The 2000 Upper Deck MVP Baseball set was released towards the end of the 20th century baseball card boom. While not quite as coveted as some earlier sets from the late 80s and early 90s, the 2000 Upper Deck cards still featured top players from that era and hold value for collectors today. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the top cards and valuation from this set over two decades later.
The base set for 2000 Upper Deck MVP Baseball contained 330 total cards. The designs featured photos on a white background with colored borders to indicate the player’s team. While simple compared to elaborate photoshopped images today, the clean designs held up well over time. The common base cards in near mint condition typically fetch around $0.25-$1 depending on the player nowadays. Not a huge monetary value, but they are still popular for collectors looking to complete their team sets from that season.
Some of the standout rookie and star player cards in the base set with higher values include:
Nomar Garciaparra – A star shortstop for the Red Sox at the time, Garciaparra’s card typically sells for $3-5 in near mint condition given his success early in his career before injuries slowed him down.
Derek Jeter – As one of the faces of baseball in the late 90s, Jeter’s rookie card isn’t quite as coveted as some earlier ones but still holds value at $5-8 depending on centering and corners.
Sammy Sosa – Sosa was coming off back-to-back 60+ home run seasons when this set was released. His card settles around the $4-6 range today.
Vladimir Guerrero – Guerrero’s rookie card emerged as one of the top investments from this set years later as he developed into a Hall of Famer. Near mint examples can fetch $10-15 due to his success and limited early printing.
Chase Utley – Another valuable rookie, Utley’s future accomplishments drive his 2000 MVP card to $7-12 two decades later.
Eddie Guardado – Not a huge name but his refractor parallel version has gained cult status among collectors. Examples in good shape sell for $30-50 due to rarity.
In addition to the base cards, the 2000 Upper Deck set included several highly sought after inserts and parallels:
Golden Moments Refractors – Only 10 cards in this parallel featured a gold shimmer effect and players like Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, and Greg Maddux fetch $50-150 based on condition.
MVP Materials – Patches, bats, and autographs numbered to only 25 copies make cards like a Ken Griffey Jr or Alex Rodriguez specimen sell for $200-1000+ depending on the swatch or signature.
Top Prospects – Rookie cards like a young CC Sabathia or Alfonso Soriano held value at $20-40 a piece due to their future success.
All-Stars / Hall of Famers – Refractors highlighting the top talent like Chipper Jones, Pedro Martinez, or Roger Clemens can earn $75-200 for pristine copies.
Century Legends – Honoring baseball greats of the past like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Willie Mays, these parallel versions reach $100-300 each.
Two of the true Holy Grail cards in the 2000 MVP set that fetch astronomical prices when in gemmint condition include:
Miguel Cabrera Green Shimmer Refractor Rookie /50 – One of the premier young talents, graded mint examples of Miggy’s scarce parallel have sold at auction for over $5,000.
Tony Gwynn Purple Refractor /100 – As one of the most consistent and popular hitters of all-time, a PSA 10 quality Gwynn purple refractor changes hands for $3,000-5,000 when available.
While the record sales prices of these select cards are often out of reach for the average collector, 2000 Upper Deck MVP still provides an affordable and nostalgic collecting opportunity for fans of that baseball era 20+ years later. With base cards available for under $1, emerging star rookies valued at $5-15, and scarce parallels reaching the triple digits, there is something to interest all budget levels within the set. As time passes, cards for future Hall of Famers like Garciaparra, Jeter, Sosa, and Guerrero should also continue their slow appreciation. For collectors seeking to complete their team sets or invest in available young talents like Cabrera, 2000 Upper Deck MVP Baseball remains a vibrant part of the collectibles market today.
