Welcome to Wax Watch — The Hobby Wire’s quick-hit preview of upcoming releases before they hit shelves. We break down what it is, who you’re chasing, and whether it’s worth ripping, stashing, or skipping.
Today we’re diving into 2026 Topps Baseball Series One
The Lowdown
Release Dates:
Hobby Box — 02.11.26
Jumbo Hobby Box — 02.11.26
Blaster Box — 02.11.26
Retail Tin — 02.11.26
Fat Pack — 02.11.26
Hanger Box — 02.11.26
Mega Box — 02.18.26
Super Box — 02.18.26
It’s been 75 years since Topps released its first flagship baseball set, and Series One opens the anniversary celebration with a 350-card checklist packed with veterans, rookies, team cards, league leaders, and combo cards. Topps didn’t exactly pace themselves with the rookie class either. Thirty rookies headline this release, and it feels like most of the firepower landed here in Series One. We’ll break down just how deep that group is below.
This release doesn’t come without controversy. Hobby formats are up $10 this year. But that’s not all. There’s also the removal of a guaranteed relic from Jumbo boxes. Retail didn’t escape either, with Mega and Blaster boxes losing packs compared to last year.
Chase Cards to Know
There are a ton on chase cards to watch out for in Topps Series One. Arguably, one of the more sought after is the Home Field Advantage Insert. Think of it as Topps’ answer to Panini’s Downtown. This foilboard insert features the athlete surrounded by various staples of the city they play in. Where Downtown’s can come off as cartoonish, Topps tends to lean into a more photorealistic design.
All Aces makes a return too. What started as a common insert in 2023 showcasing elite pitchers is now a short print with a premium, leathery feel. And this year, Topps is expanding the concept with All Kings, spotlighting top position players. Turning these inserts into short prints has been a win for collectors. Prices have climbed significantly.
Last, but certainly not least, are the Golden Mirror Image Variations. These short printed base cards are easy to spot with their golden backs and are some of the most coveted case hits out of Topps’ flagship releases.
Talent Watch
This checklist is… loaded.
Roman Anthony, OF - Boston Red Sox
2025 Stats: 3.1 WAR, .292 Average, 8 HR, 32 RBI, 140 OPS+
Anthony has the look of a long-term impact bat in Boston. He’s a disciplined, left-handed hitter with real power and the ability to make consistent hard contact, projecting as a future middle-of-the-order bat. He moves well in the outfield and fits comfortably in a corner spot. The main hurdle will be handling elite velocity and tightening up a swing that can get long at times, but the blend of patience and power gives him serious upside.
Jac Caglianone, 1B/OF - Kansas City Royals
2025 Stats: -1.3 WAR, .157 Average, 7 HR, 18 RBI, 49 OPS+
Widely considered the hottest prospect out of the 2024 MLB Draft, Caglianone cemented himself as a difference maker down in the minors. It was a different story in his call to the show however. The man with the profile of a top tier slugger couldn’t seem to get a hit to save his life. There’s one stat that makes us still hold out hope for Jac. Last year, his BABIP (Batting Average on Balls in Play) was a measly .172. That kind of BABIP usually screams bad luck rather than bad talent. If even a few of those rockets start finding grass, the stat line looks very different.
Jacob Misiorowski, SP - Milwaukee Brewers
2025 Stats: 0.5 WAR, 4.36 ERA, 102 SO, 95 ERA+
Jacob Misiorowski looks like he was built in a pitching lab. His big frame, elite velocity, and wicked breaking balls check all the boxes for a stud pitcher. He has a 100+ mph fastball and pairs it with a ridiculous slider that sits above 90mph that flashes swing-and-miss potential. The problem is command and consistency. His long delivery can get out of sync, leading to walks and elevated pitch counts. If he can regain control, he has top-of-the-rotation upside. If not, the fallback could be a high-octane late-inning reliever.
Samuel Basallo, C/1B - Baltimore Orioles
2025 Stats: -0.2 WAR, .165 Average, 4 HR, 15 RBI, 56 OPS+
Basallo is an imposing, left-handed hitter with rare power for a young catcher. He has the kind of strength that can drive the ball out to any part of the park. The big question is long-term position: he has the arm and tools to catch, but his size means some evaluators wonder whether he eventually shifts to first base or designated hitter. If he sticks behind the plate, the bat plays at an All-Star level for the position. He comes to Baltimore at just the right time with Adley Rutschman possibly cooling off.
Kyle Teel, C - Chicago White Sox
2025 Stats: 1.9 WAR, .273 Average, 8 HR, 35 RBI, 121 OPS+
Teel plays with the kind of steady, high-energy presence teams love behind the plate. He’s a left-handed hitter with a mature approach, meaning he works counts, uses the whole field, and doesn’t look overmatched against quality pitching. There’s solid gap power now with the chance for more as he continues to get stronger, and he runs well for a catcher. Defensively, he’s athletic and competitive, though like most young backstops he’s still polishing the finer details of game-calling and consistency.
