The 2026 All-Star Rosters Have Been Announced...What Do You Think???

While celebrating the Fourth of July at my sister's house, Fox Sports announced the rosters for the 2026 All-Star Teams. We already know Ernie Clement and Shohei Ohtani are going to Philadelphia. Who else is joining them?

I love this time of year. And what I have done every year since I really stated following the game, even during the years away from this humble, little blog, is take out the cards of the players who made each roster and put them in a special binder (my All-Star binder...if you will). I do this because it helps me not only recognize the players who became all-stars that particular year, but during the game, I use it to keep track of who's in the game as it progresses. And although I will be out of town when the ASG is happening, I will still have my binder, and will still watch the game.

So without further ado, here are the 2026 MLB All-Star Game rosters as announced on Tuesday night (with 2026 Topps Card # for those of you playing along):

American League Starters:
1B-Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jaysº (#20)
2B-Ernie Clement, Blue Jays (#505)
3B-Junior Caminero, Rays (#328)
SS-Bobby Witt Jr., Royals (#205)
OF-Mike Trout, Angels (#350)
OF-Bryan Buxton, Twins (#255)
OF-Aaron Judge, Yankees (#1)
C-Shea Langeliers, Athletics (#305)
DH-Yordan Alvarez, Astros (#468)

American League Pitchers:

P-Dylan Cease, Blue Jays (#547)
P-Parker Messick, Guardians (#67)
P-Drew Rasmussen, Rays (#64)
P-Joe Ryan, Twins (#54)
P-Cam Schlittler, Yankees (#111)
RP-Aroldis Chapman, Red Sox (#656)
RP-Cade Smith, Guardians (#622)
RP-Louis Varland, Blue Jays
P-Ranger Suarez, Red Sox (#440, selected by MLB)
P-Michael Wacha, Royals (#190, selected by MLB)
RP-Bryan Baker, Rays (selected by MLB)
RP-Jacob Latz, Rangers (selected by MLB)

American League Reserves:

1B-Nick Kurtz, Athletics (#97, will start for Guerrero, Jr.)
2B-Travis Bazzana, Guardians
3B-Miguel Vargas, White Sox (#329)
SS-Kevin McGonigle, Tigers (#697b)
OF-Randy Arozarena, Mariners (#431)
OF-Cody Bellinger, Yankees (#607)
OF-Riley Greene, Tigers (#209)
C-Dillon Dingler, Tigers (#351)
DH-Yandy Díaz, Rays (#388)
1B-Ben Rice, Yankees (#133, selected by MLB)
C-Adley Rutschman, Orioles (#358, selected by MLB)

National League Starters:

1B-Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (#700)
2B-Ozzie Albies, Braves (#568)
3B-Max Muncy, Dodgers (#252)
SS-CJ Abrams, Nationals (#152)
OF-Brandon Marsh, Phillies (#335)
OF-Juan Soto, Mets (#660)
OF-Andy Pages, Dodgers (#414)
C-Drake Baldwin, Braves (#692)
DH-Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers (#200)

National League Pitchers:

P-Chase Burns, Reds (#312)
P-Jacob Misiorowski, Brewers (#10)
P-Chris Sale, Braves (#427)
P-Cristopher Sánchez, Phillies (#325)
P-Paul Skenes, Pirates (#100)
RP-Jhoan Duran, Phillies (#83)
RP-Raisel Iglesias, Braves (#396)
RP-Mason Miller, Padres (#179)
P-Max Meyer, Marlins (selected by MLB)
P-Eduardo Rodriguez, Diamondbacks (#417, selected by MLB)
P-Logan Webb, Giants (#69, selected by MLB)
P-Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Dodgers (#90, selected by MLB)

National League Reserves:

1B-Matt Olsen, Braves (#39)
2B-Luis Arraez, Giants (#420)
3B-Sal Stewart, Reds (#372)
SS-Otto Lopez, Marlins (#194)
OF-Corbin Carroll, Diamondbacks (#314)
OF-Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs (#196)
OF-James Wood, Nationals (#349)
C-William Contreras, Brewers (#192)
DH-Kyle Schwarber, Phillies (#650)
OF-Jordan Walker, Cardinals (#565, selected by MLB)
C-Hunter Goodman, Rockies (#274, selected by MLB)
1B-Bryce Harper, Phillies (#250, "Legend Pick")

º Injured, will not participate
ª Named as replacement

The rosters should consist of 33 active players. The NL is already at that roster limit, the AL is currently at 32. But with VGJ announcing that he will not participate, and Nick Kurtz taking his place, it is only a matter of time before another player will be added to the AL side.

