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2021 PANINI PRIZM DRAFT PICKS BASEBALL VALUABLE CARDS

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The 2021 Panini Prizm Draft Picks baseball product has produced several cards that are highly sought after by collectors. Panini Prizm Draft Picks features prospects from the 2021 MLB Draft class in their college uniforms. While it’s still early in the careers of these players, some have generated significant hype that has translated to strong demand and rising prices for their rookie cards. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most valuable 2021 Prizm Draft Picks baseball cards on the market today.

Perhaps the biggest star from the 2021 draft class is Vanderbilt pitcher Jack Leiter. Leiter was selected second overall by the Texas Rangers and was considered by many to be the top pitching prospect in the draft. Not surprisingly, his rookie cards have been some of the hottest items from Prizm Draft Picks. Leiter’s base Prizm Draft Picks rookie card can be found for $50-75 in a PSA 10 gem mint grade. His prizm and silver prizm parallels have reached much higher prices. Leiter’s silver prizm sold for over $1,000 raw on release day and has since climbed above $2,000 graded gem mint. His prizm parallel also demands a premium, selling for $500-800 raw or $1,200+ graded. As Leiter continues to impress in the Rangers system, these exclusive parallel cards could become extremely valuable long term holdings.

Another highly sought after rookie is University of Florida catcher Jud Fabian. Fabian slipped to the Red Sox at pick 40 due to signability concerns but possesses elite power potential at the plate. His base Prizm Draft Picks rookie sells for $30-50 raw but jumps to $150-200 in a PSA 10. Fabian’s prizm parallel is the real gem though, recently bringing in over $500 raw and north of $1,000 graded. As a potential middle of the order bat, Fabian’s prizm parallel could emerge as a true six figure card down the road if he develops into the player many scouts saw.

Staying in the SEC, Vanderbilt outfielder Enrique Bradfield Jr has also generated buzz from Draft Picks collectors. While not as heralded as Leiter coming into the draft, Bradfield was taken in the 4th round by the Padres and showcased elite speed and defense in his debut pro season. His base rookie sells for $15-25 but the prizm parallel has brought in $150-250 raw so far. What makes Bradfield’s cards intriguing is his potential as a five tool player if he can refine his bat. With continued development, cards like his prizm could appreciate significantly.

Moving to the college ranks, two position players from the Pac-12 have also seen strong early interest. University of Oregon third baseman Gavin Cross was the 9th overall pick by the Kansas City Royals and possesses a promising lefty power bat. His base rookie sells for $15-25 but the prizm parallel has reached $150-250. An even more valuable card is Cross’ red prizm parallel, with a recent sale at $500. Over at Arizona, outfielder Tommy Splaine was a 5th round pick by the Cardinals who hit over .300 as a freshman. While more of a sleeper, Splaine’s prizm parallel has still commanded $75-125 due to his potential as a hit over power prospect.

On the high school side, perhaps no prospect generated as much hype as Georgia prep shortstop Termarr Johnson. Considered a potential top 5 pick, Johnson surprisingly fell all the way to the Pirates at 72nd overall. Collectors still show strong interest in his cards due to his five tools abilities. Johnson’s base rookie sells for $15-25 but his prizm parallel recently sold for an impressive $350 raw. As Johnson looks to prove doubters wrong, cards like his prizm could really take off if he develops into the player scouts once saw. Another toolsy high schooler, California outfielder Dillon Thomas, has also seen decent demand. The Angels 5th rounder’s prizm parallel sells in the $75-125 range.

While it’s still very early, the 2021 Draft class has potential stars at every level that could drive interest in their Draft Picks rookie cards for years to come. For aggressive collectors, taking positions in prizm, red prizm, and silver prizm parallels of top prospects like Leiter, Fabian, and Cross represents a chance at landing truly valuable long term holdings. Even base cards or parallels of potential breakouts like Bradfield Jr, Splaine, or Johnson offer intrigue at today’s affordable prices. The 2021 Draft class is full of talent and their rookie cards have only just begun their journey.

2021 PANINI BASEBALL CARDS MOST VALUABLE

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With the explosive growth of the trading card industry fueled by the popularity of sports cards and card collecting during the pandemic, the young stars of today have seen their modern rookie cards appreciate greatly in value in a short period of time. For collectors seeking the most valuable cards from the 2021 Panini baseball card releases, several rookies have clearly emerged as among the most coveted and valuable on the current market.

One of the most hyped rookie classes in recent memory featured future superstars like Rays shortstop Wander Franco and Mariners outfielder Jarred Kelenic. Not surprisingly, their flagship rookie cards from 2021 Panini products have skyrocketed in secondary market value since their MLB debuts. Franco’s prized Prizm Green Auto parallel /99 from 2021 Prizm is currently regarded as the most valuable 2021 Panini baseball card, commanding offers well over $10,000 for top-graded PSA 10 examples. Most Franco autographs and memorabilia cards from 2021 Flawless, Transcendent, and Impeccable are valued over $1,000 as well given his immense hype and early success in the big leagues.

