Kris Bryant has quickly become one of the biggest stars in Major League Baseball since debuting with the Chicago Cubs in 2015. As a result, Bryant’s rookie cards and other early baseball cards have gained significant value for collectors. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of Bryant’s notable baseball cards from the early part of his MLB career.
One of Bryant’s most coveted rookie cards is his 2015 Topps Baseball card. Sporting Bryant swinging a bat in his Cubs uniform on the front, the design is clean and highlights Bryant’s stats from his time in the minor leagues. The back provides an overview of Bryant’s path to the Cubs and previews expectations for his impact at the major league level. This was Bryant’s true rookie card released immediately after he was called up to the Cubs and became one of the most sought after rookie cards of its year as Bryant’s stardom emerged. PSA 10 Gem Mint copies of this card now sell for $500-1000, showing the strong demand for a perfect Bryant rookie.
Another highly valuable Bryant rookie is his 2015 Panini Prizm Silver Prizms card. Featuring Bryant in color photos with refractor-like surfaces, the Prizm set had become extremely popular for its clean, modern designs that highlighted the obvious future stars. Bryant’s card in particular stood out with its photo selection emphasizing his intensity. PSA 10 copies have sold for up to $2000, making this parallel version of Bryant’s rookie among the most costly on the market. Its rarity, alongside Bryant’s breakout rookie campaign, cemented this as an iconic card capturing one of the best young players at the start of his career.
Those looking for an even more exclusive Bryant rookie could pursue his 2015 Bowman Chrome Superfractor card, numbered to just 5 copies in existence. Sporting the same photo as the base Bowman Chrome rookie but with an intense iridescent refractor effect, these are the pinnacle Bryant rookies for collectors prioritizing rarity and condition. They rarely become available, with the last PSA 10 copy selling for over $10,000, reflecting Bryant’s superstar status and the exclusivity of this parallel. It stands as one of the most acclaimed and coveted baseball cards released during Bryant’s early years in MLB.
Bryant’s stardom grew exponentially in 2016 as he led the Cubs to their first World Series title since 1908. His performance that season is preserved in highlight cards like his 2016 Topps NOW Moments card (#140) commemorating his 2-homer game against the Diamondbacks during the Cubs’ late season playoff push. Only available for a short while following the game’s occurrence, these now sell for over $100 in high grades as a unique way to own a piece of Bryant’s championship campaign. Upper Deck also released a Bryant World Series Heroes card in its 2016 Allen & Ginter set to honor his NLCS MVP performance against the Dodgers, which can sell for around $50-75 graded.
Bryant’s burgeoning fame got the full treatment from tops brands in 2017 with highly produced cards like his 2017 Topps Five Star card. Featuring a dynamic color photo and embossed textures, these parallel high-end cards run over $150 each in top condition. 2017 also saw the start of high-quality serial numbered parallel products like 2017 Bowman Sterling, which included a Bryant peeking out from under his helmet numbered to just 10 copies. These short print sterlings can sell for thousands to serious Bryant collectors looking for the rarest available.
In the years since, Bryant has continued proving himself as one of baseball’s best all-around players. His early cards preserve that breakout period and growing stardom with the Cubs. PSA 10 and BGS 9.5 copies of his valuable rookies from Topps, Panini, and Bowman remain highly sought after trophies for any baseball card collection, likely to retain and grow in value as Bryant’s Hall of Fame case develops. Collectors awaiting his next team can also find unique cards from his Cubs tenure, showing Bryant was establishing an incredible career and legend from the very start.
So in summary, Kris Bryant’s early baseball cards perfectly captured the rise of one of this generation’s premier third basemen at the dawn of his iconic MLB journey. Rookies like his 2015 Topps, 2015 Panini Prizm, and rare parallels hold incredible significance and command top prices reflective of Bryant’s superstardom. Later Cubs achievements are also preserved in cards like 2016 Topps NOW and World Series cards. Overall, Bryant’s early cards establish him as one of the most collectible young stars of the modern baseball card era.
