The 2000s saw tremendous growth in the baseball card collecting hobby. Legendary players like Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, and Rafael Palmeiro were chasing hallowed home run records in the late 90s and early 2000s, generating excitement that carried over into the new decade. While performance-enhancing drugs would later taint some of those record-setting achievements, the cards from that era remain some of the most valuable on the modern market. Several rookies also burst onto the scene in the 2000s, establishing themselves as future Hall of Famers and making their rookie cards highly sought after. Here are some of the most valuable baseball cards issued from 2000 through 2009 based on PSA 10 pop report values:
2002 Bowman Chrome Mike Trout RC BGS/BVG 9.5 – $375,000
Widely considered the finest Mike Trout card in existence, this gem mint Trout rookie easily takes the top spot on this list. Trout became one of the best players of his generation and is a two-time American League MVP. The 2009 Bowman Draft Chrome paper version also fetches over $100,000 in a PSA 10. Trout’s iconic smiling face as an 18-year-old prospect makes this one of the most desirable modern cards.
2000 SP Authentic Ichiro Suzuki RC PSA 10 – $100,000
Ichiro broke records as a rookie in 2001 with his amazing 262 hit season. This sharp looking silver parallel rookie card is one of the rarest, fetching six figures in a pristine PSA 10. Ichiro was a pioneer as the first Japanese-born position player to succeed in MLB.
2001 Bowman Chrome Albert Pujols RC BGS 9.5 – $72,000
Widely considered one of the greatest right-handed hitters ever, Pujols dazzled from the start of his career. This refractory rookie card looks amazing in a BGS 9.5 holder. Pujols’ cards from ‘01 Bowman are among the toughest to find in top grade due to light print runs over 20 years ago.
2003 Bowman Draft Alex Rodriguez RC PSA 10 – $42,000
A-Rod was already a three-time AL MVP by 2003 but remained incredibly desirable as a Yankee. This unique draft pick card looks spectacular in a PSA 10. A-Rod’s multiple huge contracts and 762 career home runs cemented his place among the game’s all-time great sluggers.
2003 Topps Chrome Miguel Cabrera RC PSA 10 – $36,000
Cabrera was primed for stardom from the beginning and this chrome version of his aggressive staring rookie card holds significant value. Cabrera has hit over 500 home runs and is a sure-fire Hall of Famer still going strong in his late 30s.
2005 Topps Chrome Ryan Braun RC PSA 10 – $33,000
Braun enjoyed plenty of early success, including NL Rookie of the Year honors and a 2011 NL MVP award. This pristine ‘05 Topps Chrome rookie has aged very well for collectors.
2004 Upper Deck SP Authentic Justin Verlander RC PSA 10 – $31,000
With a fastball that regularly touches 100 MPH, the high-kicking Verlander was intimidating right away. This flashy autograph card is iconic of the flame-throwing era that Verlander dominated for over a decade. He added a second career no-hitter in 2019 at age 36.
2000 Upper Deck SP Authentic Francisco Rodriguez RC PSA 10 – $22,000
‘K-Rod’ set the MLB single-season rookie saves record with 62 in 2002. His uniquely autographed rookie from ‘00 UD SP stands out, especially in a perfect PSA 10.
2001 SPx Ichiro Suzuki SP PSA 10 – $21,000
This silver parallel of Ichiro’s debut SPx card pops beautifully graded a perfect 10. Between his epic ‘01 season and status as a legend, Ichiro cards hold great nostalgia.
2000 Bowman’s Best Refractors Adrian Gonzalez / Bobby Abreu / Matt Morris Trio PSA 10 – $20,000
This rare refractor trio shot features three players who all had solid MLB careers. Finding them centered together perfectly adds to the card’s investment grade status two decades later.
