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DYLAN DAVIS BASEBALL CARDS

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Dylan Davis had a short but productive career in Major League Baseball that spanned from 2016 to 2021. Though he only played parts of four seasons in the big leagues, Davis made enough of an impact that collectors have sought after his rookie cards and other memorabilia. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the key Dylan Davis baseball cards that have been released over the years.

Davis was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 6th round of the 2012 MLB June Amateur Draft out of high school in Arizona. He rose steadily through the Cubs farm system, showing impressive power and becoming one of their top prospects. Davis made his MLB debut with the Cubs in 2016 at age 23. His first card came that same year in Topps Series 1, the flagship set released early in the season. Davis’ 2016 Topps Series 1 rookie card shows him in a Cubs uniform with his stats from his minor league career listed on the back. Though not a particularly rare card since it was from a modern mass-produced set, Davis’ rookie remains one of the key cards for collectors of his career.

In Davis’ rookie season of 2016 he appeared in 29 games for the Cubs, batting .231 with 3 home runs in limited playing time. He showed flashes of his power potential but still had more developing to do. Davis spent most of 2017 back in Triple-A for refinement before returning to the Cubs in September. His 2017 Topps Series 2 card captured him during his time back in the minors that season. Davis continued to prove himself in 2018, making the Cubs’ Opening Day roster and getting significantly more at-bats than in previous years. He hit .237 with 9 home runs and 25 RBI in 78 games, establishing himself as a capable power-hitting bench player.

Davis’ breakout season came in 2019 after being traded from the Cubs to the San Diego Padres in the offseason. He earned a starting role with the Padres and capitalized, batting .256 with a career-high 18 home runs and 40 RBI in 89 games. Davis’ success that year is commemorated by collectors through his 2019 Topps Series 1 and Series 2 cards, both showing him in a Padres uniform after the trade. The 2019 season established Davis as a legitimate big league regular and increased demand for his cards from that year, especially from Padres fans looking to commemorate his contributions.

Tragically, Davis’ career was cut short after suffering a serious knee injury sliding into second base during a game in August 2020. He underwent surgery and extensive rehab, but was never able to regain his form upon returning in 2021. After batting just .118 in 15 games that season, Davis announced his retirement from baseball at age 29 in November 2021. His final career stats were a .228 batting average with 30 home runs and 101 RBI in 250 games spanning five seasons with the Cubs and Padres.

While his career was brief, Davis left an impression on collectors through the key cards issued during his time in MLB. His rookie cards remain the most sought-after, especially higher-end parallels and autographs. Cards from his breakout 2019 season with the Padres also hold value since they commemorate his best statistical year. More recently, collectors have taken interest in Davis’ final 2021 cards as a way to remember his career. Though short-lived, Dylan Davis made enough of an impact on the field to be remembered and collected through his baseball cards years after his playing days ended. For fans and collectors of the slugging outfielder, his cards serve as a lasting tribute to a career cut short.

DYLAN FLORO BASEBALL CARDS

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Dylan Floro is a relief pitcher who has been in Major League Baseball since 2015. While he has never been an All-Star or won any major awards, Floro has had a respectable career as a reliable relief arm out of the bullpen. As a result of his MLB tenure, Dylan Floro has accumulated a collection of baseball cards that document his professional baseball journey. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most notable Dylan Floro baseball cards that exist.

One of the earliest Dylan Floro baseball cards comes from his rookie season with the Chicago Cubs in 2015. In his debut campaign, Floro appeared in 22 games and posted a 3.86 ERA over 31.2 innings pitched. Topps captured Floro’s rookie season with a card in their 2015 Topps Series 1 set. The base version of this rookie card features Floro in a Cubs uniform on a blue background with his stats and info from that first season. As a rookie card from a player’s initial MLB action, Floro’s 2015 Topps card remains one of the more valuable in his collection long term for collectors.

After his brief stint with the Cubs, Floro was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays during the 2015-16 offseason. He then spent parts of three seasons in the Rays bullpen from 2016-2018. Floro’s time in Tampa Bay yielded new baseball cards in Topps sets during those years, including the 2016 Topps Series 1, 2017 Topps Series 1, and 2018 Topps Series 1 issues. These cards depict Floro in a Rays uniform and provide stats updates from his most recent campaigns. Of note is Floro’s 2017 Topps card, which features him after a career year where he posted a 2.57 ERA over 51 innings pitched while with the Rays.