Jarred Kelenic’s tremendous tools and potential as a five-tool center fielder made him one of the most sought-after prospects entering 2021. As a result, his 2021 Bowman Chrome Auto Refractor /299 parallel rocketed up collector want lists. PSA 10 examples regularly sell for $3,000-5,000 currently. Other iconic Kelenic rookies like his 2021 Prizm Silver Parallel Auto /99 and 2021 Select Red White & Blue Auto have also topped $1,000 for top grades. After an up-and-down rookie season, Kelenic’s long-term outlook remains bright, keeping appreciation potential high for these flagship cards long-term.

While the biggest fortunes in modern baseball cards are usually made on rookies before they play a game, breakout offensive performers can also see big gains. For example, Reds second baseman Jonathan India captured the NL Rookie of the Year award in 2021 after batting .269 with 21 home runs in his first full MLB season. Fueled by his award-winning success, India’s 2021 Topps Chrome Red White & Blue Refractor Auto /150 exploded from a few hundred dollars to over $1,000 on average for top-graded versions. His lower numbered 2021 Prizm Purple Ice Auto /10 from the prized set may someday command over $5,000 for a PSA 10 gem.

Another young slugger who took the league by storm in 2021 was Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. While not technically a rookie, Tatis’ already hailed career was propelled to new heights with a 42 home run, 97 RBI season at just 22 years old. This cemented Tatis as a true modern superstar and greatest ambassador of the game. Unsurprisingly, perhaps the most valuable 2021 Panini card overall among non-rookies belongs to Tatis. His standout 2021 Transcendent Collection Auto Patch /10 with on-card autograph and swatch of his iconic uniform has already risen above $10,000 market value for high-grade copies, with room to grow given Tatis’ increasing popularity.

While players can experience injuries, slumps, or even off-field issues that can impact valuations, the ceiling remains extremely high on cards for top MLB stars early in their careers. For long-term investors, focusing on the biggest names and most iconic, low-numbered parallel cards from flagship Panini releases provides the best shot at holding cards that retain or exceed their current worth 5-10 years down the road. Rookies like Franco, Kelenic, India and perennial stars like Tatis offer as much excitement and profit potential as any in the entire 2021 baseball card season and beyond. Their most prized 2021 Panini cards are sure to remain destination listings for avid collectors and investors alike in the years to come.

While the baseball card market shifts constantly, Wander Franco, Jarred Kelenic, Jonathan India and Fernando Tatis Jr. established themselves as the brightest young talents of 2021. Unsurprisingly, their premier rookie cards and autos from 2021 Panini releases have emerged as the most notable shortprints and memorabilia cards to track for current value as well as long-term hold potential. Collections including cards of these superstar players can provide both excitement in following their careers closely as well as financial protection through an investment in some of the most hyped modern names in the game.

PANINI BASEBALL CARDS SELECT 2022

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Panini released their Select football product in 2017 and it became an instant hit with collectors. Featuring parallel inserts with aesthetically pleasing designs and numbering that enhanced the chase, Select found success targeting the high-end collector segment. Seeing the opportunity to branch out, Panini launched their first Select baseball card set in 2022 in hopes of replicating that magic.

Released in late January/early February as a high-end, limited print run product, the 2022 Panini Select baseball release featured a base set of 150 cards split between two designs. The “Classic Stats” base cards utilized a simple white border with statistics and accomplishments dominating the front of the card. Meanwhile, the “Action Shots” bases incorporated colorful photography highlighting memorable on-field moments. Both designs fused modern and retro aesthetic sensibilities together nicely.

In addition to the base set, Panini loaded Select 2022 with a bevy of exciting parallel and short-print inserts to entice collectors. The most coveted parallel is arguably the “Gold /2021” parallel, limited to only 10 copies per player. With sequential numbering out of 10, stringent limited printing, and eye-catching gold coloring, these parallels instantly became chase cards that spiked up the product’s resale value. Other highly sought after parallels included the /25 Green, /99 Red, and /199 Orange that served varying levels of rarity and scarcity beneath the ultra-short-printed Golds.

In terms of inserts, Panini incorporated popular 1980s/1990s style designs like “Rookies”, “Duos”, and “Gems” to merge nostalgia with a modern aesthetic. Key rookie cards of Brendan Donovan, Grayson Rodriguez, and Bobby Witt Jr. stood out as hits from the “Rookies” subset. “Duos” pairings of teammates and “Gems” focusing on iconic player images generated buzz as well. Topical “Stars of 2022” and “Future Stars” inserts highlighted this year’s brightest young talents like Julio Rodriguez too. Numbering was generally in the low doubles digits or lower here to ensure scarcity.

Another strength of Panini Select is its ability to secure prized serial-numbered on-card autographs from today’s biggest stars. Trout, Soto, Acuna, and Judge parallel autographs or memorabilia cards added tremendous value to boxes. Rc autos and parallels of emerging stars like Witt Jr. and Adley Rutschman tantalized as major pulls. Overall the autograph checklist flexed serious star power with over 100 veteran and prospect autographs integrated throughout the product at various serial number tiers.

