Description
2026 Topps Series 1 Baseball marks an unofficial start to the baseball season, and this year’s edition is steeped in history as the company celebrates 75 years as a baseball card manufacturer.
Topps released its first baseball set in 1951 as a series of red and blue-backed game cards, and to celebrate its 75th anniversary in the industry, the company has introduced a new diamond-encrusted logo and created a multi-generational cover for Series 1 hobby boxes featuring Henry Aaron, Ken Griffey Jr., Aaron Judge, and Shohei Ohtani.
As is tradition with Topps Series 1, collectors will eventually find a wide variety of box types that will be announced over time. As it stands now, hobby boxes will again contain either an autograph or memorabilia card and have 20 packs of 12 cards each.
Jumbo boxes return with one autograph and one relic card. Additional formats so far include mega boxes, hanger boxes, value blaster boxes, tins, super boxes, and a Japan edition.
A Topps.com pre-order was held on January 13, and the full release is scheduled for February 11.
2026 Topps Series 1 Baseball Checklist Details
The base set will run 350 cards and include a mix of stars, rookies, future stars, league leaders, and team cards. The cards incorporate a jersey into the design.
The left half of the border resembles jersey fabric with a stitched patch running from top to bottom in a player’s team colors. Collectors will also notice stitching on the left side of the frame that separates the player photo from the card’s primary border.
Many parallel concepts are exclusive to certain box types, and collectors will have a sizeable rainbow to chase.
- Diamante Foil (Hanger Exclusive)
- Holo Foil (Retail Exclusive)
- Pink Diamante Foil (Hanger Exclusive)
- Rainbow Foil
- Sandglitter (Jumbo Exclusive)
- Silver Crackleboard Foil Board (Super Box Exclusive)
- Spring Training (Value Box Exclusive)
- Topps Foil Pattern (Fanatics Exclusive)
- Aqua Holo Foil (Retail Exclusive – 1:500 packs)
- Aqua Rainbow Foil (Hobby Exclusive – 1:500 packs)
- Gold /2026
- Pink Holo Foil (Print run of 800)
- Yellow Holo Foil /399 (Retail Exclusive)
- Yellow Rainbow Foil /399 (Hobby Exclusive)
- Purple Holo Foil /250 (Retail Exclusive)
- Purple Rainbow Foil /250 (Hobby Exclusive)
- Blue Holo Foil 150 (Retail Exclusive)
- Blue Rainbow Foil /150 (Hobby Exclusive)
- Cherry Blossom /99 (Japan Exclusive)
- Green Diamante Foil /99 (Hanger Exclusive)
- Green Holo Foil (Retail Exclusive)
- Green Rainbow Foil /99 (Hobby Exclusive)
- Green Spring Training /99 (Value Box Exclusive)
- Independence Day /76
- 75 Years of Topps /75
- Black Border /75
- Gold Diamante Foil /50 (Hanger Exclusive)
- Gold Holo Foil /50 (Retail Exclusive)
- Gold Rainbow Foil /50 (Hobby Exclusive)
- Gold Sandglitter /50 (Jumbo Exclusive)
- Gold Spring Training /50 (Value Box Exclusive)
- Canvas /50
- Memorial Day Camo /25
- Orange Diamante Foil /25 (Hanger Exclusive)
- Orange Holo Foil /25 (Retail Exclusive)
- Orange Rainbow Foil /25 (Hobby Exclusive)
- Orange Sandglitter /25 (Jumbo Exclusive)
- Orange Spring Training /25 (Value Box Exclusive)
- Wood /25
- Black Diamante Foil /10 (Hanger Exclusive)
- Black Holo Foil /10 (Retail Exclusive)
- Black Rainbow Foil /10 (Hobby Exclusive)
- Black Sandglitter /10 (Jumbo Exclusive)
- Red Diamante Foil /5 (Hanger Exclusive)
- Red Holo Foil /5 (Retail Exclusive)
- Red Rainbow Foil /5 (Hobby Exclusive)
- Red Sandglitter /5 (Jumbo Exclusive)
- Red Spring Training /5 (Value Box Exclusive)
- First Card /1
- Foilfractor /1 (Hobby Exclusive)
- Rose Gold Holo Foil /1 (Retail Exclusive)
- Rose Gold Spring Training /1 (Value Box Exclusive)
- Printing Plates /1
Base Set – Variations
There are numerous variations to be found in 2026 Topps Baseball Series 1.
Full set variants include Golden Mirror image variations, and box images suggests there will be a Spring Training variation available of all 350 cards found exclusively in value blaster boxes.
There are 100 cards in each the hobby-exclusive Clear, retail tin-exclusive Holiday, Player Number, Team Color Border, True Photo, and Vintage Stock variations.,
Special-edition Golden Mirror Legend Variations make an appearance with 51 legendary figures not listed on the base checklist — including Shoeless Joe Jackson.
