The release of 2021 Topps Series 1 Baseball cards brought tremendous anticipation and excitement from collectors eager to get their hands on the latest rookie cards and hits from the newest edition. With the emergence of new star players and a highly anticipated rookie class, this year’s Series 1 release contained several highly coveted rookie cards that has collectors chasing after and bidding up the top rookies. While it’s still early and player performance and longevity will ultimately dictate long term value, here are some of the most valuable 2021 Topps Series 1 Baseball cards based on current secondary market prices:
Wander Franco Green Refractor (#166)/Topps Chrome Green Refractor (#51)- As the consensus top prospect in baseball and the best prospect Tampa Bay Rays have ever had, Wander Franco dominated his debut 2021 season hitting .288 with 7 home runs in 70 games for the Rays. Still just 20 years old, Franco is seen as a true five tool superstar and future cornerstone player for the Rays. His Topps Chrome Green Refractor debuted as the #1 most valuable card from Series 1 and has consistently sold in the $500-1000 range based on graded PSA 10 copies. His standard Green Refractor has also garnered strong demand, regularly selling in the $150-300 range in PSA 10 condition based on its rarity as the base Green Refractor parallel. Franco’s success and bright future has kept interest high in his rookie cards from Series 1.
Rylan Thomas India Topps Chrome Orange Refractor Auto (/2021)- Following an impressive 2021 debut that saw him win NL Rookie of the Year playing 3B for the Cincinnati Reds, Tommy India’s Orange Refractor Auto (/2021) emerged as one of the most valuable cards from Series 1. Graded PSA 10 copies of this ultra short printed refractor auto have fetched $1000-1500 based on multiple sales across eBay and major card auction sites like Goldin Auctions. India’s success and coveted auto on the highly sought after Orange Refractor parallel make this one of the true high-end hits to chase amongst Reds and prospect collectors.
Bobby Witt Jr. Topps Chrome Orange Refractor Auto (/150)- As the #2 overall pick in the 2019 draft and top MLB prospect going into 2022 playing for the Kansas City Royals, Bobby Witt Jr.’s Orange Refractor Auto was arguably the hottest card to chase from Series 1 releases. This ultra short printed parallel refractor auto was limited to just 150 copies made and graded PSA 10 examples regularly sell for $1500-3000 based on multiple confirmed sale prices since release. Witt’s immense talent and fame as son of former MLB All-Star Bobby Witt Sr. has created a huge following for any of his highly sought after rookie memorabilia, particularly short printed autographs like this coveted Orange Refractor.
Robinson Cano #36 Mariner Redemptions – One of the bigger “veteran” surprises from Series 1 was the inclusion of Seattle Mariners star second baseman Robinson Cano. After coming over from the Mets, Cano returned to Seattle and had a productive 2021 season batting .306 despite being 39 years old. Cano’s inclusion in Series 1 helped spark renewed collector interest in his rookie cards from 2005-2007 Yankees/Mariners issues which were previously quite affordable. This led Topps to include Cano redemptions in Series 1 packs which has made his #36 Mariner redemption one of the most in demand base cards. Raw copies have sold in the $30-50 range with higher grades like PSA 10 reaching the $100+ range.
Alek Manoah #279 Blue Jays – As the AL Rookie of the Year runner up in 2021 and ace of the Toronto Blue Jays pitching staff, Alek Manaoh emerged as one of the hottest rookies from Series 1. He went 9-2 with a 3.22 ERA and 147 strikeouts over 23 starts in 2021. Manoah’s standard #279 Blue Jays rookie card has been a monster hit, with PSA 10’s steadily selling in the $75-150 range on the secondary market. His Blue Refractor parallel also remains quite popular amongst PC collectors, regularly selling raw for $25-50. Manoah seems poised for continued success and his Series 1 rookie remains a surefire long term hold.
Jared Kelley #366 Rangers Refractor – As a potential future ace for the Rangers, Jared Kelley’s Blue Refractor parallel (card #366) generated plenty of hype upon release as one of just a handful of Kelley cards to come out thus far in his professional career. The lure of landing an early refracted parallel of a potential staff ace for Texas made Kelley’s Blue Refractor one of the biggest “sleeper” chase cards to come out of Series 1. Graded PSA 10 copies have sold in the $75-150 range. Along with continued development, Kelley’s Series 1 Blue Refractor should remain one of the most fun speculative holds over the coming years.
Other notable valuable and frequently traded cards released in 2021 Topps Series 1 include:
Julio Rodriguez Mariners Blue Refractor (#302)/Topps Chrome Blue Refractor (#50)
Adley Rutschman Orioles Topps Chrome Orange Refractor Auto (#76)
Matt Brash Mariners Green Refractor (#326)
Jack Leiter Rangers Refractor (#359)
Bryson Stott Phillies Refractor (#395)
Spencer Torkelson Tigers Topps Chrome Orange Refractor Auto (#25)
Jarred Kelenic Mariners Refractor (#289)
Shane Baz Rays Refractor (#304)
While prices will fluctuate with player performance, these provided the hottest cards at release based on player opportunity and parallel rarity. For diehard collectors chasing the biggest modern stars at the earliest stages, 2021 Topps Series 1 delivered some truly collectible rookie cards and parallels that should stand the test of time. It will be exciting to see which young stars emerge from this year’s highly anticipated rookie class.