On the secondary market, Panini Select baseball proved one of the year’s biggest retail hits. Boxes were tough to find on shelves due to the finite print run but carried eye-popping resale values of $300-500 each online. Individual stars & prospects parallels and especially the ultra-rare Gold variants commanded four-figure prices from collectors chasing specific cards. Even base rookies gained value if part of the subsets. The combination of scarcity, design, and star power clearly resonated with high-end collectors.

While not without its fair share of criticism regarding the pricey randomized hobby box model and manufacturing/quality control issues that come with the territory of new brands and new products, Panini Select 2022 showcased promise as a serious flagship baseball release with legs to build upon its proven football formula for years to come. The rising collector attention and sky-high resell value proved Panini tapped into something special by scratching that itch for an ultra-premium baseball product. Expect many more installments in the flagship Select line as Panini aims to usher baseball cards into a new era competing not just with heritage brands, but also thriving independently as a major new force.

High-quality modern parallels, nostalgic inserts, flashy photographs and autographs, combined with strict limited printing, earned Panini’s inaugural baseball Select set recognition as one of the true “hits” of 2022. It established the foundation for what could develop into one of the elite modern brands and most coveted limited releases in the high-end collector sphere going forward so long as Panini maintains focus on delivering premium rookies, stars and scarce parallel hits with each new year’s checklist. Baseball card fans will surely be waiting anxiously to see where Panini Select goes from here.

2021 PANINI CHRONICLES BASEBALL CARDS

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The 2021 Panini Chronicles Baseball set was released on August 11, 2021 and contains a variety of inserts, parallels, and rookie cards of the games top prospects and stars. Panini Chronicles is one of the leading baseball card brands on the market known for its original photography, diverse lineup of inserts, and flashy parallels. The 2021 edition maintains Panini’s standard of quality while commemorating the current season.

As with years past, the base set contains 234 cards spread across 9 teams per pack. Each pack contains 12 cards and retail boxes have 9 packs inside. Some of the notable rookies included in the base set are Jarred Kelenic, Spencer Torkelson, Bobby Witt Jr., and Ryley Mckay. While none are short prints, these rookie cards tend to be in higher demand than others from the base set. Beyond rookies, most of the biggest star players like Mike Trout, Ronald Acuna Jr., and Fernando Tatis Jr. can all be found as standard base cards as well.

Several of the inserts in 2021 Chronicles showcase various top prospects through the years. The ‘Superfractor Prospects’ parallel contains full rainbow foil refractors of the top farm hands like Kelenic (Mariners), Witt (Royals), and Torkelson (Tigers). A ‘Prospect Pristine’ parallel also highlights these burgeoning talents. Both sets are scarce pulls that excite collectors. Another popular insert is the ‘Chronicles Ink’ autograph checklist. These on-card autographs span many eras but the modern names tend to have high values.

When it comes to parallels, Panini goes all out with their exclusive variations. The ‘Velocity’ parallel contains super short printed ruby versions that are true 1/1 finds. Other ultra-rare variations include ‘Emerald Prospects’, ‘Prism Prospects’, ‘Black Gold’, and ‘Onyx’ parallels. More accessible but still coveted are the ‘Rainbow Foil’, ‘Gold’, and ‘Silver’ parallels of the base cards. Collectors love chasing these alternate looks that make each card uniquely displayed in a binder or collection.

Panini dedicates significant portions of Chronicles each year commemorating the rich history and milestone moments in baseball. The 2021 set carries this tradition forward with inserts like ‘Field of Dreams’ spotlighting the popular 1989 film setting. Other nostalgia themed sets pay homage to ‘MLB Icons’, past ‘Postseason Performers’, and important ‘Anniversary’ seasons. International players also receive recognition through special ‘Heritage’ inserts from countries like Japan, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and more.

As with most modern baseball card products, autographed memorabilia cards are a major draw in Chronicles. Signatures are interspersed throughout the base packs but can also be found more frequently in the ‘Cracker Jack’ insert parallel boxes. Players don’t always sign abundantly for Panini so landing authenticated swatches and autos from stars increases demand exponentially. Rarer still are 1/1 materials like jersey relics parallel to the ‘Velocity’ parallels mentioned earlier.

The overall production values Panini infuses into Chronicles is among the highest in the industry. Cards feature vibrant color photos and designs with a luxurious premium feel. Beyond the trading cards, collectors also enjoy the elaborate packaging of sealed boxes and exclusive wrap-around covers to flagship releases. These presentation elements add to the prestige and shelf appeal that has positioned Chronicles as a topline brand.

The secondary market for Championship level hits from 2021 Chronicles have already started strong. RCs of Witt, Kelenic, and Torkelson pulled early have commanded 4-figure selling prices online. Rare 1/1 finds from the ‘Velocity’ and ‘Onyx’ parallels attract serious bidding wars. Even base rookie cards of top prospects routinely sell in the $50-100 range. With the season ahead to further establish young talents, values are projected to steadily rise barring injuries.

