The 2018 Topps baseball card set featured some of the biggest names in baseball, along with several rookie cards that could potentially net collectors a hefty profit down the road. While it may be too early to tell which 2018 rookies will go on to stardom, certain parallels and short prints from the flagship set have already gained value due to their scarcity. Let’s take a closer look at some of the 2018 Topps cards that could be worth money for collectors.
One of the most valuable base rookies from 2018 is Juan Soto of the Washington Nationals. Soto had a phenomenal debut season in which he hit .292 with 22 home runs and 70 RBI in only 116 games as a 19-year-old. His impressive rookie campaign translated to high demand for his Topps cards. PSA 10 examples of his standard base rookie card have already climbed up to around $100-150 on the secondary market. Insert and parallel versions command even higher prices.
Another 2018 rookie off to a tremendous start is Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees. While Judge is no longer a true rookie, his sustained excellence makes his rookie cards highly collectible. The standard Judge base rookie remains one of the most expensive modern rookie cards, with PSA 10 copies approaching $1,000-1,500. His short print blue parallel (/499) commands an even steeper premium, with PSA 10s selling in the $3,000-5,000 range due to their extreme rarity and Judge’s superstar status.
Among the most coveted parallels in 2018 Topps are the Rainbow Foil cards, which contain vivid foil elements on the player image areas. Some examples have already started to gain significant value due to their limited quantities. The Gleyber Torres Rainbow Foil rookie (/2018) has been listed on auction sites for $300-$400 in PSA 10 condition, while the Acuna Jr. Rainbow Foil sells for $500-700 graded mint. Another highly sought Rainbow Foil is the Ronald Acuna Jr. Star Wars parallel (/2018), with PSA 10 copies bringing close to $1,000.
Chrome and paper rookies of Ronald Acuna Jr. are also some of the hottest 2018 rookie cards to watch. Acuna’s regular base rookie can be acquired for $50-75 PSA 10, but higher-end parallels carry much steeper values. Some key Acuna rookies include his Blue Wave auto (/99), Purple Wave auto (/150) and Red Wave auto (/25), all of which have already topped $1,000 PSA 10 and will likely trend upwards as Acuna’s young career progresses.
Topps Chrome is one of the higher-end insert sets in each year’s flagship release. The 2018 Chrome set featured numerous short prints and parallels that have gained significant ground on the secondary market. Some examples include the highly coveted Luis Robert auto (/199), Christian Yelich auto (/99) and Cody Bellinger auto (/99). All three of these scarce Topps Chrome autos have achieved PSA 10 sales north of $1,000 and will continue to climb with positive player performance.
Undoubtedly, one of the most expensive 2018 Topps cards period is the Ronald Acuna Jr. Superfractor. This ultra-rare parallel was limited to a single copy and features Acuna’s image completely covered in a rainbow refractor finish. After being acquired by a collector for a six-figure sum, the PSA 10 Acuna Superfractor was subsequently resold this year in a private sale rumored to be north of $350,000, reflecting Acuna’s unprecedented rise combined with the unique 1/1 parallel.
While it’s still relatively early, there are already a few 2018 rookies who did not live up to expectations whose cards have correspondingly decreased in value from their initial price points. Examples of hype rookies like Franklin Perez, Jeren Kendall and Miguel Andujar have all seen their rookie cards level off below initial sale prices or ask prices on the immediate secondary market once their debut seasons failed to meet sky-high optimism. This reinforces the risk/reward nature of investing in rookie cards of unproven MLB talents.
While not every 2018 Topps rookie and parallel will end up worth significant money long term, savvy collectors would be wise to invest early in the cards of confirmed young stars like Juan Soto, Gleyber Torres, Ronald Acuna Jr. and others who have proven themselves at the MLB level so far. Pars like the Topps Chrome, Rainbow Foil and high-numbered parallels remain solid short term targets as well until a multi-year track record establishes the top 2018 rookies. Patience and discerning which rookies live up to their potential will be keys to optimizing returns on 2018 Topps cards worth owning for both collectors and investors alike.
