For the first time since the MLB MVP Buyback program was created, an MVP winner might not have an eligible card to exchange — at least for now.
Topps announced the return of the MVP Buyback program in July, and hobbyists immediately noticed a potential issue.
The program, which allows collectors to exchange eligible base cards from 2025 Topps Chrome Baseball for store credit at participating locations, wouldn’t cover Seattle Mariners catcher and AL MVP candidate Cal Raleigh.
JUST IN: Topps has adjusted the 2025 MVP Buyback program to account for winners without eligible cards.
— Ben Burrows (@BenMBurrows) July 27, 2025
Cal Raleigh (-110) is now the slight AL MVP favorite on FanDuel, but doesn't have base cards in 2025 Topps Chrome.
Chrome Update cards will be eligible instead if he wins. pic.twitter.com/xautmozsyK
At the time, Raleigh (+370) was trailing New York Yankees star Aaron Judge (-550) in the race, according to FanDuel, and didn’t have an eligible base card in 2025 Topps Chrome at all.
As of Friday, Raleigh (-190) is now FanDuel’s betting favorite after eclipsing 60 home runs as the Mariners clinched the AL West with a victory over Colorado on Wednesday night.
Topps later adjusted the program to make cards from 2025 Topps Chrome Update eligible when an MVP doesn’t have the required cards in 2025 Topps Chrome.
Raleigh is expected to have eligible cards when Topps Chrome Update lands later this year. Pre-orders for 2025 Topps Chrome Update open through the Topps website Sept. 29.
Launched in 2023, the MVP Buyback program offers store credit ranging from $20 to $200 for eligible cards of the American League and National League MVP winners. Should Judge or Shohei Ohtani win back-to-back MVPs, eligible cards stamped with an MVP designation from last year’s race can be exchanged for between $400 to $1,200.
Ohtani (-50000) is currently the runaway favorite to win the NL MVP award for the second straight season. Ohtani’s base cards from 2025 Topps Chrome, which can be exchanged for $20 in store credit, have been recently selling for about $14 on the secondary market.
Ben Burrows is a reporter and editor for cllct, the premier company for collectible culture. He was previously the Collectibles Editor at Sports Illustrated. You can follow him on X and Instagram @benmburrows.