Chipper Jones had a Hall of Fame career playing third base for the Atlanta Braves from 1995-2012. Known for his smooth swing and clutch hitting, Jones was an eight-time All-Star and won the National League MVP award in 1999. He helped lead the Braves to a World Series title in 1995 and five NL pennants overall. Jones’ impressive career makes his baseball cards some of the most sought after from the late 90s and 2000s era. Here is an in-depth look at some of the top Chipper Jones rookie cards and serials available on eBay.
One of Jones’ most iconic rookie cards is his 1995 Pinnacle #307 card. This was Jones’ true rookie card issued by Pinnacle after he was called up to the majors in 1995. The Pinnacle design features a clean white border and photo of Jones in a Braves uniform. Graded mint condition PSA 10 copies of this Jones rookie card regularly sell for $500-800 on eBay. Even well-centered near mint copies in the PSA 8-9 range can fetch $150-300. The 1995 Pinnacle set had a large print run so raw ungraded copies are also relatively attainable for $50-100 depending on condition. Overall the ’95 Pinnacle remains one of the more affordable ways to add an authentic Chipper Jones rookie to a collection.
Another coveted Jones rookie is his 1995 Leaf Limited #294 card. Leaf Limited was a higher-end set that year with nicer card stock and photography. Jones’ rookie photo shows him batting from the left side in a classic Braves home jersey. Mint PSA 10 copies of this serial often sell for $800-1200 on eBay, while PSA 9s go for $300-600. Even raw near mint copies demand $150-300 given the set’s smaller print run and premium card quality compared to base issues. The 1995 Leaf Limited remains one of the most visually appealing Chipper Jones rookie options for serious collectors.
Moving into Jones’ early career serials, his 1996 Upper Deck #362 is a standout. This card features a great action shot of Jones making a play at third base. High grade PSA 10’s have sold for as much as $1500-2000 on eBay, though more reasonably priced PSA 9’s can be found for $600-900. Even raw near mint copies in the PSA 8 range sell for $300-500. The ’96 Upper Deck set had nice photography and remains a popular 90s issue. As one of Jones’ early star serials, the #362 holds value for Braves PC collectors.
Another iconic early Jones serial is his 1998 Finest Refractors parallel #FR-CJ. Finest was one of the premier brands of the late 90s and Refractors were the ultra-short printed parallel chase cards within the set. Jones looks smooth swinging from the left side on this serial. PSA 10 Gem Mint copies have sold for over $3000 on eBay, with PSA 9s going for $1200-1800. Even well-centered PSA 8s demand $600-900. The rarity and aesthetics of Refractors make this one of Jones’ true high-end serials for those looking to add a crown jewel to their PC.
Moving into Jones’ prime years, his 1999 Bowman’s Best Refractor #BBR-CJ stands out. This was issued during Jones’ MVP season where he led the NL in batting average, home runs, runs scored and slugging percentage. The card features a crisp action photo and Refractors were the ultra-short printed parallel as with Finest. PSA 10 copies have sold for $2500-3500 on eBay, with PSA 9s going for $1000-1500. Even raw near mint examples in the PSA 8 range fetch $500-800 due to the set’s prestige and Jones’ dominance that year. It remains one of his most iconic and valuable serials from his award winning ’99 campaign.
Shifting to the 2000s, Jones’ 2000 Bowman Chrome #BC-1 rookie refractor is a true modern gem. Chrome was the hottest brand of the late 90s/early 2000s and this card features a sharp close-up photo of Jones. PSA 10 copies have sold for over $4000 on eBay, with PSA 9s going for $1800-2500. Even PSA 8s demand $1000-1500 given the refractor parallel’s extreme rarity odds. This remains one of the holy grails for Chipper Jones PC collectors looking to add a true modern superstar rookie refractor to their collections.
In summary, Chipper Jones’ playing career and accomplishments make his baseball cards some of the most sought after from the late 90s and 2000s Atlanta Braves era. Key rookies like his 1995 Pinnacle and Leaf Limited issues provide affordable options to add an authentic Jones rookie. Meanwhile, serials like his 1998 Finest Refractor, 1999 Bowman’s Best Refractor and 2000 Bowman Chrome Refractor rookie represent true high-end crown jewels for serious collectors. Jones’ Hall of Fame talent is reflected in the secondary market values for his top cards on eBay.
