The 2013 Topps Chrome Baseball card set brought many high-value rookie cards and parallels to the hobby. Released in late 2012/early 2013, this product featured refractors and variations of players from the 2012 MLB season. While not stratospherically valuable like some vintage sets, several cards stand out from this series as particularly coveted by collectors due to player performance and scarcity. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most expensive and sought-after cards from 2013 Topps Chrome Baseball.
One of the biggest hits from the base set was the Mike Trout rookie card. Already establishing himself as a superstar in his first full season in 2012, Trout’s stock was sky high coming into 2013. The Topps Chrome base version of his rookie stayed relatively affordable compared to high-end parallels, hovering around $50-75 graded gem mint. Refractors and numbered parallel versions escalated sharply in value. The gold refractor /50 is over $1,000 PSA 10, while the elusive black refractor /5 has sold for over $6,000 in mint condition. Low-numbered parallels like the purple /25 and orange /5 also command over $1,000 in top grades. With each passing season cementing Trout as a likely Hall of Famer, his cards from this set have proven to be among the shrewdest long-term investments in the hobby.
Another rookie phenom with multiple high-dollar cards in 2013 Topps Chrome was Bryce Harper. Similar to Trout, Harper’s base rookie held steady around $50-75 graded while his parallels exploded upwards. The Harper gold refractor /50 has cracked $800 PSA 10, while his scarce black refractor /5 has sold for as much as $2,000. The true blue-chip card in the Harper rookie subset remains the prized orange refractor /5. Population reports only 10 examples ever graded PSA 10, with the last few selling in the $5,000 range. With Harper still in his prime playing days, these rare early cards in pristine condition hold tremendous future potential.
Other highly valued 2013 Topps Chrome base rookies outside of Trout and Harper included Wil Myers, Jurickson Profar, and Travis d’Arnaud. Each had solid production or hype in their brief debut seasons in 2012. Myers remains around $50 PSA 10 for his base, while Profar and d’Arnaud have dipped below $30 as they have yet to fully realize early expectations. Key parallels like Myers’ gold /50 ($500 PSA 10) and d’Arnaud’s pink /25 ($150 PSA 10) still provide opportunities for profit. Profar’s status has been hurt by injuries, with even his scarce black refractor /5 selling under $200.
In the veteran category, cards of perennial superstars tended to rise the most in value from 2013 Topps Chrome. Clayton Kershaw continued establishing himself as the premier pitcher of his generation in 2012, leading to strong secondary market performance for his base ($75 PSA 10) and above all, his rare black refractor /5 (over $1,000 PSA 10 mint). Meanwhile, annual MVP candidates like Miguel Cabrera and Mike Trout saw steady increases in their base rookies as they cemented future Hall of Fame careers, approaching $50 in top condition. Trout’s 2012 update rookie had similar stability, but premium parallels like his orange /5 exploded to over $800.
There were also some unexpected risers over time among veteran stars. Buster Posey’s base stayed affordable but his scarce black refractor /5 appreciated up near $400 due to his prolonged excellence. Melky Cabrera saw a 2013 Topps Chrome gold refractor /50 price spike to over $200 after an All-Star 2012 season, before PED suspension news dampened future value. Veteran super-collectibles like a Mariano Rivera black refractor /5 or Derek Jeter autograph jumped upwards as well during their 2013 farewell tours.
In terms of short prints and serial numbered inserts, several stand out from 2013 Topps Chrome as especially valuable today. The coveted Yoenis Cespedes red refractor /25 found new heights above $150 PSA 10 as Cespedes emerged. Same for Allen Craig’s pink parallel /25 ($120). Premium serial-numbered parallels like Matt Harvey’s blue refractor /150 ($80) and Starling Marte’s purple refractor /50 ($70) were early fliers that paid off. And multi-player serial-numbered sets including Diamond Kings remained hot, with low-number versions of Trout, Harper, Kershaw, etc. topping $200 each.
The 2013 Topps Chrome Baseball release has aged very well from an investment perspective overall. Rookie sensations Trout and Harper brought unprecedented singles card valuations, while parallels and short prints of emerging stars like Duffy, Harvey, and Cespedes have proven smart long shots. Superstar veterans like Kershaw and Cabrera maintain steady growth on their base cards as well. For building a balanced, future-proofed baseball card portfolio, the 2013 Topps Chrome set offers an abundance of historically significant and valuable materials for today’s savvy collectors and investors. Many consider it one of the top modern release years to target when beginning a collection.
