How I Finally Completed My 2025 Topps MLB Set

I’ll be honest: I thought I’d outgrown collecting baseball cards.

The urge hit me again after a random Saturday cleaning out my parents’ attic. I found my old binder stuffed with 90s rookies and, just like that, the itch was back.

A couple of weeks later, I found myself in the exact same card shop I’d haunted as a kid. The familiar smell of cardboard and plastic sleeves, the sound of packs being ripped—pure nostalgia overload.

But things had changed.

The Modern Collecting Problem

Back in the day, finishing a set meant trading with friends and the occasional lucky pack. Now? It’s a maze of autos, refractors, parallels, and short prints. I opened a 2025 Topps Series 1 box expecting to chip away at the checklist.

Instead, I ended up with a pile of cards—most of them wild inserts, but somehow missing the basic ones I actually needed for my set.

The frustration set in quick. I’d pull what looked like a rare card, only to realize it was one of a hundred variations. It just feels so watered down and that the card companies just throw as much stuff out there that will stick.

Sorting through my haul, I kept thinking: How do you all keep it fun with so many similar or better cards out there?

My Not-So-Glorious Failures

The first real facepalm happened last March at a local card show. I brought a handwritten list of missing cards, feeling prepared. Within minutes, I realized I’d left the list in my car. I stood there awkwardly, flipping through boxes, pretending I remembered which numbers I needed.

Not my best moment.

A week later, I tried trading online. I packed up a stack of duplicates, only to mess up the shipping labels and send the wrong cards to two different people. One guy sent me a photo of the cards he got with a note: “These are nice, but I needed #14, not #41.”

Ouch.

For a while, I resorted to buying random blaster boxes at big box stores, hoping to luck into the last few cards. All I got was a mountain of doubles and no closer to finishing my set.

Lost my checklist at a show
Messed up two mail trades
Wasted money on random packs

Every attempt just made the whole thing feel more overwhelming.

The Breakthrough: Focused Card Hunting

After a couple months of spinning my wheels, I realized I needed a smarter approach. The goal wasn’t to gamble on packs, but to actually complete my set. That meant being intentional—not just nostalgic.

I started looking for options that let me pick exactly which cards I needed. That’s when I found listings like the 2025 Topps Series 1 Stars of MLB Insert SMLB 1-30 - You Pick, Complete Your Set, priced at about $1.25 per card.

I could finally fill those last stubborn gaps without buying endless packs. The combined shipping made it affordable to grab several at once, and being able to message the seller with questions took the stress out of it.

Honestly, I rolled my eyes at the idea of buying singles online at first. I thought it would ruin the fun.

Not anymore.

"I want to make sure I’m doing this right."

That line echoed in my head. Turns out, picking out the exact cards I needed didn’t just save money—it brought back that sense of accomplishment I’d been missing.

Other Options I Considered

Before settling on the pick-your-card route, I tried a few different solutions:

Trading forums: Sometimes worked, but mailing costs and slow responses made it a hassle.
Card shows: Great for rare finds, but hit-or-miss for specific set cards.
Bulk lots: Cheap, but you end up with even more doubles you don’t want.

Each method had its moments, but none matched the satisfaction of ticking off exact set numbers one by one.

The Results: Set Complete

It took me about three weeks from my first targeted order to finish the last of my 2025 Topps MLB set.

Opening the mail and sliding each card into its spot in my binder felt way more rewarding than ripping another random pack. The best part? No more piles of unwanted extras cluttering my desk.

I even found myself enjoying the hobby again, not just chasing hits but building something complete.

What I Learned (And What I’d Tell Anyone Starting Out)

If you’re just getting back into collecting or starting fresh, here’s what I wish I’d known sooner:

Don’t rely on luck—focus on what you actually need
Buying singles (like the 2025 Topps pick-your-card listings) saves money and sanity
Organize your checklist before you go to a show or shop

If you love the thrill of ripping packs, by all means keep at it. But if your goal is a complete set, there’s no shame in taking the direct route.

Whether you use this pick-your-card option or hit up a local show, just don’t let frustration kill the fun.

Take action this week—fill that last spot in your binder, or trade for the card you really want. The only wrong way to collect is to stop enjoying it.

How I Finally Completed My 2025 Topps MLB Set