Topps Black & White Scandal? New 2026 Series 1 Design Reveal

This week on The Hobby Handbook, Clever Cuban Cards breaks down a massive potential scandal involving the Topps Black & White set. Following a deep dive investigation by a Reddit user, the data suggests that the highly sought-after "Golden Hour" parallels were virtually impossible to pull from pre-order boxes, while release-day boxes were loaded with them. We look at the staggering math behind these odds and debate whether this was a catastrophic distribution error or a case of false advertising. We also take a broad look at the current state of Topps releases. We give our first impressions of the newly revealed 2026 Topps flagship design for the 75th Anniversary, featuring stars like Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge. However, not all news is good, as we discuss the disappointing revelation that 2025 Series 1 Jumbo Hobby boxes are cutting down their guaranteed hits to just one auto and one relic, despite maintaining a similar price point. We also touch on the general confusion surrounding the sudden disappearance of pre-orders for upcoming products like Bowman’s Best and Pristine. Finally, we shift gears to market strategy and industry controversy. Alex explains his "zagging" strategy on the NFL market and why he is buying Trevor Lawrence during the current dip. We also dive into the hot topics of grading subjectivity, the risks and rewards of cracking slabs, and the recent, troubling allegations of theft occurring at PSA. Join Alex's SCN eBay Live stream Friday at 8 pm ET Join Clever Cuban Cards on Whatnot on Sundays at 2 PM EST and Wednesdays at 7 PM ET! Sign up now for $15 off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices