Rookie cards for baseball prospects expected to make their MLB debut in 2023 will likely be some of the hottest cards on the market next year. Players like Gunnar Henderson, Emerson Hancock, Ender Urrutia, and Marcelo Mayer are among the top prospects that collectors will be targeting rookie cards for in hopes they pan out as stars. Henderson in particular has generated a lot of buzz and his cards have already started appreciating given his impressive performance since being called up to the Baltimore Orioles in September 2022. As long as he continues producing at the MLB level in 2023, his rookie cards stand to gain even more value.
Autograph cards will remain a driving force in the baseball card market. As the hobby shifts more toward the memorabilia side of collecting, autographed cards provide that instant connection to a player collectors can hold in their hands. Stars like Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, Ronald Acuna Jr. and others consistently sell out their autographed memorabilia at card shows and via their websites. Newer star rookies like Bobby Witt Jr. are also finding their autographs greatly in demand. Look for 1/1 ultra rare autograph cards of top players to continue commanding five figure prices at auction.
Rookie autographed cards of prospects expected to debut will also gain traction. Players like Emerson Hancock, who is rehabbing an injury but was once a top 5 pick, already have autographed rookie cards selling for over $1,000 apiece based on his past prospect pedigree. As long as he and others like him perform up to expectations, those autographed rookies will appreciate greatly in value in 2023. Numbered autographs of 50 or less copies are especially sought after by high-end collectors.
Vintage cardboard from the late 1980s and 1990s is an area that continues its steep rise. The early careers of players like Ken Griffey Jr., Barry Bonds, and Chipper Jones are top attractions from the late 80s/early 90s Upper Deck and Fleer sets. Flags of prominently displayed autographed or game-used memorabilia cards in PSA/BGS Gem Mint 10 grails. Early 90s Finest Refractors, especially star rookies, are particularly hot. And late 90s rookie cards of all-time greats like Derek Jeter, Pedro Martinez, and Nomar Garciaparra in top grades remain some of the most iconic and valuable vintage investments.
Early 2000s rookies are also gaining more appreciation as those players make their way toward potential Hall of Fame induction. Chipper Jones and Andy Pettitte rookie cards have seen nice jumps the last few years as collectors price in their careers in their entirety. Similarly, young stars like Ryan Braun, Troy Tulowitzki, Justin Verlander, and others from the mid-2000s are getting recognized for Hall of Fame potential with strong play through the late stages of their careers. Their rookie cards have room to appreciate in the years ahead as induction debates begin.
Modern star cards from the 2010s that were initially undervalued also hold long-term promise, especially as those players get deeper into Hall of Fame discussions and milestones later in their careers. Singles and relic autographed cards of Mike Trout, Clayton Kershaw, Paul Goldschmidt, and other pillar players from the last decade can be had relatively affordably still and have multi-fold returns possible down the line. Their modern parallels and refractors from Crown Royal, Topps Chrome, Bowman Chrome, etc are especially collectible at reasonable prices now.
Major league debut cards of all-time great players who are now retired will remain blue-chip vintage investments. Especially those that portray a star very early in his career before his dominance was fully realized. Top-graded rookie cards of players like Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Stan Musial, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, and others are increasingly out of reach price-wise, but high-quality examples of early career or ‘ Comeback’ cards can still deliver strong returns. Debut cards of overlooked older greats like Eddie Mathews, Robin Yount, and others are also being rediscovered.
In summary, 23-year-old and 22-year-old age rookie cards tend to be popular targets, as do autographed memorabilia cards of current stars or prospects expected to emerge in the next 12 months. Meanwhile, investments in vintage cardboard from the late 80s/90s and early 2000s are positioning collectors well as those eras achieve higher levels of nostalgia and iconic status. And keeping an eye on stars from the 2010s as potential future Hall of Famers provides a low-risk path toward future appreciating assets as well. The hobby remains robust, giving collectors many options to find growth across different eras of the sport in 2023.
