The 2021 Topps Baseball Update Series was released on October 6th and contained several highly sought after rookie and star player cards. As one of the final Major League Baseball card releases of the year, the Update Series is always anticipated by collectors looking to add new seasons stats and accomplishments to existing player cards or debut the rookie cards of call ups from earlier in the year. This year’s Update Series did not disappoint with various top rookie cards and parallel versions of established stars that have become some of the most in demand on the secondary market.
Perhaps the biggest star of the 2021 Topps Update Series has been Toronto Blue Jays phenom Vladimir Guerrero Jr. who had a breakout season and won the American League MVP award. His base Update Series card has garnered a ton of attention from collectors and consistently sells for $50-75 in gem mint condition. Even more coveted are the parallels of his card, with the /499 green parallel and /250 gold parallel selling in the $150-300 range. The low numbered parallels like the /5 purple and /1 red have sold for thousands online since their release. Vlad Jr’s ascension to superstardom this year has made any card from his rookie season highly sought after by Jays fans and investors alike.
Another rookie who had a monster season and saw his stock skyrocket after the Update Series release was Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco. Considered the top prospect in all of baseball, Franco debuted in June and immediately began living up to the hype by posting a .288 batting average with 7 home runs and 39 RBI in just 70 games. His base Update rookie card now fetches around $75-100 and the green /499 parallel around $150 for PSA 10 copies. The gold /250 parallel has recently sold for over $300 and even raw Franco Update rookies command a premium due to the anticipation of him becoming a true superstar for years to come.
Two other rookies who had breakout seasons and saw their Update Series cards take off are Seattle Mariners outfielder Jarred Kelenic and Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Aaron Ashby. Kelenic started the year as one of the top prospects in baseball but struggled during his initial MLB stint. He returned in July after refining his approach and hit .291 over his final 42 games while showing off plus power and speed. His Update rookie has become one of the more sought after Mariners cards at $50-75 in PSA 10. Ashby too debuted earlier in the year but was sent back down. When he returned in July, he dominated over 15 starts with a 3.69 ERA and 1.152 WHIP. Both pitchers are seen as important future building blocks for their teams.
A position player who vastly improved his stock with an outstanding second half was Cincinnati Reds second baseman Jonathan India. After winning NL Rookie of the Year in 2021, India’s Update Series base card sells for $30-40 and the /499 green parallel around $60-80. Elsewhere in the NL, Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II had a magical rookie season and his Update card has become a hot commodity at $40-60 due to his elite all-around play and being a key piece of the World Series champs. St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Gorman also debuted in 2022 to much fanfare and while he hit only .250, he showed prodigious power. As a highly touted prospect, his Update rookie commands around $30 PSA 10.
Among established stars, Fernando Tatis Jr continued being a collector favorite before getting injured and suspended. Both his flagship Update card and colored parallels like green /499 ($100-150 PSA 10) and gold /250 ($150-200) saw high demand. Within the AL, Yankees slugger Aaron Judge put together an all-time great season with an AL record 62 home runs. Not surprisingly, his Update base ($40-60 PSA 10) and parallels rose greatly in value post release. Another Bronx Bomber, Giancarlo Stanton, finally stayed healthy in 2022. He belted 35 long balls and his Update base has risen to $25-30 while the /499 green parallel fetches around $50-75.
On the pitching side, Milwaukee’s Corbin Burnes cemented his status as the best NL pitcher by winning the Cy Young. His Update base card is around $25-30 as Brewers collectors look to commemorate their stable of young stars. In Anaheim, Shohei Ohtani solidified his otherworldly two-way status to reignite hope in Angels fans. While injury ended his 2022 season early, his Update cards still command $20-30 due to endless fascination with his unique talents. Houston ace Justin Verlander enjoyed an incredible comeback campaign by winning the AL Cy Young at age 39. His Update base is around $20 while green /499 parallels reach $40-50 PSA 10.
The 2021 Topps Baseball Update Series delivered many highly desired rookie cards that rocketed up in value as well as parallels and base cards of established all-star performers. From Vladimir Guerrero Jr to Wander Franco to breakout talents like Jonathan India, collectors had no shortage of new players to target. Coupled with powerful season stat lines from superstars like Judge, Tatis Jr, Burnes and Ohtani, the Update Series gave the baseball card market many lucrative investment options as one of the final major releases of a memorable year. As player performances and team successes continue unfolding each season, Topps Update remains a collector staple for constantly updating the stories transcending America’s pastime.
