The baseball card collecting hobby has undergone several waves of popularity over the decades since the inception of traded cards in the late 1880s. Currently, there are a handful of cards and players that are highly sought after by collectors and driving significant interest and activity in the market. While iconic old cards like Honus Wagner and rookie cards of legends like Mickey Mantle will always hold prestige, today’s hottest cards tend to be recent issues featuring current stars and emerging talents.
One of the most noteworthy and widely collected cards on the market right now is the rookie card of Los Angeles Angels superstar and two-time American League MVP Mike Trout. Trout has established himself as arguably the best all-around player of his generation and continues to put up video game-like stats year after year. The 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Mike Trout rookie card in a PSA 10 Gem Mint is a true Holy Grail item, with ungraded copies selling in the low five-figure range and mint condition specimens fetching upwards of $400,000 at auction. Even lightly played and damaged Trout rookies still command four-figure prices. The unprecedented dominance and longevity of Trout’s career has created tremendous enthusiasm for collecting anything associated with his early years, and his rookie is perpetually one of the most expensive modern cards.
Another huge modern star whose cards attract immense interest is San Diego Padres superstar shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. Tatis burst onto the scene in 2019 and has immediately established himself as one of the faces of MLB thanks to his electrifying all-around play and flair for the dramatic. High-grade versions of Tatis’ top rookie cards from 2019 Topps Chrome, Bowman Chrome, Bowman Platinum, and Chrome Update series are extremely difficult to acquire and can sell for $1,000-$5,000 depending on condition. Even beaten-up copies still move for hundreds. Experts believe the ceiling is untapped for Tatis cards as he continues building his career milestones and accolades, so his relics and memorabilia hold tremendous long-term potential.
Rookie cards for Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. also remain enormously popular. Acuña enjoyed a breakout 2018 season and became one of baseball’s brightest young talents before suffering a knee injury in mid-2021. Low-population parallels and autographs of Acuña’s 2018 Bowman Chrome and 2018 Topps Chrome rookie cards are highly coveted, with BGS/PSA 10 specimens commonly pushing $2,000-$5,000. As Acuña has yet to reach his full potential, the widespread expectation is that his cards will continue their bullish trajectory if/when he stays healthy and back to dominating on the field.
The wave of next-generation star power is also fueling interest in cards for players like Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Gavin Lux, Tampa Bay Rays wunderkind Wander Franco, and Seattle Mariners phenom Julio Rodriguez. Lux and Franco debuted in 2019 and immediately impressed with their hit tools and maturity, and each have several desirable rookie serials from that year’s Topps Chrome Update, Bowman Chrome, Bowman Platinum, and Stadium Club releases.Meanwhile, Rodriguez exploded onto the scene in 2021 after a blistering Arizona Fall League performance preceded a dazzling MLB debut. High-grade versions of his 2018 Bowman Chrome, 2019 Bowman Platinum, and 2021 Topps Chrome Update rookies catch big buyers’ attention. It’s obvious these three possess the skills to follow careers trajectories akin to Tatis, Acuña or Soto, making their early cards smart long-term portfolio pieces for collectors.
Pitching prospects like Dustin May of the Dodgers and Sixto Sanchez of the Marlins also hold appeal due to their electric stuff and playoff performances while still pre-arbitration age. May’s 2018 Bowman Chrome Auto /150 and Sixto’s 2018 Bowman Chrome Auto /99 are highly regarded cards that move briskly anytime they become available. Breakout seasons that showcased their frontline starter upside only raised enthusiasm for relics and serialed parallels from their formative years.
Veteran supersstars like Mike Trout, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Ronald Acuña Jr continue reigning as the undisputed kings in terms of current hobby interest and record-breaking prices. The next wave of rising aces and sluggers like Gavin Lux, Wander Franco, and Julio Rodriguez have also sparked collector fervor with their early debut issues. And pitching prodigies Dustin May and Sixto Sanchez have collectors excited for their future potential too. With so many incredible young talents emerging today, and established icons like Trout in their primes, it’s an optimal time for engaged in the modern baseball card market.
