The 2015 Topps baseball card series featured some of the most valuable and sought after rookie cards in recent memory. While Topps cards from the 1950s and 1960s routinely fetch astronomical sums at auction due to the rarity of mint condition vintage cards from that era, the 2015 issue demonstrated that modern rookie cards for star players also have tremendous potential to appreciate significantly in value over time. Let’s take a look at some of the priciest 2015 Topps rookies that have already established themselves as true heavyweight hitters in the collecting world.
One of the clear standouts from 2015 was Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant’s rookie card. As the 2015 National League Rookie of the Year and part of the World Series winning Cubs team, Bryant emerged as a legitimate superstar and face of the franchise in Chicago. This helped propel his Topps rookie card to new heights, with PSA Gem Mint 10 graded versions regularly selling for over $1,000 each online. The card reached a record price of $1,865 for a PSA 10 copy in August 2021, showing incredible appreciation from its original pack or box price of around $4-5. Bryant’s rookie is highly sought after and will likely continue its ascent in value as he plays out his Hall of Fame caliber career.
Another rookie card that skyrocketed after the 2015 season was Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson’s Topps issue. Known for his prodigious power, Pederson blasted 25 home runs as a rookie to finish third in the NL Rookie of the Year voting. While his Topps rookie remained around the $15-20 range initially, a verified authentic PSA Gem Mint 10 now fetches over $800. That price point marks a 4,000% increase in six years. With Pederson having been a solid contributor to L.A.’s championship roster in 2020 at just 29 years old, there’s reason to believe his rookie card could reach the $1,000-2,000 threshold soon.
The cream of the crop from 2015 remains third baseman Manny Machado’s Topps rookie, largely due to his status as a four-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner still in his prime at 29. Machado’s combination of power, defense, and playoff pedigree has led PSA 10 copies of his rookie card to sell for as much as $3,945 at Goldin Auctions in January 2022. Even heavily played raw versions can sell for $500-800. With Machado’s talent and production ensuring eventual Hall of Fame discussion, his Topps rookie seems poised to become one of the most valuable modern baseball cards once his career finishes.
Another consistently expensive 2015 card belongs to Yankees rookie outfielder Aaron Judge. As a two-time All-Star who smacked a rookie record 52 home runs in 2017, Judge’s renown as the face of the Yankees has driven prices for his Topps RC sky high. A PSA 10 recently traded hands for $2,760 on eBay, though most graded copies still trade in the $1,000-2,000 range. At just 30 years old and averaging over 30 homers annually, Judge is signed through 2028 and has MVP caliber potential, boding well for his rookie’s long term outlook.
While not quite in the echelon of Bryant, Machado or Judge, some other 2015 rookies that have maintained four-figure valuations include Astros hurler Lance McCullers Jr., Rangers outfielder Nomar Mazara, and Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers. A PSA 10 of McCullers typically sells between $400-600 given his status as a solid Astros starter, while Mazara and Devers gems have reached $800-1,000 with Devers in particular emerging as a fixture in Boston’s lineup and on AL MVP ballots.
The 2015 Topps series proved to be a virtual who’s who of future young stars and has lived up to its promise in featuring some true heavyweight cards. While vintage 1950s rookie cards can sell for tens or even hundreds of thousands, modern issues like these demonstrate there is big money to be made identifying and investing in the rookies of destined superstars long before their careers are complete. The 2015 set may end up as one of the most collectible in decades based on the sustained success of players like Bryant, Machado, Judge and more at baseball’s highest level.
