Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has quickly become one of the most followed young stars in all of Major League Baseball. Since making his MLB debut in 2019, Guerrero Jr. has showcased why he was such a highly touted prospect by slugging at an elite level from the left side of the plate. His pedigree and prodigious power have also made his baseball cards a hot commodity for collectors.
Guerrero Jr. hails from a true baseball family as his Hall of Fame father, Vladimir Guerrero, was one of the most feared hitters of his generation during his 16-year MLB career spent primarily with the Montreal Expos and Los Angeles Angels. Growing up around the game, Guerrero Jr. developed exceptional hitting abilities from a young age while coming up through the Toronto Blue Jays’ farm system.
Even before reaching the majors, Guerrero Jr.’s prospect cards began gaining value due to the lofty expectations surrounding his offensive talents. Some of his highly sought after rookie cards include his 2015 Bowman Draft Chrome Auto Refractor PSA 10, 2016 Bowman Sterling Mini Gold Refractor Auto PSA 10, and 2016 Bowman Chrome Blue Refractor Auto PSA 10. These early cards highlight Guerrero Jr.’s tools and potential that prospect hounds had been excited about for years.
In 2018, Guerrero Jr. truly broke out by hitting .381 with 20 home runs over 116 minor league games, winning both the Eastern League MVP and Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year awards. That dominance further fueled anticipation for his big league arrival and increased demand for his prospect cards. The standout season also yielded newcard products like 2018 Bowman Draft Chrome Superfractor Auto PSA 10 that command premium prices.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. finally made his MLB debut for the Blue Jays on April 26, 2019. While he struggled at times to adjust to advanced pitching, Guerrero Jr. displayed the raw abilities that made him the consensus top prospect. He finished his rookie year with a .272 batting average, 15 home runs, and 69 RBI in 123 games.
Card collectors were eager to get their hands on Guerrero Jr.’s inaugural MLB cards from 2019 Topps Series 1. Some of his most significant rookie offerings include the Base Paper PSA 10, Rainbow Foil PSA 10, Rainbow Foil Autograph PSA 10, and Gold Rainbow Foil /50 PSA 10. These served as the starting point for what has become a mighty career at the game’s highest level on and off the field.
In 2020, Guerrero Jr. took a noticeable step forward in his second major league campaign. He slashed .262/.329/.489 with nine home runs over 60 games shortened by the pandemic. But it was his breakout 2021 season that truly announced his arrival among the game’s brightest stars and biggest sluggers.
At age 22 last year, Guerrero Jr. clobbered 48 homers with 123 RBI to finish third in AL MVP voting. The epic offensive showing further amplified enthusiasm for his certified autographed, numbered, and rare parallel cards from 2021 Topps products like Series 1, Series 2, Chrome, and Bowman. The heightened demand has seen some of these cards appreciate exponentially in value since being pulled from packs just a year ago.
Some marquee Guerrero Jr. cards from ’21 that exemplify his superstardom include the Gold Rainbow Foil Auto /50 PSA 10, Platinum Anniversary Auto 1/1 BGS 9.5, and Sepia Parallel Auto BGS 9. With each coming season, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. only seems to improve and add to his legend on the diamond. As a result, his dedicated fans and card collectors can expect many more amazing game-used, autographed, and one-of-one storybook pieces to be crafted and cherished for decades to come.
At just 23 years old with his entire career still ahead of him, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has already cemented himself among the elite talents in baseball today. His ability to impact the game with both his performances and collecting presence still appears to be growing exponentially as well. Both on and off the field, Vlad Jr. looks primed to achieve heights that may someday surpass even his Hall of Fame father. His ascension to stardom continues to excite collectors tracking his burgeoning career through his memorable baseball cards.
