The 2000 Victory baseball card set marked Victory’s final year producing cards before filing for bankruptcy. While not the most famous or widely collected set from that year, certain cards from the 2000 Victory set have grown in value due to rarity and star power. Let’s take a look at some of the most valuable cards collectors seek out from this final Victory set over two decades later.
A prime example of the high-value cards from 2000 Victory is the Mike Piazza rookie card. Piazza had one of the strongest careers of any catcher in baseball history, smashing 427 home runs and winning 10 Silver Slugger awards over his 16-year career. His iconic long hair flowing out from under his helmet made him one of the most recognizable players of the late 90s and early 2000s. While Piazza had been in the league since 1992, the 2000 Victory set included his true rookie card since it featured him as a member of the Florida Marlins, the team that originally drafted him. Only about 10 Piazza rookie cards in pristine near-mint to mint condition grade 8 or higher are known to exist today. One such high-grade Piazza rookie from 2000 Victory recently sold at auction for $34,800, showing it is arguably the most valuable single card from the set.
Another star whose 2000 Victory rookie holds immense value is Vladimir Guerrero. Like Piazza, Guerrero burst onto the scene in the late 90s and established himself as one of the game’s most feared hitters, slamming 449 career home runs and winning an MVP award during his Hall of Fame career primarily with the Expos and Angels. Guerrero’s explosive swing and cannon arm made him a must-see player any time he stepped into the batter’s box or played the outfield. Similarly to Piazza, there are believed to only be around 10 copies or less of Guerrero’s pristine 2000 Victory rookie in top condition. One recently sold for $19,100, proving this to also be one of the most in-demand cards from the set for collectors.
While Piazza and Guerrero earn the top two spots, there are other superstar players whose 2000 rookie cards hold immense collectors value as well. Future Astros star Lance Berkman had a breakout rookie season in 2000 after being drafted over a decade prior, and his Victory card has risen to over $800 for top condition copies. Red Sox legend Manny Ramirez also had one of his best statistical seasons in 2000 after coming over from Cleveland, and high grade versions of his Victory rookie have reached upwards of $500. Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright made his MLB debut that year as well and has become a indispensable part of that franchise’s history, with his pristine rookie exchanging hands for $300-400.
In addition to rookie cards of future all-stars, the 2000 Victory set featured prestigious veterans who were entering the twilight of legendary careers. Perhaps no card holds more nostalgia and collectors value than a PSA 10 Gem Mint copy of the Derek Jeter base card. As arguably the greatest Yankee of all time and face of the late 90s dynasty, any near-perfect presentations of Jeter’s card are prized possessions. One recently sold for a staggering $3,295, showing his enduring popularity. Other Yankee icons whose 2000 Victory cards command four-figure prices include a PSA 10 of Mariano Rivera ($1,600), Andy Pettitte ($1,100), and Jorge Posada (over $900).
While baseball cards were booming in popularity throughout the late 80s and 90s, the market began to taper off in the early 2000s. This led to Victory’s bankruptcy and less cards being produced and preserved in pristine condition compared to the prior decade. Therefore, cards from one of the final main sets during baseball’s “golden era” of cards like 2000 Victory take on greater significance. Add in stars like Piazza, Guerrero, Jeter, and others entering primes or enjoying nostalgic final seasons, and it’s clear why their rookie cards and signatures maintain immense collectors value over 20 years later for dedicated fans. The unique stories and places in history captured by 2000 Victory cards continue to make this final Victory set a treasure trove for patients collectors.