In addition to his base rookie card and yearly Topps update issues, Floro has also appeared in various insert sets over the years. In 2016, Topps included Floro in their “Rookie Debut” insert set highlighting players’ first MLB action. Floro’s card in this set focuses on his Cubs debut season stats. He was also present in 2017 Topps “Top Prospects” as one recognizing him as a former prospect nearing MLB experience. Floro even made an appearance in 2018 Topps Heritage Minors set paying homage to his time in the minor leagues organizations before reaching the bigs.

After being traded again, this time to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Floro received new cards showing him in Dodger blue starting in 2019. That year’s Topps Series 1 and Topps Update issues featured Floro adapted to his new team. He enjoyed success in LA too, notching a career-best 1.67 ERA over 54 innings. Floro’s solid 2019 campaign led to inclusion in the 2019 Topps All-Star Cards set as well, an honor recognizing his standout season.

In 2020, Floro was once more on the move when he signed as a free agent with the Chicago White Sox prior to the shortened season. His lone card from 2020 came in Topps Opening Day where he’s depicted preparing to take the mound for his new White Sox squad. Most recently, Floro received a 2021 Topps Series 1 card after re-signing with the White Sox organization and notching an impressive 2021 where he posted a 2.54 ERA in 44 games.

While never a true superstar, Dylan Floro’s eight-year MLB career has led to an interesting collection of baseball cards. From his rookie issues to updates showing uniform changes, Floro cards provide a visual timeline of his professional journey. Key pieces like his first Topps card, best season highlights, and team switches create a complete career retrospective through cardboard. Even as a middle reliever, Floro’s contributions to multiple franchises over the years have been preserved on baseball cards for fans and collectors to enjoy.

DYLAN LEE BASEBALL CARDS

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Dylan Lee has quickly become one of the most sought-after rookie prospects in all of baseball over the past couple seasons. While still in the minor leagues, Lee has generated a huge buzz around his potential and many see him as a future star at the major league level. As a result, Dylan Lee baseball cards have skyrocketed in popularity and value among collectors in recent years.

Lee was drafted out of high school by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 3rd round of the 2018 MLB June Amateur Draft. Considered one of the top pitching prospects in that entire draft class, Lee had scouts drooling over his electric fastball that could touch triple digits on the radar gun along with a nasty slider and developing changeup. In his first professional season in rookie ball in 2018, Lee dominated to the tune of a 1.46 ERA and 0.79 WHIP with 54 strikeouts in 41.2 innings pitched between the Appalachian League and Gulf Coast League.

This breakout performance immediately put Lee on the map as one of the top pitching prospects in the entire Rays system. His 2018 rookie cards began to gain value as collectors speculated over his long term potential. One of Lee’s standout rookie cards from 2018 is his Bowman Chrome Auto Refractor parallel card, limited to only 5 copies printed. High grade PSA 10 or BGS 10 examples of this ultra rare Dylan Lee rookie card have sold at auction for upwards of $10,000 due to his budding hype after that first season.

Lee continued to impress in 2019 when he was promoted to A-Ball for the first time with the Charleston RiverDogs of the South Atlantic League. There, he dominated even more with a 1.09 ERA and 0.84 WHIP over 15 starts and 73.1 innings pitched. He struck out an incredible 114 batters compared to just 16 walks allowed that season. This breakout season at the A-Ball level sent Lee’s prospect stock soaring and collectors began snatching up any Dylan Lee cards they could find on the secondary market.

One of the standout rookie cards from Lee’s 2019 season is his Bowman Draft Chrome Green Auto Refractor parallel card, limited to only 3 copies produced. In a PSA 10 gem mint condition, examples of this ultra rare Dylan Lee rookie have sold for as much as $25,000 due to his incredible season and rising star status. The demand for any Dylan Lee cards, especially from his early Bowman Chrome and Draft sets, skyrocketed throughout 2019 and into 2020 as he continued rising up prospect rankings.

Heading into the shortened 2020 minor league season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dylan Lee was ranked as the #4 overall prospect in the loaded Rays system by MLB.com behind only Wander Franco, Vidal Brujan, and Shane Baz. At the time, Fangraphs ranked him as the 79th best overall prospect in all of baseball. Needless to say, the hype and excitement surrounding Lee was at an all-time high. Unfortunately, the pandemic wiped out the entire 2020 minor league season so Lee missed valuable development time on the mound that year.

