Adventures in Trading: Tuesday Transactions Before Texas

I said I was going to hold off on trade requests because I am going to be out of town for a week. But because two people on the TCDB reached out last week with quick trade requests, and I saw that they were small requests, and I am still in town, I thought I'd agree to them. Envelopes were mailed yesterday morning. A total of six cards sent to two traders with six cards coming back, including 5 cards that will help put a small dent into the biggest insert set (in number of cards) in Series 2, Glove Work.

The first trade request came on the first of July, a simple two-for-two card trade, for the retail exclusive Titans and Stars of MLB. However, because I pulled all of those during my retail breaks (I promise, I will let you know the results of the Hobby break and if I managed to complete the base Series 2 set), I didn't need what she was offering. A quick view of the updated trade matching showed that she had 1 card that I still needed. I would have rejected the trade otherwise, but seeing that we've had a transaction previously, I thought, I could manage a quick counter-offer. She accepted it and sent the card out right away. The card actually arrived last night.

I still need three cards to complete the Stars of MLB set. I could keep on buying retail packs, but probably will wait until after the trip to do it.

The second trade was originally for more cards than what was eventually agreed upon. It would have been a 7-for-7 trade, including a 1991 Topps Blake Snell card he was offering. However, I pulled that card during the Hobby box break on the 4th of July. So I had to counter and remove it from my want list and adjust what he was requesting to make it relatively fair (I'm not greedy, I swear). But when I redid the trade matching, it appeared that he already had, or may have already agreed to other trades for, four of the cards he had originally requested. He was down to four cards needed from the original 7. So I countered, offering four cards, including a 2022 Topps Gypsy Queen Aaron Judge, for 5 of the Glove Work inserts. He agreed. These might arrive in the mail long after we leave for the trip. I've already tasked my daughter, who is staying home this time around, to check the mail while we're gone.

Trade requests are now on hold until I get back.

Oh, and then, the National is at the end of the month. Have to plan accordingly.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Misiorowski, Skenes, and Meyer are out of the ASG. Ashcraft, Luzardo, and O'Brien are Named Replacements

It seems that the Sunday Starter Rule is still in effect.

What does that mean exactly?

It means that pitchers who were named onto the All-Star Team who are slotted to start on the Sunday before the All-Star Game will be ineligible to pitch in the game. Thus, while still getting the perks of being selected and they can still go take part in the festivities, these pitchers will no longer be part of the main rosters.

And so it was that Jacob Misiorowski of the Brewers, Paul Skenes of the Pirates, and Max Meyer of the Marlins, after starting their respective games on Tuesday night, are all lined up to start this Sunday before the break. The NL pitching staff needs to find replacements for these three aces. 

2026 Topps Braxton Ashcraft #589

According to MLB.com, The Miz' replacement is Braxton Ashcraft of the Pirates. Ashcraft, a first-time All-Star, has been part of the reason why the Pirates are relevant in the NL Central after more than 11 years. He has a 9-3 record, a 3.24 ERA, and 122 strikeouts in 18 starts. He has, recently, been pitching better than his better known teammate. Depending on the source, we could easily say that Ashcraft is taking the place of Pirate ace Skenes. But MLB says that Ashcraft is covering for the Miz, so we'll go with that.

2026 Topps Jesús Luzardo #63

With Skenes now off the team, MLB.com reports that Phillies ace Jesús Luzardo has been added to the NL side. Luzardo, also a first-time Star, finished 7th in last year's Cy Young voting. Sporting a 7-4 record in 18 starts, with 125 K's and a 3.75 ERA, he is now part of the growing contingent of Phillies stars, six in all, playing host at this year's festivities. 

Finally, Max Meyer, one of the surprises that could lead the Marlins back to the postseason, also started Tuesday. His replacement is Cardinals' closer Riley O'Brien. Earning the closer role for 2026, he's saved 22 games for the Redbirds, keeping them in contention in a strong NL Central division. This will also be his first All-Star appearance.

So add Ashcraft's #589 cards from Series 2, and Luzardo's #63 from Series 1 to the All-Star Binder. Unfortunately, O'Brien is not in this year's set. And once again, curses to the higher ups who decided that there won't be any retail team sets in 2026. Just know that O'Brien is taking over for a guy who also doesn't have a card in this year's eponymous set. 

That's it for now. When Bryan Buxton's replacement is named, we'll let you know what card to add to the growing binder.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Willson Contreras Replaces VGJ on AL ASG Roster

2026 Topps Willson Contreras #180

We interrupt whatever I was doing to report that it was just announced that Willson Contreras of the Boston Red Sox has been added to the American League All-Star Team.

As mentioned in my post with the rosters and their Topps card numbers that because Vladimir Guerrero, Jr, elected to start at first base, was not going to participate in the game (he announced that he was going to rest his lower back for the 2nd half of the season), Nick Kurtz of the Athletics, who was named to the team as a reserve, will now move up to the starting lineup. Well, Kurtz moving up to means that a replacement needed to be named.

Enter Willson Contreras. Now going to his fourth All-Star Game (his first three as a catcher for the Cubs), Contreras will once again take part in an ASG with his brother William (2022), but this time on the opposing side. Willson joins teammates Ranger Suarez and Aroldis Chapman as the Boston contingent heading to Philly.

So add card #180 to your All-Star binders. Okay, he's a member of the Cardinals on his 2026 Topps card. If they had done the team sets (Why Topps??? WHY??!) he could have gotten a Red Sox card. He will definitely have an Update Series card.

More to come as the roster replacements are announced.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

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)

1B-Willson Contreras, Red Soxª (180, replaces Guerrero, Jr.)

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)

P-Braxton Ashcraft, Piratesª (#589, replaces Misiorowski)

P-Jesús Luzardo, Philliesª (#63, replaces Skenes)

RP-Riley O'Brien, Cardinalsª (replaces Meyer)

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

*Sunday Starter, 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 Phillies lead the way with 6 players representing the host city. The Dodgers, and Braves 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