In summary, Panini’s Chronicles baseball set for 2021 maintains the high quality collectors have come to expect with a continued focus on exciting inserts, sought after rookie cards, and flashy parallels. As with years past, this flagship release provides something for all levels of enthusiasts whether pursuing affordable base variants or chasing the ultra-rare iconic hits. For those passionate about modern baseball cards, Chronicles from Panini reigns atop retail offerings each season as a must-have product.

2018 PANINI BASEBALL CARDS

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2018 was another exciting year for Panini America’s lineup of baseball card products. With stars like Shohei Ohtani joining MLB rosters and rookies like Juan Soto making instant impacts, there was no shortage of collectible content for baseball card enthusiasts. Let’s take a closer look at some of the highlights from Panini’s 2018 baseball card releases.

Panini Donruss Optic was once again the flagship baseball card product of the year. The retail blaster and hobby box releases of Optic incorporated shimmer and prism parallels throughout along with several new acetate cards featuring some of the game’s brightest young stars. Top rookies like Ronald Acuña Jr., Alex Bregman, Rhys Hoskins and more were heavily featured. Veteran stars Mike Trout, Aaron Judge, Mookie Betts and others also received ample inclusion with parallels and inserts. One of the most coveted Parallel inserts was the Optic Rainbow Foil variation, produced on much rarer refractors with vivid color contrasts.

For higher-end collectors, Panini offered the lavish Donruss Diamond Kings trading card set. This included exquisite full-bleed parallel cards showcasing current players in dazzling uniform designs meant to evoke classic diamond king baseball card motifs of the past. Parallels included Diamond, Sapphire, Ruby and Emerald colors. The Diamond parallels were strictly limited to only 10 copies each. Top rookies from Optic also received their own swanky Diamond Kings cards to satisfy collectors chasing the year’s top prospects.

Another noteworthy release was 2018 Elite Extra Edition. This offered collectors a deep-dive into the hobby’s hottest rookies through thick slugger and pitcher parallels along with specialized subsets focusing on individual players. Elite Extra also incorporated “hits” in the form of autograph and memorabilia cards of rising young stars. A “Green Shimmer” parallel added another dazzling refractory element throughout as well. For International players stepping up in their MLB debut seasons, Elite Extra shone a light on impact rookies like Ohtani with bountiful inclusion.

For collectors pursuing memorabilia cards, Panini provided its 2018 Classics Football & Baseball dual-sport Memorabilia product. This combined material from current NFL and MLB stars cut from authentic, game-used fabrics inside conventional trading cards. Dual-sport patches brought together gear from players who starred in both sports, while baseball-specific patches, bats and autographed inserts allowed fans to snag unique pieces of their favorite players. Stars represented included Judge, Trout, Buster Posey, Bryce Harper and more.

Meanwhile, Panini’s Prizm brand continued its growth beyond football into baseball with the 2018 Prizm Baseball release. Incorporating “prismatic” parallels throughout with vivid color shifts, Prizm captured the attention of collectors with short-print variations like “Halos” and “Beams.” Top rookies and veterans received plentiful inclusions across parallels and memorabilia or autograph “hits.” Along with its football counterpart, Prizm Baseball positioned itself as one of Panini’s lead “hit” products of the year for collectors pursuing swatches, autographs, and memorabilia cards of their PC players.

Panini also covered all the bases with its 2018 National Trading Card Day release. Available exclusively at Walmart stores nationwide, this provided an affordable and accessible way for new collectors to jump into the hobby. Featuring base cards of over 350 current MLB stars, rookies and prospects, the National Trading Card Day set also included popular short-prints and parallels at attractive price points starting collectors off on their collecting journeys.

In summarizing Panini’s strong 2018 baseball card year, the company’s success came down to providing layers of collectibility across different price spectrums. From affordable retail products featuring all the sport’s stars to high-end memorabilia releases showcasing exclusive game-used content, Panini kept avid collectors chasing various inserts, parallels and hits throughout. Top rookies like Acuña Jr. and Soto found themselves prominently featured across the entire Panini baseball card product spectrum as well, satisfying demand. With another exciting MLB season now underway, collectors can’t wait to see what’s in store from Panini America for 2019.

BASEBALL CARDS PANINI PRIZM

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Panini Prizm baseball cards have become one of the most popular and valuable modern card sets since their debut in 2018. The Prizm brand originated with Panini America as a way to create a modern alternative to Topps’ dominant baseball card monopoly. By incorporating flashy holographic designs and premium materials into their baseball cards, Panini was able to carve out space in the lucrative trading card market and attract collectors with their innovative Prizm concept.

In the late 2010s, Topps still maintained exclusive rights to produce the official Major League Baseball branded trading cards. However, Panini saw an opening to introduce a flashy new style of cards featuring current MLB players through licensing deals with individual athletes and teams. Their goal was to tap into collectors’ desire for modern parallels, refractors, and other insert cards that went beyond the traditional cardboard offerings from Topps.

Panini’s Prizm brand launched in 2018 with releases featuring the NFL, NBA, and soccer. But it was the inaugural 2018 Prizm baseball set that really put Panini on the map as a serious competitor to Topps. The designs incorporated holographic textures and color-shifting foil elements that made the cards pop like never before. Prizm also utilized higher-end card substrates like chromium to give the visuals an ultra-premium feel. Numbered parallels like Gold Prizm and Black Prizm added desirable chase cards for collectors.

