The 2016 Topps Baseball card set offers collectors a wide array of potentially valuable rookie cards and star player cards. While it may be too early to tell which specific cards from the set will become long-term valuable gems, here are some candidates worth watching based on players’ career trajectories and stats so far.
Perhaps the most valuable card from the 2016 Topps set is the base rookie card of Chicago Cubs star third baseman Kris Bryant. The number one overall pick from the 2013 MLB Draft, Bryant won the 2015 National League Rookie of the Year award and helped lead the Cubs to their first World Series title since 1908 in 2016. He is considered one of the top third basemen in baseball and is in the early prime of his career at just 27 years old. Bryant’s impressive rookie season and the Cubs’ World Series win generated a lot of excitement, which is reflected in the price of his rookie card on the secondary market. PSA 10 Gem Mint examples routinely sell for over $100, while raw copies in excellent condition still command $20-30.
Another rookie who had a major impact right away was Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger. The 2017 NL Rookie of the Year, Bellinger smashed 39 home runs in his first full season in the big leagues. At just 24 years old in 2021, he has already established himself as one of the premier power hitters in baseball. Like Bryant, Bellinger’s early career success and all-star caliber performances make his 2016 Topps rookie card very desirable. High-grade PSA 10 copies have sold for over $300, while even raw near-mint examples demand $50-75.
Chicago Cubs star first baseman Anthony Rizzo does not have a rookie card in the 2016 Topps set since he had already been in the majors for a few seasons. His base card from that year could become very valuable long-term since Rizzo continues to be a rock for the Cubs offense and is still just 32 years old as of 2021. Any PSA 10 versions of Rizzo’s 2016 Topps base card would be worth $50-75 given his continuing high-level play in Chicago. Even raw near-mint copies can sell in the $10-15 range.
Pitchers can also have valuable rookie cards, like Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer. Arguably one of the best pitchers of his generation, the three-time Cy Young Award winner broke into the big leagues back in 2008 but did not have widespread card recognition until later in his career. His 2016 Topps base card shows Scherzer in a Nationals uniform and could appreciate well as he continues racking up accolades and wins deeper into his 30s. PSA 10 copies are priced around $25 right now.
The 2016 Topps set also featured rookie cards for several other potential stars who are just starting to hit their primes, such as Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, Astros hurler Lance McCullers Jr., and Phillies starter Aaron Nola. While still unproven long-term compared to the players mentioned above, strong future performances from any of these young talents could make their 2016 rookies very valuable in the coming years. Near-mint raw copies can often be found for $5-10 apiece currently.
The 2016 Topps set introduced the baseball card collecting world to several future all-stars and potential Hall of Famers. Led by the valuable rookie cards of Kris Bryant and Cody Bellinger, savvy investors would do well to hang onto copies of these rookies and additional stars like Rizzo and Scherzer for the long-haul. Over time, as players’ careers progress and accomplishments accumulate, the price tags attached to their early-career cards from the 2016 Topps release should appreciate accordingly. For collectors willing to be patient, this set offers opportunities to discover gems that could grow tremendously in value in the years ahead.
