The year 2000 saw the rise of many young stars in Major League Baseball and their rookie cards from that year have become extremely valuable in the decades since. While the 1990s produced some monster rookie cards like Ken Griffey Jr., Alex Rodriguez, and Chipper Jones, the class of 2000 rookies feature several players who went on to Hall of Fame careers. Let’s take a look at some of the most valuable baseball cards from 2000 today:
Derek Jeter 2000 Bowman Chrome Refractor #149 – Widely considered the crown jewel of 2000s rookie cards, Derek Jeter’s spectacular career with the New York Yankees makes this one extremely valuable. In a PSA 10 Gem Mint grade, it can fetch well over $10,000. Even in PSA 9 Excellent condition a Jeter 2000 Bowman Chrome Refractor sells for $4,000-6,000. For such an iconic player on baseball’s biggest stage, this seminal rookie card holds a premium.
Albert Pujols 2000 Bowman Chrome #255 – Before injuries slowed him down, Pujols was arguably the best all-around hitter of his generation. His brilliance led to a surefire Hall of Fame induction someday. High-graded versions of his slick chrome rookie card have sold for $5,000-7,000. Even in PSA 8 Very Good-Excellent condition collectors are paying $2,000-3,000 for this featured St. Louis Cardinal.
Mariano Rivera 2000 Bowman Gold #98 – As the greatest closer in MLB history, Rivera forged a legacy of legendary performances for the Yankees. Back in 2000, collectors could spot his future dominance. Gold parallels like this one numbered to 50 copies command $3,000-4,000 in PSA 10. The standard base version still fetches $1,000-1,500 in top grades.
Tom Glavine 2000 Bowman Chrome Orange Refractor #256 – A Hall of Fame pitcher and two-time Cy Young Award winner, Glavine anchored rotations for the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets during a highly productive career. His colorful refractor rookie is a big draw for team collectors, with PSA 10 versions trading hands for $2,500-3,000.
Chase Utley 2000 Bowman Chrome Green Refractor #244 – Scouts raved about Utley’s five-tool talent coming up in the Philadelphia Phillies’ system. He developed into a perennial All-Star and was a key part of their 2008 World Series championship. A pristine PSA 10 green refractor will get over $2,000 on the open market.
Carlos Beltran 2000 Bowman Chrome Purple Refractor #240 – Regarded as one of the best all-around outfielders of his era, Beltran showcased sublime skills with multiple franchises. His early rookie refractor parallel generates $1,500-2,000 in PSA 10 condition for an iconic Houston Astros / Kansas City Royals star.
Miguel Cabrera 2000 Bowman Chrome Orange Refractor #234 – Still producing at an elite level after two decades, Cabrera has compiled a Hall of Fame resume hitting for average and power. Modern day collectors drool over his rookie chrome cards, especially rarer orange refractors at $1,000-1,500 in PSA 10.
Roger Clemens 2000 SP Legendary Cuts Green #59 – One of the most dominant pitchers ever, Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards over a prolific 24-year career. Legendary Cuts parallels spotlighting his early Toronto Blue Jays days pull $600-800 graded pristine.
Vladimir Guerrero 2000 Bowman Chrome Blue Refractor #217 – Nicknamed “Vlad the Impaler” for his ferocity at the plate, Guerrero was one of baseball’s most feared sluggers of his era with Montreal and beyond. His scarce blue refractor fetches $500-700 in top condition.
Randy Johnson 2000 Bowman Gold #57 – “The Big Unit” intimidated hitters for 22 seasons with a blazing fastball no one could touch. Collectors still chase short printed parallel gold rookie cards from his Diamondbacks tenure valued at $400-600 in top condition.
While the stars of 2000 like Jeter, Pujols, and Rivera tower above the rest in value, there remains strong collector demand for the entire class of rookies from that legendary year. Many more such as Mike Hampton, Mark Prior, and Bobby Abreu produced quality major league careers. With the recent passing of time, nostalgia has bumped valuations up across the board. The 1990s may have boasted bigger monster rookies, but 2000 flexed impressive depth that remains a coveted vintage for investors today.
