The 2021 Topps Chrome baseball card set was highly anticipated by collectors and provided some exciting rookie cards and parallels to chase. As a refractor parallel of the standard Topps flagship set, Topps Chrome features a photo-chrome finish on each card that makes the images really pop. This added layer of visual appeal is a big part of what makes Topps Chrome cards so desirable. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the top rookies and other standout cards from the 2021 Topps Chrome release.
One of the most coveted rookie cards in the 2021 Topps Chrome set was that of Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco. As the top-rated prospect in all of baseball, Franco’s rookie card demand was through the roof even before he made his MLB debut. His paper Topps rookie fetched big money, but the Topps Chrome version took things to another level due to the enhanced photo and refractor technology. Franco rookie Chrome cards, even in the base parallel, sold for well over $100 each. Rarer parallels like the blue refractor /499 or red refractor /250 commanded prices upwards of $1,000. With Franco cementing himself as a true superstar in his rookie season, his cards hold strong long-term value.
Another huge name for rookie cards in 2021 Topps Chrome was Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez. While not as established as Franco just yet, Rodriguez made a huge splash in his debut campaign and showed tantalizing five-tool talent. Like Franco, even his base Topps Chrome rookie sold for well over the average hobby box price. The prized parallel was the /150 gold refractor, which regularly sold in the $300-500 range. With Rodriguez looking like a future All-Star and Seattle contender, his cards could appreciate significantly with more success on the field. Beyond Franco and Rodriguez, other top rookies like Bobby Witt Jr. and Riley Greene also had their share of desirable Topps Chrome cards to chase.
In addition to the exciting rookie crop, 2021 Topps Chrome also featured some highly sought-after veteran and star player cards. For example, Shohei Ohtani’s base Topps Chrome card sold quite well above other position players due to his two-way superstar status. Rarer Ohtani parallels like the /150 gold refractor and /50 gold label refractor reached prices over $1,000 each. Other established names that commanded top dollar across parallels included Fernando Tatis Jr., Mike Trout, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Mookie Betts. For team collectors, parallels of hometown stars like Juan Soto, Bo Bichette, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. were especially hot.
When it comes to parallel rarities, the true high-end hits of 2021 Topps Chrome were the 1/1 printing plates and logo man relic cards. Printing plates feature the full photo of a selected player without any borders or numbering, making each one completely unique. Plates of the top rookies like Franco, Rodriguez, Witt Jr. and Greene sold for $5,000+ each. Even plates of veteran stars like Trout, Tatis and Acuña fetched $3,000+. As for logo man relics, these ultra-rare patches or pieces of uniform with the Topps logo were true needle-in-a-haystack finds. A Franco or Witt Jr. logo man could sell for well over $10,000 if they surfaced. While almost impossible to pull, these one-of-a-kind pieces create a lot of collector excitement for Topps Chrome.
In addition to the base set, Topps Chrome also had several exciting insert sets to chase after. The Archives set paid tribute to classic Topps designs, the All-Star insert featured current MLB stars, and the Flashback Friday cards honored players from years past. The most coveted insert was Topps Chrome Update, which included rookie debut cards for players who were not in the main series release. Cards like Jarren Duran, Ke’Bryan Hayes, and Dustin May all gained popularity from their Update rookie Chrome variants. For team and player collectors, these inserts provided extra cardboard to track down outside the base checklist.
The 2021 Topps Chrome baseball card release was full of exciting rookie cards, star player parallels, and ultra-rare hits that created a huge buzz around the hobby. With its enhanced photo technology and vast array of parallel and insert options, Topps Chrome continues to be one of the premier modern issues for collectors every year. While the base cards of stars like Franco, Rodriguez and Ohtani gained value quickly, the true long-term blue-chip investments were the lowest-numbered refractors and one-of-a-kind printing plates. For those who chased the 2021 Topps Chrome set hard, many were richly rewarded with cards poised to appreciate significantly with time. It’s clear why the release remains such an integral part of the annual card calendar for collectors both casual and diehard.
