The 2014 baseball card season featured some of the top rookies and stars in the game gracing the cardboard. Whether it was rookie cards, autographs, or parallels of established players, 2014 had no shortage of highly coveted and valuable baseball cards on the hobby’s landscape. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the best and most sought-after baseball cards released that year.
One of the biggest rookie card hits of 2014 was Los Angeles Dodgers sensation Yasiel Puig. After a meteoric rise through the minors in 2013 that culminated with a standout debut season in LA, Puig mania was in full effect heading into the 2014 season. This excitement translated heavily to the card racks, as Puig’s rookie cards flew off the shelves. His base Topps rookie card quickly became a $20-30 card in high grade. It was his Topps Update rookie autograph parallel and Bowman Chrome autograph refractor that really caught fire. Both of these Puig autograph rookies reached price tags upwards of $500-1000 each for raw copies in the months following their release. While he has since cooled off a bit from his early hype, Puig’s 2014 rookie cards remain some of the most valuable and iconic of that year’s crop.
Another young star who burst onto the scene in 2014 and had a monster rookie card season was Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jimmy Nelson. While not as hyped as Puig initially, Nelson had a breakout rookie campaign that saw him finish with a 3.49 ERA over 158 innings pitched. This success was reflected in the demand for his Topps Series 2 base rookie card, which consistently sold for $15-25 each. It was his Topps Update autograph rookie parallel that truly stood out, commanding prices of $150-300 each for raw copies. Nelson looked like a future ace in 2014 and collectors were eager to stock up on what appeared to be a potentially elite pitcher’s first cards.
Staying in Milwaukee, another Brewers rookie who made his presence felt in 2014 was catcher/outfielder Khris Davis. After being called up in late 2013, Davis had a breakout season in 2014 where he slugged 22 home runs and posted an .823 OPS. This power display made his rookie cards very popular. His Topps Series 2 base rookie sold for $8-12 each. But it was once again the Topps Update autograph parallel that gained the most notoriety, as raw copies traded hands for $75-150. Davis proved he was for real with the bat and collectors took notice by snatching up his rookie cards on the secondary market.
Shifting gears to established veterans, one of the most sought-after standard issue cards of 2014 had to be Mike Trout’s flagship Topps base card. Now considered one of the greatest players of all time, Trout was already well on his way in 2014 as he dominated once more with a .287/.377/.561 slash line along with 36 home runs. The demand for his Topps base was through the roof as a result, with PSA 10 gem mint copies regularly commanding $100-150 each online. While his other parallels from Topps and Bowman sold well too, it was the iconic base card that truly captured the attention of Trout collectors. This served as a reminder of just how big the star power Mike Trout possessed even back in 2014.
Another superstar who saw tremendous demand for his 2014 base card was Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Fresh off winning his second-straight Cy Young Award in 2013, Kershaw was at the peak of his powers in 2014 as he went 21-3 with a minuscule 1.77 ERA. Not surprisingly, his Topps base became a hot commodity for collectors. PSA 10s of Kershaw’s imposing image on the card sold in the $75-125 range. But it was also his Topps Update and Bowman Chrome autograph parallels that took the hobby by storm, as ungraded copies traded hands for $300-600 depending on the parallel. Kershaw mania was in full effect and collectors jumped at the chance to own cards featuring the game’s most dominant pitcher at the time.
While rookies and stars received much of the 2014 card buzz, collectors also gravitated heavily towards certain parallels and short prints that year. One of the most coveted parallel sets had to be Topps Finest, as the refractors and autographs pulled from the highly anticipated product flew off the shelves. Mookie Betts’ rookie refractor parallel became a $75-150 card. Meanwhile, Mike Trout and Clayton Kershaw autographs settled in the $300-600 range depending on the parallel. The insert set was also highly sought after. For example, rookie phenom Julio Urias’ Topps Finest Credentials insert reached $50-100 per card. Finest had collectors on high alert in 2014.
In addition to Finest, the Topps Chrome update series also possessed some highly sought after short prints and parallels. For instance, the Kris Bryant superfractor parallel, which featured the future Cubs star’s photo on an iridescent blue background, reached astronomical prices upwards of $1000-2000 each for raw copies on the secondary market. Meanwhile, rookies such as Carlos Rodon and Francisco Lindor saw their Topps Chrome autographs and refractors valued in the $75-200 range as well. Chrome Update was a major hit in the 2014 season.
Bowman Sterling also debuted in 2014 and was an instant success, with its high-end parallels and autographs finding eager buyers. Top prospects like Tyler Kolek and Braxton Davidson saw their autographs listed between $150-300 each online. International signings such as Eloy Jimenez gained notoriety through parallels like the Sterling Spectrum refractors, which sold for $50-100 a card. Bowman Sterling established itself right away as a premier high-end baseball card product with its 2014 inaugural release.
In summarizing the 2014 season, it was dominated by the arrival of future stars like Bryant, Puig, and Nelson. Veterans like Trout and Kershaw also maintained their stronghold with another excellent year on the field translating to robust card values. Finest, Chrome, and Bowman Sterling delivered some of the most coveted parallels and short prints. Overall, 2014 offered a tremendous variety of valuable rookie cards, stars, and inserts that remain popular with collectors to this day. It served as another memorable year for the baseball card hobby.
