Introduction
The sports card market continues to heat up as football season gets closer, while baseball and hockey are producing some of the biggest individual card-market moves across the hobby.
With the release of 2026 Topps Flagship Football, collectors are already getting into football season mode and watching closely for quarterbacks who could make an impact. At the same time, several young baseball stars are generating major attention after impressive performances, while one of hockey's brightest young players is also seeing his rookie cards move higher.
This week's list features a Montreal Canadiens star coming off an impressive rookie season, two NFL quarterbacks generating interest ahead of the new season, a St. Louis Cardinals player who made MLB history, and a Chicago Cubs outfielder whose cards continue to explode in value.
Let's break down the Top 5 Sports Cards Heating Up by Sports Card Investor, based on recent market performance, collector demand, and pricing data from Market Movers.
Sports Card Market Pulse
The sports card market continues to show impressive strength as collectors remain active across baseball, football, and hockey.
SCI 500 Index Performance:
- Up 2% over the last 7 days
- Up more than 7% over the last 30 days
- Up more than 47% year-to-date
The market's year-to-date performance is particularly impressive, showing just how much momentum has built throughout 2026.
Several factors are fueling this week's momentum:
- The upcoming 2026 NFL season
- The release of 2026 Topps Flagship Football
- Strong performances from young MLB players
- Increased interest in emerging NFL quarterbacks
- Historic MLB performances
- Continued demand for Bowman Chrome prospect cards
- Rising interest in NHL young stars
With football season approaching and the MLB season entering another important stretch, collectors have plenty of reasons to remain active.
The Top 5 Sports Cards Heating Up
5. Ivan Demidov
Montreal Canadiens right wing Ivan Demidov is establishing himself as one of the NHL's premier young stars during his first full season with Montreal.
Demidov finished the season with 19 goals, 43 assists, and 62 points in 82 games. His impressive rookie campaign earned him a second-place finish in Calder Trophy voting while helping Montreal make a run to the Eastern Conference Final.
The Canadiens have also made it clear that Demidov is a major part of their future, signing him to an eight-year, $73.2 million extension this summer. That commitment has helped create additional excitement around his hockey cards.
Key Card Movements:
-
2025 Upper Deck Young Guns Base (PSA 10): Up 26%, $400 → $510
-
2025 Upper Deck Young Guns Outburst Silver (Raw): $402 → $432
-
2025 Upper Deck Young Guns Base (Raw): Up 20%, now nearly $100
-
2025 Upper Deck Young Guns Clear Cut (Raw): $500 → $527
Demidov's combination of strong rookie production and Montreal's long-term commitment has given collectors plenty of reasons to pay attention. His Young Guns cards are showing solid momentum as he begins his NHL career.
4. Drew Allar
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Drew Allar is making an immediate impression during his first NFL preseason action.
Allar completed 10 of 13 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns while adding a three-yard rushing touchdown in Pittsburgh's 28-9 win over Green Bay.
The rookie accounted for three touchdowns without turning the ball over, showcasing the arm talent and efficiency that helped Pittsburgh select him in the third round.
His strong preseason debut has already translated into increased interest across his college sports cards.
Key Card Movements:
-
2022 Bowman Chrome University Prospect Auto 1st (Raw): Approximately $40 → $75
-
2022 Bowman University Inception Auto 1st (Raw): Approximately $21 → $40
-
2024 Bowman Best University Best of 2024 Autographs Refractor (Raw): $23 → $49
-
2024 Bowman Chrome University Prospect Auto (Raw): Approximately $20 → $35
All four of Allar's cards highlighted in the transcript are moving higher. With the regular season approaching, collectors will be watching closely to see whether his preseason performance translates into continued momentum.
3. Dak Prescott
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is about to enter his 11th season as the Cowboys' starting quarterback, and the team is hoping he can help lead Dallas back to the postseason after finishing 7-9-1 last year.
Despite the Cowboys' struggles, Prescott engineered four fourth-quarter comebacks and jumped 48 spots in the NFL Top 100 rankings heading into the 2026 season.
That renewed optimism surrounding Dallas has started to show up in Prescott's rookie card market.
Key Card Movements:
-
2016 Donruss Base (PSA 10): Up 20%, $70 → $85
-
2016 Donruss Optic Base (PSA 10): Up 35%, $85 → $115
-
2016 Donruss Optic Red & Yellow (PSA 10): $177 → $200
-
2016 Panini Prizm Silver (PSA 10): Approximately $180 → $203
-
2016 Panini Prizm Silver (Raw): Less than $50 → $62
Prescott's rookie cards are beginning to move higher ahead of another season as the Cowboys' starting quarterback. If Dallas can turn the optimism surrounding the team into success on the field, his card market could receive even more attention.
2. Joshua Baez
St. Louis Cardinals player Joshua Baez delivered one of the most memorable MLB debuts in recent history.
Baez became the first player ever to hit three home runs in his Major League debut. He homered on the first pitch of his career before going deep two more times for an unforgettable introduction at Wrigley Field.
