Top 20 Most Valuable Baseball Rookie Cards to Collect From Topps
- Paul Seviner
- Jul 31
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 5
When it comes to baseball collectibles, few themes stand out more than rookie cards. They’re the foundation of every serious collection and, more often than not, the most valuable baseball rookie cards in the vintage marketplace. If you’re asking yourself, what are the best baseball cards to collect, especially the most valuable Topps rookie cards? Well, we’ve got you covered. This is a curated list of the top 20 best baseball rookie cards from Topps over the last 25 years—base cards that are worth your money.
20. 2010 Topps Series 1 # 2 Buster Posey
Posey’s career has often been compared to Joe Mauer’s—great hitter, MVP, and one-team player. His flagship rookie from 2010 remains a top target for long-term value. PSA 10 GEM MINT can be found from $120, and lower grades at a fraction of the price - like 9s for $30.
19. 2024 Topps Update # US100 Paul Skenes
A young phenom who made his mark early—rookie of the year, All-Star, and now a hot prospect with a card climbing quickly in value. PSA10s can be bought for about $50-60.
18. 2022 Topps Update # US100 Bobby Witt Jr.
A 2022 star, Witt’s 30/30 seasons and Gold Glove make his rookie cards essential for the long-term investor. PSA10s start from $50 per slab.
17. 2002 Topps Series 2 # 622 Joe Mauer
The quiet start of a Twins legend—Mauer’s rookie is a cornerstone for any long-term collection. HIs PSA10s are hard to come by, and fetch around $250. Or you can look at lower grades, some 9s with on-card autograph graded for the same price range too.
16. 2014 Topps Series 2 # 424 José Ramirez
Power, speed, and underrated—Ramirez’s rookie cards are gaining recognition among long-term collectors. 10s can be found from $150.
15. 2018 Topps Update # US300 Juan Soto
On the rise after a Hall of Fame-caliber career start, Soto’s rookie cards are prized in the modern market. 10s can be bought at $40.
14. 2011 Topps Series 1 # 145 Freddie Freeman
A clutch hitter and MVP, Freeman’s rookie cards remain popular and steadily appreciating.
GEM 10s available around $150.
13. 2014 Topps Update # US26 Mookie Betts
A consistent star and two-time World Series champ, Betts’s rookie card continues to climb in value. High gems can be bought around $120.
12. 2018 Topps Update # US250 Ronald Acuña Jr.
Power, speed, MVP—Acuña’s rookie cards are some of the most exciting in the market right now. And 10s are on offers right now as low as $35, that is such a great value.
11. 2015 Topps Update # US82 Francisco Lindor
Francisco Lindor’s 2015 Topps Update rookie card is a fan favorite, known for its memorable design and his infectious smile. Among parallels, his rare Hidden Gems Variation, one of onluy 40 cards on the checklist, features a tiny sparkle under his glove—making it a sought-after gem for collectors and a standout of the decade. 10s can be found around $100.
10. 2005 Topps Series 2 # 677 Justin Verlander
A future Hall of Famer and three-time Cy Young winner, Verlander’s rookie remains highly desirable. High gems start around $150.
9. 2004 Topps Chrome Yadier Molina
Few catchers have impressed as Molina, making his rookie cards a mainstay for catchers’ sets. His 10s have a 187 population at PSA, and are on sale for about $550.
8. 2008 Topps Updates & Highlights Baseball # UH240 Clayton Kershaw
Clayton Kershaw is one of the greatest pitchers of all time, with three Cy Young wins and a 2014 NL MVP. His 2008 Topps Baseball rookie card, part of the Updates & Highlights set, remains his most valuable non-autographed card—still highly desirable as his career winds down and he’s headed for Cooperstown. 10s are on offer around $600.
7. 2001 Topps Series 2 # 726 Ichiro Suzuki
A giant in international baseball, Ichiro’s rookie cards are a top target for global collectors. Hard to find 10s at the moment, there are 9s around $120 from time to time.
6. 2001 Topps Traded & Rookies # T-247 Albert Pujols
The start of Pujols’s Hall of Fame career—his early cards are essential and highly valuable.
HIs last PSA 10 sold for $1,400. You can find PSA9s around $240.
5. 2022 Topps Series 2 # 661 Bryce Harper
Bryce Harper is one of the brightest stars of his era, and his 2012 Topps rookie card is highly collectible due to its rarity. Added late to the Series 2 checklist after his April MLB debut, it’s a short print with limited copies. While it doesn’t have official odds, that scarcity makes it a sought-after gem. Variations in factory sets are more common and affordable, but the pack-inserted version remains highly prized. PSA 10s are available around $110.
4. 2017 Topps Baseball Series 1 #287 Aaron Judge
Collectors love the long ball, and few in modern baseball do it better than Aaron Judge. With two AL MVPs and a record-breaking 62 home runs in 2022, he’s now a beloved star whose cards, like his 2007 Topps RC, are coveted by fans everywhere—proof that big power and long-term fame go hand in hand. About $300 on sale for 10s.
3. 2018 Topps Series 2 # US700 Shohei Ohtani
Ohtani’s rookie debut changed the game—his cards have skyrocketed and are among the most desirable in the hobby. 10s around $250 on offers.
2. 2008 Topps Updates & Highlights Baseball # UH280 Max Scherzer
Clayton Kershaw isn’t the only three-time Cy Young winner with a rookie card in 2008 Topps Updates & Highlights—Max Scherzer is in there too. Pitchers often get respect late in their careers, and Scherzer’s card is one of his most iconic, with a place firmly secured in the hobby’s history. 10s can be found around $130.
1. 2011 Topps Update # US175 Mike Trout
The 2011 Topps Update Mike Trout isn’t just the most important rookie of the 21st century — some say it’s one of the most significant sports cards of the modern era. It’s the first flagship card of the best player of the 2010s, but with only five base cards from his debut year, options are limited. Still, it helped revive the importance of Flagship rookies, showing scarcity creates value. Despite recent price dips, it remains a cornerstone of contemporary collecting. 10s are available for $800.
These top 20 best baseball cards to collect aren’t just about nostalgia—they’re about smart investing, spotting rookie baseball cards worth money that will earn their place in your collection for decades. Whether you’re just starting out or aiming to complete a masterpiece collection, these cards are the cornerstone of the most valuable and popular baseball cards available today.
Keep your eye on the market; in a hobby driven by history and potential, these cards aren’t just worth owning—they’re worth holding onto. This article is a part of new Invest in Rookies Series, in which we explore markets and most valuable gems across all sports and type of collectibles. Disclosure: When you click or make a purchase through our links, we may earn a small percentage, which helps us maintain and improve our site.
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