The 2016 baseball season produced some truly amazing rookie cards and memorable inserts that collectors will be coveting for years to come. The rookie class was absolutely stacked with future stars like Corey Seager, Yoan Moncada, Andrew Benintendi, and more who all had stellar debut campaigns. Meanwhile, flagship sets from Topps, Panini, and Leaf delivered iconic parallels and short prints that have already become highly valuable in the secondary market. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the top baseball cards from the 2016 season.
Undoubtedly one of the most sought after rookie cards of the year is Corey Seager’s Topps Update Series RC. Seager burst onto the scene for the Dodgers and took home NL Rookie of the Year honors after slashing .308/.365/.512 with 26 home runs. His base Update RC holds a valuation of $80-100 graded gem mint, but the parallel and autograph versions have exploded in price. The Topps Chrome Sapphire parallel (#/50) recently sold for over $1,000 PSA Gem Mint 10, while a Topps Finest Auto patch parallel (#/5) brought in around $3,000.
Another Dodgers youngster who had collectors buzzing was Julio Urias. Though he didn’t play a full season, Urias showed why he has ace potential by posting a 3.39 ERA in 13 starts as a 19-year old. Like Seager, Urias had a strong showing in the Update Series set with his base RC valued at $60-80 graded. But the real chase cards were his Topps Chrome Sapphire parallel (#/50) and Topps Finest Refractor Auto (#/5), which have sold for over $800 and $2,000 respectively since the season ended.
While Seager and Urias led the way for Dodgers rookies, Yoan Moncada had one of the most anticipated rookie debuts of any player in 2016 after being acquired by the White Sox in a blockbuster deal. Moncada flashed tantalizing tools but struggled at the plate, though collectors remained high on his long term upside. His Topps Update Series base RC holds steady around $50-75 graded, with the Topps Chrome Sapphire (#/50) recently hitting $450. Moncada mania is sure to continue if he puts it all together at the big league level in years to come.
The Boston Red Sox had a knack for finding impact rookies in 2016, and Andrew Benintendi was arguably their top performer. Benintendi batted .295 with 20 doubles and numerous web gems in left field to take home AL Rookie of the Year. His Topps Update Series base RC holds a $70-90 valuation, with the Topps Finest Refractor parallel (#/50) reaching $250. Red Sox rookies like Benintendi, Yoan Moncada and others are sure to be fan favorites on the collection front for years to come.
While the rookie class drew plenty of attention, collectors were also enamored by inserts and parallels found in the flagship Topps, Panini and Leaf sets. In Topps Series 1, short prints like the #/50 gold parallels of superstars Kris Bryant and Clayton Kershaw reached over $200 each graded. The highly coveted Topps Museum Collection insert set featuring retired legends also gained traction, with cards of Derek Jeter, Cal Ripken Jr. and others valued north of $100 each.
Over in Topps Series 2, the big ticket item was obviously any parallel or short print of rookie phenom Aaron Judge. While his base card held around a $20-30 price tag, low numbered parallels like the gold (#/50) and rainbow foil (#/25) reached $400-600 each graded mint. Judge mania has shown no signs of slowing, and his rookie cards will surely gain even more value if he continues mashing at the MLB level for years to come.
The 2016 Topps Chrome baseball release had collectors on high alert for any parallels or autographs of the top young stars. Corey Seager and Julio Urias Chrome Sapphire parallels were some of the most sought after, while numbered refractors and autos of rookies like Benintendi, Moncada and more started moving upwards of $100 each ungraded. Veterans also got plenty of love, as short prints like Clayton Kershaw’s gold refractor (#/50) reached $300. Topps Chrome is always a fan favorite among collectors seeking the highest end rookie and star cards on the market.
While Topps dominated the baseball card landscape, Panini and Leaf also delivered memorable rookie class and insert hits in 2016. In Panini Donruss, the Optic parallels and Phoenix autos of emerging talents like Seager and Benintendi gained traction. And Leaf Metal Universe, with its ultra-premium parallels and autographs on metal cards, was a true collector’s chase. Low numbered pulls like a Corey Seager Auto Patch (#/10) would sell for thousands.
As the years pass, the standout rookies and short prints from the 2016 season are sure to gain even more value among collectors. Young stars like Seager, Benintendi and Judge have superstar potential, while parallels and autographs will become ever more scarce on the secondary market. The 2016 class truly had something for every type of collector, from affordable base rookies to high-end chase cards that could gain six-figure valuations down the road. It was certainly one of the most memorable seasons in recent baseball card history.