Veteran players like Mike Trout, Clayton Kershaw, and Bryce Harper graced the base Prizm rookie cards of up-and-comers like Juan Soto, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The designs incorporated a clean simplicity while still feeling modern—a nice balance that appealed to both new and old-school collectors. With impeccable quality control and sharp centering, the 2018 Prizm baseball cards were an instant hit and marked Panini’s arrival as a force in the trading card industry.

In the years since, Panini Prizm baseball has remained the hottest modern card product on the secondary market. Rookie cards of emerging stars continue to gain value as their careers progress. For example, the Juan Soto 2018 Prizm Base RC has increased over 1000% in secondary market value as he’s developed into a superstar. The Acuña Jr. and Guerrero Jr. RCs from that same set have followed similar appreciation trajectories as those players breakout.

Panini has also expanded the Prizm brand beyond the base set in subsequent years. Insert sets like Prizm Black, Flux, and Red White & Blue have become stand-alone hits. Parallel and autograph cards in these inserts command big money from collectors. The 2019 Prizm Baseball set took the design and quality to an even higher level, cementing Panini’s brand on par with the vintage greats from Topps.

In addition to the flagship Prizm releases, Panini has also leveraged the brand recognition to launch specialized products. Sets focused on rookies, prospects, and star players like Prizm Draft Picks, Rookie Anthology, and Prizm MVP have further expanded the brand’s reach. Special “Classics” editions featuring retired stars in Prizm style have also been a big hit with collectors.

Panini’s aggressive social media presence and influencer marketing campaigns have helped expand the collector base for Prizm beyond the hardcore graphing crowd. Younger fans entering the hobby are drawn to the flashy designs and investable nature of modern Prizm cards versus the static cardboard of decades past. Savvy breakers and YouTube breakers showcase big Prizm hits, fueling even more collector interest in chasing the next big card.

As a result of the growing collector demand, Prizm baseball cards now dominate the high-end auction markets. Individual cards routinely break records, with rare 1/1 parallels fetching five and even six-figure prices. Full base sets also carry premium values that far exceed their original issue prices. It’s not uncommon to see unopened Prizm jumbo hobby boxes list for thousands on the secondary market within months of release.

While Topps still maintains its MLB licensing for traditional sticker cards, Panini has firmly established Prizm as the preeminent modern baseball card product. With no signs of slowing collector appetite, the future remains incredibly bright for the brand. As today’s young stars like Juan Soto and Ronald Acuña Jr. cement their legends, their iconic rookie cards in Prizm style will undoubtedly achieve true collectible gem status matching the all-time greats of the hobby. For better or worse, Panini Prizm has redefined the baseball card collecting landscape and shows no signs of relinquishing its throne anytime soon.

PANINI BASEBALL CARDS 2021 VALUE

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The 2021 baseball card market was dominated by releases from trading card manufacturer Panini America. While Topps still had the MLB license for standard trading cards, Panini secured deals with player associations and leagues to produce unique alternative card products. Their 2021 offerings included Donruss Baseball, Immaculate Collection Baseball, Chronicles, and National Treasures Baseball. With decreased print runs and inserts featuring top stars, many of Panini’s modern baseball cards gained value throughout the year.

Donruss Baseball built on the retro design heritage of the original late 80s/early 90s Donruss set. The 2021 Series 1 release featured young stars like Fernando Tatis Jr. and Bo Bichette on the base cards alongside veteran talents. Parallels and autographed/memorandum cards of elite players commanded the highest prices. A Tatis Jr. X-Fractor parallel card /99 sold for over $1000 raw on eBay by the end of 2021. The excitement surrounding rookies like Bobby Witt Jr. also increased values for their lower-numbered parallel and auto cards.

Immaculate Collection took the retro aesthetic further by recreating the original 1990 Upper Deck design and quality at an ultra-high-end level. With extremely low print runs between 5-20 copies, cards in this set carried tremendous scarcity value. A Mike Trout autograph card from 2021’s release traded hands for upwards of $12,000. Other stars like Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto cracked the $5,000 mark for their Immaculate autos as well. Iconic players from the past like Mickey Mantle and Tom Seaver also saw strong autos sales north of $3,000 a piece.

Chronicles blended product from various Panini brands into one master release. The 2021 edition incorporated cards from Donruss, Prizm, Optic, and more with parallel colored patches and autographs inserted throughout hobby boxes. Young slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was one of the biggest hit cards, with his /25 red parallel auto selling for over $1500 on average. Veteran stars like Mookie Betts, Christian Yelich, and Jacob deGrom also supplied valuable autographs at the $500-1000 level based on serial number. Rookies of the year like AL Winner Shane McClanahan provided affordable rookie hits around $100-200 as well.

