The 2021 Topps Chrome Baseball Card set was released in December 2021 by The Topps Company. As one of the premium flagship products released each year by Topps, the Chrome set is highly anticipated by collectors and seen as an important indicator of the current values and demand for the newest rookie cards and star veterans in the hobby. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the key aspects that have driven the 2021 Topps Chrome values so far.
To begin, the design and photography of the 2021 Topps Chrome set were well received by the collecting community. As with past years, each foil bordered card featured modern action shots of the players with fun borders and colors that pop under the reflective technology added to the card surfaces. The aesthetics helped drive interest that has translated to strong initial secondary market prices.
When it comes to the rookie class, many were excited to see prospects like Wander Franco, Jarred Kelenic, and others in their first Chrome cards after their call-ups in 2021 created buzz. The true breakout star has been Reds second baseman Jonathan India. As the 2021 National League Rookie of the Year, India’s rookie cards have taken off. PSA 10 examples of his Topps Chrome rookie currently sell for $500-700, showing how on-field accomplishments elevate rookies within the high-end hobby.
Another big mover has been Cardinals superstar pitcher Adam Wainwright, who at 40 years old proved he still has plenty left in the tank by winning 17 games in 2021. With rumors swirling about his potential retirement, collectors have driven up prices on his Chrome cards to commemorate one of the best pitchers of his generation in what could be his final season. A PSA 10 Wainwright sells in the $100-150 range now compared to under $20 last year.
When looking at the true aspirational vintage comparisons, living legends like Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani seem to stand out above the rest, as they always do on the field. BGS/PSA graded examples of their Topps Chrome rookie and non-rookie cards remain the most expensive singles from the set at $500-1500 depending on the specific parallel, autograph, or on-card signature version. Their sustained excellence and megastar status in the game pushes collectors to acquire and preserve their cards for the long term.
Demand for star vintage parallels and short prints has added extra layers of interest and complexity to 2021 Topps Chrome values. For example, the Green parallel version of Wander Franco’s rookie currently fetches a $250 premium over the base rookie in a PSA 10, showing how parallel rarities are highly sought. The ’86 Style short print veterans like Clayton Kershaw and Nolan Arenado that pays homage to the classic ’86 set design have witnessed sharp price increases of 3-5x over the base designs in high grades.
Sustained excitement around rookie classes like 2021, career milestones, proven megastars, quality designs, parallel and short prints have all contributed to a thriving secondary market for the flagship 2021 Topps Chrome Baseball set in its opening year. With strong demand carrying over to the product’s first year out of print, values across the entire set’s spectrum are trending upwards as new collectors continue entering the popular modern collecting segment. Factors like award seasons, on-field success stories, and the specter of retirement will undoubtedly cause some individual cards to spike even higher, setting the stage for an intriguing evolution of 2021 Chrome values moving forward.
