The 2021 Topps Big League baseball card set saw tremendous growth in popularity and collectability over the past year. As the flagship product from the sport’s foremost trading card manufacturer, Topps Big League holds significant cache and cultural resonance among both casual and serious collectors. Within any given Topps Big League release, certain cards undoubtedly stand out as the most coveted and hold the greatest potential value. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the standout rookie and star cards from the 2021 Topps Big League set that could appreciate substantially in the years to come.
One of the biggest rookie buzz cards from 2021 was Tampa Bay Rays sensation Wander Franco. Still just 20 years old, Franco had a phenomenal debut season that saw him become the first player in MLB history with a hit in each of his first 5 games. Fueling excitement around Franco was an extraordinary minor league career in which he slashed .331/.417/.566 over 3 seasons before getting the call up. In the 2021 Topps Big League set, Franco’s base rookie card can be found across Series 1, 2 and Update packs. Due to his unprecedented rookie success and hype as a “can’t-miss” superstar, Franco’s Topps Big League rookie card is already one of the most valuable from the year, commanding prices upwards of $100 for PSA-graded Gems. As Franco continues establishing himself as a perennial all-star and MVP candidate for the scrappy Rays, his rookie cards could appreciate exponentially in the long run.
Another standout rookie on the award campaign trail was Los Angeles Angels two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani. In 2021, Ohtani did something unprecedented in the modern era by excelling as both an elite power hitter and frontline starter. It was a true dual-threat performance for the ages that saw Ohtani named AL MVP. Not surprisingly, collectors went wild for Ohtani’s rookie offerings in the 2021 Topps Big League set. His Series 1 base rookie is among the most sought after modern-day cards on the market, with PSA 10 Gem Mint examples selling in auction for over $1,000. Ohtani enters 2022 as the most exciting player in baseball and is poised for many more superstar seasons. As such, his Topps Big League rookie card stands to exponentially increase in value as one of the defining cards from this generation.
Speaking of two-way talents, Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki made his professional baseball debut in 2021 and immediately began shattering records with his unbelievable pitching prowess. At just 20 years old playing in NPB for the Chiba Lotte Marines, Sasaki struck out a perfect game with 19 strikeouts in April – the most K’s ever by a pitcher in a complete game shutout. He followed that up by striking out 13 batters in 8 perfect innings for his second straight start, the first pitcher ever to accomplish that feat. Naturally, Sasaki mania gripped the collector world and any card featuring this budding superstar commands top dollar. Unfortunately, Sasaki did not sign with an MLB team in time to be included in the main 2021 Topps Big League release. Eagle-eyed fans may find his rookie released later in special international editions of the set. As Sasaki’s MLB career gets underway in the next few years, any Topps cards from his earliest professional seasons will almost certainly become the new standard for modern Japanese pitching prospect valuations.
A true superstar who further cemented his generational talent in 2021 was Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager. Coming off his 2020 World Series MVP and playing in the bright lights of L.A., Seager enjoyed another outstanding all-star campaign before getting sidelined by a fractured hand. Despite missing time, Seager still finished third in NL MVP voting in a testament to his enormous contributions. When healthy again in 2022 and beyond, Seager will continue challenging for top shortstop honors in the National League for years to come. Seager’s main rookie card from the 2016 Topps Big League set already demands big money raw or graded. But collectors would be wise to hold Seager’s latest starring offerings from 2021 as long-term keepsakes capturing one of baseball’s premier talents at the peak of his powers. As Seager locks down future Hall of Fame honors for the dynastic Dodgers, his modern era cards stand to gain tremendous prestige and financial returns.
Of course, no discussion of the 2021 Topps Big League market would be complete without mentioning living legend Shohei Ohtani’s American league MVP campaign counterpart, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. After several years of staking his claim as one of MLB’s most dangerous sluggers, Vlad Jr. put it all together in 2021 by slashing .311/.401/.611 with 48 HRs and 111 RBIs en route to capturing AL MVP honors for the Toronto Blue Jays. His breakout fourth big league season firmly established Guerrero as a true five-tool superstar in the making. From his base Topps rookie card still available in Series 1 packs to autographed parallels and more, Guerrero’s 2021 Topps Big League cards became overnight hits with collectors. Going forward, as Vlad Jr. continues delivering MVP-caliber seasons and breaking new home run records, his cards from this award-winning campaign figure to take on immense historical significance representing the arrival of a new dominant force. Expect values to surge substantially in the years ahead as Guerrero locks in his eventual Hall of Fame plaque.
No recap of the 2021 Topps Big League market leaders would be complete without a nod to living legend Albert Pujols of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Now in his seemingly ageless 22nd season, Pujols enjoyed an incredible career renaissance by swatting his 700th career home run in 2022. It was a watershed moment worthy of the stars aligning to deliver Pujols back to St. Louis where his career began for the milestone blast. All editions of Pujols’ rookie cards from 2001 Topps Big League already trade for high four-figure sums. But for collectors who managed to snag one of his scarce 2021 parallels marking yet another incredible season resurgence and cementing his status as one of the five best hitters ever, those issues figure to take on a whole new level or rarity, prestige and financial worth. Pujols’ is truly a baseball immortal for the ages.
The 2021 Topps Big League set seemed poised from the outset as a potential hobby defining release. Featuring the arrival of stars like Franco and Ohtani along with generational campaigns from Seager, Vlad Jr. and more helped transform the flagship Topps Big League release into a collector’s dream. For savvy investors who recognize the historical significance of some of these key rookie and starring issues, premium graded examples offer an incredible long-term investment opportunity. As these young superstars continue delivering MVP seasons and cementing living legends like Pujols further solidify their immortal legacies, demand for their seminal cards from 2021 is all but guaranteed to exponentially appreciate with time. The 2021 Topps Big League release proved a cultural touchstone and its premium rookie talents and key parallels are set to become the coveted bluechip holdings of collections for decades to come.
