Aaron Judge has quickly become one of the biggest stars in Major League Baseball since debuting with the New York Yankees in 2016. The towering right fielder’s prodigious power and impressive season in 2017 where he broke the rookie home run record has made his rookie cards some of the most sought after on the baseball card market. With Judge still in the early stages of what looks to be a Hall of Fame caliber career, many collectors see his rookie cards as a prime long term investment despite the high prices they currently command on auction sites like eBay.
Judge’s rookie season in pinstripes was one for the ages as he smacked 52 home runs to shatter the rookie record of 49 set by Mark McGwire in 1987. He also played Gold Glove caliber defense in right field and finished second in American League MVP voting despite the Yankees missing the playoffs. The performance immediately elevated the 26 year old to superstardom and collector interest in his rookie cards skyrocketed. Topps Chrome and Bowman Chrome refractors from 2016, considered the key Judge rookies, started selling in the low hundreds of dollars at the beginning of 2017 but multiplied in value many times over as his season developed.
By the end of 2017 and into 2018, PSA 10 examples of Judge’s Topps Chrome and Bowman Chrome rookie cards were regularly commanding four figure prices, with some exceptional auctions topping $5,000. Lower graded versions still sold very well too proportionate to their condition. The surge in prices was due to a perfect storm of factors – Judge’s amazing rookie year, the rarity of high grade versions of his key cards due to light production runs in 2016, and growing demand from investors anticipating further increases in value if he sustained his success long term.
While prices dipped slightly after Judge’s stats regressed a bit in 2018 as he dealt with injuries, they rebounded strongly in 2019 as he hit over 50 home runs again and reasserted himself as a true MVP caliber player. Today, PSA 10 Topps Chrome and Bowman Chrome Judge rookies remain elite trophies that typically sell in the $3,000-$6,000 range. PSA 9s go for $1,500-2500. Even raw, ungraded copies in mint condition can pull in $500-1000. With each passing year that Judge continues producing at an All-Star level, his rookie cards seem to gain more cache and prestige in the eyes of collectors.
Aaron Judge’s appeal extends beyond just his on-field performance and rookie cards as well. Later base cards and parallels from Topps series 1, Topps Chrome, Bowman, etc featuring his towering frame in a Yankees uniform remain quite popular on the secondary market. Many collectors enjoy chasing these “post-rookie” Judge cards in hopes of completing rainbow sets in top grades. PSA 10 parallels like the Topps Chrome purple refractor or Topps gold foil still sell for hundreds of dollars each due to their scarcity. Even base cards in high grades have value since Judge mania shows no signs of slowing down.
In addition to his flagship rookie cards, Aaron Judge’s prospect cards have developed a strong cult following of their own in recent years. Cards like the 2015 Bowman Chrome Draft Picks & Prospects Orange Refractor are extremely scarce in pristine condition yet highly sought after by set builders. Recently, a PSA 10 copy sold for over $2,000 on eBay showing there is still room for growth even in Judge’s lesser known rookie issues. His 2016 Bowman Chrome Prospect cards have also gained traction, with the base paper version now selling for $100-200 in high grades. Clearly any early issue showing Judge’s potential before he broke out continues increasing in desirability long after their initial release dates.
Perhaps the biggest indicator of just how strong demand remains for Aaron Judge collectibles is the performance of his autograph cards on eBay. Despite carrying premiums well into the thousands of dollars, his autographed rookie cards from Topps, Bowman, etc still receive dozens of bids and frenzied last minute bidding wars whenever they come up for auction. A PSA/DNA authenticated 2017 Topps Series 1 auto in gem mint condition would be expected to eclipse $5,000 with no trouble. Premium memorabilia cards like Topps Museum Collection featuring swatches of his game worn jersey consistently break the $1,000 barrier as well showing there is no shortage of diehard Judge PC builders.
As Aaron Judge continues putting up All-Star caliber seasons for the Yankees and stays on the path to a first ballot Hall of Fame career, most experts agree his cards have nowhere to go but up in value long term. Even after a small price dip, his rookies have regained lost ground showing strong underlying demand. For savvy collectors, now could be one of the last opportunities to snatch up a high grade example for under $5,000 before they potentially reach the $10,000+ range that icons like Mickey Mantle and Ken Griffey Jr command. With impeccable power, a beloved franchise player persona, and a rocketing career still ahead, Aaron Judge looks poised to cement his status as a true modern baseball icon collectible for decades to come.
