- 2026 Topps Holiday Baseball insert checklist: Track four seasonal insert themes and their confirmed card counts.
- Making the NICE List!: Collect 25 cards featuring MLB stars, rookies, and popular team targets.
- Die-Cut Ornaments: Complete the 20-card standard ornament insert with holiday display appeal.
- Oversized Ornaments: Find a separate 20-card large-format checklist with several rookie subjects.
- Hidden Elf: Search a 25-card variation set built around subtle elf artwork in player designs.
2026 Topps Holiday Baseball Insert Checklist Overview
The 2026 Topps Holiday Baseball insert checklist centers on festive designs beyond the 200-card base set. The confirmed insert groups include Making the NICE List!, Die-Cut Ornament, and Oversized Die-Cut Ornament cards. The collector guide also identifies Hidden Elf as a 25-card seasonal variation-style checklist.
These cards are separate from the base set, Chrome counterparts, Holiday Variations, autographs, and relics. Keep each insert family in its own checklist section because the numbering formats and physical designs are different.
| Insert Set | Confirmed Count | Numbering Format | Main Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Making the NICE List! | 25 cards | MNL-1 to MNL-25 | Holiday-themed player insert |
| Die-Cut Ornament | 20 cards | DCO-1 to DCO-20 | Standard ornament-shaped card |
| Oversized Die-Cut Ornament | 20 cards | OO-1 to OO-20 | Large-format ornament card |
| Hidden Elf | 25 cards | Checklist-specific | Hidden elf artwork variation |
The three numbered insert sections are listed in the official 2026 Topps Holiday Baseball checklist PDF. The Hidden Elf set is described in the 2026 Topps Holiday Baseball collector guide.
Player Inserts
Making the NICE List! uses a traditional rectangular card format and features a broad selection of established stars, rookies, and popular player collectors.
Display Inserts
Die-Cut Ornament cards use an ornament shape, while the oversized version provides a larger seasonal display piece.
Artwork Hunt
Hidden Elf cards reward close inspection because the key difference is a small elf detail integrated into the player artwork.
Start with the insert code printed on each card. MNL, DCO, and OO immediately identify the checklist family and reduce sorting mistakes.
Making the NICE List! Checklist
Making the NICE List! is a 25-card insert set numbered from MNL-1 through MNL-25. The checklist mixes major MLB stars, recognizable team favorites, and several younger players. Because some players appear more than once, collectors should track the card number rather than counting unique names only.
| Card Numbers | Players |
|---|---|
| MNL-1 to MNL-5 | Kyle Schwarber, Cal Raleigh, Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, Garrett Crochet |
| MNL-6 to MNL-10 | Cal Raleigh, Tarik Skubal, Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, Shohei Ohtani |
| MNL-11 to MNL-15 | Bobby Witt Jr., Logan Webb, Trea Turner, Mike Trout, Tarik Skubal |
| MNL-16 to MNL-20 | Julio Rodríguez, José Ramírez, Mason Miller, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Carlos Estévez |
| MNL-21 to MNL-25 | Oneil Cruz, Corbin Carroll, Paul Skenes, Chandler Simpson, Nick Kurtz |
The repeated appearances are important for set builders. Cal Raleigh, Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, and Tarik Skubal each appear multiple times in the checklist, but every numbered card remains a separate collecting target.
This insert is a strong choice for player collectors because it includes premium names across multiple MLB teams. It also provides an accessible entry point for collectors who want a themed subset without beginning with the full 200-card base set.
| Collector Focus | Recommended Tracking Method |
|---|---|
| Complete MNL set | Mark MNL-1 through MNL-25 individually |
| Player collection | Search by player, then verify every card number |
| Team collection | Group cards by the team printed on each card |
| Duplicate management | Keep duplicate card numbers separate from missing cards |
A repeated player name does not mean the cards are interchangeable. Confirm the full MNL number before trading, selling, or marking a card complete.
Die-Cut Ornament Insert Checklists
The standard Die-Cut Ornament set contains 20 cards numbered DCO-1 through DCO-20. These cards use an ornament-inspired silhouette and are designed to stand apart from ordinary rectangular inserts.
The checklist includes established stars such as Bobby Witt Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr., Juan Soto, Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, and Ronald Acuña Jr. It also includes several rookie-designated subjects, making the set useful for both seasonal collectors and rookie-focused collections.
| Card Numbers | Die-Cut Ornament Subjects |
|---|---|
| DCO-1 to DCO-5 | Jac Caglianone RC, Bobby Witt Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr., Juan Soto, José Ramírez |
| DCO-6 to DCO-10 | Cal Raleigh, Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Corbin Carroll |
| DCO-11 to DCO-15 | Ronald Acuña Jr., Paul Skenes, Colson Montgomery RC, Travis Bazzana RC, Samuel Basallo RC |
| DCO-16 to DCO-20 | Roman Anthony RC, Kevin McGonigle RC, JJ Wetherholt RC, Konnor Griffin RC, Munetaka Murakami RC |
The Oversized Die-Cut Ornament set is a separate 20-card checklist numbered OO-1 through OO-20. Several subjects overlap with the standard ornament set, but the two checklists are not identical.