On the binder front, it looks like I'll be missing a few players. Meyer on the NL side, along with Bazzana, Baker, Latz, Varland on the AL team, do not have cards. McGonigle is a special case as I don't have either the SP or the Factory version of his card...yet. (I'm working on it.) This is why I'm actually kind of miffed that there are no retail team sets this year. At least everyone with a card is pictured with the team they're with currently. Expect all the missing to show up in the Update Series.

As it seems to be the case these past few years, there is a lot of youth on both rosters, as well as a ton of first-time All-Stars to boot (about 26 at last count).

Both Chicago teams have one player on the roster (so far). With the way rosters fluctuate between now and game day, I hope that someone will join either PCA or Vargas in Philly. The Dodgers, Braves, and Phillies are well represented here, with 5 players from each team on the roster. The AL leading Rays, Yankees, and the Blue Jays are sending 4 each.

This is just the beginning. If history is an indicator, expect both active rosters to dramatically change by the time July 14 comes. As always, I'll make sure to help you add cards to your All-Star binders by providing card numbers for the players added onto the All-Star teams.

Let's hear the answers to these questions:

Who do you think should have been chosen that wasn't?

Of the players selected, who shouldn't be going to the game?

Were the guys you wanted from your team chosen?

If not, then who should have represented your team?

Let the debates begin.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

A Series 2 Super Box on the Third of July Finishes the Retail Breaks

 

2026 Topps Series 2 Super Box

I finally opened the Super Box yesterday. It consists of 10 fourteen-card packs of Series 2 Topps, along with a bonus 5-card pack of foilboard parallel cards (see below), an exclusive jumbo card, the header (which I will be using for the 6-inch binder) and a Funko mini (and if you remember my post about the series 1 box), you will know how I feel about this.

Anyway...not counting the 140 base and basic inserts (nothing to write home about, so I'll save you the agony)...here are the bonus items:

Mini Funko Robert Acuña Jr.

The mini Funko was of Robert Acuña, Jr. He's going to be a great addition to the Mike Trout Funko from S1. 

2026 Topps Oversize Kyle Schwarber #650

The oversized card is of Kyle Schwarber, but there was no "companion card." So either it was missing or they decided that adding a regular-sized card that could easily be damaged when the packages shift was a bad idea to include.

The Bonus Pack of Foilboard cards

So what was in the pack of foilboards?

• #660 Edouard Julien, second baseman, Colorado Rockies
• #662 Jeff McNeil, second baseman, Athletics
• #364 Luis Garcia, Jr., second baseman, Washington Nationals
• #428 Kris Bryant, outfielder, Colorado Rockies
• #375 Denzel Clark, outfielder, Athletics

Will always have a soft spot for Kris Bryant, but it's weird seeing him listed as an outfielder instead of a third baseman. He's really never been the same since he was traded off in 2021. Can't believe it's been five years, and it's a shame that injuries derailed such a promising career. 

But now that all of the retail packs and boxes have been opened (except for one of the first two jumbo packs...did buy another one later), let's see how well I did with the cards. The breakdown consisted of the cards in the packages included below:

• 392 cards from the two mega boxes
• 145 cards from the Super box
• 118 cards from the two blasters
• 72 cards from the retail box
• 72 cards from the two jumbo packs
• 70 cards from the five retail packs

That's 869 total cards, base set and basic inserts. There were 739 base cards and 130 insert cards. None were relics or autos. Of the 739 base cards, I have 307 of the 350 cards needed to complete Series 2. So I am, as of this moment (because I haven't opened the Jumbo box...will do that today when I'm with family for the 4th of July), 43 cards short of a full set. 

The best card that I got from the 869 retail cards is this Babe Ruth card, #'d 41/99:

2026 Topps 1991 S2 Babe Ruth Green Parallel #91B2-50 

(Interrupted writing this post so I can post images of the Ruth and Schwarber cards to the TCDB).

