MLB cards roundup: Topps' 'Call-Up' designation and Murakami mania
We examine some of the biggest trends in the world of baseball cards.
When a baseball player is called up, collectors wonder when their first rookie card will arrive in a pack. For recent call-ups, we may have a good idea. Even though it’s only May, it looks as though any player making his debut from now until the end of the season will appear in 2027 products.
Topps gave a little hint with its recent Topps Now cards, which are daily cards depicting the top moments from the day before, and are only available for 24 hours. The rookie cards naturally have the RC logo on them, but starting on May 8 with Arizona’s Ryan Waldschmidt, instead of an RC logo, the card says “Call Up. ” In years past, this has meant that rookies featured on cards with the “Call-Up” designation are being held for next year’s products.
That means players like Waldschmidt, Yankees’ Spencer Jones, Mets’ A. J. Ewing, Seattle’s Colt Emerson, and Oakland’s Henry Bolte won’t have Rookie Cards until 2027.
Topps and MLB may need as many rookies as they can get for next year with a potential lockout on the horizon. More than a parallel Some of 2026 Bowman’s top cards have been low-numbered parallels and autographs, and while they are still top chases, Topps has added a few new elements that are resonating with collectors. One of the popular new inserts is Crystallized, where the design is reminiscent of the inside of a geode.