When it comes to investing in baseball cards, it’s important to do your research and focus on cards featuring players who are likely to increase in value over time. While no investment is guaranteed, certain cards offer more growth potential than others based on the player’s career accomplishments and statistics as well as the card’s condition, year, and scarcity. This article will explore some of the best baseball cards to consider investing in right now given the current baseball card market.
One of the safest bets for investment potential would be cards featuring superstar players who are still active like Mike Trout, Ronald Acuña Jr., Juan Soto, and Fernando Tatis Jr. Trout is widely considered the best baseball player of his generation and is still early in his career at age 30, so his rookie cards and notable cards from his early years with the Angels hold great value. His 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Superfractor card in gem mint condition is currently valued around $400,000 and is an excellent long-term investment piece.
Acuña, Soto, and Tatis are all young superstars who have already accomplished a great deal in just a few short seasons and still have many productive years ahead of them. Acuña’s 2018 Topps Chrome Refractor rookie card in a PSA 10 gem mint grade recently sold for over $100,000. Soto’s 2018 Bowman Chrome Prospects Superfractor auto in a BGS 9.5 gem mint plus grade is valued around $50,000 currently. Tatis’ 2019 Topps Chrome Refractor rookie card in a PSA 10 just broke the $10,000 price point. As these players continue racking up accolades and stats, their rookie cards stand to increase significantly in value in the years to come.
Beyond active players, legendary retired stars whose careers ended more recently also offer strong investment potential. Cards of players who are newly eligible for the Hall of Fame or were first-ballot inductees hold great value. For example, cards of Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, Chipper Jones, Jim Thome, and others from their rookie and prime seasons are in high demand from collectors now that they have cemented their legendary status.
Rookie cards for players enshrined in Cooperstown within the last 10-15 years will also retain and grow in value as they become more scarce over time. Examples include Ken Griffey Jr, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, and Curt Schilling. Even stars from the 1980s and 90s like Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa still have collectibles worth investing in due to their huge career numbers and cultural significance, despite controversy.
Beyond individual stars, complete sets from important years in the hobby’s history make for sound long-term investments. The 1952 Topps, 1956 Topps, 1957 Topps, and 1969 Topps sets are all highly coveted by collectors and continue increasing in value year over year. The 1952 set in particular, featuring Mickey Mantle’s iconic rookie card, recently had a PSA 8 example sell at auction for over $350,000. Complete sets become exponentially rarer and more valuable with each passing decade.
Rookie cards for Hall of Famers enshrined decades ago can also offer growth potential if high-grade examples survive from their early years. Examples include cards of Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson, Walter Johnson and more from the T206 and earlier sets. While these are truly elite, expensive cards now, condition census rarities can appreciate significantly with time. The same holds true for vintage stars like Ted Williams, Stan Musial, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron.
When investing in baseball cards focus on the all-time great players, especially those still early in the collectibles market like recent retirees and active superstars. Look for scarce rookie cards, prospects cards before they broke out, and complete vintage sets rather than loose singles. Condition is paramount, so higher graded examples will hold their premium long-term. With patience and by focusing on the players with the most secure places in history, certain baseball cards remain a relatively low-risk collectible investment.
