The Topps baseball card company has been producing collectible cards featuring Major League Baseball players for over 60 years. Each year, Topps releases new sets of cards for collectors and fans to purchase. The 2018 Topps series was no different, featuring the latest crop of MLB stars. Not all cards are created equal from a collectibility and value perspective. While many 2018 Topps cards can now be found for under $1, some have significantly increased in value in the years since being released. Here are some of the most valuable and sought-after 2018 Topps baseball cards on the current market:
Shohei Ohtani Rookie Card (Topps Chrome #91) – One of the biggest rookie sensations of 2018 was two-way star Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels. Considered a true five-tool player who could both hit for power and dominate on the mound, Ohtani’s electric play generated enormous hype. His rookie cards from 2018 Topps are among the hottest commodities, with the Topps Chrome parallel #91 easily eclipsing all other 2018 rookies in value. Fresh PSA 10 gems of this card have sold for over $1,000, with raw near-mint copies bringing $300-500. Ohtani mania shows no signs of slowing, ensuring this will remain one of the crown jewels of the 2018 Topps set.
Ronald Acuña Jr. Rookie Card (Topps #132) – Joining Ohtani as the cream of the 2018 rookie crop was Braves outfield phenom Ronald Acuña Jr. The young Atlanta star blasted his way onto the scene with a monster debut season that saw him hit .293 with 26 home runs and 64 RBI in only 111 games. His standard Topps rookie card has become iconic from the set and desirable in high grades. Near-mint PSA 9 versions routinely sell for $150-200, with PSA 10s reaching over $500. The #132 captures Acuña’s early dominance and remains hugely popular for Atlanta fans and player collectors.
Mookie Betts Topps NOW Card (#201) – While not technically part of the standard 2018 Topts base set, Topps NOW cards produced to commemorate in-season milestones and performances also hold value. No Topps NOW had a bigger impact that year than Mookie Betts’ memorable three-homer game on July 31 vs. the Blue Jays. Topps created card #201 featuring an action shot from the game to acknowledge Betts’ feat. In high grades like PSA 10, this coveted short-print card has sold for over $400 due to its uniqueness and subject’s star power. Topps NOW cards provide a different collecting dynamic.
Aaron Judge Rookie Cup Parallel (#144) – As one of the most feared sluggers in the game, Aaron Judge’s rookie cards from 2017 are highly acclaimed. Collectors still prize parallel versions from his true rookie season in 2018 Topps as well. The gold Rookie Cup parallel of his base card #144, limited to only 50 copies, has achieved hammer prices close to $1,000 ungraded when in pristine condition. Judge’s continued excellence ensures virtually any of his limited parallels maintain strong valuations.
Christian Yelich Mini Rainbow (/5) – Christian Yelich’s breakout 2018 MVP season with the Brewers took the baseball world by storm. Topps aptly chose to highlight Yelich’s brilliant campaign with several limited parallel cards in the 2018 set. Among the rarest was a five-card 1/1 mini rainbow variation, with each card featuring a different colour border and serial number. When a full matched set recently went on auction, it blew away expectations by selling for nearly $9,000. Yelich mania on the heels of an iconic season translated to mega value for collectors.
As several years have now passed since the 2018 Topps release, many key cards from that set have seen rapid ascension thanks to burgeoning player popularity, elite rookie seasons, and the natural archival nature of vintage cardboard collections. For savvy investors, identifying breakout stars and valuable parallel variants from Topps’ annual baseball output provides a uniquely nostalgic investment category. When high-grade copies change hands, 2018 standouts like Ohtani, Acuña Jr., Betts, Judge, and Yelich continually bring top dollar and underscore the long term potential of building a smart baseball card portfolio from even just a few years ago.
