What happened
Topps has acknowledged a production error in 2026 Topps Chrome Cosmic Baseball: of the 25 players on the Supernova insert checklist, only Aaron Judge and Juan Soto actually made it into packs. The other 23 Supernova cards were never inserted, according to Collectibles On SI, via Yahoo Sports, which reported the company's statement on November 9.
Topps said it "recently discovered a production error" in the product and added: "We sincerely apologize for this error."
The fix: the Supernova Card Program
Rather than a redemption or buyback, Topps is tying the missing inserts to another chase card. Collectors who own a gold Interstellar card numbered to /50 for one of the 23 affected players can exchange it for that player's Supernova card. The process, as reported:
- Contact Fanatics with the player name and the card's exact serial number.
- Send clear photos of the front and back.
- Mail the gold Interstellar card using the shipping label provided.
- The Interstellar card comes back with one Supernova insert.
Gold autographed versions do not qualify, and neither do Judge or Soto cards. The affected players include Shohei Ohtani, Paul Skenes, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bobby Witt Jr., Mike Trout, Elly De La Cruz, Roman Anthony and Nick Kurtz, among others.
Why it matters for collectors
Each serial-numbered gold card can only unlock one Supernova. Topps says its Black Hole program website will show which /50 cards have already been used, and it encourages collectors to check before buying a gold Interstellar card with the program in mind. The report did not list a deadline, so watch Topps Ripped for the full rules.
What Canadian collectors should know
If you're buying gold Interstellar /50s on the secondary market, from a Canadian seller or across the border, confirm the serial number hasn't already been used before you pay a premium for it. On TCE you can list or buy these singles in CAD.