National Treasures took card collecting to new heights by fusing rare game-used memorabilia with swatches of jerseys, caps, and even ball pieces. The 2021 National Treasures release encapsulated some truly unique 1/1 cards featuring hall of famers and active superstars. A Mike Piazza patch autograph /1 from 2021 traded hands for a staggering $30,000 at Goldin Auctions. A Babe Ruth “Triple Logoman” 1/1 patch card also climbed towards six figures on the open market. Even base autographs of Tatis Jr. and Acuna Jr. carried $1000+ valuations raw. With such rare pieces of history, National Treasures established itself as the high-end flagship of the Panini baseball world.

As the pandemic continued into 2022, the appetite for collectibles remained strong. Many 2021 Panini baseball rookies and parallels maintained or increased in secondary market value as the players’ careers progressed. Witt Jr.’s prized rookie autos held steady near $1000 on average. Parallels of Ohtani remained some of the most in-demand modern cards. Flagship sets like Donruss Series 1 also retained collector interest long-term. The 2021 Panini baseball releases thrived in a shifting marketplace by delivering novel designs, generous hits, and accessible hobby boxes at mass retailer levels while also tapping into high-roller demand through National Treasures. This blend of mass appeal and exclusivity helped establish continued value long after the original release dates.

Going forward, the competition between Panini and Topps will only drive more innovation across the board. But 2021 stands out as a seminal year where Panini baseball cemented itself as a viable alternative while pushing box value and parallel/hit scarcity to new limits. Sets like Donruss, Chronicles and Immaculate Collection delivered accessible paths to star rookie cards and autographs that retain appreciation. And National Treasures took one-of-a-kind game material collecting to a whole new stratosphere. With strong early interest holding strong one year later, many 2021 Panini baseball cards appear primed to enjoy stability and potential long-term upside that comes with capturing a unique moment in the trading card timeline.

PANINI VS TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS

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Panini and Topps are the two biggest producers of modern baseball trading cards, with each company offering collectors a wide range of products annually. Both brands have loyal followings among card fans, and the debate often arises around which producer creates the higher quality cards. Let’s take a deeper look at how Panini and Topps compare in several key areas.

Licensing and Exclusivity: Topps has had an exclusive license to produce Major League Baseball cards in the United States since 1961. In 2020 Panini signed a deal with MLB to produce baseball cards from 2021-2025, ending Topps’ monopoly. This opened the door for direct head-to-head competition between the two companies. Topps still maintains English language exclusivity outside of North America through 2025 as part of their agreement. Panini’s license covers the United States, Canada and Latin America.

Design and Photography: Both Panini and Topps employ talented graphic designers and photographers to make their baseball cards visually appealing. Topps is known for cleaner and simpler card designs that highlight the primary photo, while Panini tends to experiment more with layouts, embellishments and various photo treatments. Some collectors prefer Topps’ traditional style, while others appreciate Panini’s willingness to take more creative risks in design. In terms of photo quality, most experts agree the two companies are comparable. Action shots from both Topps and Panini look incredibly sharp on modern card stock.

Rookies and rookie card designs: Each company introduces rookie cards for MLB’s newest stars, which are highly coveted by collectors. Topps tends to debut rookies through its flagship Series 1 and Series 2 releases each year, while Panini rookies first appear in products like Prizm, Mosaic and Donruss. Topps rookie designs have a classic, familiar look to them, while Panini opts for flashier, photo-centric rookie treatments that match their brand aesthetic.

Autograph and memorabilia cards: When it comes to signed cards and cards containing game-used memorabilia, Panini offers collectors more variety and higher end options compared to Topps. Panini products like Prizm, Flawless and Immaculate are renowned for ultra-rare 1/1 autograph and memorabilia cards that can sell for thousands of dollars. While Topps does include autographed and memorabilia cards across various sets, they don’t reach the same stratospheric production levels and prices as Panini’s high-end lines.

Base card design and production: Topps baseball cards stick to a consistent color palette, font and minimal design elements year after year with their Series 1 and Series 2 releases. This reliability and familiarity is valued by completionists and long-time collectors. Meanwhile, Panini switches things up creatively with each new product line, keeping design fresh but also challenging completion. Some argue Topps cards overall look and feel superior as base cards though Panini has closed the gap. It remains a personal preference which base card collectors prefer. Both use high quality stock.

Parallels and special inserts: Panini has made their name with innovative parallels and creative framed and unframed inserts featuring hit probabilities, on-card autographs, records and more. Topps still offers both in their releases as well, like Status refractors and Topps Now “error” cards for timely moments. But Panini’s wide array of parallels numbered to relatively low print runs and one-of-one special cards provide a higher entertainment factor for collectors chasing shiny short prints.

Design elements: Topps cards have a recognizable timeless design look, featuring player name above photo, team logo/colors and uniform contrasts. Panini is as good with photography but tend toward bolder graphic design choices, unusual color schemes, embossing/treatments on cards and more “card within a card” type progressive parallels. They also include on-card stats more often than Topps.

Price: Collector boxes of Topps flagship releases list for lower initial prices than comparable Panini box products with similar card counts. However, Panini boxes often yield cards with retail resale potential equal to or greater than key Topps rookies, autographs and rare parallels depending on player demand. Meanwhile, common Topps base cards hold steady secondary market prices better long-term.