In 2021 Lee finally received an invitation to major league spring training camp with the Tampa Bay Rays. Though he didn’t make the big league roster out of camp, Lee was dominant once again in his first taste of Double-A action with the Montgomery Biscuits in the Southern League. In 13 starts totaling 61.1 innings pitched, Lee posted an outstanding 1.77 ERA with 78 strikeouts compared to just 17 walks allowed. He continued flashing a triple-digit heater with movement to go along with a plus slider and changeup. This success only added to Lee’s growing hype that continued driving up the prices of his vintage rookie cards.

Lee received a late season promotion to Triple-A Durham in 2021 where he made two starts, allowing just one earned run over 8.2 innings while striking out 13 batters. With his prospect stock and hype at an all-time high going into 2022, Lee was named the Rays’ #3 overall prospect by MLB.com behind only Baz and shortstop Carlos Colmenarez. He was also ranked as the 56th best prospect in all of baseball by Fangraphs entering this season. Needless to say, any Dylan Lee cards, especially those from his early Bowman Chrome rookie years, were in extremely high demand and only increasing in value.

In 2022, the 24-year-old Lee began the season back with Triple-A Durham where he continued shoving with a 2.03 ERA and 0.92 WHIP over 20 starts and 115.2 innings pitched. He struck out an incredible 143 batters compared to just 23 walks allowed at the highest level of the minors prior to the MLB season. This dominance led to Lee earning his first ever major league call up with the Tampa Bay Rays in early August 2022. He made his big league debut on August 5th against the Cleveland Guardians, striking out 3 batters over 2 scoreless innings in a relief appearance.

Lee would go on to appear in 10 games for the Rays in 2022, making 2 starts while posting a 3.38 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with 22 strikeouts over 22 innings as he got his first taste of major league action. He showed electric stuff against MLB hitters with a mid-to-upper 90s fastball and a wipeout slider. Needless to say, Lee’s prospect stock could not have been higher going into the 2023 season after showcasing his talent in the big leagues as a 24-year-old rookie. His cards from early in his career, especially prized rookie parallels, have exploded in value due to his breakout and arrival in the major leagues.

Going forward, Dylan Lee cards, especially from 2018-2019 Bowman Chrome sets when he was a hyped prospect, are some of the most sought after on the modern baseball card market. High grade PSA 10 or BGS 10 examples of prized parallels like his 2018 Bowman Chrome Auto Refractor or 2019 Bowman Draft Green Auto Refractor are considered true gems in collections and routinely sell for five figures due to Lee’s rising star status. As he continues establishing himself with the Tampa Bay Rays pitching staff in 2023 and beyond, the demand and prices for all of Lee’s vintage rookie cards will likely only continue climbing to new heights. Collectors are banking on Lee becoming an impact starter for years to come, further cementing his early cards as some of the most valuable moderns on the market today.

DYLAN BUNDY BASEBALL CARDS

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Dylan Bundy is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels. Since making his Major League Baseball debut in 2011, Bundy has established himself as one of the more interesting young pitching prospects over the past decade. As a result, Bundy’s baseball cards have captured the attention of collectors looking to invest in the potential of a talented arm.

Bundy was considered one of the top pitching prospects in baseball when he was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles with the fourth overall pick in the 2011 MLB Draft out of Owasso High School in Oklahoma. Scouts were impressed with Bundy’s mid-90s fastball and sharp breaking pitches at a young age. He quickly rose through the Orioles system, making his MLB debut in 2012 as a 19-year-old. Bundy’s prospect status led to some valuable early baseball cards.

One of Bundy’s most sought-after rookie cards is his 2012 Topps Heritage Minor League card. Topps Heritage captures the classic design aesthetic of cards from the 1950s and 1960s. Bundy’s smooth mechanics and baby face made him a prime candidate for the retro-style design. With a printing of only 99 copies and Bundy’s top prospect pedigree at the time, PSA 10 gem mint examples of this card recently sold for over $1,000.

Bundy’s official MLB rookie card came in 2013 Topps. Like most Topps flagship cards, it captured an action shot from Bundy’s debut season in Baltimore. While common in most sets at around $10-15 raw, high-grade versions with perfect centering have climbed up near $100 due to Bundy’s name recognition and status as a former top pick. His 2013 Bowman Chrome Prospect card also gained value since Bundy was still considered one of baseball’s brightest young arms.

Injuries slowed Bundy’s career progression starting in 2014. Elbow troubles led to Tommy John surgery and a long road back. But collectors still saw potential and his cards held value. One of his scarcest from this time is the 2014 Topps Heritage Minor League Variation card, with an even rarer printing than the 2012 version. Just a handful are known to exist, making it a true key card in any Bundy collection.

