Top 20 players and their key rookie cards

[Topnotchsy]

I decided to take the list of top players that ESPN put out and look at the prices on their key rookie cards. I thought it might be interesting to look over.

Below are the results, but there were a few things I noticed:
- The only guy on this list who I think is clearly not on a HOF trajectory is Charlie Blackmon, and his BC Auto is definitely the cheapest
- Altuve is the only guy on the list without a definitive autograph card. The parallels of his BC rookie sell really well though
- The Votto card is not his rookie autograph (his RC cards are in 2002 BC) but still does pretty well
- The vast majority of these players are really young
- Strasburg suffers from not having a clear RC card. His first Bowman Auto was a regular Bowman and then he had 2 BC Auto's the same season. None sell particularly well.
- Max Scherzer and Corey Kluber don't have BC Auto's. Their Elite RC Auto's don't get near the attention that BC Auto's get. (To be fair, both are also older and their path too stardom has been less direct than some of the others


Player ----------------- Card --------------- Price
1. Mike Trout --- 2009 Bowman Chrome Auto --- $2,800
2. Clayton Kershaw --- 2006 Bowman Chrome Auto --- $625
3. Jose Altuve --- 2010 Bowman Chrome --- $15
4. Max Scherzer --- 2007 Donruss Elite Auto --- $65
5. Bryce Harper --- 2011 Bowman Chrome Auto --- $825
6. Corey Kluber --- 2007 Donruss Elite Auto --- $35
7. Nolan Arenado --- 2010 Bowman Chrome Auto --- $210
8. Chris Sale --- 2010 Bowman Chrome Auto --- $70
9. Joey Votto --- 2004 Bowman Signs of the Future Auto --- $175
10. Carlos Correa --- 2013 Bowman Chrome Auto --- $425
11. Paul Goldschmidt --- 2011 Bowman Chrome Auto --- $140
12. Kris Bryant --- 2013 Bowman Chrome Auto --- $650
13 Giancarlo Stanton --- 2008 Bowman Chrome Auto --- $475
14. Francisco Lindor --- 2011 Bowman Chrome Auto --- $175
15. Manny Machado --- 2010 Bowman Chrome Auto --- $300
16. Aaron Judge --- 2013 Bowman Chrome Auto --- $625
17. Mookie Betts --- 2014 Bowman Chrome Auto --- $170
18. Charlie Blackmon --- 2009 Bowman Chrome Auto --- $45
19. Stephen Strasburg --- 2010 Bowman Auto/Chrome Auto --- $60
20. Corey Seager --- 2012 Bowman Chrome Auto --- $200

 

[Topnotchsy]

Thought this would generate more some conversation...

 

[gt2590]

Thanks for reminding me I sold my 2011 Chromes too early. And I had a '09 Sterling Trout auto that I can't say how low I sold it for.

Also didn't realize that Stras stuff was still that low.

Thanks for a great list, very cool!

 

[BBCgalaxee]

Totally shows how rc auto this hobby has become

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[Topnotchsy]

Thanks for reminding me I sold my 2011 Chromes too early. And I had a '09 Sterling Trout auto that I can't say how low I sold it for.

Also didn't realize that Stras stuff was still that low.

Thanks for a great list, very cool!

With any sort of "investing," a smart strategy will almost always mean selling too early on guys like Trout. Because 99.99% of players are not Trout, and waiting and hoping that a player becomes one of the greatest of all-time is a great way to lose your shirt.

IMO Strasburg suffers from not having a clear #1 RC Auto card. There's multiple Bowman Chrome Auto's from 2010, and neither was the first Bowman auto from that season.

 

[gt2590]

With any sort of "investing," a smart strategy will almost always mean selling too early on guys like Trout. Because 99.99% of players are not Trout, and waiting and hoping that a player becomes one of the greatest of all-time is a great way to lose your shirt.

IMO Strasburg suffers from not having a clear #1 RC Auto card. There's multiple Bowman Chrome Auto's from 2010, and neither was the first Bowman auto from that season.

