The 2018 Major League Baseball season saw a number of star players have spectacular seasons and rookie debuts that will be remembered for years to come. As a result, the 2018 MLB baseball card releases captured many of these memorable moments and players. Whether it was Topps, Panini, Leaf, or other card companies, 2018 provided collectors with cards showcasing the top performers and new faces in the league.
One of the biggest storylines of 2018 was Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich winning the National League MVP award after being traded from the Miami Marlins in the offseason. Yelich hit .326 with 36 home runs and 110 RBIs during the regular season to lead the Brewers to the NL Central title. Not surprisingly, his 2018 baseball cards skyrocketed in value with collectors eager to own cards featuring Yelich’s breakout MVP campaign. Topps flagship and other sets included prized rookie cards and autographs of Yelich that will certainly hold value long-term.
Another young star who broke out in 2018 and is well-represented in the latest card releases is Atlanta Braves rookie sensation Ronald Acuña Jr. Despite just turning 21 during the season, Acuna hit .293 with 26 home runs and 64 RBIs and electrified the Braves fanbase with his five-tool talents. The Brazilian-born outfielder was one of the most discussed rookie prospects entering the year and he lived up to the hype on the field. 2018 Topps Update Series, Bowman, and Topps Chrome among others feature Acuna’s rookie cards that will appreciate in value as he becomes a perennial All-Star.
On the pitching side, two hurlers in particular stood out in 2018 and captured the attention of card collectors – Jacob deGrom of the New York Mets and Justin Verlander of the Houston Astros. DeGrom won the NL Cy Young award after a season in which he posted a 1.70 ERA, 0.912 WHIP and struck out 269 batters in 217 innings while going just 10-9 due to little run support. His 2018 Topps Update rookie card and other mid-season releases showcasing his brilliant season are highly sought after. Meanwhile, Verlander helped lead the Astros to a World Series title after being acquired at the trade deadline, going 5-0 with a 1.06 ERA in five postseason starts. His 2018 playoff heroics and Houston championship are preserved on attractive memorabilia cards.
Several accomplished veterans also had noteworthy seasons at the plate worth highlighting for collectors. Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado continued his excellence by batting .297 with 38 home runs and 110 RBIs to earn his sixth straight Gold Glove and finish third in NL MVP voting. Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper had another All-Star campaign, setting career-highs with 34 home runs and 100 RBIs in his final season with the team before free agency. Meanwhile, MVP candidates Freddie Freeman of the Braves and Jose Ramirez of the Indians also captivated fans and card collectors with stellar all-around play.
On the rookie front, some first-year players who stood out on baseball’s biggest stage in 2018 and have growing card portfolios include pitcher Walker Buehler and shortstop Manny Machado of the Los Angeles Dodgers as well as two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani of the Angels. Ohtani in particular was a unique sensation as the first player in decades to both pitch and hit regularly in the big leagues, batting .285 with 22 home runs and 61 RBIs and going 4-2 with a 3.31 ERA as a starter. His Topps Big League and Bowman Chrome autographs are highly prized.
Several hobby-exclusive premium card products in 2018 also focused on the games’ elite talents. Examples include Acuna, deGrom, and other stars appearing in Topps Finest and Topps Chrome autographs and refractors. Additionally, Panini reached an exclusive NFL/NBA/MLB deal and issued artistic and memorabilia-focused cards in sets like Illusions, Impeccable, and Triple Threads. As a result, collections grew of cards including Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant, Red Sox stars Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez, and others signed with swatches of jerseys and bats.
Moving forward to 2019 and beyond, the rookies who debuted this past year like Acuna, Buehler, Ohtani, and more will spend the early part of their careers cementing stardom, which makes their 2018 rookie cards all the more desirable. Meanwhile, veterans like Yelich, deGrom, Arenado, and the rest who shined in ’18 provide a storyline and tangible remembrance with their cards from clutch performances and accolades achieved. Collectors will continue to build sets and search for coveted hobby-exclusive parallels showcasing all the exciting play from baseball’s latest campaign preserved on cardboard. The 2018 MLB season was one to remember, and its corresponding baseball card releases successfully captured its many memorable moments and top players.