Bundy started to regain his form in 2018 after bouncing between the minors and majors in previous seasons. He posted a career-best ERA and started to flash the potential that made him a hyped prospect years earlier. This resurgence was reflected in the rising prices of his rookie cards and earlier prospect issues as hope for Bundy’s career was restored. Even common cards saw new interest from collectors taking a chance on his revival.

In 2019, Bundy agreed to a multi-year contract extension with Baltimore, providing stability in what had been an injury-plagued career. He continued improving that season and looked like he might finally be realizing some of the potential that once made him such a blue-chip pitching prospect. This solidified his status as a collection-worthy player and kept attention high on his vintage cards at the time.

After being traded to the Los Angeles Angels ahead of the 2021 season, Bundy enjoyed the best year of his career to date. He posted career bests in wins, ERA, strikeouts and WHIP while making his first All-Star team. This breakout season at age 28 reaffirmed there was still promise in Bundy’s powerful right arm. As a result, his cards, especially those from his early prospect days, gained renewed interest from a new wave of collectors.

Bundy’s mix of high-profile prospect pedigree, injury history, ups and downs, and recent success make him a fascinating player to follow both on the field and in the baseball card market. For collectors, his rookie cards and earlier prospect issues offer a relatively inexpensive way to invest in the potential of a talented arm who may still have more to prove. Even if Bundy’s career peaks have passed, his story and the intrigue surrounding his cards will continue engaging collectors for years to come.

DYLAN DODD BASEBALL CARDS

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Dylan Dodd is a former professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 2010 to 2014. While his MLB career was relatively short, Dodd made an impact during his time in the big leagues and generated interest from collectors of baseball cards. Let’s take a deeper look at Dylan Dodd’s baseball card history.

Dodd was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 3rd round of the 2008 MLB June Amateur Draft out of high school in Virginia. As an amateur, Dodd’s first baseball cards came in 2008 Upper Deck Series 1 & 2 rookie card issues. Both cards featured Dodd’s photo from his senior year of high school in a Padres uniform.

In 2009, Dodd’s prospect status led to him receiving cards in the Topps Prospects set as well as Upper Deck’s Prospect Premieres issue. These served as Dodd’s first minor league cards. Topps featured Dodd on card #132 in their 2009 Topps Prospects set alongside other top Padres farmhands. Upper Deck included Dodd on card #153 of their 2009 Prospect Premieres issue, which was the 3rd card in the set dedicated to Padres prospects.

Dodd made his professional debut with the Fort Wayne TinCaps of the Midwest League in 2009. This led to his first minor league baseball cards in uniform. Dodd was included in both the 2009 Topps Allen & Ginter and Topps Tristar Prospects sets sporting his Fort Wayne uniform. He also received a card in the 2009 Topps Pro Debut set highlighting his first season in A-ball.

In 2010, Dodd broke out with a dominant season split between High-A Lake Elsinore and Double-A San Antonio. He posted a combined 2.03 ERA with 159 strikeouts over 146.2 innings pitched between the two levels. This breakout performance led to Dodd receiving Update cards in both 2010 Topps Series 2 and Bowman Platinum sets. He also made his debut in the Topps Triple Threads memorabilia set.

Dodd got the call to the majors in September 2010 and made his MLB debut on September 6th versus the Dodgers. He tossed a scoreless inning of relief in his debut. This led to Dodd being included as a rookie in the 2010 Topps Update and Topps Tribute sets, as well as the 2010 Topps Allen & Ginter set highlighting that year’s rookie crops. Dodd also received a base rookie card in the 2010 Topps Chrome Update issue.

In 2011, Dodd split time between the Padres and their Triple-A affiliate in Tucson. He continued to receive Update cards highlighting his MLB action in 2011 Topps Series 1 & 2 and Topps Update sets. Dodd also made his Topps Pro Debut card as a big leaguer that year. He was included in the 2011 Topps Allen & Ginter set as well.

Dodd’s most prominent baseball card came in 2012 Topps. He was featured on the base card #398 in the flagship Topps set that year. This served as Dodd’s first “main” card in Topps’ standard baseball release as opposed to an Update or Prospects issue. He also received Update cards in 2012 Topps Series 1 & 2 highlighting his continued MLB appearances.

Injuries slowed Dodd’s progress in 2013-2014 as he bounced between the Padres and their Triple-A affiliates. He continued to receive Update cards in 2013 Topps Series 2 and 2014 Topps Update issues. Dodd’s final MLB cards came in 2014 Topps Update before he was released by the Padres organization after the 2014 season at age 26.

