The 2013 MLB season saw another talented crop of rookies make their big league debuts. Many of these young stars went on to have outstanding careers in baseball and their rookie cards from 2013 have grown in value in the years since. Collectors continued to covet these early cards capturing a player’s first season in the majors.
Beyond rankings rookie cards based purely on player performance and career achievements, there are a number of other factors that influence the desirability and price of these rookie issues from nine years ago. Scarcity, autographs, special parallels, unique designs and storylines can all impact demand and appreciation over time. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the top rookies from 2013 and how their cards have held up.
Perhaps the biggest star to emerge in 2013 was OF Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals. Still just 20 years old at the time, Harper captured the NL Rookie of the Year award while slashing .274/.368/.477 with 22 home runs and 18 stolen bases. His aggressive style of play and magnetic personality also helped grow the game’s popularity. Harper’s 2013 Topps base rookie card remains one of the most sought after and valuable modern issues, hovering around the $500-700 range in a PSA 10 Gem Mint.
Other parallels like Topps Finest, Topps Chrome, Topps Update and especially Topps National Baseball Card Day autographed variants command massive premiums over the base issue, showing no signs of slowing down. Harper lived up to the hype and has established himself as a perennial All-Star, so his rookie cards – especially autographs – hold tremendous longterm potential. Beyond performance, Harper cards also benefit from strong artistic designs like his dynamic pose on the Topps flagship card.
Another young star pitcher who burst onto the scene in 2013 was Dodgers’ RHP Yasiel Puig. Despite a late season debut on June 3rd, Puig finished 4th in the NL Rookie of the Year voting while slashing .319/.391/.534 with 19 home runs and 42 RBI in 104 games. His energetic playing style and flair for the dramatic helped fuel a resurgent Dodgers team. Puig rookie cards likewise generated a ton of excitement, led by his retro-styled Topps base which typically sells for $150-250 graded Gem Mint.
Rainbow foil and autographed parallels can fetch thousands. While injuries and attitude issues caused Puig’s production to tail off in subsequent seasons, his 2013 rookie cards remain quite collectible as a reflection of one of the most memorable rookie campaigns ever. Beyond performance, Puig cards were also aided by their retro design blending with his explosive playing persona.
Astros’ RHP Gerrit Cole put together one of the finest rookie pitching seasons in recent memory. In 26 starts for the Pirates, Cole went 10-7 with a 3.22 ERA and126 strikeouts against just 35 walks in 173.1 innings. He finished 4th in the NL Rookie of the Year voting and looked like a budding ace. Cole’s 2013 Topps base rookie has steadily grown in demand, now reaching the $150-250 range in PSA 10. As with most star pitchers, autographed and serialized parallels hold the most collector interest longterm.
While Cole struggled with injuries and changing teams the past few years, his 2013 rookie continues to be a benchmark for one of the greatest rookie seasons on the mound this century. Barring further setbacks, Cole has an ace’s arsenal and pedigree to cement his 2013 rookie as one of the most significant modern pitching cards.
Beyond performance, several other 2013 rookies have seen strong ongoing demand based on unique storylines or card traits. Cubs 3B Mike Olt debuted late but launched some big home runs down the stretch as trade speculation swirled around him. His rookie cards remain popular with Cubs fans given how close he came to never playing in Chicago.
Braves’ RF Jason Heyward was just a phenom at age 21 and was traded the next year. His rookie paper is affordable but higher-end parallels command strong money. Padres’ C Yonder Alonso had one of the most visually striking rookie photos ever despite a lackluster career. His cards have a strong design following.
While many rookies from the 2013 season went on to have up and down careers, the top performers like Harper, Puig and Cole cemented their cards as benchmarks for the era. Strong designs, autographs and low print runs on parallel issues also fueled lasting demand beyond statistics. For active collectors and investors, several 2013 rookies still hold longterm appreciation potential.
