2026 MLB Season Preview: Best Card Buys & Rookie Sleepers

This week on The Hobby Handbook, Clever Cuban Cards is joined by Jetbreakers Trent to break down everything you need to know ahead of the 2026 MLB season. But before we get to the baseball, we have to talk about Clever Cuban's horror story about ripping 2026 Topps Pristine (missing 5 autos in 4 boxes!) and the frustrating state of "insufficient evidence" claims when you get shorted. The duo also dives into the latest news at PSA regarding price increases and slower turnaround times, debating what this means for the bulk submission market and why Clever Cuban canceled his Collector's Club membership. Then, they shift gears to the diamond to preview the World Baseball Classic, identify Spring Training breakout candidates, and discuss which rookie sleepers you should be buying now—including names like Chase Burns, Christian Moore, and Jonah Tong. They also debate whether Pete Alonso to the Orioles is a buy or a bust and if Jackson Chourio can lead the Brewers deep into the playoffs. Finally, Alex and Trent go head-to-head in a "$10 Card Portfolio" challenge to pick their MVPs, Aces, and Top Prospects for the upcoming year on a budget. And, Alex shares his latest Arena Club trade, asking who won and who lost. If you're new to Arena Club, use promo code SCN to get 20% off your first slab pack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Episoder(64)

Getting Ready for a Big Card Show

Alex and Trent open The Hobby Handbook and discuss the SCN Challenge's continued dominance by the podcast's members. Is Alex's lead insurmountable, or will Trent and Brendan claw their way back to the...

28 Okt 1h 10min

Protecting Yourself After the PSA/FedEx Heist

Alex and Trent are back with Alex still on top of the SCN Challenge. There's an update on Trent's trade that brought him a Ken Griffey Jr. 1/1 Printing Plate Auto, and it isn't good. What side of the ...

21 Okt 1h 18min

Rarity Doesn't Equal Valuable, Cool Cards Carry a Premium

We open up the Hobby Handbook this week with an update on the SCN Challenge, as we have a new leader: Alex! Trent remains in second, and Brendan will eventually be third. Alex and Trent both had big w...

14 Okt 1h 7min

Are We Past Worrying About the Grade of a Card?

Caden Favors is in the Guardians system and also a big card collector. He joins Alex and Trent to discuss his baseball journey and his card-collecting journey. Then we get into how Topps Cosmic Baseba...

9 Okt 1h 10min

MLB Postseason Buy or Sell

Alex and Trent are back with another Hobby Handbook episode, and Trent has been listing cards like a madman on eBay the last few weeks. Alex and Trent go through some recent pickups. Trent is back on ...

30 Sep 1h 15min

A New Trend of Fake Cards?

Alex and Trent are back, as Trent is leading the SCN Challenge after Week 2. Alex had to make his first waiver move in the SCN Challenge. Plus, we have an update on a new trend of fake cards and what ...

23 Sep 1h 5min

Are Raw Cards Cool Again?

Alex and Trent are back, but what is with the slow breaks around Bowman Chrome? Alex bought a 100,000-card collection over the weekend and has spent most of the week sorting it out. What do you do wit...

16 Sep 1h 8min

Where Does the Football Market Go From Here?

With football season here, Drake from Jet Breakers steps in for Trent this week as he and Alex preview the upcoming season, look ahead to Topps Football products, and discuss what exactly football fan...

9 Sep 1h 22min