While Dylan Dodd didn’t achieve MLB stardom, collectors took notice of his prospect pedigree and MLB appearances over 5 seasons. His cards from Bowman, Topps, Upper Deck, and more provide a documented account of his professional journey. Dodd autographed cards also remain popular with collectors given his success at the minor league level. Nearly a decade after his debut, Dodd’s cards – especially his 2012 Topps base card – continue to hold value for Padres and baseball card collectors.

In summarization, Dylan Dodd generated a wide array of baseball cards between 2008-2014 chronicling his rise from high school draft pick to MLB pitcher. From his earliest prospect issues to MLB Update cards and a base card in Topps’ flagship set, Dodd created a documented collecting history for fans. While injuries curtailed his career, Dodd’s cards remain of interest today showcasing a once promising pitching prospect.

DYLAN AXELROD BASEBALL CARDS

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Dylan Axelrod Baseball Cards: A Look at the Career of the Journeyman Pitcher

Dylan Axelrod is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for five different teams between 2011-2016. While he never achieved stardom at the big league level, Axelrod had an impressive minor league career that showed flashes of potential. As a result, he has a respectable collection of baseball cards from his time in the minors and majors. Let’s take a deeper look at Axelrod’s playing career and the baseball cards that were produced documenting his time on the mound.

Axelrod was originally drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 32nd round of the 2004 MLB Draft out of high school in California. He opted to attend the University of San Diego instead of signing. As a pitcher for the Toreros, Axelrod developed into a standout player. In his junior year of 2007, he went 11-2 with a 2.11 ERA and 106 strikeouts over 115 innings pitched to earn All-West Coast Conference honors.

Axelrod’s strong collegiate performance led to him being selected in the fourth round of the 2008 MLB Draft by the Chicago White Sox. He began his professional career that season pitching for the Great Falls White Sox of the Pioneer League. In 13 games started, Axelrod posted a 5-3 record with a 3.05 ERA. His solid debut earned him write-ups in Baseball America and cards in 2008 Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects and Great Falls team sets.

Over the next few seasons, Axelrod continued moving up the White Sox minor league system. He pitched for Kannapolis, Winston-Salem, and Birmingham between 2009-2011. Along the way, he gained notice for his steady performances which resulted in baseball cards appearing in sets like 2009 Bowman, 2010 Bowman, and 2011 Topps Minor League. By 2011, Axelrod had reached Triple-A and was putting up his best numbers as a pro with a 10-7 record and 3.74 ERA for the Charlotte Knights.

Based on his productivity in the minors, Axelrod received his first September call-up to the major league White Sox that year. He made his MLB debut on September 6th, 2011 versus the Detroit Tigers working 1.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Axelrod’s promotion led to cards in 2011 Topps Triple Threads and Topps Tier One. While he didn’t stick on the big league roster, Axelrod had taken the first step towards realizing his dream of becoming a major leaguer.

In 2012, Axelrod split time between Charlotte and Chicago. He made 11 appearances for the White Sox, including his first MLB start on May 26th against the Kansas City Royals. Axelrod tossed 5.1 innings allowing two runs to pick up his first big league win. Cards from 2012 Topps, Bowman Platinum, and Triple Threads captured his continued progress. Though he performed capably, the White Sox designated Axelrod for assignment at season’s end to make room on the 40-man roster.

Axelrod was then claimed off waivers by the San Diego Padres in November 2012. He spent most of 2013 with the Padres’ Triple-A affiliate in Tucson, where he put together his finest minor league campaign. Posting a 9-5 record with a 3.21 ERA over 26 games (21 starts), Axelrod’s standout season led to inclusion in the 2013 Pacific Coast League All-Star team. He also earned cards in 2013 Bowman and Triple Threads Minor League sets.

In July 2013, the Padres purchased Axelrod’s contract to bring him back to the majors. He made 11 appearances for San Diego, including two starts, and put up a respectable 4.15 ERA. Axelrod’s return to the bigs netted him more major league cards from brands like 2013 Topps Update and Finest. At season’s end though, he was designated for assignment and later released by the Padres.

Looking to continue his career, Axelrod signed a minor league deal with the Cincinnati Reds in January 2014. He started the year with the Reds’ Triple-A affiliate in Louisville, where he went 8-6 with a 4.01 ERA over 21 games, 18 starts. Axelrod’s solid showing led to a contract purchase by Cincinnati in July and his return to the major leagues. He made 12 appearances out of the Reds bullpen posting a 3.65 ERA. Cards from 2014 Topps Heritage and Stadium Club captured his time in Cincinnati’s system.

