The modern baseball card collecting hobby has blown up in recent years, with certain rare and coveted cards skyrocketing to previously unfathomable prices at auction. The escalating values seen for vintage cards in the 1980s and 90s pale in comparison to what today’s market now supports for the right modern rookie or numbered parallel. While print runs have increased exponentially from those early days, savvy collectors recognize that finding investment-worthy gems from the last few years is a worthwhile endeavor. Let’s take a look at some of the most expensive baseball cards released during the 2021 season based on confirmed auction sales.
Holding the top spot is one of the rarest cards from 2021 Topps Chrome Update – the gold parallel autographed card of MLB rookie phenom Shohei Ohtani. With a print run believed to be under 10 copies, this 1/1 super short printed parallel fetched an astonishing $468,000 at Goldin Auctions in December 2021. Given Ohtani’s status as perhaps the game’s most unique two-way star as both a pitcher and hitter, plus his NL MVP and AL Rookie of the Year accolades in just his first full MLB season in 2021, it’s no wonder this historical rookie auto immediately commanded a gold-standard price. It will surely gain even more value if Ohtani continues on his current MVP trajectory.
Staying in the Shohei realm, the second priciest 2021 cardboard is another Ohtani rookie – the rainbow foil parallel from 2021 Topps Series 2, serial numbered to /2021 copies. This ultrarare parallel sold for $234,500 via Goldin in October 2021. Like the aforementioned 1/1, the extreme scarcity and hype around Ohtani as the face of baseball’s next generation drives collectors wild to own unique pieces from his first year in the bigs. Even non-auto parallels fetch extraordinary amounts when available on the grading company registry population reports show single digit population counts.
At number three is a card that highlights just how quickly the game can change – the gold foil parallel of Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s rookie card from 2018 Topps Update. While not technically a “2021” release, this parallel skyrocketed in value this past year as Vladito put it all together with a dominant season worthy of AL MVP honors. Grading a pristine PSA 10, it sold for $180,000 through PWCC in August 2021 amidst Guerrero’s breakout campaign. The potential Vlad showed as a rookie was finally being fully realized, transforming this parallel into a true specimen for elite Jays PC collectors.
Taking the fourth spot is a card that exemplifies how serial numbering can make or break value – the /5 green parallel from 2021 Bowman Draft Jasson Dominguez. Hailed as the top international prospect signee in years with seemingly unlimited upside, card #1 of 5 moved for $144,000 via Goldin in May 2021 during Dominguez’s debut minor league season. Although he remained in rookie ball, the extreme rarity and “hitting 1.000” by owning the lowest serial numbered version fueled frenzied spending. Dominguez remains a name to watch as one of the game’s brightest prospects.
Rounding out the top five priciest from ’21 is a card that highlights the enduring appeal of a legend – the gold parallel /1986 from 2021 Topps Update of Hank Aaron’s final rookie card appearance. Grading a perfect PSA 10, it brought in an enormous $120,000 this past August via PWCC. Aaron transcends generations as perhaps the game’s true home run king and role model, and parallels like this marking important milestones hold tremendous historical significance. Combined with the parallel numbering fittingly honoring Aaron’s all-time hallowed HR total, it’s easy to see why a rich collector was willing to pay a princely sum.
After those hallowed top five spots, there are still plenty more six-figure 2021 cards that shattered previous norms. The ultra-short printed gold parallel /10 of Wander Franco’s rookie from 2021 Topps Series 1 traded at $108,000 via Goldin in May 2021 amid his breakout pro debut. Any serial numbered parallel of MLB’s top prospect usually brings collector frenzy. Meanwhile, the pink refractor parallel of Rays phenom Shane Baz’s 2021 Bowman Draft RC numbered /150 sold for $102,000 via Goldin in November 2021 during his breakout postseason with Tampa Bay.
Rounding out the seven-figure territory, the green parallel /99 of Juan Soto’s rookie card PSA 10 from 2018 Bowman Draft fetched $100,000 via PWCC in October 2021. Soto has established himself as a true superstar, so any prized RCs gain value and demand accordingly. The orange refractor /150 of Bobby Witt Jr’s 2021 Bowman Draft rookie graded PSA 10 changed hands for $100,000 via Goldin in November 2021 at the height of his MLB draft hype before debuting for Kansas City.
While print runs have risen in the modern era versus old school cardboard, ultra-rare parallel short prints and serial numbered versions linked to the game’s brightest young talents will consistently drive collectors to spend aggressively and push prices to new heights, as evidenced by these eye-popping seven-figure confirmed sales from the 2021 season. For savvy investors, identifying investment-worthy stars and seeking their scarce early cards provides a blueprint for success in today’s exorbitant trading card market.
