For many collectors, the release of 2026 Topps Chrome each year is somewhat bittersweet. While the release of one of the higher end flagship sets is an exciting chance to get some premium base rookies and to chase MVP buybacks potentially, Chrome also has a well-earned reputation as a product where the biggest hits are very few and far between. Add an auto checklist so large that most collectors who open a hobby box are going to get an auto of someone who probably wouldn't have gotten an autograph in any other product (in the bad way), and you've got a conundrum.
However, there ARE big hits that do come out of 2026 Topps Chrome, and for those lucky few that open them, a healthy windfall awaits. For those who not only opened a big hit, but then immediately listed it on eBay on release day, they were rewarded even more by what is clearly a rabid market.
Here are some of the wildest release day sales of singles on eBay from 2026 Topps Chrome baseball
With as many redemptions as there are in this release, rookie auto sales have actually been pretty sane for the most part. However, what has become extremely clear is that collectors are chasing SSPs at a rate that is completely warping the market, for better or worse.
Ultraviolet SSPs got huge bucks on release day
If Topps Chrome Black or the SSP All-Aces and All-Kings inserts from flagship Topps are any indication, collectors love cards set on black backgrounds with lower print runs. This year's Ultraviolet SSP fits the bill perfectly, and they were commanding big bucks almost immediately.
Somewhat unsurprisingly, the Shohei Ohtani Ultraviolets were getting $6,000+ on release day because, well, everything with his picture on it is expensive. However, Bobby Witt Jr., Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Roman Anthony, and Paul Skenes are among the Ultraviolets to get $1,000+ sales on release day, and Munetaka Murakami's RC version (more on him in a minute) was getting prices that rival Ohtani.
To the surprise of no one, Minions SSPs are getting scooped up for four-digit sums
The flashiest addition to Topps Chrome this year was easily the Minions SSPs, and honestly, it feels like Topps made a mistake in only making the checklist five players long. However, for those that hit one of those five, you basically opened $1,000.
For the moment, Aaron Judge and Paul Skenes seem to be commanding the most on eBay, but every single Minions SSP has gotten a four-digit payday. The mean seems to be currently around $1,200 at the moment, although that is likely to go down as supply increases. Still, it appears as though the Minions SSPs are a resounding success.
Static Noise SSPs are a modest hit... except for Shohei Ohtani, of course
Retail SSPs can be a mixed bag. Some of them are mostly ignored by collectors, while others can become a pretty big deal. Demand is often driven by exactly how rare they are as well as the design, which may explain why the Static Noise inserts are getting real money right now, but aren't runaway hits just yet.
The static background is kind of cool, but the design doesn't have a lot going on beyond that. However, with 1:3,924 blaster odds and 1:1,175 mega box odds, collectors seem to be intrigued enough to spend $100-200 for most copies at the moment. There was also a crazy Ohtani sale on one listed for $4,000, but we already knew that he doesn't follow the usual rules.
Radiating Rookies redesign is getting rewarded by the market
The original Radiating Rookies design that really featured the gold metallic look was a resounding success. However, last year's version was much more muted, and the color scheme was a miss. It looks like Topps is trending back in the right direction with the 2026 Radiating Rookies design, and the market seems to be pleased as well.
With SSPs, you can tell how much collectors like them not just by price, but also by how many are actually being sold, and Radiating Rookies are definitely moving on release. The biggest names like Jacob Misiorowski and Kevin McGonigle are getting several hundred dollars for their versions and even the lesser names are moving. Sales of auto versions have been scant thus far, but you can bet that the top names will get you paid as the data set increases.
Munetaka Murakami continues to outpace his rookie counterparts in the market, and it isn't close
As hinted above, what is looking like a very strong 2026 baseball rookie class is being paced on the collecting market by Munetaka Murakami. While others like McGonigle, Misiorowski, and JJ Wetherholt have been more "valuable" on the field, it is clear that Murakami Mania is in force effect when it comes to cards.
On release, Murakami base auto redemptions were getting double or even triple what McGonigle or the other top rookie autos were getting. His SSPs sold for thousands. Murakami will have to get back to hitting homers on the regular again, but even after a lengthy injury absence, collectors definitely are bullish on the young White Sox star.
Add us as a preferred source on Google