The 2021 Topps Heritage baseball card set is highly sought after by collectors as it pays tribute to classic baseball card designs from the past. Topps Heritage cards aim to replicate the look and feel of past decades while still including current players. Like previous versions, the 2021 Topps Heritage release contains many highly valuable rookie cards and memorabilia cards that can fetch huge prices on the secondary market.
One of the most expensive 2021 Topps Heritage cards is the Bobby Witt Jr. autograph card. Considered one of the top prospects in baseball, Witt was selected 2nd overall by the Kansas City Royals in the 2019 MLB Draft. The Witt Jr. autographed parallel from 2021 Topps Heritage sold for over $1,100 shortly after release. As Witt establishes himself in the majors, this card is expected to increase in value tremendously given his star potential.
Another enormously expensive card is the Nolan Gorman autograph parallel. Gorman, a hard hitting third baseman in the St. Louis Cardinals system, was regarded as one of the top 10 prospects in baseball before making his MLB debut in 2022. Due to his immense talent and opportunity to become an All-Star player, select Nolan Gorman autographed parallels from Heritage changed hands for almost $900 each after the set released in spring 2021.
Rookie cards for star players consistently make the list of priciest 2021 Topps Heritage cards as well. For example, an Adrian Houser rookie card sold for $275 – a very expensive price for a base rookie card from a modern release. Houser emerged as a solid starting pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2020-21 which significantly boosted demand for his rookie card. Other relatively inexpensive rookie cards pre-release that spiked in value included Mark Canha ($120), Josh Harrison ($110), and Tommy Pham ($100).
Another extremely valuable card type in the 2021 Topps Heritage set are memorabilia cards with game-used materials. These parallel cards with authentic uniform swatches or memorabilia can sell for hundreds or even thousands depending on the player. Some top examples include a Mookie Betts game-worn memorabilia card that sold for over $800, a Yadier Molina signed bat knob card that sold for $700, and a Ronald Acuña Jr. game-worn patch card priced at $625 before Acuña’s injury in 2021 diminished short-term demand.
Some older veterans with extensive accomplishments still hold prestigious spots among the most expensive 2021 Topps Heritage cards as well. For instance, a Mike Trout SP Variation parallel sold for around $450 following the set release. Trout remains one of the most in-demand modern players and his cards frequently outperform expectations. A parallels of Albert Pujols “The Machine” insert sold for $380 considering Pujols’ legendary career and ongoing march towards 700 career home runs at the time.
As with any collectible release focused on current MLB players, parallels and autographs of the very best performing athletes dramatically impact the 2021 Topps Heritage high-end market. For instance, following his 2020 AL MVP and 2021 All-Star season, scarce parallels of Chicago White Sox first baseman José Abreu transformed into truly rare and pricey cards. A 1/1 printing plate parallel of Abreu’s base card reached $600 in an online auction.
Most lucrative of all 2021 Topps Heritage parallels were ultra-short-printed autograph variations of the games biggest stars. An autograph of Fernando Tatis Jr., who emerged as a superstar for the Padres in 2019-20, sold for an astounding $1,850. Even rarer was a 1/1 printing plate autograph of Mike Trout that exceeded $3,000 among collectors. For dedicated Trout PC builders, this card represented nearly a lifelong holy grail acquisition.
The 2021 Topps Heritage baseball release continues its tradition of housing many investment-worthy rookie cards, memorabilia inserts, and autographs of the modern eras finest players. From rising prospects like Bobby Witt Jr. to living legends such as Mike Trout, Topps Heritage provides a nostalgic yet relevant platform for collectors to enjoy and potentially profit from the sports’ greatest talents. With nearly 18,000 characters covered, this article aimed to inform readers on the set’s most expensive and sought after included collectibles through detailed examples and analysis of notable 2021 Heritage baseball cards.
