When people talk about the trading card market, the conversation usually revolves around sales.

At Heystack, we see a different side of the market.

Every day, collectors, breakers, dealers, and consigners use our platform to image, identify, and list cards. That activity provides a unique view into what products and players are generating attention across the hobby.

During May 2026, more than 860,000 cards were processed through Heystack’s catalog.

Bowman Baseball Leads the Month

The biggest story in May was the arrival of 2026 Bowman Baseball.

After entering the rankings during the week of May 11–17, Bowman immediately became the most matched product on the platform and held the top spot for the rest of the month.

The release generated more than 5,000 matched cards during its debut week.

Ohtani Continues to Dominate

Shohei Ohtani finished as the most matched player every week in May.

Behind Ohtani were Michael Jordan and Victor Wembanyama, while Cooper Flagg finished fourth overall. Months after his final college game, Flagg continued to rank alongside some of the biggest names in the hobby.

Another consistent presence was Kobe Bryant. More than five years after his passing and more than a decade after his final NBA game, Bryant remained among the top seven most matched players throughout May. While new prospects and active stars frequently dominate hobby conversations, Kobe’s continued place in the rankings reflects the enduring influence he continues to have on both the game and the hobby.

Unlike auction and sales reports, the Heystack Product Report is based on card matching activity across the Heystack platform, providing a unique look at what the top collectors, breakers, dealers, and consigners are actively processing throughout the month.