Jordan Walker is one of the most highly-touted prospects in all of baseball and his rookie cards have become some of the most sought-after by collectors in recent years. As the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, everything Walker touches on the baseball card front creates a buzz within the hobby. Here’s an in-depth look at some of his notable baseball cards and what collectors can expect from his rookie cards going forward.
Walker was selected by the Cardinals directly out of high school in 2021, passing on a commitment to Texas Tech. While he had yet to play a professional game, card companies rushed to get Walker rookie cards onto the market knowing the hype and potential surrounding this lefty slugging third baseman. Topps, Bowman, and Panini all featured Walker cards in their 2021 baseball card products prior to his pro debut.
One of Walker’s earliest cards come from 2021 Topps Chrome Draft Picks. The base paper version of this card isn’t too valuable, selling around $10-15 raw. The refractors and color parallel versions exploded in value as collectors hoped to get an early Walker card before his ascension. Right now, the Topps Chrome Draft Picks Blue Refractor #132 sells in the $200-250 range while the popular red and black refractors go for over $500 each. The rarity and prospect status associated with these early Topps Chrome Draft cards made them highly sought after.
Panini also capitalized on Walker’s draft slot with cards in their 2021 Donruss Optic and Prizm baseball products. The Optic base rookie sells for under $20 but his rare silver prizm parallel #/25 jumped above $1000 shortly after release. There was also high demand for his 2021 Prizm Orange Ice Prizm refractor #/75, commanding over $400 each. Panini parallels capture premium for the biggest MLB prospects and Walker was no exception in his draft year.
Bowman is legendary for providing the first cardboard for most top prospects each season before they ever play a pro game. Walker’s 2021 Bowman Chrome Prospect autographed refractor #/99 shot out of the gates above $1500 despite it being his true “rookie” issue. Meanwhile, his base Bowman Chrome sells in the $50-75 range today. High-end 1/1 variants have sold in exclusive private signings and auctions for thousands already. Bowman remains the pinnacle for pre-debut prospect cards.
In 2022, after putting together a strong pro debut season splitting time between low-A and high-A ball, Walker’s sophomore MLB cards exploded. His flagship Topps Chrome Blue Refractor Parallel rookie card #/150 launched above $1000 and hasn’t really come back down. Meanwhile, his Topps Opening Day base chrome saw values jump to $50-75 after initially being a $10-15 card. Big performances bring bigger price tags for burgeoning stars.
Panini also witnessed a Walker boom in 2022. His 2021 Prizm Orange Ice Prizm refractor skyrocketed above $800 after previously hovering around $400. Even base Donruss Optic cards leapt up to $50 per on the hype. Premium hits like /10 Platinum Prizms and 1/1 Mosaics shattered collector budgets in the multi-thousand range. Panini parallels gained immense value corresponding to Walker’s breakout success.
Bowman’s 2022 products debuted Walker’s true on-card rookie cards for the first time. His Bowman Paper 1st Chrome rookie became a $100+ card after being a $30-40 issue initially. Top parallels like Chrome Blues and Greens command over $1000 each. It’s the prized 1st Bowman Autos that have caused a sensation. Base autographed rookie autos settled in the $1500-2000 range but ultra-short printed parallels exploded. Golds are $5000+, Plums $10,000, and the elusive Rainbow Foil parallel #/5 changed hands privately for a confirmed $35,000. Bowman rookies represent the peak for any player and Walker shined bright.
Looking ahead to 2023, it’s clear Walker will be one of the most followed third year players in all of baseball. How he performs throughout Triple-A and his MLB debut will be dissected card by card. Already his 2022 Topps Chrome Update NM-MT Condition Blue Refractors have increased above $2000 each in anticipation of his full-time big league arrival. Finest, Sterling, and Holiday parallels show similar spikes based on future potential. Bowman products too should experience Walker mania with low-print autos and patches reigning supreme as collectors chase his first full pro season on cardboard. From draft picks to Flagship to Bowman, Jordan Walker’s young career trajectory is translating to collector abundance on the baseball card front. His rookie cards from 2021-2022 established a solid baseline but don’t be surprised to see some ultra-premium parallels explode even further as this budding superstar continues scorching through the minor leagues towards MLB ascension with the Cardinals. It’s an exciting time to collect Jordan Walker cards before he potentially becomes a true megastar.
