Fernando Tatis Jr. has quickly become one of baseball’s brightest young stars as the electrifying shortstop for the San Diego Padres. Given his breakout performance and rising popularity, Tatis Jr.’s rookie cards have become some of the most sought after modern baseball cards on the hobby market.
Topps has the exclusive license to produce Major League Baseball cards, so they have released several Tatis Jr. rookie cards since his debut in 2019. Some of his top rookie cards from Topps include his flagship Topps Chrome Refractor parallel, Topps Series 1 base card, Topps Update base card, and Topps Opening Day base card. Let’s take a deeper look at some of Tatis Jr.’s most valuable rookie cards from Topps and analyze what makes them so desirable to collectors.
Perhaps the crown jewel of Tatis Jr.’s rookie card offerings is his 2019 Topps Chrome Refractor parallel card. The Topps Chrome set is one of the premier modern card products, as it features sharp photography on glossy chrome cardstock. Tatis Jr.’s refractor parallel is one of the most sought after rookie cards on the market today. It has a bright, colorful refractor effect that pops under a light. Due to its ultra-rare parallel status within the Topps Chrome set, Tatis Jr. refractors only have a print run between 1/1000-1/1500 copies. This extreme scarcity has driven prices up significantly over time. Near mint copies now regularly sell for well over $1000, with gem mint 10 graded copies commanding prices up around $3000-4000 based on recent eBay and auction prices. The refractor’s flashy design combined with Tatis Jr.’s superstar potential makes it the crown jewel for investors and Padres collectors alike.
Another highly valuable Tatis Jr. rookie is his base card from 2019 Topps Series 1, which was his true flagship rookie issue. The Topps Series 1 set leads off the annual Topps baseball card release schedule each year and is one of the most iconic modern sets. As such, Tatis Jr.’s base card from this set holds significant prestige and history. While the card design is more understated than the refractor, with just a simple photo on a standard trading card stock, its status as his true “rookie card” makes it a must-have for any Padres or Tatis Jr. PC. Near mint copies regularly sell for $300-500, while higher graded mint versions can reach up to $1000-1500 based on recent sales.
Following up on the success of his Topps Series 1 card, Topps also included Tatis Jr. in their 2019 Topps Update Series set later that season. The Topps Update set is released mid-season and features rookie cards of players who made their MLB debuts after the flagship Series 1 set was produced. Therefore, Tatis Jr.’s card in Update served to expand on his rookie offerings and provide collectors a second chance at an “official” Tatis Jr. rookie. While not as iconic as the Series 1 issue, Tatis Jr.’s Update rookie still holds value, with near mint copies selling in the $150-250 range based on recent eBay sales.
In addition to his flagship Topps rookies, Tatis Jr. also had a valuable rookie issue in Topps Opening Day. As the first Topps set released each season, Opening Day serves to kick off the annual card year and features many of the game’s hottest young stars poised to break out. Tatis Jr.’s inclusion in the 2019 Topps Opening Day set foreshadowed his coming out party as a star that season. While produced in higher numbers than the Chrome and flagship Topps rookies, Tatis Jr.’s Opening Day rookie remains a key component of his early collection, with near mint copies selling in the $75-150 range.
Overall, Fernando Tatis Jr.’s rookie cards produced by Topps, namely his Chrome refractor, Topps Series 1 base card, and Topps Update issue, have proven to be some of the smartest long term investments in the modern baseball card market. Due to his electrifying play and status as a face of the game, Tatis Jr. is poised for superstardom for years to come. As such, his rookie cards, especially prestigious issues like the refractor, have seemingly unlimited upside potential for future appreciation. No matter what the future holds for Tatis Jr.’s career, his Topps rookie cards have already cemented their place as some of the most valuable modern baseball cards available.
