Many Major League Baseball players grew up just like any other kid who loved the game – collecting baseball cards. Even as professionals at the top of their sport, the hobby of collecting cards has stayed with some players into their careers. Whether it’s searching through packs for their own rookie card or old favorites from their childhood, several MLB stars still have a passion for the cardboard collectibles that capture the history of the game.
Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo is one of the most well-known players who still actively collects cards today. As a kid growing up in Florida, Rizzo was obsessed with baseball and would spend hours sorting through his collection. He remembers going to card shows with his father and the thrill of the hunt for new additions to his stack of stars. Now as a three-time All-Star, Rizzo’s collection has grown considerably but his love for the hobby remains. He estimates having around 500,000 cards spanning all sports in a climate-controlled room in his house. Among the prized pieces in Rizzo’s collection are rare vintage cards like a Mickey Mantle rookie and a Honus Wagner T206.
Another passionate collector in the MLB is Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger. As a kid in Arizona, Bellinger got his start accumulating cards at card shows and shops near his home. These days, he still enjoys searching for cards to add to his assortment with a focus on Dodgers legends. Bellinger owns rare game-worn jerseys and signed memorabilia cards of icons like Sandy Koufax and Fernando Valenzuela. He also loves chasing down oddball and unique cards beyond the typical Topps and Bowman sets. Bellinger keeps a big portion of his prized collection stored safely at his parent’s house when he’s on the road playing baseball.
Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer similarly got his start in the card-collecting world as a kid. He remembers going to card conventions with his father and brother in the St. Louis area. Scherzer’s collection mainly focused on baseball but also contained basketball, football, and hockey cards. These days, he still enjoys seeking out pieces to add whether it’s tracking down vintage stars or possessions with connections to his own career. Among Scherzer’s prized wares are cards from early in his pro days climbing the minor league system and his National League Cy Young Award-winning seasons in Washington.
Detroit Tigers legend Justin Verlander also falls into the ranks of MLB players who continue to feed their baseball card collecting habit. As a kid growing up in Virginia and Florida, Verlander amassed boxes of cards and always looked forward to ripping packs on the way home from the card shop. He credits collecting as one of the big childhood passions that helped spur his love for the game. Now in the later stages of his decorated career, Verlander still enjoys searching for pieces from stars throughout history to add to his carefully organized home collection. He also takes pride in his own cards chronicling a stellar playing career spanning nearly two decades in the big leagues.
Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander has a similar story when it comes to his long-running history collecting baseball cards. Growing up in Manakin-Sabot, Virginia, Verlander would regularly visit card shops looking to expand his collection. The hobby helped foster his passion for the sport from a young age. Today as a veteran pitcher still performing at an elite level, Verlander enjoys hunting down vintage pieces and treasures tied to his outstanding MLB career. He also appreciates how baseball cards preserve the legacy of greats who came before him in a tangible, accessible form.
One of the newest MLB players to share his enthusiasm for collecting cards is Seattle Mariners rookie sensation Julio Rodriguez. Even as a burgeoning superstar, Rodriguez still maintains a collection mainly comprised of pieces from stars throughout history. In an interview, he shared fond memories of searching shops with his father back home in the Dominican Republic trying to track down the illusive additions they didn’t have. Rodriguez appreciates baseball cards as a connection to legends of the past and hopes that one day kids will hunt for his own cards as memories of his career.
For many MLB players who grew up immersed in America’s pastime, collecting baseball cards was a big part of developing that initial passion. Even as professionals at the highest level of the sport, some still foster that childhood enthusiasm through continuously building collections. Whether storing boxes of carefully organized cardboard at home or seeking out rare finds on the road, these MLB stars show how the hobby can remain lifelong for those who love the game and its history captured in card form. For many, it brings them closer to the roots that first inspired their incredible journeys to the major leagues.
