Baseball cards have been a popular collectible for over a century and the market is constantly changing. Some cards from decades past still command huge prices at auction while new stars and short prints drive interest in the modern game. Let’s take a look at some of the baseball cards that are particularly hot in the current market.
Rookie cards for young superstars like Juan Soto, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Ronald Acuña Jr. remain in high demand. Soto’s 2018 Topps Baseball rookie card has been a steady riser since his breakout 2019 season. PSA 10 Gem Mint examples have sold for over $1,000 as Soto has cemented his status as a true five-tool threat still early in his career. Tatis Jr.’s 2019 Topps Series 1 rookie is also gaining value rapidly. Still just 22, Tatis has wowed with both his bat and glove to become a face of the game. High-grade versions of his rookie card have sold for $800 or more. Acuña’s 2018 Bowman Chrome rookie parallel cards also remain very strong. The 21-year-old continues to put up MVP caliber numbers and versions of his prized rookie in PSA 10 have topped $500.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s rookie cards from 2019 also remain hot sellers. As the heir to Vladimir Guerrero’s throne, there was huge hype surrounding Vlad Jr.’s debut. His rookies haven’t quite exploded in value like some expected but Topps Chrome and Bowman Chrome parallels in PSA 10 still easily top $200-300. As Guerrero Jr. continues developing his prodigious power stroke, his cards could appreciate significantly in the coming years.
Mike Trout cards unsurprisingly stay in high demand as he’s widely considered the best player of his generation. Trout’s 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Picks & Prospects rookie parallel in a PSA 10 recently sold for over $400,000, showing the long term value of investing in truly elite young talent early. Even Trout’s more common 2012 Topps Update Series rookie sells for $100-200 in high grades. Trout cards are a consistently safe bet for long term appreciation.
Vintage stars also continue drawing strong interest. A 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle PSA 8 recently went for over $360,000 at auction. The Mantle is the crown jewel of the vintage set and high grades are extremely rare. Even PSA 5 versions still sell in the low five figures. A 1953 Topps Willie Mays PSA 8 also topped $300,000. Rookie cards for legends like Ted Williams, Hank Aaron, and Roberto Clemente routinely sell in the low five figures even in lower grades.
Rookie cards for recent retired stars like Derek Jeter, Chipper Jones and Mariano Rivera remain steady sellers. Jeter’s 1993 SP rookie parallel in PSA 10 has sold for over $15,000. Jones’ 1993 SP Authentic rookie in PSA 10 also commands $5,000-10,000. Rivera’s 1995 SP Authentic rookie in PSA 10 has sold for $4,000-6,000. These cards capture future Hall of Famers in their first seasons and hold tremendous nostalgia value for collectors.
Short prints and parallel cards insert cards from modern sets also drive a lot of current interest. The 2018 Topps Update Series Juan Soto negative photo-variation parallel in PSA 10 sold for $2,600. Soto’s popularity and the card’s rarity made it very desirable. The 1991 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. rookie “The Natural” insert in PSA 10 has sold for over $5,000 in recent years. Griffey was a can’t-miss superstar and this iconic insert captures him perfectly. Parallels and short prints allow collectors to chase rarer versions of stars’ rookie cards.
Baseball cards are truly a long term investment. While short term fluctuations will always occur based on player performance and market forces, cards capturing all-time great talent from their earliest seasons have proven to hold and increase in value over decades. With the current crop of young stars like Soto, Acuña and Tatis, collectors have opportunities to acquire potentially historic rookie cards at affordable prices today that could grow enormously in value as the players’ careers unfold. Patience and choosing cards of truly elite talents tend to be the best strategies for building collections with long term appreciation potential.
