The 2015 baseball season saw some incredible performances and milestones that will go down in history. Not surprisingly, the baseball cards released that year commemorating these achievements are some of the most highly sought after in the hobby. Below we take an in-depth look at some of the top rookie cards, rookie debut cards, autographed cards, and more from 2015 that any serious card collector would be thrilled to own.
Perhaps the biggest story of 2015 was Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant winning the National League Rookie of the Year award. Bryant had one of the greatest rookie seasons in modern baseball history, slugging 26 home runs and driving in 99 runs while batting .275. His rookie card from Topps Series 1 is considered one of the premier modern rookie cards and has appreciated greatly in value since its release. The card captured Bryant at the peak of his rookie season hype and features a clean design highlighting his stats. Many consider this to be one of the best rookie cards of the 2010s.
Another massive star to debut in 2015 was Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson. While he didn’t win Rookie of the Year like Bryant, Pederson still put together an impressive campaign with .210 batting average, 11 home runs, and 33 RBI in just 88 games. His rookie card from Topps Series 1 is highly sought after by Dodgers fans and Pederson collectors. The card features a great action shot and was the first card released commemorating Pederson’s MLB career. With Pederson still in his prime, this rookie could increase in value substantially in the coming years.
Beyond rookies, one of the biggest storylines of 2015 was Pittsburgh Pirates star Andrew McCutchen winning the NL MVP award. McCutchen had a monster season, batting .300 with 21 home runs and 80 RBI to lead the Pirates to the playoffs. His Topps Update MVP card immediately became a highly valuable card to own. The clean design highlights McCutchen’s stats and award, capturing a peak moment in his career. As one of the rare MVP cards released, it remains a must-have for any McCutchen or Pirates collection.
Another huge performance of 2015 was Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu winning the AL Rookie of the Year award. Abreu’s debut season was nothing short of spectacular as he clubbed 36 home runs and drove in 107 runs while batting .317. His Topps Series 1 rookie card became a highly sought after piece for White Sox fans and those collecting the top rookies of the 2010s. The card features a great action shot of Abreu at the plate that perfectly captures the power and presence he brought as a rookie. This is sure to be a staple in many collections for years to come.
While rookies and awards get much of the attention, collectors also love autographed cards from their favorite players. One of the true gems released in 2015 was a Topps Tribute autographed card of Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout. Widely considered the best player in baseball today, any Trout auto is extremely valuable. This card featured one of Trout’s best action shots and a cleanly signed auto on-card, making it extremely desirable for Trout collectors. With Trout still in his prime, this rare hit from 2015 has only increased in value on the secondary market.
Another huge autographed card came courtesy of Chicago Cubs ace Jake Arrieta. After winning the NL Cy Young award in 2015 with one of the greatest pitching seasons in baseball history, Arrieta memorabilia was in high demand. Topps Finest released an on-card autographed patch card of Arrieta that immediately became a premier hit. The card featured three swatches of a jersey worn during Arrieta’s award-winning season along with a signature. For Cubs fans and collectors of premiere autographed memorabilia, this was one of the true big ticket cards of 2015.
While rookies and stars received much attention, collectors also love obtaining cards featuring special parallel or serial numbered prints. One such card that exploded in the hobby in 2015 was a Topps Chrome Refractor parallel of New York Mets pitcher Matt Harvey. Harvey was having a dominant season until an injury cut it short, generating lots of buzz. The refractors featured a sharply photographed image and a serial number out of just 150 copies. For Mets fans and collectors seeking low-numbered parallels, this became one of the most sought after Harvey cards available.
Of course, no look at the best baseball cards of 2015 would be complete without mentioning some of the incredible rookie debut cards released that year. Panini Prizm debuted rookie cards for future stars like Carlos Correa, Kris Bryant, and Noah Syndergaard. While not true rookie cards, these debut cards were some of the first images of these budding talents in their MLB uniforms. With sharp photography and designs on premium card stock, these became instant hits. Especially for high-end collectors, the Prizm rookie debuts of future stars like Correa and Bryant were some of the true gems found in packs in 2015.
The 2015 baseball season provided no shortage of incredible performances and milestones that produced some of the most valuable modern baseball cards. Rookie cards like Bryant and Pederson immediately became staples, while stars like McCutchen and Trout generated huge autographed cards. Parallels like the Harvey Chrome also exploded. For collectors, 2015 was a true banner year that left behind a legacy of some of the most iconic baseball cards of the decade. The cards highlighted here perfectly capture the great moments of that season and remain highly prized in collections today.
