The baseball card market is as strong as ever, with certain vintage and modern rookie cards commanding enormous prices at auctions. For collectors and investors looking to get in on the action, here are some of the best baseball cards to target right now based on player performance and popularity as well as overall card supply and demand dynamics.
Sandy Koufax (1956 Topps #257 PSA 10) – An impeccable rookie card of one of the greatest left-handed pitchers of all time. Koufax’s 3 no-hitters and 4 Cy Young Awards make him a surefire Hall of Famer, and his rookie card is exceptionally scarce in high grades given how early it is. With a PSA 10 population of just 4 cards, a mint example could sell for $500,000+ at auction. Even a lower-graded copy is worth significant money relative to other older cards due to the incredibly small supply of high-quality Koufax rookies available.
Mickey Mantle (1951 Bowman #311 PSA 8) – The most famous and valuable baseball card in existence. Mantle is universally regarded as one of the all-time great switch hitters and position players, and his rookie Bowman card is considered the Holy Grail by collectors. Copies in PSA 8 condition sell for over $300,000 today due simply to the Mantle name, and the card gets exponentially more rare and valuable at higher grades. Even severely worn examples still have strong collector value for being a genuine Mantle rookie. Every serious baseball card collection needs a Mantle in some form.
Shohei Ohtani (2021 Topps Finest Negative Refractor #168 PSA 10) – As one of the first prospect cards to feature the two-way phenom that is Shohei Ohtani, his 2021 Topps Finest Negative Refractor occupies a unique status. After winning AL Rookie of the Year and MVP honors while hitting AND pitching at an elite level, Ohtani is already considered one of the best and most marketable stars in the sport. His cards have skyrocketed in price accordingly. With a current PSA 10 pop of just 20 cards, mint Ohtani rookies are some of the hottest commodities on the market right now and expected to keep gaining in demand and value for the long haul.
Mike Trout (2009 Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects Superfractor #107 PSA 10) – Often referred to as the “LeBron James of baseball,” Mike Trout is inarguably the face of the sport today. His career achievements are already Hall of Fame worthy at just age 30. As Trout’s first flagship prospect card, his 2009 Bowman Superfractor generates strong collector excitement due to the parallel’s extreme rarity and iconic “S” suffix. With a pop of only 2 in the coveted PSA 10 grade, Trout Superfractors have realized auction prices over $400,000. Any Trout card from his early prospect years is a sound investment given his secure place as one of the all-time MLB greats.
Juan Soto (2018 Bowman Chrome Prospect Refractor Autograph #121 PSA 10) – At just 23 years old, Juan Soto has already emerged as a true superstar slugger and one of the faces of the future in MLB. His achievements including back-to-back Silver Slugger Awards and All-Star appearances have showcased his rare power and batting eye combination at such a young age. Soto’s earliest prospect autos capture this early stardom in pristine form. The 2018 Bowman Chrome Prospect Refractor Autograph is his firstBowman refractor auto and iconic Bowman Chrome issue. With a current pop of 4 PSA 10s, Soto’s elite grade examples could be worth over $150,000 now and expected to appreciate considerably longer term.
Albert Pujols (2001 Bowman Chrome Draft Picks #255 PSA 10) – As one of the most prolific and accomplished power hitters of all time, Albert Pujols’ Hall of Fame case is airtight and helped carry the Cardinals to two World Series championships early in his career. Collectors recognize Pujols as an all-time great slugger and his early Bowman Chrome era cards command top dollar. High-graded versions of his 2001 Bowman Chrome Draft Pick refractor parallel are scarce at a current pop of 8 PSA 10s. With Pujols’ retirement looming, demand for his legendary rookie cards will likely remain robust for years to come.
Fernando Tatis Jr. (2019 Topps Chrome Prospect Autograph Green Refractor #141 PSA 10) – Tatis burst onto the MLB scene in 2019 and cemented his superstar status with a monster 2021 campaign and MVP caliber season at just 22 years old. With highlight-reel plays, a flashy style, and 80-grade talents both at the plate and in the field, Tatis has become MLB’s next emerging face. Combine this with the hype surrounding his rookie cards from 2019 Topps Chrome and Bowman offerings, and Tatis green auto refractors have seen values increase exponentially over the past year. With a pop around 12 in PSA 10 currently, these ultra-rare Tatis rookie autos could sell for $150,000+ soon and only stand to become more valuable as his career progresses.
Jacob DeGrom (2010 Bowman Chrome Prospect Autograph #185 PSA 10) – Jacob deGrom was a late bloomer who wasn’t highly touted as a prospect but has since established himself as arguably the best pitcher in baseball over the last few years, winning two Cy Young awards and leading the NL in ERA four times. As one of the scarcer DeGrom prospect autos from his 2010 Bowman Chrome issue, copies have gained tremendous cachet with collectors recognizing his all-time great pitching talent and relative scarcity at the prospect level. The population remains paltry at 6 PSA 10s, making this one of the rarest modern star autos on the market and valued well over $100,000 for 10ths. With DeGrom still in his prime and chasing dominance, the card’s high-end value will likely increase.
Ronald Acuña Jr. (2018 Topps Gallery #156 PSA 10) – Ronald Acuña Jr. emerged as one of baseball’s brightest young stars from 2018-2021 before a season-ending knee injury in 2021. Prior to injury, he broke out with a .283 average, 35 home runs, and 37 stolen bases in 2019 at just age 21. That type of five-tool potential and early production helped raise the values of Acuña’s 2018 rookie cards exponentially, making this 2018 Topps Gallery parallel a top short print of his rookie year. With a scarce population of only 8 PSA 10s, an elite gem mint example could sell for over $150,000 in the current market due to Acuña’s phenomenal potential and star-caliber play pre-injury. He will have plenty of time to get back to top form and boost values even higher.
While vintage stars remain blue-chip holdings, these modern rookies and prospects represent some of the most enticing baseball card investments available right now based on underlying player performance and scarcity metrics. Collectors would do well to target high-grade copies of the above cards before they appreciate further in the years ahead alongside their respective stars’ careers. With careful selection and patience, these baseball treasures are poised to generate strong long-term returns for savvy collectors.