I'll be bringing the jumbo box to my sister's house today and will be opening packs after we eat. I'll post pictures of the cards within and we'll see if I will get all 43 missing cards to complete the S2 set or if I will need to post wantlists for base cards.

Now...

It's a very special day here in the US. It's the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. That one document changed the course of history and established the colonies as independent from the Kingdom of England. 

So Happy Birthday America!!! Enjoy your special day!!!

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Time to Talk All-Stars

 

2026 Topps Ernie Clement #505 and Shohei Ohtani #200

The last time I posted regularly about the All-Star Game was in 2016. The fan-voting process was simple: 8 players in the NL, 9 players in the AL would be chosen from a national ballot. The reserves were selected by players and coaches and any extras from the commissioner's office.

Boy have times changed.

In recent years, fan voting would leave to what is akin to a primary. The top 2 players from each position (after adding the DH to the National League) would face off in second round of voting. Which means that the guy who had the number one spot going into round two might not even make the team.

Part of this new deal is that whoever received the most votes in each league, regardless of position, would skip the second-round ballot and are officially on the All-Star Team.

This means that second baseman Ernie Clement of the Toronto Blue Jays and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers are both heading to Philadelphia for the July 14, 2026 event.

If starting your own binder (am I the only one??!) to keep tabs of everyone who will be voted in, selected, called up as a replacement (due to availability, injury, etc), pull Clement's #505 card and Ohtani's #200 card (not the #500 one...that's only if he is named a pitcher...which is very possible and has been done in the years I paused blogging).

As more names are added, from the second-round of voting and All-Star selection show, through the announcements of any replacements, I will make sure to note them on the blog, and add their cards (will make sure to include card numbers) to the All-Star binder, which now that I'm thinking about it, will probably bring with me on my trip since the game will be happening while I'm on the road.

Speaking of...

2026 Topps Series 2 All-Star Game Mega Box

This could be a thing now. Just like this year's (and 2025) Topps Series 1 had the Celebration-themed mega boxes, so will Series 2. This one will be tied in with the All-Star Game. However, unlike last year's All-Star Game Mega Boxes, which included a 100-card base set plus 100 insert cards, this year's edition will include base cards of Series 2 with "All-Star Parallels." There is no word on exclusive insert cards in this product, but I just thought to look as I was writing this post...and here we are.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Adventures in Trading: Three to Start the 600 Card Chase

Before beginning my journey on the road to 600, I received three trade requests. Most of the cards being offered were for the retail-specific Titans of the Game and Stars of MLB cards. Even though I KNEW I would be buying a ton or retail, I still agreed to the trades. 

Why?

Because one request asked for last year's edition of the same sets, and I acknowledge that not everyone had access to the large number of retail shops that I do here in the Chicago area. And two, I had not bought any at the time, so I thought, why not get a head start.

The first request came on June 18. The trader had originally wanted to do a six-for-six exchange, offering three cards each from the aformentioned retail sets in exchange for three cards each from series 1. Seeing that he actually had more cards that I needed, and that I had more that I could offer, I reached out and asked if he could add more. Normally, I'd have agreed to the trade as he had requested, but took a chance with this ask. He could have easily said no. But he did offer more, and ask for more in return. So I agreed. The final transaction is below. At least he threw in a couple of the Glove Works cards.

The second request came the following day. This person was offering more of the Titans and Stars cards in exchange for Update Series All-Star cards and two other inserts. This was a quick acceptance. 

The last request came on Saturday morning. A three-for-one offer for one of the Jac Caglianone cards I picked up at the Hobby Rip Night back in January. The way I looked at it, this trade was more for the Frank Thomas All-Star card, with the two Stars of MLB cards as a bonus.

All three packages were mailed on Monday, June 22. Twenty cards for twenty cards. And I am happy to say that all three packages arrived before the end of the week. 

Trading will be on hold for the next two weeks for a couple of reasons. One, I still have to sort through all the cards and boxes I did buy and second because I will be travelling soon and don't want to have cards left in the mail while I'm away.

I will be bringing cards to sort, so at least I'll have something to do during the down-time. 

