Khris Davis had a breakout season with the Oakland Athletics in 2016 that put him on the map for many casual baseball fans and collectors. Prior to that season, the lefty slugging outfielder had some success in the minor leagues but hadn’t quite put everything together at the MLB level yet. That all changed in 2016 when Davis launched 42 home runs to lead the American League. That monster power display that year kicked off a stretch where Davis hit 158 home runs over the next 4 seasons to cement his status as one of baseball’s top home run hitters of the late 2010s.
As Davis emerged as a star for the A’s, collectors took notice of his cards too. Before 2016, Davis rookies and base cards could be had relatively cheaply. As soon as he started mashing home runs at a record pace in 2016, his card values began to increase significantly. Davis’ 2016 Topps series 1 & 2 rookie cards jumped up to around $10-15 each as the season progressed. His 2016 Topps Update & High Tek cards followed suit as those broke out of the $5-10 range. More valuable Davis parallels and autographs from 2016 also started trading hands for $50-100+.
Davis built on his stellar 2016 with another solid power season in 2017, hitting 42 homers again. That helped keep interest in his cards high despite a dip in batting average. His 2016 rookies stayed at the $10-15 level and some of his better authenticated autographs traded for over $100. One of the cooler Davis finds from 2017 releases were his Topps Heritage minis. Numbered to only 99 copies, those short print cards captured the excitement of his breakout and were well over $100 each. Davis’ established star power made him one of the top chase cards in the affordable tier for collectors at the time.
Unfortunately, injuries and inconsistency slowed Davis down in 2018 and 2019. He managed only 26 home runs combined over those two seasons after back-to-back 40+ homer years. The decline in production naturally led to a decline in the demand for Davis cards as well. His 2016 rookies settled in around the $5-10 mark during this period. Autographs could be found in the $50-75 range. Dedicated Davis PC collectors still sought out some of the rarer parallels and refractors that held steady values.
In what looked like possibly the final chapter of his MLB career, Davis had a resurgent 2020 season with the Texas Rangers. Playing in the hitter friendly Globe Life Field, Davis launched 10 home runs in just 22 games before an injury cut his season short. That mini rebound showed he still had some pop left in the bat when healthy. It led to a bit of a resurgence in interest in Davis cards once again. His 2016 Topps Update rookie jumped back up near the $15-20 level heading into 2021. Autographs ranged from $75-150 based on signature/printing quality.
Overall, Khris Davis cards provide an interesting case study of the ups and downs that can occur based on a player’s production on the field. From relatively affordable in his early days to pricey during his 40+ homer seasons to discounted when injuries hit to a recent uptick, Davis PC collectors have experienced a rollercoaster. Looking back, his affordable early rookies and parallels are nice long term holds. Authenticated autos from his peak years in Oakland have the most upside if Davis can regain some power potential. Even in a down period though, dedicated collectors still showed demand for obscure Davis cardboard.
As Davis’ career continues winding down, the key issue for collectors will be whether he signs somewhere int 2022 to try and recapture some of his past power production or hangs it up. If he enjoys a strong final season, it could give one last bump to his 2016 Topps rookies as a $25-40 investment grade card for purchasers. An uneventful conclusion may lead to a settling period for Davis cardboard as it becomes a niche PC item. Either way, Davis cards offer an intriguing case study of player value increasing and decreasing in parallel with production over the years.
