The baseball card market saw immense growth and rising card values in 2016. Several factors contributed to the boom, including increased interest from collectors both old and new. Some of the most coveted rookie cards from the past few decades also significantly appreciated in value. Let’s take a look at some of the highest valued and most sought-after baseball cards issued in 2016.
Two of the most valuable rookie cards from 2016 were those of young superstars Kris Bryant and Carlos Correa. Kris Bryant’s 2016 Topps Update Series Blue Refractor rookie card /150 shot up tremendously in a very short time. Considered one of his most visually striking rookie issues, the card reached eBay sales prices upwards of $800-$1,000 soon after release. It has steadily climbed since and recently sold for as much as $2,000 in gem mint condition.
Bryant’s regular Topps rookie from the same set also gained immense value. PSA 10 Gem Mint copies changed hands for $300-400 initially but now easily bring $500-600 regularly. The 23-year-old third baseman’s spectacular rookie season and Rookie of the Year award cemented his card’s legacy as one of the elite modern rookie issues.
Carlos Correa, the 21-year-old Houston Astros phenom shortstop, also had a breakout rookie campaign in 2015 that was capped off with an Astros World Series title in 2017. His 2016 Topps Update Series Blue Refractor /150 rookie closed at $600-800 PSA 10 during the first year but has also doubled in the subsequent years. Regular Topps rookie PSA 10s rose from under $200 to a steady $350-400 price point currently.
Another highly valued 2016 issue was Chicago Cubs star Kris Bryant’s Finest Refractor rookie card. The parallel version /5 rocketed in value phenomenally quickly. One ungraded copy sold for $1,200 within months while a PSA 10 brought a staggering $3,500. Bryant mania was at an all-time high during the Cubs’ 2016 World Series championship run. His abundant rookie offerings from that year remain a blue-chip investment even years later.
Mike Trout once again had some of the most desirable mainstream rookie cards in 2016. Always an investment safe haven, Trout’s 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Picks & Prospects Superfractor 1/1 gained massive ground. From a previous steady $15,000 price point, a PSA 9 recently went for an astounding $37,500. Even his base rookie jumped up tremendously – a PSA 10 now sells between $3,000-$3,500 compared to under $2,000 just one year ago.
Trout parallels also rose dramatically. His 2009 Bowman Sterling Prospects Purple Refractor /50 increased from around $1,200 to a current $2,500–$3,000 range. Not surprisingly, Trout remained one of the most bankable young stars whose rookie cards continue appreciating faster than almost any other modern player.
Two other elite rookies from 2009 also gained ground – Stephen Strasburg and Giancarlo Stanton. Both had their professional careers derailed by injuries for periods but have since blossomed into true superstars. Strasburg’s ultra-rare 2010 Bowman Chrome Draft Purple Refractor /5 skyrocketed from under $4,000 to an astounding $11,500 sale in 2016. Even his base Bowman Chrome Draft PSA 10 crossed $1,000 for the first time last year at $1,100.
Giancarlo Stanton’s bowman chrome rookie card has also gained value exponentially. His Flagship Chrome Rookie jumped up tremendously – a PSA 10 now sells between $1,500-$2,000 compared to under $1,000 just one year ago. Stanton parallels also rose dramatically. His 2009 Bowman Sterling Prospects Pink Refractor /50 increased from around $600 to a current $1,000–$1,300 range. As with Strasburg, Stanton’s continuing dominance validated further price bumps for these still relatively “new” elite rookies from nearly a decade ago.
A special mention must also be made for one of the biggest risers in the high-end market – Toronto Blue Jays star third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s rookie cards. Still not yet in the major leagues, the hype surrounding the son of a Hall of Famer was exceeding expectations. His 2016 Bowman Sterling Prospects Auto Patch card skyrocketed – a serial numbered /25 PSA 10 variant went for a breathtaking $8,500 last year compared to just $2,800 when issued months prior. Other parallels also at least doubled and some even tripled in the short span.
In summary, 2016 saw massive gains across the board for elite young star rookies like Bryant, Correa, as well as ascendant veterans like Trout, Strasburg and Stanton who had all firmly cemented their superstar status by then. New wunderkinds Vlad Jr also emerged with astronomical short-term price bumps the likes rarely seen before. Fueled by rabid modern collectors, a surging market, and solid on-field performances, 2016 baseball cards from these talents absolutely thrived and set the stage for what was still to come. Values have only continued appreciation in subsequent years.
