By Dale Calvert , CMG Sports Card Investments
The 2026 MLB playoffs are getting closer, and that means one of the most interesting times of the baseball-card calendar is approaching.
Major League Baseball’s postseason begins September 29, and the stretch run is already producing some fascinating storylines.
For sports-card collectors and investors, October baseball can create opportunities that simply don’t exist during the regular season.
A player can go from being a very good baseball player to becoming a household name in a matter of weeks. A young star can have one unforgettable postseason series and suddenly have collectors searching for his rookie cards. An established superstar can add a championship or MVP performance to his résumé and see renewed interest in his cards, just remember what happened to Ohtani cards after last years World Series performance.
That’s why I put together this list for myself, and decided to share it with readers of this website.
This isn’t a guarantee that these cards will increase in value. Sports-card investing always involves risk, and pitchers in particular can be volatile investments. Instead, these are 10 players whose combination of talent, current performance, age, hobby appeal and potential postseason exposure makes them particularly interesting to me right now.
These are 10 baseball cards I’d be looking at before the 2026 MLB playoffs.
1. Pete Crow-Armstrong — 2024 Topps Chrome Update Rookie Cards
The Hottest Story in the Hobby Right Now?
I may have been wrong about this guy. He seems like he learned from last year, and has matured as a person and player in 2026. My impression of him last year was, he is a cry baby, not so much this year.
If you’re looking for the player who may have the most momentum heading into the final weeks of the season, Pete Crow-Armstrong is extremely difficult to ignore. I have been hunting his cards for our Tuesday evening What Not Show customers and they agre gobbeling them up!
The Chicago Cubs outfielder has transformed himself into a legitimate 2026 National League MVP candidate. MLB has highlighted his improved plate discipline and his massive jump in walk rate while noting that he leads the NL in WAR. Personally, I don’t see him winning over Ohtani, but Vegas odds say I am wrong? What do you think?
He’s also already put together his second consecutive 30-home-run/30-steal season, further strengthening his MVP case.
That combination is exactly what the sports-card hobby loves. Like my PC Elly De La Cruz he is a 5 Tool Player.
Power.
Speed.
Defense.
Youth.
And, most importantly, a player currently generating a major baseball storyline.
The Card I’d Target
2024 Topps Chrome Update rookie cards, particularly attractive parallels and numbered cards.
For collectors on a tighter budget, I’d also look for clean raw copies that have legitimate grading potential.
Why Buy Before October?
Imagine the scenario.
The Cubs make a playoff run.
PCA hits a huge home run.
Then another.
Maybe he steals a crucial base or makes a spectacular defensive play.
Suddenly, millions of casual baseball fans who weren’t paying attention in June are watching Pete Crow-Armstrong in October.
That’s exactly the kind of exposure that can create hobby momentum.
My take: PCA is the player I’d be watching closest heading into October.
2. Shohei Ohtani — 2018 Topps Update Rookie Card
The Superstar Safety Play
If Pete Crow-Armstrong is the momentum play, Shohei Ohtani is the superstar play.
There may not be another player in baseball who can generate the combination of casual-fan interest and serious collector demand that Ohtani does.
And this is where October becomes particularly important.
The Dodgers are once again positioned as one of baseball’s premier postseason teams, and Ohtani is capable of producing the kind of moments that become part of baseball history.
His MVP battle with Crow-Armstrong has become one of the biggest storylines in the National League.
The Card I’d Target
2018 Topps Update Shohei Ohtani rookie card.
For serious collectors, high-grade copies and desirable parallels are the obvious targets.
For collectors with smaller budgets, I’d rather own a clean example of his recognized rookie card than chase every new Ohtani release.
Why Buy Before October?
Because there is still tremendous upside in owning the cards of a player who could become one of the defining baseball stars of his generation.
If Ohtani has a legendary postseason, the hobby will notice.
3. Jacob Misiorowski — 2025/2026 Rookie Cards
The High-Risk, High-Reward Pitching Play
This is probably the most controversial card on my list.
And that’s exactly why I like it.
Jacob Misiorowski is not the safe investment.
He’s the speculative investment, simply because he is a pitcher.
The Milwaukee Brewers right-hander has become one of the most talked-about young pitchers in baseball, and MLB currently identifies him as a favorite for the 2026 National League Cy Young Award.
He’s also producing the kind of stuff that makes collectors pay attention.
We’re talking about a pitcher capable of throwing 100+ mph, while generating enormous strikeout totals.
On August 21, Misiorowski threw six scoreless innings against Atlanta in a 2–1 Brewers victory. MLB also noted that he became the first Brewers pitcher in franchise history to record six or more strikeouts in 20 consecutive starts.
Why This Card Could Get Interesting
Pitchers are risky.
That’s the disclaimer.
