The 2020 Diamond Kings baseball card set was released in late 2019 and featured a variety of rookie cards and stars from the 2019 MLB season. As one of the premier modern baseball card sets each year, 2020 Diamond Kings cards carry valuable investment potential long-term for savvy collectors. Let’s take a deeper look at several key factors that determine the value of cards from this popular release.
While it’s still relatively early, many of the top rookie cards from the 2020 Diamond Kings set have seen significant appreciation in secondary market prices in the months since the product hit shelves. Chief among the valuable rookies is Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who had a strong rookie campaign with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2019. Low-numbered parallels and refractors of the Guerrero Jr. card have already surpassed $100 in mint condition despite the set only being a few months old. As Guerrero continues developing into a possible superstar, his rookie cards stand to gain much more value with time.
Another rookie driving interest from the 2020 DJ set is Eloy Jimenez of the Chicago White Sox. While an injury hampered much of his sophomore season in 2020, Jimenez showed plenty of promise as a big power threat in his first year. Low-number parallels of his Diamond Kings rookie card have also cracked the $100 price point for the time being. Both the Guerrero and Jimenez rookies represent the top valuable cards from the set that are likely to trend upwards the most significantly in the coming years.
Speaking of parallels, card condition and specific parallel/refractor variations tend to be two of the most important determining factors when examining the potential value of any given 2020 Diamond Kings card on the secondary market. For example, while a base Vladimir Guerrero Jr. rookie may sell in the $20-30 range, a mint condition /10 gold refractor parallel of the same card could fetch $300-400. Low print runs on specialty parallels like gold, black, auto and memorabilia cards significantly boost demand and appreciation over time.
Superstar veterans tend to hold steady values as well thanks to their proven track records. For instance, a Mike Trout base card may sell relatively cheaply at just a few dollars. Rare parallels like a black or auto version of his DJ card could sustain current prices of $100-200 even years down the line since Trout remains one of the faces of MLB. The same principle applies to other established greats like Christian Yelich, Cody Bellinger, Ronald Acuna Jr. and more who appear regularly.
Another factor weighing heavily into long-term value is autograph and memorabilia cards inserted throughout the 2020 Diamond Kings releases. Polished on-card autographs of top players can easily command three-figure prices presently and appreciably more in the years ahead depending on the career arcs of who signs them. Swatches and patches numbered to even lower quantities carry commensurately higher values. For the biggest hobby names, exclusive 1/1 memorabilia singles have sold for over $1,000 from this year’s set already.
Beyond base rookies and parallels, seasoned collectors also tend to invest heavily in rare serial-numbered refractors and downtown patches as truly limited “hits” within the 2020 DJ product lineup. Refractors of Acuna or Bellinger number just a few pieces each and hold premium valuations accordingly. The same limited downtowns featuring game-worn uniform pieces offer an even greater level of exclusivity for those willing to pay up. For the most avid fanatics, these provide tangible collectibles likely to retain and even increase in worth down the road.
Naturally, the value of any given 2020 Diamond Kings card also largely depends on how that particular player performs going forward in their MLB career. Despite showing All-Star talent thus far, an unforeseen injury or dramatic decline could affect even the top rookie valuations in an unexpected way over the long haul. On the other hand, breakout years or award-winning performances serve to significantly amplify demand for stars on the rise. The aspect of uncertainty makes player collection and investment in top rookies an intriguing part of the hobby.
While still in the early stages, the 2020 Diamond Kings baseball card release offers collectors a variety of investment-worthy cards at various price points. Rookie stars, parallels, autographs and memorabilia continue to gain value in the short-term and present worthwhile long-term holds as well. For committed hobbyists, selectively pursuing the true scarce hits can yield substantial returns if those particular players live up to their potential in the years ahead. With meticulous care of condition over time, top cards from this popular modern set posture strong future appreciations.
