The year 2020 brought many changes and challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including significant interruptions and delays to the Major League Baseball season. The baseball card hobby continued to thrive. While many sought refuge and nostalgia from the cards of their childhood, others dove headfirst into the collecting world for the first time amid lockdowns and quarantines.
Top rookies like Luis Robert of the Chicago White Sox and Alec Bohm of the Philadelphia Phillies saw skyrocketing interest in their rookie cards. Veteran stars like Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels and Christian Yelich of the Milwaukee Brewers maintained their lofty statuses. No player seemed to capture collectors’ attention quite like Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres.
The charismatic 21-year-old superstar had a breakout season in 2019 that further amplified anticipation for his cards in 2020. His Topps Chrome Refractor rookie parallel /5 from 2019 achieved auction prices over $20,000. Even his common base rookie cards escalated to over $100 on the secondary market. In terms of sheer interest and selling prices, Tatis Jr. was the true king of baseball cards in 2020.
Luis Robert also dazzled in his rookie season with the White Sox and gave Tatis Jr. a run for his money. The Cuban outfielder slashed .338/.376/.590 with 11 home runs and 31 RBI in only 64 games. His Prizm Silver Pack Fresh Paper rookie parallel /25 sold for more than $3,000 raw. Even common Luis Robert rookies routinely went for $50-$100 through the year. Expect his cards to appreciate significantly with continued All-Star caliber production.
While not quite as hyped as Tatis Jr. and Robert initially, Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm had a superb rookie showing in 2020. He batted .338 with four home runs and 23 RBI in only 44 games. Bohm’s Orange Ice Prizm rookie parallel /49 sold for around $600 ungraded. Like Robert, collectors anticipate big things from Bohm which should further elevate the values of his rookie cards going forward, especially if he captures hardware like Rookie of the Year.
Mike Trout continues to cement his status as the greatest player of his generation and the face of the hobby. In a shortened 2020 season limited to just 50 games, Trout still slashed .281/.403/.624 with 17 home runs and 33 RBI. Any new Trout rookie or star card from recent issues maintained immense value, led by his ultra-short printed 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Superfractor /1 that shattered records at auction with a final hammer price of over $3.84 million. Trout transcends the sport and the collecting industry alike.
Somewhat lost amidst the rookie wave was the overlooked dominance of Milwaukee Brewers slugger Christian Yelich. While injuries limited him to only 58 games, he still hit .205/.356/.430 when on the field. Yelich continued to drive interest in his 2018 Topps National Baseball Card Day blue parallel /100, which cracked the $1,000 mark graded. His rare 2015 Topps Update sepia parallel /25 also achieved auction prices over $2,000 graded. Yelich remains the safest veteran investment at the game’s highest level.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. further cemented his pedigree as heir apparent to his Hall of Famer father’s legacy and expanded his collecting fanbase. While offensive stats dipped slightly to .262/.329/.489 with nine home runs, his tools still tantalize. Guerrero Jr.’s prized cards included his 2018 Bowman Chrome Orange Refractor /99, 2018 Panini Class 1 autographed white parallel /25, and Topps Chrome Sapphire RC /150 that sailed past $1,000 each ungraded through 2020 sales.
Other rookies who broke out like Oakland Athletics first baseman Matt Olson and Atlanta Braves ace Ian Anderson saw sharp rises in their card values as well. Veterans Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, and Gerrit Cole maintained stable demand for recent parallels and autographs as well in the tumultuous year.
Two star pitchers who suffered 2020 season-ending injuries still enjoyed significant card market momentum. New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom increased interest in his 2018 Topps Chrome Orange Refractor auto /50 and 2014 Bowman Sterling auto parallel /50 to new heights above $1,000 each. Los Angeles Dodgers star Cody Bellinger generated offers over $500 for PSA 10 copies of his 2017 Bowman Chrome Orange Refractor /50 during his absence recovering from injury.
Of course, no baseball card discussion would be complete without honoring perhaps the greatest card of all-time – the legendary 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle in PSA Gem Mint condition. One of these ultra-iconic cards achieved a new record auction price of over $5.2 million in 2020. While far outside reach of most collectors’ budgets, the Mantle’s perseverance at the very top demonstrates both the timeless appeal of “The Commerce Comet” as well as the unending strength and stability of the longstanding collectibles marketplace, even during a global crisis.
In summary, 2020 reaffirmed rookie cards as the driving force amid new chasing emerging stars like Tatis Jr., Robert, and Bohm. Annual issues continued celebrating baseball’s best including Trout, Yelich, deGrom and more. Veterans showcased stability while rookies led excitement.injured stars still attracted. The industry proved more resilient than ever before. Even in times of turbulence and change, the community found solace in the pastimes and passions of America’s favorite pastime on cardboard. With 2021 now open for more records to be shattered, the future of baseball cards looks as bright as ever.