But think about what could happen if Misiorowski enters the postseason and dominates.
One spectacular October start can change the perception of a young pitcher.
Suddenly, collectors aren’t asking:
“Who’s Jacob Misiorowski?”
They’re asking:
“How much are his rookie cards?”
That’s the type of asymmetric upside I look for in a speculative card.
High risk? Absolutely.
High potential reward? Also absolutely.
4. Bobby Witt Jr. — 2022 Topps Chrome Rookie Card
The Long-Term Hold
If I were putting together a sports-card portfolio designed to hold for several years, Bobby Witt Jr. would be one of my favorite players on this list.
He’s young, incredibly talented and already established himself as one of baseball’s premier players.
That’s important.
You’re not buying purely on potential.
You’re buying a player who has already demonstrated elite ability.
The Card I’d Target
2022 Topps Chrome Bobby Witt Jr. rookie card.
I particularly like the Chrome rookie because it has tremendous collector recognition and plenty of parallel options.
Why Buy Before October?
The postseason could provide Witt with something he hasn’t had enough of yet:
a massive national October spotlight.
If Kansas City makes a deep run and Witt becomes one of the faces of that postseason, his hobby profile could rise substantially.
For me, Bobby Witt Jr. is less of a short-term flip and more of a five-year baseball-card hold.
5. Elly De La Cruz — 2024 Topps Chrome Rookie Card
The Hobby Superstar
If we’re talking about pure hobby excitement, Elly De La Cruz has to be on the list.
Few young players create the combination of excitement, social-media attention and highlight-reel moments that Elly does.
He’s fast.
He’s powerful.
He’s flashy.
And he’s extremely young.
That’s an important combination in today’s hobby.
The Card I’d Target
2024 Topps Chrome Elly De La Cruz rookie card.
Collectors can go up the ladder from base Chrome to refractors, numbered parallels and autographs depending on budget.
Why Buy Before October?
Because Elly doesn’t need to have a perfect season to generate attention.
He needs one unforgettable postseason moment.
A 450-foot home run.
A stolen base.
A spectacular defensive play.
A viral highlight.
That’s the type of exposure that can bring thousands of new eyes to his cards.
6. Jackson Chourio — 2024 Topps Chrome Update Rookie Card
The Next Big Jump?
Jackson Chourio is one of my favorite players on this list because he combines youth with legitimate MLB experience.
He’s already established himself as a player collectors want to follow, but I still believe there is room for his hobby profile to grow.
The Card I’d Target
2024 Topps Chrome Update Jackson Chourio rookie card.
For investors, I would pay particular attention to refractors, numbered parallels and cards with strong eye appeal.
Why Buy Before October?
The Brewers are currently ranked No. 1 in MLB’s weekly power rankings, giving Chourio a very interesting potential October stage.
If Milwaukee makes a deep postseason run, Chourio gets something every young player needs:
NATIONAL EXPOSURE
The hobby doesn’t always react to statistics alone.
It reacts to moments.
And October creates moments.
7. Yordan Alvarez — 2019 Topps Chrome Rookie Card
The MVP Buy
Here’s my established-star value play.
Yordan Alvarez.
When you’re looking for baseball cards before the playoffs, don’t overlook established superstars simply because their rookie cards aren’t cheap.
The question isn’t:
“Can this player become a star?”
He’s already a star.
The question becomes:
“Can October remind the hobby just how good he is?”
The Card I’d Target
2019 Topps Chrome Yordan Alvarez rookie card.
I particularly like the Chrome rookie because of its broad recognition among modern collectors.
Why Buy Before October?
An elite hitter performing under the brightest lights can change the hobby conversation very quickly.
A monster playoff series from Yordan could remind collectors why his rookie cards belong in serious collections.
8. Junior Caminero — 2025 Topps Chrome Rookie Card
The Upside Play
Now we’re getting into the kind of player I think collectors should be hunting for.
Junior Caminero.
He’s young enough that his best baseball could still be ahead of him, but talented enough that we’re no longer simply talking about a prospect.
That’s a sweet spot for sports-card speculation.
The Card I’d Target
2025 Topps Chrome Junior Caminero rookie card.
I’d focus on cards that combine affordability with strong grading potential.
Why Buy Before October?
The upside here is simple.
If Caminero becomes one of the young faces of October baseball, collectors who bought before that exposure could look very smart.
This is not the same risk profile as Ohtani.
But that’s the point.
A portfolio doesn’t need ten Ohtanis, but let me be clear, if you are an Ohtani ONLY Collector, you may be the smartest person in the entire baseball collector world.
Sometimes you want a few players where the potential percentage upside is significantly larger.
