Beckett Sports Cards Hot/Cold List for the Week of June 1, 2026
Welcome to the weekly Beckett Sports Card Hot/Cold list, where we take a quick and fun look at what’s hot and what’s not in the worlds of sports and sports cards over the last week.
The Hot List
2026 Bowman Baseball
Consecutive Weeks on Hot List: 🔥🔥🔥
Highlighted by several prominent prospects who have “1st Bowman” cards, as well as several short-printed inserts and autographs, prospectors and seasoned collectors can’t get enough of 2026 Bowman Baseball. Both the hobby and retail versions, as well as the Mega Box version of the product, have seen consistent demand ever since their release dates last month.
Pictured: 2026 Bowman Spotlights #BS-13
Victor Wembanyama
Consecutive Weeks on Hot List: 🔥🔥🔥
After winning Western Conference Finals MVP honors by leading the Spurs to the NBA Finals in only his third season, Wembanyama’s cards have seen a dramatic spike in demand among collectors. The dominating big man will be watched by millions throughout the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks — and if he excels, his cards could reach even greater heights.
Pictured: 2023-24 Panini Prizm Cracked Ice Prizms #136
Shohei Ohtani
Ohtani closed out the month of May with hits in 14 of his last 16 games, bringing his average up from .240 to .280, all the while continuing to dominate from the mound. On the season, he has a 5-2 record with a 0.82 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 55.0 innings pitched. With the Los Angeles Dodgers cruising in the standings, Ohtani is already making his argument for a fourth straight MVP trophy.
Pictured: 2018 Bowman #49
Dylan Harper
While most of the rookie chatter throughout the 2025-26 NBA season surrounded Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel, San Antonio’s first-round pick, Dylan Harper, is now taking his place in the spotlight. The No. 2 overall pick has been a key contributor as the Sp5urs advanced to the NBA Finals, and he’ll now be looking to make even more contributions on the biggest stage of them all.
Pictured: 2025-26 Topps Chrome Rookie Autographs #TCAR-DH
Jalen Brunson
Consecutive Weeks on Hot List: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
The Eastern Conference Finals MVP leads the New York Knicks into what’s expected to be an exciting matchup against the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals. Brunson, who is making his Finals debut, has averaged 26.9 points per game on a .486 shooting percentage throughout the postseason.
Pictured: 2018-19 Donruss Optic Rated Rookie Signatures Blue #179
Jack Eichel
Back in the Stanley Cup Finals, Eichel will be looking for another title as he leads the Vegas Golden Knights against the Carolina Hurricanes in a battle for Lord Stanley’s cup. Eichel has only scored twice during the playoffs, but he’s been a key contributor with 16 assists, more than any other postseason player this year. He followed a similar path in 2023, when his six goals and 20 assists pushed the Knights to the title.
Pictured: 2015-16 Upper Deck Young Guns #451
Ronald Acuña Jr.
In the final four games of May, Acuña went on a massive power binge — and he added plenty of speed for good measure. He went 6-for-13 in those games with 5 home runs, 9 RBI, and 4 stolen bases. It had been somewhat of a slow go for Acuña throughout the first two months of the season, but collectors can’t help but wonder if his recent play may have awakened the beast inside one of baseball’s most electrifying players.
Pictured: 2017 Bowman Chrome Prospect Autographs Refractor #RA
Frederik Andersen
Andersen has come up clutch for the Carolina Hurricanes throughout the 2026 postseason. With a 12-1 record and a goals against average of a miniscule 1.41, opponents have struggled against Andersen’s quick hands in front of the net. He’s posted three shutouts in the playoffs and will look to keep the momentum going in the Stanley Cup Finals against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Pictured: 2013-14 SP Authentic Future Watch #231
Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Though the opening kickoff on the NFL season is still months away, it hasn’t stopped the experts and collectors from pondering about what kind of season Smith-Njigba may have in 2026. A year removed from a breakout campaign of 119 receptions for 1,793 yards, the reigning Offensive Player of the Year will be looking for much more in the fourth season of his career — maybe even 150 catches, which would be a new NFL record.
Pictured: 2025 Topps Finest Creators X-Fractor #CR-27
The Cold List
Chet Holmgren
2022-23 Panini Prizm
Kyle Tucker
2025 Topps Archives
JJ McCarthy
2024 Panini Obsidian RPA