In November 2014, Axelrod was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays along with pitcher Jack Hannahan for pitcher DJ Hales. He started 2015 with Triple-A Buffalo and was off to a strong start, going 2-1 with a 2.60 ERA over his first five starts, before an injury sidelined him for over two months. Axelrod returned in late June and continued pitching well enough to earn a call-up by Toronto in July. He made six appearances for the Blue Jays, allowing just one run over 10.1 innings.

Axelrod signed a minor league deal with the Chicago White Sox, the team that originally drafted him, prior to the 2016 season. He spent the entire year with Triple-A Charlotte, where he posted a 5-7 record and 4.50 ERA over 23 games, 19 starts. It would be Axelrod’s final season playing professional baseball, as he retired in the offseason at age 31.

While he didn’t achieve stardom, Dylan Axelrod had a respectable seven-year professional career. He made 66 appearances over parts of five seasons in the major leagues, providing serviceable innings for the White Sox, Padres, Reds, and Blue Jays along the way. Axelrod’s journey through the minors resulted in baseball cards chronicling his time with organizations like Great Falls, Kannapolis, Birmingham, Charlotte, Tucson, Louisville, and Buffalo. For a pitcher who debuted as a 32nd round draft pick, Axelrod maximized his abilities to carve out a career at the highest level of baseball. His baseball cards serve as a reminder of the perseverance and dedication it takes to reach the majors, even if only for a cup of coffee.

DYLAN CRUZ BASEBALL CARDS

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Dylan Cruz Baseball Cards: Tracking the Rise of an Up-and-Coming Star

Dylan Cruz is a name that is quickly gaining recognition among baseball card collectors and fans of the sport. The young shortstop for the Los Angeles Dodgers has exploded onto the MLB scene over the past two seasons, and interest in his rookie cards and newer issues has skyrocketed as a result. In this in-depth look, we will trace Cruz’s journey from an unknown draft pick to budding superstar, and how the hobby of baseball card collecting has reacted to his meteoric rise.

Cruz was a late bloomer coming out of high school, going undrafted after graduating in 2018. He attended the University of Southern California on a scholarship and had a breakout junior season in 2020 that put him on the radar of major league scouts. Cruz hit .345 with 20 home runs and led the Pac-12 conference in runs batted in. His impressive power-speed combo at just 21 years old made him a hot commodity heading into the 2021 MLB Draft.

The Dodgers selected Cruz with the 27th overall pick that year, signing him to a reported $2.5 million signing bonus. Cruz’s first baseball cards started appearing later in 2021 in products like Bowman Draft, Topps Chrome Update, and Stadium Club. As a newly drafted player without any MLB experience, Cruz rookie cards from 2021 sold for around $10-20 each. Early collectors saw Cruz’s upside but there was no guarantee he would develop as hoped.

That all changed in 2022. Cruz skipped over the lower minor leagues and opened the season with Double-A Tulsa. He dominated pitchers over his level, hitting .310 with 15 home runs in just 57 games. The Dodgers aggressively promoted Cruz to Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he continued mashing at a .290 clip. Cruz received his first MLB call-up in August and immediately made an impact. In his debut game against the Giants, Cruz laced a go-ahead two-run double. He would finish the season batting .280 in 30 games for the Dodgers.

Cruz’s breakout minor league performance and promising MLB debut created a perfect storm for his rookie cards. Collectors who had gambled on early 2021 issues were now sitting on significant gains. A Bowman Draft Chrome Refractor rookie card that may have sold for $20-30 previously was now commanding $100-150 based purely on Cruz’s on-field accomplishments. Even base rookie cards from sets like Topps Chrome Update were selling in the $50-75 range, 10 times what they cost just months prior.

The hype around Cruz carried into the 2023 season. He entered spring training with a chance to win the Dodgers starting shortstop job, left open by the free agency departure of longtime star Trea Turner. Cruz had an outstanding Cactus League showing, batting .375 while showing off elite defense at a premium position. He broke camp as LA’s everyday shortstop, garnering national attention as one of baseball’s top young breakout candidates for the upcoming season.

Cruz’s ascension to being the Dodgers starting shortstop sent shockwaves through the baseball card community. Collectors rushed to purchase any remaining Cruz rookie cards from 2021, knowing they now held cards featuring the player poised to become a star. Within weeks, a PSA 10 graded version of Cruz’s Topps Chrome Update rookie jumped to a price of $500-600 based on recent eBay sales. Even base cards were selling for $150-200 in top condition. Cruz had gone from an unknown draft pick to one of the hottest rookie commodities in the hobby in just over a year’s time.