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

A Series 2 Box Break Before Fireworks.

Yesterday brought another Target run, and this time, although all the Super Boxes were gone, the store had two of these 2026 Topps Series 2 Mega Boxes. These contain 14 packs with 14 cards in each pack. Also bought 1 Jumbo pack and two retail packs (had to follow store policy), otherwise, I would have cleaned them out. There were 4 regular retail packs left by the time I went to checkout.

Tonight, my wife, son and I are hanging out at Oakton College, waiting for the sun to set and watch fireworks. With a bag of Popeyes Chicken nearby, and one of the Mega Boxes in hand, why not do a box break and see if these are worth the money.

Update: 8:14 pm

Popeyes good as always. Now it's time to open packs. The sun won't set for another 20 minutes or so. Better open some packs now.

Pack 1 included 11 base, a White Sox parallel, the Ichiro All-Star card, and a Freddie Freeman Titans card. Off to a rousing start.

Pack 2 had 13 base and a Bryce Eldridge Stars of MLB card.

Pack 3 drew 12 base cards, an Ichiro Crooked Numbers card, and a Tarik Skubal Titans card.

Pack 4, now we're talking. A Ryne Sandberg Glove Works card...that's it. That's the pack. Anything else need to be said???

Pack 5 brings us back to the base cards, plus a Pedro Martinez 1991 All-Star Crackle parallel. 

Pack 6 has a current Cub at the pole position and a former Cub bringing up the rear.

One more pack before it gets too dark to continue pictures.

Pack 7 has a 1991 Crackle Spencer Steer, the Cade Horton ASRT card...and 11 more base cards.

Phone battery is now at 15%. It is getting cooler out, and darker out. So I will stop here. I will let you know what else was in the box. If something exciting shows up, you will be notified. 

Time for fireworks. 

Sincerely, 

JayBee Anama

Beating the Odds with Vladimir Guerrero

Last night I opened the remaining four regular Hobby packs purchased at Au Sports. If you recall (or if you even read my previous post...don't know what the heck is happening but my posts aren't showing up in feeds), these were the last five packs in the last Hobby box the shop had available. Under normal circumstances, this would mean that the chances of getting a card beyond the regular base and basic inserts are slim to none at best. 

As we all (should) know by now, each regular Hobby box contains just one...ONE...autograph or relic card. This has been the case in recent years, as I think the only major change was the reduction of the number of these cards in the Jumbo box, and not the regular one. And because it was Father's Day, and I was pretty sure I wouldn't be coming back towards the store for quite some time, I decided to buy the last five packs, just to help build up the base set.

I posted the first pack results yesterday. Packs 2 and 3 were okay, got a Glove Works insert card, even pulled card #500 (Shohei). But it was pack 4 that made the purchase totally worth it. Because it led me to this below:

2026 Topps Major League Materials Vladimir Guerrero Auto/Relic Gold Parallel #MLM2-VG

Not only is this an autograph card. 

Not only is this a relic card.

But it's a GOLD parallel autograph and relic card. There are only 50 cards like this in existence, and one of them is in my hands right now (brought it to work as a good luck charm...yes I threw it in a thick-card penny sleeve and toploader). I have card #32/50.

I normally don't get lucky with these kinds of "hits." I went on the Bay earlier this morning to see if anyone has already put the card up. And yes, of course, someone did. It's up as a BIN for $77.99 plus $6.50 for shipping. 

I am guaranteed (supposedly) two auto or relic cards in the Jumbo box. I'll post later the results. But for now, I'm going to enjoy the win and say that the 600-card chase is off to a good start.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

And So It Begins. My First Dive Into 2026 Topps Series 2

The full Father's Day Haul of 2026 Topps Series 2

I had a very good Father's Day yesterday. Not entirely because of the above. Between a very nice Father's Day breakfast and a fantastic home-cooked steak dinner, I went to Target to see if there was any 2026 Topps Series 2 items left. Yes, there barely was. Two blaster boxes, two jumbo packs, and two retail packs. I'll get to the Jumbo packs in a moment.

