The world of baseball cards is continually evolving, with certain vintage and modern rookie cards gaining immense value based on the performance and popularity of the players featured. Looking ahead to 2023, here are some of the baseball cards that have the potential to be among the most valuable in the hobby in the coming year.
A foundational card for any collection is the iconic 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner. Widely considered the rarest and most valuable baseball card of all time, only around 60 high-grade examples are known to exist. Prices broke records in 2021, with a PSA NM-MT 8 selling for $6.6 million. With such limited supply and enduring demand, the Wagner maintains its elite status and any high-quality example could fetch multi-million dollar bids in 2023.
Another early 20th century treasure is the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie card. As one of the game’s true icons who redefined what was possible on the baseball field, Mantle’s rookie card autograph reaches well into the six figures even in low grades. A PSA Gem Mint 10 copy shattered records in 2021 when it sold for $5.2 million. With such pedigree and investing potential, the Mantle rookie is poised to hold or increase its value.
For modern rookies, many eyes will be on Los Angeles Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani’s 2021 Topps Chrome Autograph Refractor rookie card. As a two-way phenom unlike anything seen before, Ohtani captured the imagination of fans worldwide. Low-population parallels and serial-numbered versions already sell for thousands. A pristine PSA 10 could be worth over $100,000 if Ohtani builds on his 2021 AL MVP season and dual-threat dominance on the mound and at the plate.
Another modern talent with immense hype is San Diego Padres star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. His 2019 Topps Series 1 rookie card was a breakout hit, and valuable parallels like the Hot Box Blue Refractor parallel numbered to 25 copies command five figures even in lower grades. Should Tatis Jr. continue putting up MVP caliber numbers and leading his team to postseason success, his rookie card prices could climb significantly higher in the years to come.
One of the most iconic rookie cards of the 2000s is that of Texas Rangers slugger Juan Gonzalez from 1991 Fleer. As a two-time AL MVP in his early career, “Juan Gone’s” cards retain strong collector demand. Higher-end serial numbered parallels have sold for over $10,000 and a PSA 10 of the base rookie could be worth $25,000+ if Gonzalez gets closer to the Hall of Fame. For vintage 1990s talent, this card remains highly sought after.
The 1976 Topps rookie card of Yankees legend Thurman Munson is another vintage gem that holds tremendous nostalgia and value. As the Captain of one of baseball’s most storied franchises, any Munson rookie in top condition garners five figure prices. With the captains leading winning teams again, this card remains a blue-chip investment for vintage collectors. Similarly, the 1970 Topps Nolan Ryan rookie could climb higher as Ryan inches closer to 500 career wins and strikeouts — an unfathomable record that is still growing.
Looking at more recent talent, cards of Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts continue gaining momentum. His 2018 Topps Update Paper Rainbow Foil Parallel offers serious rarity with a population under 10 across all grades. Prices have risen above $10,000 and could keep pace with Betts’ continued superstar production at the plate and in the field. Likewise, rookie cards of Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper remain influential as Harper looks to lead his team deep into October. As one of the defining MLB talents of the 2010s, any Harper rookie retains long-term blue-chip collecting potential.
For the true VIP cards in any collection, iconic cards of legends like Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams and more will always hold top-tier status. But in a rapidly evolving and international hobby, the door is wide open for emerging young talents to achieve similar icon status through on-field performance. Cards like Ohtani, Tatis Jr. and others profiled here represent the next generation of players who could reach career heights elevating their cards to the hobby’s highest echelon. With sufficient time, skill and success, any of these modern stars have a shot at joining the pantheon of all-time greats — and their vintage rookie cards could share in that immortality.
Elite vintage like the T206 Wagner and ’52 Mantle will likely remain blue-chip cornerstones of the hobby. But emerging young stars are carving their own path, with cards like Ohtani, Tatis Jr. and others primed to exponentially rise in value should they achieve career heights befitting legendary status. With such a blend of established classics and burgeoning new collecting titans, the baseball card market remains as dynamic as the game itself.