Cam Schlittler, SP - New York Yankees
2025 Stats: 2.0 WAR, 2.96 ERA, 102 SO, 138 ERA+
Cam Schlittler is freaking intense. He’s a power right-hander with the kind of size and fastball that immediately grabs your attention. He works in the mid-to-upper 90s and isn’t afraid to challenge hitters, showing the mentality you want from a starting pitcher. His breaking ball flashes real swing-and-miss potential, and when he’s in rhythm, he can pile up strikeouts quickly. He’s exactly the type of pitcher the Yankees are in need of.
Honorable Mentions:
Jonah Tong (Mets), Colson Montgomery (White Sox), Brady House (Nationals), Owen Caissie (Cubs/Marlins), Bubba Chandler (Pirates), Chase Burns (Reds), Payton Toole (Red Sox), Christian Moore (Angels)
💰 Box Breakdown
Not all boxes are created equal — especially at these price points. Here, we break down the formats available for this release, the MSRP or pre-sale price for each, how many cards come in a box, and the resulting $/card.
Hobby Box: $139.95 / 240 cards → $0.59 per card
1x Autograph or Relic Card, 1x Hobby Exclusive Silver Pack
Jumbo Hobby Box: $289.95/ 400 cards per box → $0.73 per card
1x Autograph, 1x Relic, 2x Hobby Exclusive Silver Packs
Blaster Box: $25.00 / 72 cards → $0.35 per card
2x Blaster Exclusive Spring Training Parallels, 6x Stars of the MLB or Titans of the Game Inserts
Retail Tin: $15.00 / 59 cards → $0.26 per card
2x Base Card Holiday Variations, 1x Polka Dot Parallel, 1x 1991 Topps Baseball Insert, 1x Stars of the MLB or Titans of the Game Insert
Fat Pack: $6.99 / 36 cards → $0.20 per card
2x Stars of the MLB or Titans of the Game Inserts
Hanger Box: $15.00 / 59 cards → $0.26 per card
2x Exclusive Diamante Foil Parallels, 4x Stars of the MLB or Titans of the Game Inserts, 1x 1991 Topps Baseball Insert, 1x Blended Rate Insert
Mega Box: $50.00 / 196 cards → $0.26 per card
3x 1991 Topps Baseball Crackle Parallels, 14x Stars of the MLB or Titans of the Game Inserts
Super Box: $40.00 / 140 cards → $0.29 per card
14x Stars of MLB or Titans of the Game Inserts, 1x Oversized Base Card, 1x Companion Card, 5x Silver Crackle Foilboard Parallels or 1x Funko Base Card and 1x Funko Bitty Pop
🎯 Verdict
Is this Rippable, Stashable, Singles Only, or Junk Wax?
At The Hobby Wire, we keep it simple:
Rippable → A product you should bust down the door of your local shop or retail store to rip right away. The checklist, price, and excitement all line up.
Singles Only → Product pricing is way off base, but the checklist is decent enough to pick up a few singles in the secondary market.
Stashable → Not the flashiest release, but worth grabbing a box or two to tuck away. Time will tell if the rookie class or prospects pan out.
Junk Wax → Hard pass. Leave it on the shelf. Either overpriced, overproduced, or saddled with a weak class.
Topps Flagship Baseball is always circled on our calendar. It’s one of the few annual releases that still feels accessible while carrying real long-term relevance in the hobby.
That said, this year comes with a few raised eyebrows.
A $10 price increase on hobby formats is noticeable. Removing a guaranteed relic from Jumbo boxes is more than noticeable. Retail losing packs doesn’t exactly inspire confidence either. When prices go up and guarantees go down, collectors are right to ask questions.
Now the good news.
This rookie class is deep. Not “there are a couple interesting names” deep, but legitimately deep. We count roughly a dozen rookies we’d be thrilled to hit in parallel or auto form. That’s rare territory for a flagship release and the biggest reason this product still carries juice.
But did Topps empty the tank in Series One? With so much rookie firepower here, Series Two might feel a little thinner.
At the time of writing, odds haven’t been released. That matters. When we’re flying blind on hit rates, we get cautious. Historically, hobby formats have been safer for numbered parallels and meaningful hits, and that logic applies again here. Jumbo being the safest with both a guaranteed relic and autograph.
Retail is trickier. If you’re going that route, Hangers feel like the most efficient play at $7.50 per guaranteed parallel and without the gimmicky look of what comes out of Tins or Super Boxes. Beyond that, we’re hesitant until we see real odds data.
For now, the play is simple. Lean hobby, if you want to buy retail be selective with it, and let the rookie depth carry the upside.
We grabbed three Hobby Boxes during preorder and will report back with a hands-on update.
👉 Verdict: Cautiously Rippable
🏆 Most Valuable Format: Jumbo Hobby Box
Disclaimer: The content in The Hobby Wire is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Commentary, analysis, and opinions on sports cards, rookies, and the hobby are not financial, investment, or professional advice. Collectors should always do their own research before buying, selling, or trading cards. Market values are volatile and can change rapidly—past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Unless specified, all pricing references are based on the Prizm/Refractor parallels of an athlete's Chrome rookie card, with prices from Market Movers, alt.xyz & 130pt.com.
Any odds mentioned were derived from DraftKings Sportsbook.