The 2020 Topps baseball card offerings featured legendary players, coveted rookie cards, and more that have become highly sought after in today’s booming sports card market. While recent years have seen cards from the late 1980s and 1990s achieve record prices, modern issues from just a few years ago are also gaining significant traction. Let’s take a look at some of the most valuable Topps cards from 2020 that collectors are eagerly pursuing.

Perhaps the biggest story from 2020 Topps was the tremendous excitement surrounding prospects like Luis Robert and Gavin Lux. Robert’s rookie card featured a photo of the White Sox young star flashing his bright smile, and Robert’s electrifying rookie season in which he slashed .233/.319/.468 with 11 home runs validated all the hype. In pristine gem mint condition, Robert’s flagship Topps rookie card now sells for around $150-$200. His Topps Chrome refractor parallel, which features the same image but with a colorful refractory effect, has eclipsed $400 for a PSA 10 copy. Even Robert’s base rookie in a PSA 9 can fetch $80-$100, showing how sought after this 21-year-old talent remains.

Similarly, Dodger’s infield prospect Gavin Lux was one of the most hyped rookies in Topps 2020. Lux would go on to hit .376 with 4 home runs in September during his rookie campaign after a midseason callup, and today his Topps rookie in a PSA 10 grade brings $175-225. The parallels further drive up value – the Lux Topps Chrome Blue Refractor has reached $500, while the rare Topps Chrome Red Refractor commands over $1,000 at PSA 10. Even a PSA 9 Lux base rookie will cost a collector around $75-$100 showing how high the expectations remain for this young Dodger.

Moving to established stars, one of the most valuable Topps cards from 2020 remains Mike Trout’s base card. As arguably the best player in baseball, Trout’s rookie season was over a decade ago in 2009. But each year collectors eagerly await his flagship Topps issue to add to collections. Trout’s 2020 card, which shows him mid-swing from the left side of the plate, has achieved upwards of $100 in a PSA 10 gem. The parallels offer even more value – a Trout Topps Chrome Yellow Refractor reached $450 in a PSA 10 grade. Any Trout cards, especially from modern issues, hold their demand in the hobby.

Unlike prospects and young stars, veteran greats don’t have the same unpredictability when it comes to on-field play. But for iconic legends nearing retirement, modern cards can achieve significant worth in the collectibles marketplace. One example is Albert Pujols’ 2020 Topps card, which portrays the future Hall of Famer in a Dodgers uniform after signing with LA in 2021. Pujols’s 21-year career neared its conclusion, driving collectors to seek out one of the final flagship cards showing this generation’s best right handed hitter. A PSA 10 gem mint Pujols tops out at $150-$200 today, while any PSA 9 sells for $50-75 depending on parallel and condition.

Another legend with soaring card values is Mariano Rivera, widely considered the greatest closer in baseball history. The longtime Yankee’s Topps 2020 card features an iconic image from his playing days, and with Rivera now retired and in the Hall of Fame, modern issues have taken on greater importance. Rivera’s base 2020 Topps card in pristine PSA 10 condition sells between $150-$225 today. But it’s the Topps Chrome Refractor parallel, with its eye-catching colored refractory pattern, that really drives the price – a PSA 10 Rivera Chrome commands a staggering $800-1000 price tag amongst avid collectors.

Of course, rookie cards for future superstars emerged in 2020 Topps as well. One that has already proven exceptionally valuable is Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr, who finished third in NL MVP voting in 2020 while slashing .277/.366/.571 with 17 home runs. His scintillating play has made any Tatis cards huge attractions to collectors. To no surprise then, his flagship Topps rookie from 2020 in a PSA 10 grade yields $300-400 on the market now, while even a PSA 9 can still bring $150. And the prized Topps Chrome Tatis rookie parallels seem almost priceless – a PSA 10 Chrome Yellow Refractor changed hands for a remarkable $3,000 last year.

There were also several star pitchers whose modern Topps cards have gained steam, including multi-time Cy Young winners Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer. deGrom’s 2020 Topps issue shows the ace mid-windup and has reached $100 raw or $300 PSA 10. Scherzer’s places him full windup and sells for similar $100 raw/$300 PSA 10 values. But their prized Topps Chrome Refractor parallels bring exponentially more – a PSA 10 deGrom Chrome sold for $650, and the rare Scherzer Topps Chrome Purple Refractor changed hands for a whopping $1,500.

While the rookie cards and biggest stars often get top billing, some lesser known players from 2020 have found valuable modern cards too, especially if they emerged onto the scene. One is Marlins infield prospect Jazz Chisholm, who made noise with an electric September debut. His 2020 Topps Chrom rookie parallel values show how a breakout season can inflate even modern cardboard – a PSA 10 Chisholm Chrome sells between $300-400 in today’s active market.

While vintage cardboard from the 1980s and earlier reigns supreme, modern issues from Topps’ 2020 release have already achieved significant worth for both rookies of future all-stars and current legends nearing retirement. With today’s frenzied sports card culture, pristine examples of the best young talent and iconic veteran stars continue driving collector demand for even recent cardboard releases. It’s an exciting time as the values of players’ earliest Topps cards, no matter the year, appreciate alongside their on-field success.