With Cruz now firmly entrenched in the national spotlight as an everyday shortstop for a World Series contender, interest in his newly released 2023 cards skyrocketed as well. Products like Topps Series 1, Bowman, and Topps Chrome all featured new Cruz rookie variations that took the collecting world by storm. Within the first month of release, ungraded versions of Cruz’s Topps Chrome Silver Pack rookie parallel were selling for over $300 each on auction sites like eBay. Even base paper rookies from Series 1 jumped up to $50-75 range based on the hype.

As Cruz continues his breakout campaign for the Dodgers in 2023, there is no sign of interest in his cards slowing down. Through the first two months of the season, Cruz has batted over .300 while displaying elite defense at a critical up-the-middle position. If he keeps producing at this rate, Cruz’s rookie cards could continue appreciating significantly in value as he cements his status among the game’s emerging stars. For collectors who gambled on Cruz early and held onto their investments, it is paying dividends in a big way. Few could have predicted such a meteoric rise, but Dylan Cruz is proving with his on-field play that he is here to stay among the elite of the next generation in Major League Baseball. His cards have followed suit in becoming some of the hottest commodities in the entire collecting hobby.

DYLAN STARTED WITH 30 BASEBALL CARDS

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Dylan’s Baseball Card Collection: How it All Began

Dylan had always loved baseball ever since he could remember. From a young age, he would spend hours in the backyard throwing a ball against the fence and pretending he was his favorite players. On his 8th birthday, his grandparents gifted him with a starter pack of 30 basic baseball cards to get him started on collecting. Little did they know, this modest beginning would spark a lifelong passion for Dylan.

Those first 30 cards didn’t contain any superstars. They were mostly commons from the current season that could be found in just about any pack. There were a few pitchers, a handful of role players, and a couple guys near the end of their careers. But to Dylan, each card was treasured. He spent hours carefully looking over the stats and photos, committing the players’ names and teams to memory. His favorites were the Cardinals players since that was his hometown team.

From there, Dylan was hooked. He started begging his parents to take him to the local card shop every weekend. At first they would only let him spend $5-10 each time. But before long, he had amassed a couple hundred cards and needed storage for them all. That’s when his dad helped him build his first card binder, with sheets to safely store his growing collection. Every spare dollar Dylan could find would go towards adding a pack or two to his ever-expanding collection.

As his interest grew, so did his knowledge of the game. Dylan poured through box scores in the newspaper to study stats and track how his players were performing each night. He started following more teams as he learned about their star players. Memorizing the league leaders in different categories became a fun challenge. When baseball season rolled around, he was glued to every Cardinals game on TV.

By the following summer, Dylan had close to 1,000 cards packed into multiple binders. But he was still missing some of the biggest star players. That’s when he decided to start trading with his friends at school and kids in the neighborhood. He would analyze the value and scarcity of his duplicate cards to make fair trades. This allowed him to land coveted rookie cards of future Hall of Famers like Ken Griffey Jr. and Chipper Jones that had eluded his packs.

As Dylan entered his teenage years, the rise of the internet opened up whole new possibilities for his growing collection. He started frequenting online trading forums and group chats dedicated to the hobby. There, he was exposed to a much wider network of collectors from all over the world. Complex trade schemes involving dozens of players became commonplace as the value of rare cards skyrocketed. Dylan carefully balanced trading up for stars while holding onto fan favorites.

By high school, Dylan’s collection had grown to over 5,000 cards neatly organized in a custom-made cabinet in his room. He had amassed a virtual who’s-who of baseball history spanning multiple eras. Rosters from the late 90s dominated thanks to his pack-searching in those formative years. But he also owned gems like a near-mint Mickey Mantle rookie and a game-worn jersey card of Babe Ruth. At local card shows, other collectors would marvel at the depth and quality of his accumulation.

As Dylan entered college, he joined his university’s club baseball team to stay actively involved in the sport. But collecting remained a lifelong passion. He continued hunting at shops and shows whenever possible. Online, Dylan networked with agents and became knowledgeable about the burgeoning memorabilia market. His collection expanded beyond just cards to include signed balls, bats, photos and other one-of-a-kind items.

Now in his late 20s, Dylan’s collection has grown to over 10,000 cards and 500 other pieces of memorabilia crammed into a dedicated room in his home. Through the years of dedicated collecting, his original 30 card starter pack has multiplied a thousandfold. While the monetary value now exceeds six figures, Dylan says the real worth is in the joy and knowledge the hobby has brought him. Those first few packs ignited a passion that has stayed with him through all the years since. And Dylan’s baseball card collection continues growing stronger with no signs of slowing down.

