November is a busy month for Topps. Here is every major release and pre-order, with my take on each. I'll do full deep dives on many of these before they drop.Tip: for real-time alerts on drops and restocks, follow
@CardPurchaser
on X and join his Discord.
Week 1: Nov 2 to 6
Topps Chrome Update Baseball (pre-order Mon, Nov 2 at noon)
This is one of the most hyped releases of the year. It's where the rookie debut patch autographs live. The checklist is out, and almost every notable rookie from this season is in it. The patches are all 1-of-1s, so that chase is close to impossible. There are also sticker autos. Other inserts include Ultra Ego Superheroes, Major League Minis and the new Glass Canvas, which is coming to baseball after basketball and football.
Bowman U Signature Football (Nov 2 at noon Central)
This is a college product, and it's an offshoot rather than the first-Bowman set. Autos look to be on card. It's a cheaper way into college football than regular Bowman, which is pushed up by NFL prices.
2026 Topps MLS Soccer Black and White (pre-order Tue, Nov 3 at noon)
It's an EQL release. Soccer isn't our usual territory, but this one is worth a look. If you like the black-and-white look, it's a must-grab.
2026 Cosmic Chrome Baseball (Wed, Nov 4 at noon)
It's likely about $500 a box and hobby only.
Even if you don't collect it, I'd try to get one. With a loaded rookie class, it should resell for at least double.
It has a new geometric, vector-style design, tough autos, and new inserts including Mars Attacks and Cosmic Dust. Planetary Pursuits are back.
My advice:
hunt the rare parallels and SSPs, not the autos. The autos are as rare as ever, but the checklist is watered down with players you won't care about. For breaks, pay more attention to the SSP and base checklists.
Listen to last week's episode with SlabSquatch for the full breakdown.
Heritage Football Mega Boxes (Nov 4)
A retail product, and Heritage is hard enough to hit. Not a big deal.
2026 Topps Mint Disney (Nov 4 at 2 PM Eastern)
This will be pricey and tough to get. It covers cartoons, TV, movies and Pixar, with autos (including a Miley Cyrus Hannah Montana auto), chrome variations and sketch cards. Comic-cut relics are a cool PC piece but don't resell well. It should be an easy flip if that's your plan.
2026-27 Topps Flagship Basketball (Thu, Nov 5 at noon Eastern)
It keeps the 2026 Topps design, with the ribbon on the side and the team logo and name at the bottom.
Hobby, jumbo and retail formats are coming. Pre-orders weren't impossible to get, and flagship has a big print run.
Jumbo is the only format with a guaranteed auto, so it will sell out first.
Variations include numbered, team, Golden Mirror, wood and clear acetate. I'm assuming the clear ones are /10.
I'll do a deep dive with Bert before release.
2026 Topps Inception Football (Fri, Nov 6 at noon Eastern)
Expect single-pack boxes, thicker stock, one auto, one relic auto and a guaranteed parallel.
It includes some sticker autos, which I don't love. The relics are player-worn, not game-used.
Silver Signings are usually a case hit.
It isn't an SSP product, so this one is all about the autos. I see it as a break product, not one to rip a single box of.
Week 2: Nov 9 to 13
Nov 9: Topps Stadium Club Football (pre-order).
It looks like an all-paper product, with no chrome variants. It's all about the photography, and the preview shots are underwhelming so far. If you're unsure, it's fine to wait.
Nov 10: Topps Hoops Basketball 2026-27 (pre-order).
Hoops is an NBA brand, not a Panini brand. I'd rank it just below flagship for resale, but it's a fun rip with lots of cards.
Nov 11: 2026 Topps Allen Ginter X Baseball.
This is a straight purchase with no pre-order, and it's one of my favorites.
It guarantees a framed auto, usually signed in silver or gold ink, and the base cards have an all-black finish.
The Topps site should post the time and price next Monday. I expect a couple hundred dollars.
Resale isn't huge, but I'd recommend it if you like Ginter and find the regular set a rough rip.
Nov 11: 2026 Topps Museum Collection Baseball.
I'd call it mid-tier now. It's a single box, which I don't like, with an on-card auto, a relic auto and two relics. I'm not a fan of the modernized look, and thick base cards grade poorly. I wouldn't recommend it, but a deep dive is coming.
Nov 13: 2026 Topps T205 Baseball (pre-order).
These are tobacco-size mini cards, probably $50 to $100 a box, with possible autos (Ohtani and Griffey are shown). It's a cheap, fun rip, not a money-maker.
Nov 13: 2026 Topps Midnight Football.
It has a darker look, relic autos (some stickers) and dual relics. It's very similar to Inception. I'd take it over Inception, but I'm surprised they're back to back.
Weeks 3 and 4
Nov 18: 2026 Topps Pro Debut Baseball.
Prospects appear in their minor league uniforms. It's one of the best pure-fun rips, with about three autos a box, chrome autos, and double and triple autos. Cheap, and it can resell better than you'd expect.
Nov 25: 2026 Topps Gilded Collection Baseball.
It has two packs and two on-card autos: a framed auto in the first pack and the "money" auto in the second.
The mock-ups look too busy to me, and the price has climbed since it debuted.
It will sell out fast. If you get one, I'd flip it. If you want to chase it, cheap breaks are the way to go.
Quick picks
Best pure fun:
Pro Debut, Allen Ginter X
Best to flip:
Cosmic Chrome, Mint Disney, Gilded
Best for chasing SSPs:
Cosmic Chrome
Probably skip:
Museum Collection, Inception (unless you're in a break)