Availability: Topps releases are easier for most collectors to find in traditional retail outlets like Walmart, Target and hobby shops as well as their online store. Panini products require more legwork to track down as they are distributed by a network of authorized card shop dealers. This scarcity also impacts secondary market pricing at times.

Both Topps and Panini have much to offer collectors depending on personal tastes. Neither brand is definitively “better” – they simply take different creative approaches that appeal to varying segments of the massive and growing baseball card fanbase. With ongoing competition, both companies are also constantly working to improve and one-up each other. This rivalry benefits collectors the most by fueling innovation across the industry.

2022 PANINI MOSAIC BASEBALL CARDS WORTH MONEY

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The 2022 Panini Mosaic baseball card set was released in October 2022 and features stars from across Major League Baseball. While the set does not carry the same cache as the flagship Topps flagship products, some key cards from within the 2022 Mosaic set have already started to gain value due to the players and parallels included. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top 2022 Panini Mosaic baseball cards that collectors believe will continue to rise in worth.

One of the biggest rookie cards in the 2022 Mosaic set is Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Julio Rodriguez. Considered perhaps the top prospect in all of baseball entering 2022, Rodriguez did not disappoint in his inaugural MLB season. Despite some injuries, Rodriguez slashed .284/.345/.477 with 28 home runs and 25 stolen bases in just 122 games. This helped him finish third in AL Rookie of the Year voting. Rodriguez’s standard base card from 2022 Mosaic currently values around $15-20, however some of his parallel and autographed versions have already started appreciating substantially. The Silver /199 parallel and Gold /50 parallel both tend to sell in the $75-100 range currently. Rodriguez’s autographed card averages around $250-300 based on recent eBay sales. As Rodriguez continues developing into a true five-tool superstar, these Mosaic cards are likely just the beginning of cards that will gain big in value long term.

Another top rookie with high value Mosaic cards is Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena. Having won ALCS and World Series MVP awards while helping lead the Astros to a championship in just his first year, Pena immediately inserted himself into the elite shortstop conversation. While his base Mosaic card also runs around $15-20, some key parallels have followed Rodriguez’s cards in beginning to gain value as well. The Jeremy Pena Silver parallel and Gold parallel each sell in the $75-100 range currently according to recent sales. His autographed card averages around $200. As Pena looks to build off his incredible rookie campaign and further cement himself, his 2022 Mosaic rookie cards stand to continue appreciating especially if he can duplicate or surpass his early success.

While rookie cards tend to carry the most hype and potential for growth, superstar veterans like Mike Trout can still produce very valuable Mosaic cards as well. The face of the Los Angeles Angels franchise, Trout is a perennial MVP candidate who is still in his prime at just 30 years old. Despite some injury issues the last two seasons, Trout remains one of the most coveted athletes in the sports card world. His base 2022 Mosaic card sells in the $40-50 range currently. Several parallel and auto variations have begun emerging as clear standouts. Trout’s Silver parallel /199 and Gold parallel /50 have averaged $250-300 in recent sales. But perhaps the true blue chip is his 1/1 Printing Plate auto, which recently sold for over $2,000 on eBay. As Trout looks to bounce back and play close to a full season in 2023, these limited Mosaic cards profile as strong long term holds.

While rookies and superstars typically drive the hype, breakout veterans can also produce surprising valuable Mosaic cards. One such player is Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II. Having a phenomenal rookie campaign with 19 home runs and stolen base speed while playing elite defense, Harris II established himself as a future star. His base Mosaic card hovers around $30 currently. But limited parallels have already started to boom in value. The Michael Harris II Silver parallel averages $150-200 in sales. Perhaps most impressive is his Gold parallel, which recently sold for over $500 on eBay. As Harris II continues developing and the Braves remain contenders, cards from his breakout rookie year profile well long term.

In addition to young stars, Mosaic often yields surprise valuable cards for veteran All-Stars as well. A case in point is St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. Enjoying perhaps his finest season ever at age 35, Goldschmidt led the NL in slugging and OPS while smashing 35 home runs and 115 RBI. As a result, he captured his first career NL MVP award in 2022. While his base Mosaic card is under $20, Goldschmidt parallels and autos have taken off. The Goldschmidt Silver and Gold parallels each sell in the $75-100 range currently. Even more impressive, his auto fetched nearly $400 in a recent auction. For a veteran card to gain that type of premium value reflects how special Goldschmidt’s 2022 season truly was. His Mosaic cards may hold significant long term value in recalling that fantastic MVP campaign.

While the 2022 Panini Mosaic set does not have the same initial mainstream collector enthusiasm as Topps Flagship, savvy investors are recognizing breakout rookies, continuing superstars, and surprise veterans from the set are producing cards already demonstrating budding value. Players like Julio Rodriguez, Jeremy Pena, Mike Trout, Michael Harris II, and Paul Goldschmidt have seen spotlight parallel and auto versions from their 2022 Mosaic rookies cards appreciate substantially in a short time. As these athletes continue building careers that elevate to perennial All-Star or superstar status, their early limited cards from defining seasons profile well long term. The 2022 Panini Mosaic release seems certain to yield multiple seven-figure value cards down the road. Securing top rookies, stars and breakouts in parallel and auto form bodes well as a long term portfolio investment for collectors.

