The 2021 season was an exciting one for the Atlanta Braves franchise. After a disappointing finish in 2020 where they failed to make the postseason, the Braves came back with a vengeance in 2021 behind a strong core of young position players and veteran pitching. Their success on the field translated to increased interest from collectors in Atlanta Braves baseball cards from 2021.
Some of the most sought-after rookie cards from the 2021 season belonged to outfielders Cristian Pache and Drew Waters. Pache had a breakout season as the team’s starting center fielder, showing off elite defense and improving at the plate. His rookie cards, including prized parallels and autographs, gained value as he cemented himself as a key piece of the Braves future. Waters continued developing in the minors but also made his MLB debut and hit his first home run in 2021, driving interest in his rookie cards as collectors anticipated his arrival in Atlanta.
Veteran slugger Freddie Freeman continued his stellar play in 2021 and had another great season at the plate. As arguably the face of the franchise, Freeman remained one of the most popular Braves for collectors. His 2021 Topps base card held steady value but parallel and autograph versions gained value as he cemented his legacy in Atlanta. Freeman ultimately won the 2020 NL MVP award, giving a major boost to the value of any cards featuring him from that season.
The Braves pitching staff was led by young stars Max Fried and Ian Anderson in 2021. As budding aces, their rookie cards gained value throughout the season as both Fried and Anderson delivered in big games. Fried’s breakout continued as he emerged as the team’s ace, while Anderson showed poise beyond his years in high-leverage postseason starts. Autographs and parallels of these two hurlers became hot commodities for Braves collectors.
Veteran starters Charlie Morton and Drew Smyly also had strong seasons in Atlanta and saw increased collector interest in their 2021 cards. Both provided stability to the rotation and big innings-eating performances. Morton in particular delivered in big postseason moments to help the Braves win the World Series. RCs and autographed cards of these pitchers captured their solid campaigns.
Relievers like closer Will Smith, set-up man Tyler Matzek, and multi-inning fireman Luke Jackson all had stellar seasons out of the bullpen for the Braves. Their 2021 cards gained value as they repeatedly delivered in high-leverage situations throughout the regular season and postseason. Matzek in particular became a cult hero for Atlanta fans, and his autographed cards skyrocketed after his dominant performances to help the Braves win it all.
Shortstop Dansby Swanson bounced back from an uneven 2020 with an All-Star caliber season, emerging as a leader of the offense. His 2021 cards held steady value but gained an increase in collector interest. Autographs and parallels became more desirable for Braves PC builders celebrating Swanson’s breakout year. Third baseman Austin Riley also broke out in his first full big-league season, mashing over 30 home runs and driving in over 80 runs to cement himself as a future star. His rookie cards gained value accordingly.
The Braves had one of the deepest benches in baseball in 2021, and role players like Joc Pederson, Guillermo Heredia, Ehire Adrianza and others contributed throughout the season and postseason. While not the biggest stars, collectors still sought out affordable cards of these supporting cast members who were vital cogs in the Braves’ championship machine. Parallels and autographs of these depth players captured their championship pedigree.
Of course, the biggest cards from the 2021 Atlanta Braves were those featuring the entire championship team. Topps Finest included a “Champions” parallel capturing the momentous occasion. Bowman Chrome had “Atlanta Braves World Series Champions” parallels that were highly sought after. And Topps included “World Series Champions” logo variations of the entire team that shot up in value after the Braves defeated the Houston Astros to win their first title since 1995. These team cards commemorating the championship will always be prized possessions in Braves collections.
In capturing their first World Series title in over 25 years, the 2021 Atlanta Braves cemented their place in franchise lore and excited collectors chasing cards from that magical season. Rookies, veterans, starters, relievers and bit players all had cards that increased in desirability for Braves PC builders celebrating that championship campaign. With a strong young core and veteran leadership, the future remains bright, and 2022 cards could continue capturing the success of this exciting Braves team for years to come.
