Aaron Judge has quickly become one of the most popular players in Major League Baseball since debuting with the New York Yankees in 2016. The 6-foot-7 outfielder smashed a rookie record 52 home runs in his first full season in 2017, winning the American League Rookie of the Year Award and coming in second in AL MVP voting. Judge’s immense power and playing for the legendary Yankees franchise has made his rookie cards some of the most sought after on the sports card market in recent years.
On the popular online marketplace eBay, Aaron Judge rookie cards from his debut 2017 season with Topps, Bowman, Panini, and other card companies can be found listed for sale daily. The prices for these coveted rookie cards vary widely depending on the specific card, its condition or grade if professionally graded by companies like PSA or BGS, and whether or not the card is autographed. In general Judge’s flagship Topps Chrome rookie refractor parallel /5 card from 2017 is considered the true crown jewel and consistently sells in the thousands of dollars even in lower grades.
For example, in January 2022 a PSA 10 gem mint Aaron Judge 2017 Topps Chrome rookie refractor auto sold for a staggering $45,000 on eBay. Just a few months prior in October 2021, another PSA 10 example brought $36,000. Even raw ungraded copies in near mint to mint condition have sold for $5,000-$10,000. The regular base Topps Chrome rookie from the same set also fetches big money in high grades, with a PSA 10 copy selling for $8,000 in August 2021. In PSA 9 condition, Topps Chrome base rookies have sold in the $2,000-$3,000 range fairly regularly on eBay.
While the flagship Topps Chrome cards receive the most attention and money, Aaron Judge’s other 2017 rookies from sets like Bowman, Bowman Chrome, Topps Series 1 & 2, Stadium Club, and Allen & Ginter also hold significant value. For example, his prized Bowman Chrome Prospects auto refractor /25 card has sold for as much as $4,000 raw. Professionally graded examples in PSA 10 are truly spectacular specimens that could command $10,000+ at auction. Lower serial numbered parallels like /5, /10 from sets like Bowman Platinum, Bowman Sterling, and Topps Chrome also sell in the thousands.
Even Aaron Judge’s base rookie cards from mainstream sets like Topps Series 1 & 2 and Bowman are quite valuable in the highest grades. On eBay, PSA 10 copies of his Topps Series 1 base rookie have sold for $800-1,200. In PSA 9 condition the same card has sold around $300-500. His similarly graded Topps Series 2 rookie commands similar prices. Copies of Judge’s base Bowman rookie in PSA 10 have sold for $600-800 on eBay as well. So while not reaching the stratospheric heights of his Topps Chrome and Bowman Chrome cards, Judge’s base rookie cards still hold solid value.
For collectors looking to add an Aaron Judge rookie to their collection but on a more modest budget, there are still plenty of affordable options to be found on eBay. In raw near mint to mint condition, his base cards from Topps Series 1 & 2, Bowman, and other mainstream sets can often be acquired for $50-150 depending on the specific issue. Even lower numbered parallels and short prints from sets like Topps Chrome, Bowman Chrome, Bowman Sterling, etc. that are still in the triple digit serial range often sell in the $100-300 range raw.
While not quite reaching the same heights as cards from his record setting rookie season, Aaron Judge rookie cards and prospects cards from prior years like 2015 and 2016 from sets like Bowman, Bowman Draft, and Topps Pro Debut have also held their value well relative to other players. On eBay, a PSA 10 2015 Bowman Chrome Auto sells for $400-600. Even raw near mint copies can be found for $100-200. His 2016 Topps Pro Debut rookie auto refractor /99 has sold for $300 ungraded. So for collectors seeking more budget friendly Judge rookie options, 2015-2016 provides some solid alternatives still under $500 even graded.
As one of the game’s brightest young stars playing in New York, Aaron Judge rookie cards across all levels and companies from his debut 2017 season remain some of the most sought after modern baseball cards on the market. On eBay, examples ranging from ultra high-end PSA 10 refractors to more affordable raw base cards can be found daily satisfying collectors both big and small. With continued excellence on the field, Judge’s already hallowed rookie cards show no signs of slowing down and should remain a cornerstone of collections for years to come.
