Top MLB Award Winner Card Sales Lead 2026 Market Watch

Expected MLB award winners are already driving card sales

With the regular season entering its final week, the biggest individual awards in baseball appear to be coming into focus. Based on the season-long market activity tracked by Card Ladder, collectors have already pushed several cards for the expected winners to notable sale prices in 2026.

The group includes Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez, who are projected to claim their first MVP awards. On the pitching side, Milwaukee Brewers starter Jacob Misiorowski and Toronto Blue Jays starter Dylan Cease are expected to take home Cy Young honors in their respective leagues. Cincinnati Reds first baseman Sal Stewart and Detroit Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle are also projected to win Rookie of the Year in their leagues.

Here is a look at the top sales for each player during the 2026 season, according to Card Ladder.

Pete Crow-Armstrong card sales highlight the top of the market

Pete Crow-Armstrong’s strongest sales of the season have centered on premium rookie autograph cards, with Topps Dynasty leading the way.

2024 Topps Dynasty Rookie Patch Autograph /10, PSA 10 with Auto 10 - $40,260 on September 10, 2026
2024 Topps Chrome Superfractor Rookie, BGS 9 - $48,000 on September 6, 2026
2024 Topps Dynasty Rookie Patch Autograph 1/1 - $66,000 on August 28, 2026

The top sale for Crow-Armstrong came from a 2024 Topps Dynasty Rookie Patch Autograph 1/1, which reached $66,000. The other two high-end sales also came from his 2024 rookie-era products, showing how much attention his market has drawn during the season.

Yordan Alvarez sales are led by Bowman Chrome and Transcendent

Yordan Alvarez’s biggest sales of the year have come from a mix of early Bowman Chrome prospect autographs and a high-end Topps Transcendent card.

2018 Bowman Chrome Orange Refractor Prospect Auto /25, BGS 9.5 - $12,600 on May 17
2024 Topps Transcendent MLB Logo Autograph Patch 1/1, BGS 9.5 with Auto 10 - $12,610.80 on August 6
2018 Bowman Chrome Orange Refractor Prospect Auto /25, PSA 10 - $17,690 on June 6

The highest sale for Alvarez was the PSA 10 copy of his 2018 Bowman Chrome Orange Refractor Prospect Auto /25, which sold for $17,690. The presence of both a premium prospect autograph and a one-of-one patch autograph in the top three reflects the range of collector interest in his cards.

Jacob Misiorowski’s market includes Bowman Draft and modern Superfractors

Jacob Misiorowski’s top sales show a strong mix of prospect-era and current-year premium cards, with multiple Superfractors among the biggest results.

2022 Bowman Chrome Draft Superfractor Auto 1/1, PSA 10 - $30,000 on May 3
2026 Topps Chrome Black Superfractor Auto, PSA 9 - $30,400 on September 13
2026 Bowman Anime Superfractor - $45,600 on June 19

Misiorowski’s highest sale of the season came from the 2026 Bowman Anime Superfractor, which reached $45,600. His other top sales also landed at the high end of the market, with the 2026 Topps Chrome Black Superfractor Auto and the 2022 Bowman Chrome Draft Superfractor Auto both clearing $30,000.

Dylan Cease top sales remain modest compared with the other award favorites

Dylan Cease’s top sales for 2026 were far lower than the other expected award winners in this group, with his highest result coming in at just over $1,100.

2020 Topps Archives Corn Field Of Dreams Auto 1/1 - $1,000 on September 19
2020 Bowman's Best Superfractor Auto - $1,000 on March 25
2016 Bowman Chrome Draft Superfractor, BGS 9.5 - $1,159 on August 7

The leading sale for Cease was the 2016 Bowman Chrome Draft Superfractor, which sold for $1,159. The two $1,000 sales tied for second place, both coming from one-of-one or Superfractor autograph cards.

Sal Stewart sales show strong demand for 2026 rookie cards

Sal Stewart’s top sales have been driven by modern high-end parallels and one-of-one autographs from recent products.

2026 Topps Chrome Sapphire Padparadscha 1/1 Auto - $15,100 on September 12
2026 Topps Chrome Superfractor Auto - $20,000 on August 20
2022 Bowman Draft Superfractor, PSA 8 - $20,000 on April 15

Stewart’s top sale was a tie between the 2026 Topps Chrome Superfractor Auto and the 2022 Bowman Draft Superfractor, each selling for $20,000. The 2026 Topps Chrome Sapphire Padparadscha 1/1 Auto followed at $15,100, underscoring the strength of his market during the season.

Kevin McGonigle’s biggest sales reached the top tier of the rookie market

Kevin McGonigle’s 2026 sales list is led by a 2025 Bowman Chrome Red Refractor Auto /5 that reached $48,000, with two other high-end Bowman Chrome cards close behind.

2025 Bowman Chrome Red Refractor Auto /5, PSA 10 - $34,200 on May 22
2025 Bowman Chrome Sapphire Padparadscha Prospect Auto 1/1, BGS 9.5 - $34,500 on May 22, 2026
2025 Bowman Chrome Red Refractor Auto /5, PSA 10 - $48,000 on April 30

McGonigle’s strongest result was the 2025 Bowman Chrome Red Refractor Auto /5, which sold for $48,000. The other two top sales both topped $34,000, showing sustained demand for his premium Bowman Chrome autographs.

What the sales data says about the market heading into the awards

The Card Ladder data suggests that collectors have already priced in a lot of the expected award outcomes. Crow-Armstrong and Misiorowski in particular have seen several six-figure-adjacent results for their top cards, while Alvarez, Stewart, and McGonigle have also posted strong sales across premium Bowman and Topps issues.

Cease stands out as the outlier in this group, with top sales that are much lower than the others despite his expected Cy Young finish. That contrast makes the final award results worth watching, since the market could still react if the predictions hold or if any surprises emerge when the hardware is announced.

After the season, it will be worth checking whether official award wins create another spike in these markets or whether the biggest sales were already accounted for before the votes were finalized.