In the end, it all started from that modest gift of 30 cards from his grandparents so long ago. Who knew such a small beginning could lead to a full-fledged obsession and a collection for the ages? But for Dylan, each new addition is a reminder of how his love for the game began, and a testament to how far a simple hobby can take someone with dedication and passion. The journey that started with just 30 cards as a kid has become a lifelong journey, and Dylan’s baseball card collection is a shining part of his story.

DYLAN CREWS BASEBALL CARDS

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Dylan Crews’ Love of Baseball Cards Began at a Young Age

Growing up in Longwood, Florida, Dylan Crews was instantly drawn to America’s pastime of baseball from a very young age. His grandfather was an avid Boston Red Sox fan who passed down his fandom and love of the game to young Dylan. By the time he was 5 years old, Crews was playing tee ball and spending hours in the backyard tossing the ball with his dad. But it was his discovery of baseball cards that truly ignited his passion and paved the way for his future career in professional baseball.

“I remember the first pack of cards I ever opened, it had to be when I was around 6 or 7 years old,” Crews recalls. “My grandpa took me to the local card shop and let me pick out a pack. I pulled a Mike Trout rookie card and was just in awe – I had no idea who he was at the time but I knew it must be special because my grandpa was so excited. From that moment on, I was hooked.” Crews began amassing boxes upon boxes of cards, constantly trading with friends and scouring yard sales for new additions to his ever-growing collection.

In addition to collecting, Crews became engrossed in learning every detail about the players and teams represented by his cardboard treasures. He spent hours reading baseball encyclopedias and scouting reports, memorizing stats and analyzing the intricate nuances of the game. “The cards were like a portal into the history of the sport for me,” Crews explains. “I loved learning about the eras before I was even born by studying the old school players in my collection. Guys like Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Nolan Ryan were like superheroes to me.”

Crews’ bedroom walls became adorned with posters of his favorite players as his fandom blossomed. He joined multiple baseball fantasy leagues with his friends and would draft teams comprised solely of the players residing in his collection. On road trips with his family, Crews would bring stacks of cards in the car to trade with other kids he’d meet at rest stops along the way. His mother recalls many summer days finding Dylan out in the front yard for hours on end playing “baseball card baseball” with neighborhood kids, meticulously keeping score and stats on loose leaf paper.

As Crews entered his teenage years and began dominating on the baseball diamond, his card collection grew exponentially. Scouts took notice of his impressive 5-tool skills and he committed to play Division 1 ball at Louisiana State University. By then, Crews estimated he owned well over 100,000 individual baseball cards carefully sorted and stored in boxes lining the walls of his bedroom. “It was truly a labor of love at that point,” Crews laughs. “I had cards from every year dating back to the 1950s and rosters from every team. It was really a work of art.”

In addition to his personal collection, Crews began buying, selling and trading high-end vintage and rookie cards as a side business throughout high school. He developed keen expertise in properly grading cards and understanding market values. Crews estimates he made over $30,000 through various card deals and flips during those years. The profits went towards helping fund his travel ball expenses as well as beginning to invest in even rarer find cards for his personal PC (personal collection).

Some of Crews’ prized baseball card possessions include:

A 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle PSA 8 (near mint-mint condition) he purchased for $8,000.

A 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner that is kept securely in a safety deposit box. Its estimated value is well over $1 million.

A complete set of 1957 Topps cards which is one of the highest grossing vintage sets ever made.

Autograph rookie cards of Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Mookie Betts and Ronald Acuña Jr. that he pulled himself from packs as a teen.

A collection of over 500 Hank Aaron cards spanning his entire career.

When Crews arrived at LSU in 2020, he was selected as a freshman All-American after batting .346 with 15 home runs. Scouts were dazzled by his combination of raw power, blazing speed and defensive prowess in centerfield. He was selected 13th overall in the 2021 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers and received a signing bonus of $3 million. Crews made his professional debut that season for the Low-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.

These days when Crews has a day off from the ballpark, you can likely find him back at his childhood home poring through his vast card collection. Even as his playing career advances, his first love of the cardboard relics from baseball’s past remains strong. “The cards will always be a big part of who I am,” Crews says. “They fueled my passion for the game from a young age and now I feel incredibly lucky to be living my dream in professional baseball. I like to think my cards had a little something to do with getting me here.”