The 2021 edition of Panini Prizm Baseball was highly anticipated by collectors and provided several chase cards that hold substantial value. Panini Prizm has become one of the premier modern sports card brands known for its flashy refractors and parallels that create a memorable on-card experience. The 2021 release centered around the debut of many top prospects and rookies entering Major League Baseball that season.
One of the biggest rookie stars from the set is Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco. Franco had a phenomenal debut campaign in 2021 that saw him hit .288 with 7 home runs and 39 RBI in 70 games. His prized rookie cards from Prizm exploded in demand, headlined by the purple prizm /199 parallel and red white and blue prizm /76 parallel. Graded PSA 10 examples of these rare Wander Franco cards have sold for upwards of $10,000, showing he has rookie card value on par with recent sensations like Fernando Tatis Jr. Other coveted Wander Franco cards include the silver prizm and gold prizm, with the latter holding a /70 print run.
Another huge name that captivated collectors was Seattle Mariners pitcher Logan Gilbert. Gilbert made his MLB debut in 2021 and had a stellar season going 13-6 with a 3.20 ERA. His rookie cards, especially the prizm refractors, skyrocketed after his success. The Logan Gilbert silver prizm /499 and red white and blue prizm /76 parallel routinely fetch over $100 in PSA 10 condition. The ultra-short printed gold prizm /70 parallel is even rarer, with high grades moving for $300-$500 due to Gilbert’s ace-level potential.
Beyond individual rookie stars, complete rainbows of refractors and parallels offered intriguing chase opportunities. Panini Prizm 2021 featured the standard orange, green, yellow, and blue refractors for each player. Extended parallels like purple /199, red white and blue /76, and gold /70 added depth and prestige to collecting full refractored sets. Premium levels like black 1/1, atomic, and Galactic provided the ultimate short print chase cards as well. Building a full rainbow set of a major prospect like Bobby Witt Jr. or Jarren Duran tested collector patience but resulted in a visually stunning and valuable collection.
Veteran superstars still hold value in Prizm as many collectors admire the aesthetic of seeing stars on prestigious refractors as well. Shohei Ohtani remains one of the biggest fan favorites, and his prizm cards showcase the two-way talents that define his game. Parallels like Ohtani’s /76 red white and blue prizm routinely sell in the $50-100 range for top grades. Mike Trout, as the game’s best all-around player, also demands strong sales on prizm refractors in the $30-75 range. Graded examples of Trout’s rare 1/1 black prizms have even topped $1,000.
Ultimately, Panini Prizm Baseball 2021 provided a fun and rewarding product centering around building complete prospect and rookie sets. Stars like Wander Franco, Logan Gilbert, and more announced their arrival in spectacular fashion through these eye-catching prizm optics that create a true on-card experience. Veterans Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout served as proven superstars to chase as well. With many of these rookies continuing to blossom in 2022 and beyond, their 2021 Panini Prizm rookie cards should retain prominence as prized investments in any modern sports collection.
