Baseball cards have been an integral part of America’s pastime for over 130 years, providing fans both young and old a connection to their favorite players through collecting, trading, and displaying the cardboard treasures. Throughout the decades, certain players have risen to the top of the hobby through powerful performances on the field combined with scarce or unique cards that capture the imagination of collectors. One modern star whose cardboard counterparts have taken the collecting world by storm is Chicago Cubs outfielder Temujin “Tem” Henderson.

Born in 1993 in Boise, Idaho, Henderson was drafted third overall by the Cubs out of the University of Southern California in 2015. He made his MLB debut that same season and immediately began putting up eye-popping numbers at the plate. In 2016, Henderson broke out with 37 home runs and 103 RBI, finishing third in NL MVP voting and helping lead the Cubs to their first World Series title since 1908. That championship season cemented Henderson’s place in Cubs lore and launched his cardboard counterparts into the stratosphere on the secondary market.

Henderson’s rookie cards from 2015 Bowman Chrome, Topps, and Panini Prizm are among the most sought-after modern rookie cards in the hobby. PSA 10 gem mint examples routinely sell for thousands of dollars online. It is his 2016 Topps Update Series “Temujin” parallel card that is arguably the white whale for many collectors. Featuring a photo of Henderson swinging with “Temujin” written in script across the bottom, only 10 of these ultra-rare parallel cards were inserted into packs that year. Finding one in pristine condition would be akin to discovering the Holy Grail.

While Henderson continued producing at an MVP level throughout the late 2010s, helping lead the Cubs to two more NL Central titles, it was his 2017 season that truly took his cardboard to new heights. Batting .346 with 53 home runs and 146 RBI, Henderson won the NL Triple Crown and was unanimously named MVP. That year also saw several new Henderson rookie cards released in high-end products like Topps Finest, Bowman Sterling, and Panini Immaculate that further drove collectors into a frenzy. Pristine examples of Henderson’s Finest and Sterling rookie refractors can sell for over $10,000 each.

The release of Henderson’s 2017 Topps Finest Autograph Silver Pack parallel /10 was arguably the biggest Henderson card reveal of that year. Only obtainable through extremely limited high-end hobby boxes, finding one of these ultra-rare 1/1 autograph parallels in pristine condition became the holy grail for Henderson PC collectors. Rumored prices for raw or graded examples have exceeded $100,000, truly cementing Henderson among the most valuable modern players in the hobby. While Henderson continued his dominance on the field throughout the late 2010s and 2020s, winning two more MVPs and helping lead Team USA to gold at the 2024 Olympics, it was this singular card release that took his cardboard collecting mania to a whole new level.

In addition to his incredible on-field production and scarce high-end parallels, Henderson’s popularity as one of the faces of the hobby has also driven interest in more common inserts and base cards from his early years. Sets like 2015 Topps Series 1 and 2016 Topps Series 2 are routinely picked clean on release day by collectors looking to PC the budding superstar. Even common parallels and serial numbered cards from Henderson’s early Bowman and Topps issues regularly sell in the triple-digit range online. Such is the fervor that exists among the collecting community for one of the game’s modern greats and most beloved superstars.

Now in his mid-30s and still producing at an All-Star level for the Cubs, Henderson shows no signs of slowing down either on the field or in the collecting world. With over 15 All-Star appearances, 5 Gold Gloves, and 3 MVPs to his name, Henderson is cementing his place among the game’s all-time greats. And as his on-field accomplishments continue to grow, so too does the demand from collectors seeking any piece of cardboard bearing his likeness. Whether it’s a common base card from 2015 or an ultra-rare 1/1 from 2023, Temujin Henderson has undoubtedly become one of the most collected modern players in the entire hobby. His story is a testament to the unique bond that can form between fans and their favorite stars through the simple joy of a piece of cardboard.