The 2016 baseball season saw many exceptional performances and milestones that made certain players’ cards from that year quite valuable in today’s collectibles market. While the prices for modern cards will never rival those of the vintage era, there are still numerous 2016 rookie cards, autographed cards, and short print parallels that have gained solid value in a relatively short time. For collectors looking to potentially profit off investments in recent cards, here are some of the top 2016 baseball cards that could be worth money down the road.
Perhaps the biggest storyline of 2016 was Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant winning the National League MVP in just his second MLB season. Bryant led the Cubs to their first World Series title since 1908, cementing his status as a true superstar. His 2016 Topps Update Series #US99 auto patch card /99 has achieved strong valuations, currently selling for $500-600 based on recent eBay sales. Another highly sought-after Bryant rookie is his 2016 Topps Chrome Purple Refractor #68, available in extremely low prints. Graded Mint examples of this card have sold for well over $1000. Bryant remains a cornerstone player for the Cubs franchise and his cards from his early career should hold value well for discerning collectors.
San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. burst onto the scene with a breakout season in 2019 but first appeared on the MLB radar with a strong 2016 campaign in A-ball. While he was still a relative unknown at the time, Tatis’ 2016 Bowman Chrome Prospects Auto Refractor #BCP99 has exploded in value since his emergence as an elite talent. PSA 10 or BGS 9.5+ versions can sell for $4000-5000 or more based on Tatis’ huge upside. It’s one of the more distinctive prospect cards from that year that proved prescient. Similarly, New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso had a monster rookie season in 2019 but two years prior in 2016, his Bowman Chrome Prospects Refractor auto #BCP41-PA was a sleeper card. High-graded examples have brought $800-1000 on the current market.
In the National League, Corey Seager established himself as one of baseball’s brightest young stars with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2016. While Seager cards across the board hold value from his rookie year, one standout is his 2016 Topps Series 2 Baseball Card Variations #V1. This ultra-short print parallel features Seager swinging a bat and is numbered to just 5 copies. Two PSA 10 examples were recently listed for auction with a combined starting price of $15,000. Seager remains a key long-term piece for the Dodgers and such one-of-a-kind cards documenting early career milestones will stay highly coveted.
Across Los Angeles, Mike Trout continued cementing his place among the modern game’s all-time greats with another phenomenal season for the Angels in 2016. Trout already had valuable vintage cards from prior years but some sought-after 2016 parallels include his Topps Finest Refractor auto /99 and Topps National Baseball Card Day auto /10. Both routinely sell for $600-$1000 in top condition. Trout’s longevity and surefire Hall of Fame track record ensure any autographed or limited cards from his best seasons will retain strong collectible value. Also with the Angels, Japanese two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani began generating MLB buzz in early 2016 at just 21 years old before making the transition stateside a couple years later. Ohtani’s 2016 BBM 1st Version card slipped under the radar but has gained steam, with PSA 10s selling north of $150.
Across the AL West, Texas Rangers powerhouse Joey Gallo had an up-and-down 2016 but provided flashes of his limitless potential. One standout 2016 Gallo card is his Topps Inception Auto Patch #IP-JG, serial numbered to just 10 copies. Two recent sales of this rare parallel hit around $1200 each. Gallo’s combination of mammoth power and on-base skills keep him on the map even through cold stretches. Elsewhere in the division, future AL MVP Mookie Betts took another step forward for the Boston Red Sox in 2016 while establishing himself as a perennial All-Star. Betts’ 2016 Topps Finest Refractors #165 sell consistently for $100-150 in high grade. With continued excellence in Boston along with numerous past and future noteworthy seasons under his belt, Betts cards from this period remain highly relevant.
On the pitching side, future Cy Young winner Robbie Ray flashed ace upside during his first full season with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2016. Ray’s 2016 Topps Finest Refractors #263 command a consistent $50-75 price tag for Mint 9’s. Fellow 2016 breakouts included Chicago White Sox hurler Carlos Rodon and San Francisco Giants starter Johnny Cueto. Graded copies of Rodon’s 2016 Bowman Chrome Prospect Auto and Cueto’s Topps Finest diamond parallel #255 have crossed auction blocks for $300-400 recently. Both lefty Rodon and veteran Cueto displayed potential turning points that year that make those cards meaningful souvenirs. At just 19 years of age, potential superstar Julio Urias debuted with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2016 ahead of schedule. While injuries stalled his career at times since, Urias’ raw ability and youth keep his 2016 Bowman Chrome 1st Autograph #84 a solid long-term prospecting play around $80-100 range.
In summarizing, while the odds of any single modern baseball card skyrocketing to the stratospheric values of yesteryear are slim, there remain numerous options from the 2016 season with staying power in the collectors’ market. Autograph and short print cards of future stars like Bryant, Tatis, Alonso and others have shown impressive appreciation over just a few years that is likely to continue. Highly graded base rookie cards, parallels and autographs of perennial talents like Trout and Betts maintain relevance as pieces of their careers too. For savvy investors, targeting such impactful 2016 cards at reasonable prices offers a better chance of future financial returns than chasing after expensive vintage cardboard.
