When it comes to investing in baseball cards, it’s important to focus on cards from the most recent sets that feature young star players who are just starting to make a name for themselves in Major League Baseball. These emerging stars have the highest upside potential when it comes to increasing in value as their careers progress and accomplishments grow.
Some of the best current baseball card options to consider include cards of players like Juan Soto, Ronald Acuña Jr., Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Eloy Jiménez, Gleyber Torres and more. These are some of the most exciting young talents in baseball who have shown superstar potential early in their careers. Their rookie cards in particular tend to be some of the smartest long-term investments.
Focusing on the Topps Series 1 and Topps Chrome sets from the past few years provides opportunities to get cards of these rising stars at reasonable prices before they potentially break out even more. Topps remains the most iconic and valuable brand in the hobby, so their flagship products are usually the safest bets.
Let’s take a closer look at some specific players and sets that provide opportunities to buy cards that could pay off tremendously down the road:
Juan Soto (2018 Topps Series 1, Topps Chrome, Bowman Chrome): At just 21 years old, Soto has already established himself as one of the best hitters in baseball. He’s a two-time All-Star, won the Home Run Derby in 2020, and finished in the top 6 of NL MVP voting in back-to-back seasons. His rookie cards are still relatively affordable but have great long-term potential as he continues developing into a perennial MVP candidate.
Ronald Acuña Jr. (2018 Topps Series 1, Topps Chrome, Bowman Chrome): Like Soto, Acuña has proven to be a true five-tool superstar at a very young age (23). He’s a two-time All-Star, Silver Slugger winner, and finished 2nd in the NL MVP vote in 2018. His cards are more expensive than Soto’s now but still have plenty of room for growth.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (2019 Topps Series 1, Topps Chrome, Bowman Chrome): Vladdy Jr. took baseball by storm in 2021 at age 22, slashing .311/.401/.601 with 48 home runs and finishing third in AL MVP voting. As one of the best pure hitters in the game already, his cards are surging but still worth getting in on before he potentially wins MVP awards.
Eloy Jiménez (2018 Topps Series 1, Topps Chrome, Bowman Chrome): The 25-year-old Jiménez has dealt with injuries but has shown 40+ home run potential when healthy. He’s an exciting power hitter for the White Sox and his cards remain relatively under the radar for now.
Gleyber Torres (2018 Topps Series 1, Topps Chrome, Bowman Chrome): Torres broke out with an All-Star season in 2019 at age 22 but has since regressed some at the plate. He’s still just 25 and could bounce back to become a perennial All-Star for the Yankees. His cards are very affordable for the upside.
Wander Franco (2020 Topps Series 1, Topps Chrome, Bowman Chrome): Franco is considered a true “can’t-miss” superstar and lived up to the hype by slashing .288/.347/.463 with 7 home runs in 70 games as a 20-year-old in 2021. He’s the clear face of the Rays franchise and is already one of the best hitters in baseball at just 21 years old. His rookie cards have plenty of room for growth.
Luis Robert (2020 Topps Series 1, Topps Chrome, Bowman Chrome): Robert broke out with a .338 batting average and 16 home runs in 2020 at age 22. While injuries limited him in 2021, the potential is there for the 25-year-old to be a true five-tool star for the White Sox for years. His affordable rookie cards are solid long-term investments.
CJ Abrams (2021 Topps Series 1, Topps Chrome, Bowman Chrome): Abrams is considered one of the top prospects in baseball and made his MLB debut at age 21 in 2022 for the Padres. He has the tools to be a perennial All-Star and his rookie cards are very inexpensive now before his career takes off.
In addition to focusing on flagship Topps and Topps Chrome sets from 2018-2021, it’s also worth looking at Bowman Chrome rookie cards from those years. Bowman is the gold standard for prospect cards and their Chrome parallels often gain more value than standard base cards long-term.
Other tips when buying current baseball cards include targeting parallel and autographed rookie cards of the aforementioned stars. Refractors, negatives, paper/gold parallels, and on-card autographs add scarcity and desirability. It’s also important to only buy cards from reputable sellers through eBay or major card shops/auction sites to avoid any risk of forgeries or reprints. Store cards properly in protective sleeves and toploaders or binders to preserve their condition, which is crucial to long-term value.
By selectively adding affordable rookie cards of these emerging young superstars to a portfolio now, savvy collectors have an opportunity to build positions that could pay huge dividends in 5-10 years as these players’ careers progress and their cards appreciate exponentially. Focusing on current stars just starting to make names for themselves provides the highest upside potential when it comes to long-term baseball card investments.