| Card Numbers | Oversized Die-Cut Ornament Subjects |
|---|---|
| OO-1 to OO-5 | Jac Caglianone RC, Bobby Witt Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr., Juan Soto, José Ramírez |
| OO-6 to OO-10 | Cal Raleigh, Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Corbin Carroll |
| OO-11 to OO-15 | Ronald Acuña Jr., Paul Skenes, Colson Montgomery RC, Jacob Misiorowski RC, Samuel Basallo RC |
| OO-16 to OO-20 | Roman Anthony RC, Kevin McGonigle RC, JJ Wetherholt RC, Carson Benge RC, Munetaka Murakami RC |
The most important difference is physical size. Standard DCO cards can fit specialized trading-card storage, while OO cards require larger sleeves, display pockets, or flat storage materials.
Use separate DCO and OO pages in your collection tracker. Shared player names can create confusion when the card codes are not recorded.
Hidden Elf and Seasonal Variation Checklist
Hidden Elf is a 25-card seasonal variation checklist. Instead of using a separate ornament shape, these cards place a small elf illustration into the player artwork. The design encourages collectors to inspect the full image rather than relying only on the card border or finish.
The collector guide describes five featured players with five hidden-elf variations for each player. The official checklist material provided for this reference confirms the 25-card structure, but it does not provide a complete player-by-player name list in the available text. Do not assign card numbers or subjects from visual assumptions alone.
| Identification Area | What to Check |
|---|---|
| Player image | Compare the suspected card with the regular version |
| Background | Inspect decorations, objects, and open space |
| Hidden character | Look for the elf illustration or seasonal detail |
| Card number | Confirm the number against the published variation checklist |
| Storage label | Record player, number, variation name, and condition |
Sort the Card by Player
Identify the player, team, and card number before searching for the hidden detail. A player-first sort prevents comparisons between unrelated cards.
Compare the Standard Artwork
Place the suspected card beside the matching base or reference card. Look for artwork changes rather than ordinary holiday decorations shared across the release.
Inspect the Full Front
Check the player, equipment, background, decorations, and empty areas of the image. The elf may be small and easy to miss during a quick pack opening.
Verify the Checklist Entry
Use the official variation checklist to confirm the exact subject and designation. Do not label a card SP or SSP solely because it looks different.
Protect and Record the Card
Sleeve the card, note the variation details, and store it separately from the regular base card.
A festive design element is not automatically a Hidden Elf card. Confirm the specific artwork and checklist designation before cataloging it.
How to Organize the Insert Checklist
A reliable collection system should separate numbered inserts, artwork variations, and large-format cards. This makes it easier to identify missing cards and prevents standard inserts from being mixed with the base set.
Insert Collection Tasks:
- Create separate sections for MNL, DCO, OO, and Hidden Elf cards
- Record every card number instead of tracking player names alone
- Mark rookie-designated ornament cards separately
- Use side-by-side comparisons for Hidden Elf variations
- Store oversized ornaments in appropriately sized protective materials
| Card Type | Recommended Storage | Main Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Making the NICE List! | Penny sleeve, binder, or top loader | Misidentifying repeated players |
| Die-Cut Ornament | Specialty sleeve or rigid display holder | Bending the ornament edges |
| Oversized Ornament | Large flat sleeve or display storage | Using standard card pages |
| Hidden Elf | Sleeve and labeled variation section | Missing subtle artwork changes |
When checking condition, handle cards by the edges and keep reflective surfaces away from rough storage materials. Ornament cards should not be forced into standard nine-pocket pages if the die-cut shape catches on the pocket opening.
The official Topps product and checklist pages should remain the primary reference when a card number, format, or variation designation is unclear.
Record four fields for every unusual card: set code, card number, player, and physical format. This creates a reliable record for trades and future checklist updates.
Q: How many cards are in the 2026 Topps Holiday Baseball insert checklist?
The confirmed numbered insert groups include 25 Making the NICE List! cards, 20 Die-Cut Ornaments, and 20 Oversized Die-Cut Ornaments. The Hidden Elf collection is described as a 25-card seasonal checklist.
Q: Are Die-Cut Ornament and Oversized Die-Cut Ornament cards the same set?
No. Die-Cut Ornaments use the DCO-1 to DCO-20 numbering, while Oversized Die-Cut Ornaments use the separate OO-1 to OO-20 numbering. Some players appear in both sets.
Q: What is the Making the NICE List! numbering format?
Making the NICE List! cards use the MNL prefix and run from MNL-1 through MNL-25. Track each number individually because several players appear more than once.
Q: How do you identify a Hidden Elf card?
Compare the player artwork with the matching reference card and inspect the background for the hidden elf detail. Confirm the exact variation using the published checklist before assigning a card number or rarity.