The Basics of Sports Cards Going Full Skittles Mode
A lot of the articles I write start with a real-life conversation. Last week, I found myself giving a crash course on Topps colored parallels to an NFL collector who didnt collect when Topps previously had the NFL license. So, I figured, why not turn that convo into something others can read, build on, and share?
So, let’s talk about those blues, reds, golds, greens, purples, oranges, pinks, and all the other neon variations that have turned modern sports cards into a rainbow chase.
If you take nothing else away from this article, let it be this:
Not all colored parallels are created equal.
Let’s talk about the good ones. The true colors. The originals. The parallels that actually mean something in the hobby.
What Even Is a Colored Parallel?
If you’re just jumping back into the hobby after a 20-year hiatus, you might be wondering: What exactly is a “parallel”?
It’s simple. Start with a base card, usually the most common version in a set. Now imagine that card in different colored borders or backgrounds, often with serial numbers. That’s a parallel. Some are shiny. Some are numbered. Some look like someone spilled Mountain Dew on a rainbow.
A Gold #/50 LeBron? That’s the card equivalent of Jordan’s Game 6 jumper in Utah: iconic, rare, and timeless.
A Pink Wave #/399? That’s more like the Kings taking Marvin Bagley over Luka, interesting at the time, regrettable in hindsight.
True Colors vs. Gimmicks
This is where things start to split. The hobby has unofficially divided parallels into two camps:
1. True Colors
These are your hobby ride-or-dies—the core color parallels that collectors trust:
Blue (/150)
Green (/99)
Gold (/50)
Orange (/25)
Red (/5)
Black / Platinum / Superfractor (1/1)
These aren’t wave, raywave, sparkle, shimmer, or swirl. Just clean, bold color. Think of them like the original cast of Two and a Half Men, they carried the show.
Now, what about other colors like Black /10, Yellow /75, or Purple /250? These can still matter, especially for team color matches, but they’re usually seen as second-tier in collector circles. That said, Black #/10 might be creeping into the “true color” club over time.
2. The Gimmicks
Wave. Lava. Mojo. Scope. Cracked Ice. Pulsar. Tie-Dye. Laser. Disco. If it sounds like an energy drink or a Fortnite skin, it’s probably a parallel variation.
These are fun and flashy. Some are rare, Gold Wave #/50 or Blue Swirl #/150, but most don’t carry the same long-term respect as the true colors.
Oh one top tip to understand when assessing undervalued parallels. Most cards serial numbered below 150 are much harder to pull than 1 per case. We all love a case hit, but when it comes to a Francisco Lindor #/150, it seems wildly undervalued at $1-$2 on COMC.
Why True Colors Still Dominate
Let’s break it down like it’s the 2004 NBA Draft:
True Colors = LeBron
Gimmicks = Darko
Why? Because true colors check all the boxes:
1. Legacy
They’ve been around a decade. Gold has been king for more than 10-years. Red and Blue came not long after. When a collector sees one, they immediately know: this is one of the good ones.
2. Clean Look
They frame the card without overwhelming it. They don’t sparkle like a Vegas slot machine. Think of them as the Paul Rudd of parallels, always cool, never trying too hard.
3. Market Respect
Collectors pay premiums for true colors, especially in Topps Chrome, Bowman Chrome, and Prizm. A Gold #/50 rookie of a future Hall of Famer? That’s the card people are chasing.
A Quick History of Colored Parallels
A SparkNotes timeline for the skittle-ification of sports cards:
1993: Topps Finest Refractors debut. Hobby explodes.
1996: Leaf & Select introduce key serial-numbered cards. Mirror Golds become hobby royalty.
2001–2002: Topps Chrome gets serious with colored parallels (e.g., Black and White Borders).
2012: Panini Prizm launches. Introduces the hobby to a rainbow tsunami.
2015–2020: The parallel explosion. We now have more variations than Marvel has characters. Some are fun. Most are forgettable. True colors endure like Iron Man.
So… What Should You Actually Be Collecting?
Here’s my golden rule:
If it’s something you’d proudly show off when someone visits the bonus room of your suburban house, aka you “card room”, it’s probably a true color.
Chase the Gold /50
Appreciate the Red /5
Collect Affordable Blue Refractors /150
Chase deep value options in Orange /25 and Green /99
Dream about 1/1 Superfractors (unless you’re lucky enough to hit one)
Avoid the overproduced, gimmicky stuff unless:
You’re building a full rainbow
You just really like chaos
One exception? Cracked Ice. It still slaps. And while not technically color, Refractors/Silvers should absolutely be on your must collect radar.
Other Parallels Worth Knowing
Topps Gold Flagship Parallels – Numbered to the year of release. Around since 2005. Must-haves for player and rookie collectors.
Topps Flagship Black Borders – Currently /75 and increment by 1 every year. Huge hobby following.
Topps Heritage Black Borders – Unnumbered, but known to be printed to 50 copies. A classic parallel with cult status.
There are others. Independence Day, Camo, etc. that also have loyal followings, but we’ll save those for another day.
Final Thoughts
Yes, this article leans Topps-heavy. But the principles apply across the board, true base colors will always outlast the gimmicks.
Topps has announced plans to streamline parallels across products starting in 2025, which will bring more clarity to the rainbow chaos. Meanwhile, Panini’s long-term influence is up in the air as Topps prepares to take over the licenses for MLB, NBA, and NFL.
In the end, my best advice is simple:
Stay timeless. Stay true.
True color, that is.
—John, Chasing Majors