The Fanatics Era: What Baseball Card Collectors Need to Know in 2026

Fanatics now controls baseball cards. If that sentence feels strange, you are not alone. After 70 years of Topps as the dominant name in the hobby, Fanatics acquired the company and now holds exclusive MLB licenses through 2045.

But what does this actually mean for collectors? Should you change how you buy cards? Will prices go up? Is Topps going away?

This guide breaks down every change that matters in 2026 and explains what stays exactly the same.

What Actually Changed: The Fanatics Takeover Explained

In 2021, Fanatics struck deals with MLB and the MLBPA to become the exclusive producer of licensed baseball cards. Rather than compete with Topps, Fanatics acquired the company in 2022 for approximately $500 million.

The key dates:

• 2022: Fanatics acquires Topps, gains immediate MLB card rights
• 2023: MLBPA exclusive deal begins
• 2025: Topps' original MLB league deal ends
• 2026: Fanatics operates as sole licensed producer of MLB, NFL, and NBA cards
• 2045: Current licensing agreements run through this year

This is the first time since the 1950s that one company has controlled licensed cards across all three major sports. The deals reportedly total $2 billion through 2045, making this the largest trading card licensing arrangement in history.

Is Topps Going Away?

No. Topps continues as a brand under Fanatics ownership. The 2026 Topps Series 1 release celebrates the 75th anniversary of Topps Baseball, complete with commemorative designs and throwback inserts.

What you will see:

• Topps branding remains on flagship products (Series 1, Series 2, Update, Chrome)
• Bowman continues for prospect cards
• The same product lines collectors know

What changes:

• Points system replaced with FanCash
• Closer integration with Fanatics ecosystem
• Potential changes to product release schedules

FanCash Rewards: The New Points System

The biggest immediate change collectors will notice is the shift from Topps Points to FanCash. Here is how it works:

Earning FanCash:

• 2% back on eligible Topps.com purchases
• Includes hobby products, Topps NOW, supplies, and apparel
• Requires a free Fanatics ONE account

Conversion from old points:

• $1 FanCash for every 400 Topps points
• Conversion happened automatically for linked accounts

Where to spend it:

• Topps.com
• Fanatics.com and partner sites
• Fanatics Live auctions
• Fanatics Sportsbook (as bonus bets)

Expiration: FanCash expires one year from the date earned, but any new purchase resets the expiration for your entire balance.

The benefit here is flexibility. Unlike Topps points that only worked on Topps products, FanCash can be used across the entire Fanatics ecosystem. If you buy jerseys, memorabilia, or bet on sports, this rewards system offers more value.

Will Card Prices Go Up?

This is the concern collectors voice most often. The answer: probably, but not necessarily because of Fanatics.

Card prices have risen steadily since 2020 due to:

• Increased collector demand
• Higher production costs
• Inflation across all consumer goods

Fanatics has shown mixed signals. Hobby boxes of 2025 Topps Chrome sold out on Topps.com within minutes, then appeared on Fanatics.com at nearly double the price. This frustrated collectors who expected consistent pricing across platforms.

However, Fanatics' massive scale could theoretically reduce costs through better manufacturing and distribution. Whether those savings reach consumers remains to be seen.

What you can control: Buying player lots instead of chasing individual cards from packs reduces your exposure to retail price fluctuations. You know exactly what you are paying for specific players.

What Does Not Change for Collectors

Despite the corporate restructuring, the fundamentals of collecting remain identical:

• Rookie cards still matter. The RC designation, eligibility rules (500 AB / 50 IP), and value hierarchy stay the same.
• Bowman 1st cards drive prospect value. Fanatics has no reason to change baseball's unique Bowman 1st vs. RC dynamic.
• Parallels, autos, and relics work the same way. Numbered cards, refractors, and hit cards continue unchanged.
• Player collecting remains the best strategy. Building a PC of players you believe in transcends any manufacturer changes.
• Grading is unaffected. PSA, SGC, and BGS operate independently of card manufacturers.

The cards themselves look the same. They grade the same. They sell the same. The only difference is the corporate name on the press release.

Pre-Fanatics Cards: Investment Opportunity?

Some collectors speculate that pre-Fanatics Topps cards will become more valuable as "final era" collectibles, similar to how Upper Deck baseball cards gained premium status after losing MLB licensing.

The theory has some merit. Products from 2020-2024 represent the last cards produced under the traditional Topps ownership structure. Certain collectors may pay premiums for this distinction.

However, this speculation should not drive your collecting decisions. Buy players you believe in. Cards from 2023 featuring a future Hall of Famer will hold value regardless of corporate ownership changes.

Why Player Lots Make More Sense Than Ever

Corporate uncertainty is exactly why building player collections through lots beats chasing individual cards from packs.

When you buy packs or boxes, you are gambling on which cards you pull. Product prices, odds, and availability are controlled by manufacturers. The Fanatics transition introduces additional unknowns.

When you buy player lots on PlayerLots, you know exactly what you are getting:

• Fixed prices: No auction stress, no bidding wars, no sudden price spikes
• Specific players: Build your PC intentionally, not randomly
• Multiple cards per lot: 3-5 cards of the same player at transparent prices
• No manufacturer dependency: Lots include cards from any year, any product line

Whether Fanatics raises prices, changes release schedules, or restructures product lines, your ability to find the specific players you collect remains unchanged on PlayerLots.

Focus on Players, Not Corporate News

Fanatics owning Topps changes business structures. It does not change which players will make the Hall of Fame, which prospects will become stars, or which cards you want in your collection.

The best collecting strategy in 2026 is the same as 2016 or 2006: collect players you love, build focused PCs, and avoid overpaying for retail gambling.

Browse player lots on PlayerLots and build your collection without worrying about corporate transitions.