Toronto Blue Jays players also have a special Canadian Independence Day parallel numbered to /67.
Arguably the most exciting variation, however, is the 1952 Topps Variations.
Only 25 rookies from the base set have these variations, and according to Topps, this is the only time these players will ever appear on the 1952 Topps design. In addition to base variants, there are Autographs (/10), Red Ink Autographs (/10), and Gold Autographs (1/1).
Autographs
Flagship Real One Autographs return for another year to highlight stars and rookies and their hard-signed signatures.
Parallels will include at seven versions, from /99 Green Foil to 1/1 Foilfractors.
Additional autograph concepts include 75 Years of Topps Die-Cut Autographs and Baseball Stars Autographs.
The largest autograph series is the 1991 Topps Baseball Autographs, which have 185 cards and will have a variety of numbered parallels. There are also Chrome versions of 86 players found exclusively in hobby and jumbo box-topper Silver Packs.
Topps continues to pay homage to its heritage with Cover Athlete Autographs, which feature 10 recent players who graced a flagship Topps box, including Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, and Albert Pujols.
First Pitch Autographs return to feature celebrities who tossed a first pitch at a stadium, and other non-baseball figures — including NBA star Victor Wembanyama — appear in 75 Years Of Topps Autographs.
Autographed relic cards include Major League Materials Autographs (and dual autographs), Heavy Lumber Autographed Relics, City Connect Swatch Collection Autographed Relics, and Flagship Autograph Patch Cards.
Memorabilia Cards
Major League Material features jersey swatches from 87 current players, while 1991 Topps Baseball Relics deliver 91 players, including stars from the past.
The City Connect Swatch Collection returns with jersey cuts from special-edition City Connect uniforms and can be found exclusively in hobby or jumbo boxes.
Flagship Real One Relics borrow the base design and add a jersey piece. There are 80 players on the checklist.
In The Name Relics are 1/1s with nameplate letters and among the toughest finds in the product.
Inserts
Topps will continue the annual retro 35th anniversary inserts, this year bringing the 1991 Topps design back to life. Chrome versions can be found in Silver Packs.
Additional insert concepts returning include All-Topps Team, Greatest Hits, First Pitch, Heavy Lumber, and Home Field Advantage.
The popular All Aces inserts return. Stylized as premium playing cards, the set recognizes 10 ace pitchers, both current, past, and future.
Again stylized like high-quality playing cards are All Kings inserts. Instead of pitchers, this insert focuses on the top hitters in the game and also includes players from the past, present, and future on the checklist.
New inserts are Topps Profiles, a nod to an insert that appeared in the 1996 baseball set, Cover Athletes, and Big Ticket Players.
The retail-exclusive Stars Of MLB inserts are also back, while a new retail concept is Titans Of The Game.
2026 Topps Series 1 Baseball cards at a glance:
Cards per pack: Hobby – 12; Jumbo – 40; Mega – 14; Hanger – 59; Value Blaster – 12; Tins – 59; Fat Pack – 36
Packs per box: Hobby – 20; Jumbo – 10; Mega – 14; Hanger – 1; Value Blaster – 8; Tins – 3; Fat Pack – 1
Boxes per case: Hobby – 12; Jumbo – 6; Mega – 20; Hanger – 64; Value Blaster – 40; Tins – 16; Fat Pack – 108
Set size: 350 cards
Release date (subject to change): February 11, 2026
Shop for 2026 Topps Series 1 Baseball cards:
Shop for past years’ Topps Series 1 Baseball boxes:
- Hobby Boxes — eBay | Amazon
- Jumbo Boxes — eBay | Amazon
- Mega Boxes — eBay | Amazon
- Value Blaster Boxes — eBay | Amazon
What to expect in a hobby box:
- Autographs or Memorabilia Cards – 1 Total
- Silver Packs – 1
What to expect in a jumbo box:
- Autographs – 1
- Memorabilia Cards – 1
- Silver Packs – 1
What to expect in a value blaster box:
- Spring Training Parallels – 2
- Stars Of MLB or Titans Of The Game Inserts – 6 Total
What to expect in a mega box:
- 1991 Topps Baseball Crackle Parallels – 3
- Stars Of MLB or Titans Of The Game Inserts – 14 Total
What to expect in a tins:
- Holiday parallels – 2
What to expect in a hanger box:
- Diamante Foil Parallels – 2
- 1991 Topps Inserts – 1
- Stars Of MLB or Titans Of The Game Inserts – 4 Total
What to expect in a fat pack:
- Stars Of MLB or Titans Of The Game Inserts – 2 Total