Since that historic debut, however, Baez has been reminded of just how difficult Major League pitching can be. He has gone 0-for-17 with seven strikeouts since that first game. But the impact of his debut on the sports card market has been undeniable.
Key Card Movements:
-
2022 Bowman Chrome Prospect Auto 1st (Raw): $57 → $167, with a peak of $348
-
2022 Bowman Chrome Prospect Auto Refractor 1st (Raw): $178 → $384
-
2022 Bowman Chrome Prospect Auto Blue Refractor 1st (Raw): $235 → $700
-
2022 Bowman Sapphire Edition Chrome Prospects 1st (Raw): Less than $15 → $45
Baez's cards have experienced a massive spike following his historic MLB debut. While some of the initial surge has cooled, his cards remain well above where they were just 30 days ago.
1. Pete Crow-Armstrong
Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, who continues to put together an incredible season.
Crow-Armstrong was featured on last week's list, and another spectacular performance has earned him the No. 1 spot again this week.
The Cubs star hit his first career walk-off home run in the 10th inning, giving Chicago a 7-5 win over the Chicago White Sox. He also opened the game by homering on the first pitch he saw.
That made Crow-Armstrong the first Cubs player ever to hit both a leadoff and walk-off home run in the same game. He also went 4-for-5 in the contest. The combination of those memorable performances and his overall production has sent his sports cards sharply higher.
Key Card Movements:
-
2020 Bowman Draft Chrome Draft Pick Auto Refractor /499 1st (PSA 10): $1,600 → $2,833
-
2020 Bowman Draft Chrome Refractor 1st (PSA 10): $116 → $426
-
2020 Bowman Draft Chrome Refractor 1st (Raw): $27 → $78
-
2024 Topps Chrome Rookie Refractor (PSA 10): $226 → $425
-
2024 Topps Chrome Rookie Refractor (Raw): Under $10 → $27
Crow-Armstrong's card market is absolutely red hot. His combination of power, speed, memorable moments, and continued success with the Cubs has created significant demand across his Bowman and Topps cards. With his cards appearing on the list for a second consecutive week, Crow-Armstrong is quickly becoming one of the biggest names to watch in the sports card market.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which sports cards are heating up the most this week?
The five players featured this week are Pete Crow-Armstrong, Joshua Baez, Dak Prescott, Drew Allar, and Ivan Demidov. Crow-Armstrong takes the No. 1 spot after another standout performance for the Chicago Cubs.
2. Why are Pete Crow-Armstrong cards rising?
Crow-Armstrong continues to deliver big performances for the Cubs. His first career walk-off home run, combined with a leadoff home run in the same game, created another major moment for collectors to follow. His cards have posted substantial gains over the past 30 days.
3. Why did Joshua Baez cards spike?
Baez made MLB history by becoming the first player ever to hit three home runs in his Major League debut. That historic performance caused a major spike in his Bowman Chrome prospect cards.
4. Are football cards heating up ahead of the 2026 NFL season?
Yes. Football cards are gaining attention as the new season approaches and 2026 Topps Flagship Football has been released. Drew Allar's preseason debut and renewed optimism surrounding Dak Prescott have both contributed to increased interest.
5. Which Ivan Demidov cards are moving higher?
The transcript highlights several 2025 Upper Deck Young Guns cards, including the Young Guns Base PSA 10, Young Guns Outburst Silver, Young Guns Base Raw, and Young Guns Clear Cut.
6. What is happening in the overall sports card market?
The SCI 500 Index is up 2% over the last seven days, more than 7% over the last 30 days, and more than 47% since January 1, 2026.
Conclusion
This week's sports card market shows once again how quickly strong performances and increased attention can translate into rising card prices.
Football is beginning to take center stage with the 2026 season approaching. Drew Allar's impressive preseason debut has pushed his college cards higher, while Dak Prescott's rookie cards are benefiting from renewed optimism surrounding the Dallas Cowboys.
Hockey also gets its moment this week with Ivan Demidov, whose strong rookie campaign and massive contract extension have helped drive interest in his Young Guns cards.
Baseball, however, produced the biggest headlines.
Joshua Baez's historic three-home-run MLB debut created an enormous spike across his Bowman prospect cards. While his subsequent 0-for-17 stretch shows how quickly baseball hype can change, his cards remain significantly higher than they were before his debut.
At the top of the list, Pete Crow-Armstrong continues to separate himself from the pack. His first career walk-off home run, combined with his leadoff homer in the same game, created another signature moment in an already impressive season.
The result has been a major surge across his sports card portfolio, highlighted by his 2020 Bowman Draft Chrome First Refractor PSA 10 rising from $116 to $426 in just 30 days.
With the NFL season approaching and baseball continuing toward the end of the regular season, there should be plenty more movement to watch. For collectors, keeping an eye on breakout performances, emerging stars, and the cards tied to those moments could be the key to spotting the next major market mover.
-----------------------------------------------------