9. Michael Harris II — 2022 Topps Chrome Rookie Card
The Underappreciated Star
This may be my favorite “why isn’t everyone talking about this guy?” selection. Granted, Dawn and I watch the Braves every night. I see what this guy does on the field daily with my own eyes.
Michael Harris II.
He’s a former National League Rookie of the Year and I think the hobby has fogotten that! Michael is a young Atlanta Braves center fielder and one of the more intriguing players in the hobby.
And he’s producing at exactly the right time.
On August 23, Harris hit his 21st home run of the season against Milwaukee.
MLB’s recent game coverage also showed him batting .328/.339/.475 over his previous 16 games, including a six-game hitting streak.
His current 2026 batting average is around .294.
The Card I’d Target
2022 Topps Chrome Michael Harris II rookie card.
This is exactly the kind of card I would be looking for at card shows, on eBay, Whatnot or wherever you can find them!
Why?
Because I’m not convinced the hobby has fully priced in his potential.
Why Buy Before October?
There’s another factor here:
Atlanta.
Braves fans are passionate, and Harris has the opportunity to become one of the faces of the next generation of Atlanta baseball.
If his production continues and he gets significant October exposure, his cards could receive a much-needed hobby spotlight.
This is my “buy before the hobby catches up” player. Granted we do multiple card shows a year in “Braves Country” throughout the South and there is a huge market for all Braves players here.
10. Ronald Acuña Jr. — 2018 Topps Update Rookie Card
The Comeback Bet
Finally, we have one of the most exciting players in baseball:
Ronald Acuña Jr.
Acuña is a perfect example of why I don’t always want to buy cards strictly based on what a player is doing today.
Sometimes you buy based on what the player could become again, and Ronald has all the tools and he absolutely LOVES TO PLAY THE GAME.
The Card I’d Target
2018 Topps Update Ronald Acuña Jr. rookie card.
There are certainly more expensive Acuña cards available, but his recognized Topps Update rookie remains one of the cards I’d want in a long-term collection.
Why Buy Before October?
Because Acuña doesn’t need to become the player he was overnight.
He simply needs to remind baseball fans what he is capable of.
If Atlanta gets hot and Acuña produces some memorable moments, the hobby could react quickly.
This is the comeback/speculation play on my list.
So Which Card Would I Buy First?
That’s the question I’d expect every collector to ask.
And my answer isn’t necessarily the most expensive card.
If I were ranking these strictly by risk versus potential reward, I’d separate them into categories.
🏆 My Lower-Risk Superstar Plays
Shohei Ohtani
Bobby Witt Jr.
Yordan Alvarez
Ronald Acuña Jr.
These are established names with significant hobby recognition.
🚀 My Higher-Upside Young Player Plays
Pete Crow-Armstrong
Elly De La Cruz
Jackson Chourio
Junior Caminero
These are the players where continued development plus postseason exposure could create significant hobby momentum.
🎯 My Speculative Plays
Jacob Misiorowski
Michael Harris II
These are the two cards I’d be watching very closely because the market may not fully reflect their potential.
The One Thing Collectors Should Remember
Here’s the biggest mistake I see collectors make:
They wait until everyone is talking about the player.
By then, the market has usually noticed too.
The interesting time to buy is when you can make a reasonable argument before the player has his breakout moment.
That’s why the timing of this list matters.
The 2026 postseason starts September 29.
We’re entering the stretch run.
The MVP races are heating up.
The playoff races are tightening.
Young players are becoming household names.
And every game between now and October has the potential to change the sports-card conversation.
That’s what makes this time of year so exciting for collectors.
You don’t have to buy all ten cards.
You don’t even have to agree with my list.
But I’d encourage every collector to ask one question before buying a card:
“What could happen between now and October that would make thousands of other collectors want this card?”
Getting the answer to this question is always where the opportunity is.
My Top 10 Before the 2026 Playoffs
1. Pete Crow-Armstrong — 2024 Topps Chrome Update RC
2. Shohei Ohtani — 2018 Topps Update RC
3. Jacob Misiorowski — 2025/2026 Rookie Cards
4. Bobby Witt Jr. — 2022 Topps Chrome RC
5. Elly De La Cruz — 2024 Topps Chrome RC
6. Jackson Chourio — 2024 Topps Chrome Update RC
7. Yordan Alvarez — 2019 Topps Chrome RC
8. Junior Caminero — 2025 Topps Chrome RC
9. Michael Harris II — 2022 Topps Chrome RC
10. Ronald Acuña Jr. — 2018 Topps Update RC
The playoffs are coming. The question is: Which players will become the next October hobby stars? Enjoy the hobby, and never over extend yourself, but take full advantage (whatever that personally means for you) of this time of the year.
This article represents opinions for entertainment and educational purposes and is not financial advice. Sports-card values can rise or fall, and collectors should conduct their own research before making purchases.