As baseball card collecting continues to grow in popularity, many investors and collectors are curious which specific cards represent the best investments heading into the new year. While it’s impossible to predict the future performance of any collectible with certainty, certain rookie cards, autographed relic cards of star players and scarce vintage cards have consistently increased in value and demand over longer periods of time.
By examining recent market trends, considering the ongoing performance and popularity of individual players, and assessing key attributes like rarity, condition and player pedigree, here are some baseball cards that appear well-positioned for appreciation in 2022 and beyond:
Mike Trout 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Parallel Refractor PSA 10
Widely considered the greatest baseball player of his generation, Mike Trout has defied expectations since being drafted in 2009. His 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Parallel Refractor prized parallel refractor from his true rookie season in a pristine PSA 10 gem mint condition is the undisputed holy grail of Trout cards. Fewer than 10 of these rare refractors are known to exist in PSA 10 condition, and the last several to auction have all sold for over $400,000 each as Trout continues shattering records and ensuring high demand for his earliest cards persists. As long as Trout maintains his current Hall of Fame pace, this literally one-of-a-kind piece of his rookie year should remain perhaps the most valuable modern baseball card available.
Sandy Koufax 1956 Topps PSA 8
One of the true icons of baseball, Sandy Koufax blazed a relatively short but brilliant career in the 1950s and 1960s defined by his unmatched dominance on the pitching mound. His famously small 1956 Topps rookie card issue in high grades still fetch impressive six-figure sums after over 60 years. Condition is everything for this vintage gem, and despite being over half a century old, a PSA 8 remains among the finest graded examples still in existence. With so few high-grade Koufax rookies around and his legacy still growing stronger with time, collectors will continue battling fiercely for any 1956 Topps they can find in mid-excellent condition like a PSA 8. As one of the most iconic rookie cards in baseball history, with extremely limited supply, Koufax remains a savvy blue-chip investment.
Mickey Mantle 1952 Topps PSA 8
Alongside Koufax, Mantle reigns as one of the true untouchable legends of the game whose rookie cards retain unparalleled mystique and demand. Graded examples of his classic colorful 1952 Topps issue in PSA 8 condition consistently sell for six figures and set new records. Like the 1956 Koufax, demand is driven by exceedingly low populations still around in high grades after 70 years of existence. Both players captivated the sporting world during baseball’s golden era and their rookie cards symbolize that peak of nostalgia. As long as collectors prize their accomplishments on the field and indelible places in history, mint Mantle and Koufax ’52s and ’56s will stay elite long-term keepsakes sought after by even casual fans of the game.
Juan Soto 2018 Bowman Chrome Refractor Auto PSA 10
Juan Soto burst onto the scene as a teenager dazzling baseball with arguably the greatest age-19 season in history. Now 23, his future superstardom appears all but guaranteed, and with a Nationals organization that struggles to consistently contend, collector optimism remains high that he may someday play for a larger market club amplifying his brand. Still just entering his prime years, his immaculate 2018 Bowman Chrome Refractor Auto rookie in a PSA 10 ranks as Soto’s true prized first-year card. Early examples have already sold for $25,000 raw, and as he develops into a surefire Hall of Famer, $100,000 PSA 10 comps seem inevitable. So long as Soto continues progressing as one of the new faces of MLB, his marquee rookie refractor auto profile provides an exciting long-term opportunity to own a dominant young superstar’s finest card.
Wander Franco 2019 Bowman Chrome Green Auto PSA 10
Still just 21 himself, Wander Franco exploded onto the MLB scene in 2021 with the Rays and immediately established himself as perhaps the finest young talent in the game today. While Juan Soto seemed like a guaranteed future superstar, few predicted Franco’s meteoric rise so quickly. His 2019 Bowman Chrome Green Auto Refractor parallel from his true rookie campaign has all the attributes aligning to follow Soto’s cards upward. Scarce population, pristine perfection, a big name, and representing the early years of a player poised for greatness make Franco’s finest rookie auto among the most compelling modern investments out there. If he lives up to the immense hype, examples could eventually rival Trout cards for value by decade’s end.
Albert Pujols 2000 Bowman Chrome Refractor PSA 10
The greatest right-handed hitter of his generation, and still producing past his prime years, Albert Pujols dazzled immediately as a rookie with the Cardinals in 2000. While not quite in the same demand tier as Trout or Mantle, Pujols’ 2000 Bowman Chrome Refractor rookie cards are certainly cherished prizes for collectors still anticipating his future Hall of Fame induction. Graded specimens have begun entering the five-figure range as Pujols’ legacy solidifies. In a flawless PSA 10 holder the coveted refractor parallel remains astonishingly well centered and preserved after 22 years on the market. Hard to imagine a more complete early chapter in a future inner-circle Hall of Famer’s career archived on a single cardboard slice. High grades are extremely tough to locate but indicate this may still offer reasonable upside over the long haul.
Fernando Tatis Jr. 2019 Topps Chrome Update Cyan Refractor Auto /249 PSA 10
The face of baseball’s future in San Diego, Fernando Tatis Jr. exploded onto the scene with back-to-back sensational campaigns for the Padres . Now just 23 himself, his tremendous all-around gifts have firmly established him as a perennial MVP candidate for years to come. His 2019 Topps Chrome Update Cyan Refractor Auto clocks in at an ultra-limited population of just /249 parallel copies. Already changing hands for over $15,000 in PSA 10 pristine condition, these hyper-rare artifacts capturing Tatis’ first full season seem poised to eventually rival the value of the greats. Low mintage, an electric talent still improving, and first Bowman-style franchise player attributes give this prized refractor auto strong long-term potential if Tatis avoids injury.
Shohei Ohtani 2018 Bowman Chrome Refractor Auto PSA 10
A true dual-threat like no other before, after an MVP-caliber 2021 Shohei Ohtani has cemented himself as one of baseball’s most thrilling multidimensional forces. The 27-year-old continues progressing at an accelerating rate maximizing his skills both on the mound and at the plate in between. His 2018 Bowman Chrome Refractor Auto rookie exemplifies that captivating early chapter in perhaps the game’s next legend’s career. Already reaching the $10,000 threshold in pristine condition, demand grows alongside Ohtani’s awesome on-field feats. A scarce population, elite 10 grade holder, and multi-dimensional superstar profile imply much higher ground still to cover for what may become the single most valuable modern Japanese baseball card in the future.
Roberto Clemente 1955 Bowman PSA 8
A humanitarian icon on and off the field, few players earned universal respect like Roberto Clemente during his too-short Hall of Fame career cut abruptly in 1972. Graded examples of his scarce initial 1955 Bowman rookie issue in top condition maintain rarefied air approaching six-figure territory. In a PSA 8 mid-grade, it remains one of the finest known specimens celebrating Clemente’s first card appearance after over 65 years. Low population reports, extremely limited fresh supply entering the marketplace, and undying reverence for Clemente’s legacy assure any example of his pioneering ’55 Bowman crossing the auction block will elicit fierce collector interest and healthy price realization for the foreseeable future.
While past performance does not guarantee future results, these select baseball cards appear poised to continue appreciating based on the sustained performance and popularity of the players, the rarity and demand for the specific rookie cards in top grades, as well as broader collector interest and enthusiasm for the hobby which shows no signs of slowing down. With care, patience and a long-term perspective, adding any of these elite pieces to a collection represents a sound speculative foundation for years ahead.