BEST CARDS IN 2021 PANINI PRIZM DRAFT PICKS BASEBALL

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The 2021 Panini Prizm Draft Picks baseball set had many highly sought after rookie cards for players drafted in the 2021 MLB Draft. While the long-term value of these cards remains to be seen as the players progress in their careers, there are already some clear standouts that have generated a lot of buzz in the hobby. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the best cards collectors were chasing from this year’s Prizm Draft Picks baseball release.

Perhaps the biggest star of the 2021 draft class was Vanderbilt pitcher Jack Leiter, who was selected second overall by the Texas Rangers. As the son of former big leaguer Al Leiter, Jack generated plenty of hype leading up to the draft. His rookie cards have unsurprisingly been some of the most popular from Prizm Draft Picks. The Leiter prizm parallel cards in particular hold premium value, as prizms are widely considered the top parallel set in the hobby. Of Leiter’s prizm cards, the red prizm /25 is the true short-print chase card due to the extremely low print run. Even his base prizm and silver prizms command big money due to the combination of his pedigree, draft slot, and on-field potential. Leiter’s autos, especially low-numbered versions, are also at the top of most collectors’ want lists for 2021 Prizm Draft Picks.

Another pitcher generating a ton of buzz is Jordan Lawlar, who the Arizona Diamondbacks selected at #1 overall. Like Leiter, Lawlar possesses all the tools to become a true difference maker at the MLB level in the coming years. His rookie cards have followed a similar hype trajectory, with the prizm and auto parallels leading the way in terms of value. Of Lawlar’s cards, the prizm black gold /10 is the true big ticket item, as black golds are notoriously difficult to pull. Even his base prizms and lower-numbered autos can fetch five-figure prices on the current market. Lawlar is considered a true blue-chip talent, so his cards hold long-term value upside as well.

While pitchers Leiter and Lawlar garnered the most pre-draft attention, a position player has emerged as another top rookie to collect from 2021 Prizm Draft Picks – high school shortstop Marcelo Mayer. The Boston Red Sox selected Mayer with the fourth overall pick, and his tools-filled profile has collectors excited about his future. Mayer’s prizm and auto parallels follow a similar value hierarchy to Leiter and Lawlar, with the prizm black gold /10 at the very top. However, Mayer’s base prizm is also highly sought after due to his huge upside. His low-numbered autos are hot commodities as well. Mayer has all the makings of a perennial all-star, so his cards hold value as a long-term investment for patient collectors.

Outside the top few picks, there are still several other rookies from 2021 Prizm Draft Picks producing big card values. Colton Cowser (Baltimore Orioles pick 5) and Brady House (Los Angeles Dodgers pick 23) have seen strong early demand for their prizm and auto parallels as well. Shortstop Sal Frelick (Milwaukee Brewers pick 15) also has collectors chasing his prizms and low-numbered autos. Pitcher Andrew Painter (Philadelphia Phillies pick 13) is a breakout star to watch, with his prizms and autos rising in secondary market value. For lower-numbered cards of the top college arms like Painter, Jack Leiter and Jordan Lawlar prizm blacks remain the true seven-figure big ticket cards in the set at the moment.

In terms of overall product, hobby boxes of 2021 Panini Prizm Draft Picks baseball remain some of the most sought after unopened wax on the market today. With only a few hundred boxes produced, they retain an extremely limited print run. Each box contains 12 packs with 4 cards per pack. The odds of pulling the top short-printed parallels are extremely low, which adds to the box break excitement. On the current secondary market, Prizm Draft Picks hobby boxes can command prices up to $10,000 unopened. For high-end individual cards, comp sales of Leiter, Lawlar and Mayer prizm blacks and low-numbered autos have cracked six-figures already.

As the 2021 draft class begins their professional careers and we get a better sense of who may become true stars, the cards of top performers like Leiter, Lawlar and Mayer will likely only increase in value if they live up to expectations on the field. For patient collectors, 2021 Prizm Draft Picks offers a chance to acquire rookie cards of players who could develop into future MVPs, Cy Young winners and batting champions. While results remain unseen, the combination of elite prospects, flashy Prizm designs and extremely limited print runs have cemented this set as one of the premier modern release in the baseball card world today. For high-end collectors chasing the next big stars, 2021 Panini Prizm Draft Picks remains one of the single-best sets from which to find those investments.

The 2021 Panini Prizm Draft Picks baseball release introduced the rookie cards of a draft class with huge upside, led by the prized cards of top picks Jack Leiter, Jordan Lawlar and Marcelo Mayer. Between the star prospects, flashy Prizm parallels and extremely limited supply, this set offers collectors and investors the chance to acquire what could develop into true blue-chip memorabilia from one of the most exciting drafts in recent memory. While results on the field will determine long-term value, the 2021 Prizm Draft Picks cards of elite talents like Leiter, Lawlar and Mayer are already being crowned modern classics in the hobby.