The MVP Buyback, explained: how 2026 Topps Chrome cards turn into store credit

Topps runs an MVP Buyback for 2026 Topps Chrome Baseball. After MLB names the American League and National League MVPs in November, you can trade eligible cards of the two winners for store credit at participating hobby shops.

This post explains which cards count, how much credit each card gets, and the rules that cause the most mistakes.

How the program works

Topps describes the program in three steps:

1. Collect 2026 Topps Chrome Baseball cards of players you think will win MVP.
2. When MLB announces the MVPs, take the eligible cards to a participating hobby shop.
3. Trade those cards for store credit.

Only the two winners count: the AL MVP and the NL MVP. Cards of other players do not qualify.

Dates to know

• MLB announces the AL and NL MVPs in November 2026, according to Topps.
• The buyback starts shortly after the announcement.
• The buyback ends on January 31, 2027.

How much credit each card gets

Topps sets four credit tiers by card type:

• Base cards and base image variations: $20
• Refractors that are not numbered: $40
• Numbered cards with a print run of 100 or more: $100
• Numbered cards with a print run under 100: $200

The numbered line is easy to misread. On the Topps table, a Blue Refractor /150 is in the $100 tier. A Green Refractor /99 is in the $200 tier.

Which cards count

The eligible list is specific. Topps names each card type on its table. Some examples from that table:

• $40 tier: Refractor, X-Fractor, Prism Refractor, Raywave Refractor, Geometric Refractor, MLB Logofractor and Wave Refractor.
• $100 tier: Negative /400, Pink Refractor /250, Aqua Refractor /199 and Blue Refractor /150.
• $200 tier: Green /99, Purple /75, Gold /50, Orange /25, Black /10, Red /5, and the 1/1 cards such as the Superfractor and Printing Plate.

Color alone does not decide the tier. Before you count a card, match its exact name to the Topps table.

What does not count

Topps excludes these cards:

• Other 2026 Chrome products, such as Chrome Black and Chrome Sapphire.
• Unstamped MVP Buyback cards from earlier years.
• Cards that are ripped or altered.

There is one exception for a repeat winner. If the 2026 MVP also won in 2025, his 2025 MVP Buyback cards that Topps stamped and reinserted also count. Topps names Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge as the examples.

Store credit, not cash

You get store credit, not cash. The shop that takes your cards gives you its own store credit.

Other rules from the Topps page:

• Cards do not need to be mint. A card in one piece is eligible.
• Topps sets no official limit, but each shop can cap how many cards it buys back.
• If no participating shop is near you, Topps lists authorized mail-in partners. Those partners give online credit to your account with that retailer.
• Topps says it will post more mail-in details when the program goes live.

The Topps page has a shop locator to find participating hobby shops.

A few habits help

1. Keep candidate cards sleeved and flat. The card must be in one piece to qualify.
2. Check the Topps table, not the color, before you count a card.
3. Call the shop before you go. Ask if it takes part and if it has a card limit.
4. Wait for the Topps mail-in instructions before you ship cards anywhere.
5. Write down the end date: January 31, 2027.

What this post is not

This is not advice to buy, sell or redeem any card, and it does not predict who will win MVP. The credit amounts are fixed values that Topps sets. They are not market prices.

Topps can change or end the program under its terms. Check the official program page for the full table and any updates: https://ripped.topps.com/mlb-mvp-buyback/