Still doesn't make the Trout sale hurt any less. LOL

Heck, I probably still have some Monteros and LaPortas sitting around...

 

[CardboardRectangles]

Great list. The 2010 Bowman Chrome set is stacked. Maybe the most stacked Bowman set to date.

 

[AnthonyCorona]

Amazing how "cheap" a Kershaw BC is considering he's the best pitcher of a generation (outside of Phil Bickford of course).

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[rcgdodge]

This is a nice list!

I've been getting Topps Flagship rookies of the key players, much easier on the wallet.

 

[death2redemptions]

Amazing how "cheap" a Kershaw BC is considering he's the best pitcher of a generation (outside of Phil Bickford of course).

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It's just a shame that neither of those pitchers will ever have a canary yellow refractor.

But no need to fret, Joey Wentz (the best pitcher of our next generation) will indeed have one.

 

[WCTYSON]

Does this card provide a better representation of a Scherzer RC auto? It does seem to sell for a little more and look at how dreamy.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2008-max-s...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

[David K.]

No Albert Pujols....guess now that he into the final years.....he no longer top 20....But his rookie BC is top of line!! Best regards, David

 

[Topnotchsy]

Does this card provide a better representation of a Scherzer RC auto? It does seem to sell for a little more and look at how dreamy.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2008-max-s...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

I'd be curious to see long term. It's not such a mainstream card and has a pretty limited print run. Could be an interesting play.

 

[Topnotchsy]

No Albert Pujols....guess now that he into the final years.....he no longer top 20....But his rookie BC is top of line!! Best regards, David

I took the top 20 players for this season as per the ESPN list. Pujols is an all-time great, but not this year.

 

[AnthonyCorona]

It's just a shame that neither of those pitchers will ever have a canary yellow refractor.

But no need to fret, Joey Wentz (the best pitcher of our next generation) will indeed have one.

You misspelled Jesus Luzardo

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[death2redemptions]

Does this card provide a better representation of a Scherzer RC auto? It does seem to sell for a little more and look at how dreamy.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2008-max-s...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Interesting! I wasn't even aware such a set existed. Didn't know they made a Stadium Club set in '08.

 

[corockies]

This is a nice list!

I've been getting Topps Flagship rookies of the key players, much easier on the wallet.

I started a good discussion about Topps Black RCs over on Blowout a couple of months ago. Lots of good talk in it. I'd rank any players Topps Black RC as their 2nd best card next to their 1st Bowman Chrome color autographs. If you're unfamiliar with them - Kershaw Topps Black RCs sell well north of $1k, and a Jose Altuve BGS 9 just sold 2 days ago for $2,146.21!:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2011-Topps...OKIE-RC-60-US132-BGS-9-MINT-PWCC/401519457132

I'd argue certain players have a more desirable non-auto. RC parallel. I'd much rather own a 2002 Bowman Chrome Draft Gold Refractor of Votto than the 2004 auto.

 

[WCTYSON]

Interesting! I wasn't even aware such a set existed. Didn't know they made a Stadium Club set in '08.

You need to get yourself one, they are climbing. I’ve had mine for probably six years or so and it was dirt cheap at the time.

 

[AnthonyCorona]

You need to get yourself one, they are climbing. I’ve had mine for probably six years or so and it was dirt cheap at the time.

That member only spends money on overrated Braves prospects

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[death2redemptions]

You need to get yourself one, they are climbing. I’ve had mine for probably six years or so and it was dirt cheap at the time.

That member only spends money on underrated Braves prospects who will likely make it to the HOF

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How kind of you but I'm not strictly a Braves guy. I don't discriminate, I'll collect rookie/prospect autos of any potential HOF'er, despite the teams they play for and I actually really do want a nice Scherzer rookie auto. You'd be hard pressed to find many pitchers who have been as dominant as him since 2013. Trading him was one of the D-Backs worst mistakes ever.