Then it was off to Au Sports to get a Jumbo box of 2026 Topps Series 2...along with some other things they had (the retail box) and five packs of regular Hobby. It was the store's last 5 packs, with more coming next week. A second trip to Target yielded the Super Box and one last retail pack. 

The total card count:

• 400 cards from the Jumbo box
• 145 cards from the Super box (with one mini Funko)
• 118 cards from the two blasters
• 72 cards from the retail box
• 72 cards from the two jumbo packs
• 60 cards from the five Hobby packs
• 42 cards from the three retail packs

That's 909 total cards. If I can't even manage the 350 card base set from this, I will probably scream.

I'll post what I get from each of these packages soon. Today, I took one Hobby pack with me to open during my lunch break at the office. Let's see...should I go for the Jif Ramen again or Nashville Hot Chicken at the cafe...decisions, decisions, decisions...

Wasn't kidding about the Jif Ramen...

Anyway...

Okay, so this is not the actual pack...camera is not the greatest...we've already established this...

So what's in this pack? 

The first card in this pack (and my first card of Series 2) is of...

Brooks Baldwin of the Chicago White Sox!!!

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 2026 Topps #619.
• Player Name, position, team: Brooks Baldwin, second baseman, Chicago White Sox.
• Major League Debut: July 19, 2024.
• Last Line of Statistics: 2025 stats (White Sox): 103 G, 300 AB, 32 R, 72 H, 15 2B, 1 3B, 11 HR, 38 RBI, 5 SB, 21 BB, .407 SLG .697 OPS .240 AVG, -0.6 WAR.
• Any special information about player: Drafted by the White Sox in the #12th round, July, 2022 Bats: both. Throws: right.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 2. This is his second Topps card.
• Blurb on the back: "Brooks played every non-battery position except first base for the 2025 White Sox, with most of his action coming in the outfield. He finished the year strong, registering an .824 OPS over his last 32 games."
• Commentary: So if Brooks played more games in the outfield (79 between the three positions), why is he listed on this card as the second baseman??! He hasn't played a game this season, being placed on the DL and is out for the entire 2026 campaign due to a UCL tear in his right elbow.
• Beckett value: n/a.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 2 cards.

The rest of the pack included:

• #594 Lucas Gil, pitcher, New York Yankees
• #635 Edgar Quero, catcher, Chicago White Sox Future Stars
• #555 Cade Povich, pitcher, Baltimore Orioles
• #533 Jasson Domínguez, outfielder, New York Yankees
• #374 Kevin Alcántara, outfielder, Chicago Cubs Future Stars
• #370 Brayan Rocchio, shortstop, Cleveland Guardians
• #660 Edouard Julien, second baseman, Colorado Rockies
• #473 Bo Bichette, third baseman, New York Mets
• #528 Jared Triolo, third baseman, Pittsburgh Pirates Foil Parallel
• #483 Logan O'Hoppe, catcher, Los Angeles Angels
• #366 Isaac Paredes, third baseman, Houston Astros

Eleven base cards off the wantlist. At least there was one Cub card in it. Disappointed that the "insert" was a parallel card, but this was one of five packs at the bottom of the box, so I can't be totally disappointed.

Now, as promised earlier, the story about the last two jumbo packs from my first Target run.

As I mentioned at the beginning, these were among the last packs at the first Target I went to on Sunday. If you've been to Target and have been buying cards, you know that there is now a two per item limit for everything. So you can only buy two jumbo packs, two regular packs, etc. These were the last two Jumbo packs. As I was in the car, I noticed that you can actually see the card on the front of the pack. With all the white, it's hard to miss. What wasn't hard to miss is that both packs have the same card on the front. And that player is...

Everybody sing...to the tune of the chorus of the Battle Hymn of the Republic...

2026 Topps Munetaka Murakami #503

His truth is marching...on...

So I posted on what once was Twitter and also on Threads:

Finally found some 2026 @topps Series 2 @target. Bought 2 of each (got the last two blasters, jumbo, and small packs as well). Both Jumbo packs have Munetaka Murakami on the front of the pack (how did people miss this?!) Question for the group: open 1 & hold 1 or open both??!

Leave your suggestions below. 

Next time I am able, I'll have an Adventure in Trading post (yes, the trading is coming back). I'll let you know what's leaving and what's coming in.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama