The 2009 Upper Deck baseball card set was released to much fanfare in the spring of 2009. Packs were flying off shelves as collectors eagerly awaited seeing the next rookie stars and chase cards the set had to offer. Over a decade later, many of the top cards from the 2009 Upper Deck set have held or increased greatly in value. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most valuable cards from the 2009 Upper Deck baseball card release.
One of the biggest hits and most valuable cards from the 2009 Upper Deck set is the Stephen Strasburg rookie card (#US265). As one of the most hyped pitching prospects of all-time, Strasburg’s rookie season did not disappoint before an injury cut it short. His coveted rookie card quickly became a hot commodity. In mint condition, Strasburg’s rookie now fetches $300-500 raw or $700-1000 graded gem mint 10. The card remains highly sought after, especially as Strasburg has gone on to have a very solid MLB career so far.
Another rookie star who burst onto the scene in 2009 was Mike Trout. While he did not make his MLB debut until 2011, Trout’s prospect status was skyrocketing in 2009. His Upper Deck rookie card (#US278) has unsurprisingly blown up in value in recent years. Trout has cemented himself as arguably the best player of his generation. As a result, his 2009 rookie graded gem mint 10 now sells for an astonishing $2,000-3,000. Even a PSA 9 copy can go for $700-1,000. This tremendous rise in price proves Trout was clearly worth the hype from the very start.
Staying with rookie sensations, Cardinals’ first baseman Paul Goldschmidt had a breakout rookie campaign in 2009 after being drafted the previous year. While not as heralded as Strasburg or Trout, Goldschmidt has developed into a perennial All-Star. His Upper Deck rookie (#US234) has followed suit in appreciating in value. Graded PSA 10 copies now sell in the $300-500 range. Even PSA 9s can fetch $100-200. Goldschmidt’s continued excellence makes his rookie an intriguing long-term hold.
Two Hall of Fame talents had some valuable cards in the 2009 Upper Deck set as well. Red Sox slugger David Ortiz’s action photo(#US61) has gained popularity amongst collectors in recent years. Copies in gem mint condition sell for $50-75. This is impressive for a career backup player’s base card from over a decade ago. White Sox hurler Mark Buehrle, another surefire Cooperstown inductee, has his Top Prospects retro photo(#US208)command $40-60 graded mint. Both veterans were well past their rookie status but still held collector interest in 2009 Upper Deck.
The 2009 Upper Deck set also contained a number of highly collectible inserted parallel and serially numbered cards. One such example is Los Angeles Dodger outfielder Matt Kemp’s Chrome Green refractor parallel(#KEMP-CGR /50). Scoring a coveted number out of just 50 available, these hyper-rare Kemp green refractors have been unloading for $300-500 each online. Meanwhile, Phillies ace Roy Halladay’s Printing Plate parallel(#HOLLA-PP) numbered to just one copy continues to be a true white whale for Phillies PC collectors worldwide. Estimated current market value for this one-of-one Printing Plate stands at $3,000-5,000 in pristine condition.
While not true “rookies”, two young stars experiencing breakout campaigns in 2009 found strong demand for their 2009 Upper Deck base cards as well. Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado was delivering clutch hits left and right during his surprising debut season. His standard issue card(#US167) has risen to the $15-20 range in high grades. Meanwhile, Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton was displaying prodigious power in his rookie year of 2009. Graded mint copies of his Upper Deck issue card(#US200) have climbed to the $10-15 range in PSA/BGS slabs. Clearly these new stars made lasting impressions right from the get-go.
Over a decade later, the 2009 Upper Deck baseball card set still contains numerous coveted rookie and star player cards that have appreciated greatly in value. Headliners like Stephen Strasburg, Mike Trout and Paul Goldschmidt clearly paid dividends for patient holders. But hidden gems like David Ortiz, Mark Buehrle, Matt Kemp and others have found new life amongst collectors too. For those with boxes still sealed or cards tucked away, now may be an opportune time to reap the rewards of an especially bountiful 2009 Upper Deck vintage release.
