast. It’s a polarizing product. Some collectors think it’s a lazy rehash of Series 1, Series 2, and Update. Others? They’re hunting the "Santa Belt" SSPs (Super Short Prints) like their lives depend on it. This year, the checklist is deep, the parallels are bright, and the risk of pulling absolutely nothing but base cards is, well, pretty high.
Buying these is a gamble. Let's be real about that.
What’s Actually Inside the 2024 Topps Holiday Mega Box?
The math is simple but the results vary wildly. You're getting 10 packs per box. Each pack has 10 cards. Topps throws in one "hit"—which they define as an autograph, a relic, or an autograph relic—and one oversized die-cut ornament card.
The base set is 200 cards. It’s basically a "Greatest Hits" reel from the 2024 MLB season. You'll see the heavy hitters like Shohei Ohtani in his Dodgers gear, Elly De La Cruz, and the rookie crop that has defined the year: Jackson Merrill, Paul Skenes, and Jackson Holliday.
The cards have a snowflake foil pattern. It's cheesy. It’s festive. It’s exactly what you expect. But the real meat of the product isn't the base cards. It's the "Short Print" variations. These are sneaky. You might flip through a pack and miss a card where the player is wearing a Santa hat or holding a candy cane instead of a bat.
The Variation Hunt
Topps doesn't make it easy. You have to look at the tiny code on the back of the card if you aren't sure.
- Short Prints (SP): These show up once in every few boxes. Usually a subtle image swap.
- Rare Short Prints (SSP): These are the ones people scream about in card shops. Think Elly De La Cruz with a scarf.
- Ultra Rare Short Prints: These are the "Lumberjack" or "Santa Belt" parallels. If you pull one of a top rookie, you’ve basically paid for your gas and groceries for the week.
The Problem with Retail Exclusives
The 2024 Topps Holiday Mega Box is a Walmart exclusive. That means you aren't finding this at your local hobby shop (unless they bought them out to flip them). Because it’s a mass-market product, the print run is massive.
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The "hit" is usually a relic.
A relic is just a piece of a jersey. Most of the time, it's "not from any specific game or event." It’s just a swatch of fabric. Pulling a relic of a middle-relief pitcher feels bad. It feels like getting socks for Christmas when you asked for a PlayStation.
However, the autographs are the saving grace. They are rare. Very rare. But if you hit a Paul Skenes auto on a holiday-themed card, the "cuteness" of the set actually adds a premium for some collectors. There’s a niche market for "Holiday" collectors who want the full set of variations every single year.
Comparing 2024 to Previous Years
Last year's set felt a bit stagnant. This year, the rookie class is significantly stronger. When you have guys like Wyatt Langford and Jackson Chourio in the mix, the floor of the box stays a little higher.
The design hasn't changed much. Topps found a formula that works and they’re sticking to it. The snowflakes look almost identical to the 2022 and 2023 versions. If you hate the "busy" look of foil cards, this will drive you crazy. If you like the shine, it’s a cheap thrill.
Why People Buy the Topps Holiday Mega Box 2024 Anyway
It’s about the "chase" per dollar. A "Jumbo" box of Topps Update might run you $200. This Mega Box is usually around $30.
For thirty bucks, you get to rip 100 cards.
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It’s the perfect "scratch-off ticket" of the baseball card world. You know the odds are stacked against you. You know you'll probably end up with a pile of base cards that will sit in a shoe box for a decade. But that 1% chance of pulling a Golden Snowflake 1/1 of Shohei Ohtani? That’s what keeps the shelves empty.
The secondary market for these is interesting too. Single cards from this set, especially the SPs, hold their value surprisingly well. Collectors who are trying to complete the "Master Set" (all base plus all variations) are willing to pay a premium for the harder-to-find image swaps.
The Reality of the "Relic"
Don't buy this box expecting a "sick patch."
The relics in the 2024 Topps Holiday Mega Box are almost exclusively plain white or grey swatches. They are thick cards that take up a lot of space in the pack, but they aren't "valuable" in the traditional sense.
Think of the relic as a bonus, not the goal. If you go in with that mindset, you won't be disappointed when you pull a flannel-clad veteran relic worth $2.
How to Spot a Winner
If you decide to rip one, keep your eyes peeled.
Check the hats. Check the bats. Check the background. Is there a reindeer? Is there snow falling?
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The 2024 Topps Holiday Mega Box uses a "Variation" system where the image is just slightly different from the base. A common one this year involves players holding cups of cocoa. If you see cocoa, sleeve it immediately.
Also, look for the parallels:
- Metallic Gold: These are one per box usually.
- Red Metallic: Much rarer, numbered to 99.
- Holiday Tree: This is a new pattern for 2024.
- Santa: Numbered to 25.
- Snowman: Numbered to 10.
- Candy Cane: The 1-of-1 grail.
Pulling a 1/1 Candy Cane out of a Walmart box is the ultimate hobby flex. It happens. Not to everyone, but it happens.
Actionable Strategy for Collectors
If you're going to dive into the 2024 Topps Holiday Mega Box, don't just rip and flip.
First, check the codes. On the back of the cards, the last three digits of the fine print will tell you if it's a base card or a variation. Keep a cheat sheet on your phone. Nothing is worse than trading away a $50 SSP because you thought it was a $0.10 base card.
Second, focus on the rookies. The veteran cards in this set, unless they are Ohtani or Judge, don't have much legs. The value is entirely tied to the 2024 Rookie of the Year contenders.
Third, consider the "Oversized Ornament." These are often discarded or left in the box. Don't do that. Some collectors specifically look for these to decorate their "Man Caves" during the holidays. They have a small but consistent resale value on eBay, especially for popular teams like the Yankees or Cubs.
Finally, set a budget. It is incredibly easy to buy five of these boxes, spend $150, and realize you could have just bought a high-end autograph of the player you actually wanted. Use these for the fun of the rip, not as a serious financial investment. They are "Lifestyle" boxes. They are meant to be fun.
If you find them in stock, grab one. See how it feels. If you hit a snowflake foil Skenes, you're winning. If not, you've got some cool-looking cards to give away to the neighborhood kids. That’s the spirit of the set, anyway.