The 2001 Topps baseball card set is widely considered one of the best and most coveted releases from the past few decades. With a variety of exciting rookie cards, hall of famers, and inserts that captured the nostalgia of the sport, 2001 Topps had something for collectors of all interests. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the standout cards from the set that still hold value today.
Kicking things off is arguably the most iconic rookie card from the entire set, Cardinals’ Albert Pujols’ rookie. Pujols was already dominating the league in his first season in 2001 with 37 home runs and 130 RBIs, winning both Rookie of the Year and the MVP award. His dominance would continue for over a decade making him a first ballot hall of famer. In PSA 10 mint condition, his rookie now fetches prices well over $1000. The card captured Pujols at the beginning of what became one of the greatest careers in baseball history.
Another monster rookie is Cubs’ Mark Prior. Taken second overall in the 2001 draft, Prior was tearing it up in the minors and showed why in his rookie season with the Cubs. He finished third in rookie of the year voting while tallying an impressive 18 wins. Like Pujols, Prior was poised to have a hall of fame career before injuries derailed him. Still, his rookie card remains sought after by Cub fans and grade collectors alike with PSA 10’s selling for $300-400 range.
From the American League, Yankees’ Derek Jeter earned MVP honors in 2000 and was already a household name. Still, collectors loved his update card showing off his skills at shortstop. The card exhibits Jeter’s iconic smooth fielding motion making it a no brainer graded copy to hold in any collection. PSA 10’s have even cracked the $1000 mark making it one of the most valuable update cards ever released.
Switching to the veteran side of things, the 2001 set saw the last Topps cards issued for a pair of Hall of Famers – Dodgers’ Greg Maddux and Twins’ Kirby Puckett. Maddux continues to sit atop the career victories list for pitchers and is considered one of the best of all-time. His shiny 2001 Topps base card in PSA 10 condition sells around the $150-200 range. As for Puckett, his career was sadly cut short due to glaucoma but not before cementing himself as a Twins and baseball legend. PSA 10 copies of his final Topps card have sold for over $300 showing the respect collectors have for Puckett.
When it comes to insert sets, 2001 Topps really shined with quality photographic retrospectives paying tribute to the games rich history. The “Turn Back The Clock” insert showcased iconic players and moments from the 50’s and 60’s. Each card featured a modern day player recreating a photo of a legend. Some of the most desirable from this popular 52 card set include Kerry Wood recreating Don Larsen’s perfect game from 1956 or Ivan Rodriguez reprising Yogi Berra. High graded versions still attract six figure bids.
The “Topps All-Time Fan Favorites” insert was also hugely popular, honoring the true all-time greats that fans of the sport hold dear. Each player received an innovative vertical full bleed photo design with their greatest accomplishments listed on the reverse. The biggest CHASE cards were legends like Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, and Ted Williams. Even moderately graded versions hold value in the $50-100 range due to the subject matter.
Last but certainly not least is the massive “Topps All-Time Fan Choice” insert, which allowed fans to vote on their 100 favorite players of all-time. Each player received an oversized card showing them in their prime with a border reflecting their era. This insert set the standard for what an all-time fan voted list should be. High graded rookies, stars, and legends like Joe DiMaggio, Nolan Ryan, and Hank Aaron can fetch $300-500 all on their own in top condition.
In summary – the 2001 Topps Baseball set was truly one of the greatest of all-time due to the combination of star rookies, veterans in their final cards, and nostalgic photo insert sets that continue to captivate collectors to this day. With the mixture of players both established and upcoming, there is truly something in the set that appeals to all types of collectors and fans of the sport. While the base set cards can be found for affordable prices graded, it is many of the aforementioned chase cards and stars, especially in pristine grades, that make 2001 Topps a quintessential set in the vintage era.
