Baseball cards have been a beloved part of the hobbyist community since the mid-19th century. What began as simple business advertisements have evolved into a dynamic and highly collectible market. Over time, baseball cards became more sophisticated, incorporating features like holographic foiling, limited-edition prints, and on-card autographs that appeal to both fans and serious collectors.
The value of a baseball card is influenced by several key factors: its physical condition, rarity, and whether it includes a certified autograph. Professional grading plays a crucial role in the market, with third-party organizations like Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) and Beckett Grading Services (BGS) providing standardized assessments that help determine a card’s worth.
The value of trading cards depends on the condition of the card. The values listed may differ from an appraiser’s quote. All metrics were compiled by Collectibles.com.
10 2016 Bowman Chrome Prospects Autographs Orange Shimmer Juan Soto /10
- Variation: Prospects Autographs Orange Shimmer
- Card Number: CPA-JS
- Lowest Price (BGS 9.5): $21,6000
- Highest Price (BGS 9.5): $21,6000
Pictured here is the Red Shimmer parallel of the 2016 Bowman Chrome Prospects Autographs Orange Shimmer #CPA-JS Juan Soto. The Orange Shimmer variation is the same, just with an orange overlay.
Juan Soto, an outfielder for the New York Mets, made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with the Washington Nationals in 2018 and later played for the San Diego Padres and New York Yankees. A five-time Silver Slugger Award winner, Soto was a key contributor to the Nationals’ 2019 World Series championship.
The Bowman Chrome Prospects Autographs set features several rare parallels with colored shimmer overlays. Among the rarest are the Orange Shimmer variations. While most Bowman Chrome parallels are individually numbered to indicate their circulation, the 2016 set was a notable exception. This lack of numbering has increased the mystique (and value) of the Juan Soto Orange Shimmer card.
9 2018 Bowman Chrome Rookie Autographs Blue Shohei Ohtani /150
- Variation: Chrome Rookie Autographs Blue
- Card Number: CRA-SO AU
- Lowest Price (Ungraded): $20
- Highest Price (BGS 9.5/ 10): $26,840
Shohei Ohtani is a two-way superstar, both a hitter and pitcher, for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Before joining the MLB, Ohtani played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), Japan’s top professional league, as a standout for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. He made the leap to MLB in 2017, signing with the Los Angeles Angels. There, he quickly became one of the most skilled players in the league, earning multiple awards and accolades.
Ohtani has featured in over 125 different trading card sets, with one of the most highly coveted being the 2018 Bowman Chrome autographs set. This set is known for spotlighting top rookies and emerging prospects, and 2018 marked Ohtani’s debut appearance in the Bowman Chrome line. Cards from this set, especially his autographed variations, are considered key pieces for serious collectors and continue to rise in value due to his exceptional on-field performance and international appeal.
8 2018 Topps Chrome Rookie Autographs Orange Refractor Shohei Ohtani /25
- Variation: Rookie Autographs Orange Refractor
- Card Number: RA-SO
- Lowest Price (PSA 10): $410
- Highest Price (Ungraded): $106,140
Shohei Ohtani holds a long list of awards and achievements from both his time in Japan and the United States. Notably, he was part of the championship team in the 2016 Japan Series, which contributed to him receiving the 2016 Pacific League Most Valuable Player Award. His streak continued in the MLB, where he has earned accolades such as National League Most Valuable Player, Silver Slugger Awards, Los Angeles Angels Player of the Year, among many others.
Much like the Bowman Chrome line, the Topps Chrome series includes a wide range of parallels that appeal to rainbow collectors, hobbyists who aim to collect every color variation of a single card. The Orange Refractor variant is especially rare, with a limited print run of just 25, available only in hobby and jumbo hobby packs. Of those, only six have received a PSA 10 grade, skyrocketing its rarity and value in the collector’s market.
7 2024 Bowman Chrome SuperFractor Shohei Ohtani
- Variation: Bowman Chrome
- Card Number: 85
- Lowest Price (PSA 10): $37,317.36
- Highest Price (PSA 10): $37,317.36
Shohei Ohtani specializes in an overhand delivery that generates a blistering four-seam fastball, averaging 97 miles per hour (156 km/h) and reaching a top speed of 102.5 mph (165 km/h). He is renowned for his ability to dial up the velocity in high-leverage situations and maintain his pitch speed deep into games, an essential asset in securing victories for his team and dominating opposing batters.
The 2024 Bowman Chrome base set featured 100 unique cards, along with several rare and highly sought-after parallels, including the elusive one-of-one SuperFractors. These inserts are ultra-rare variations of the base cards, identifiable by their gold, spiraled foil finish. Their scarcity has made them some of the most valuable cards in the hobby. SuperFractors are inserted at an average ratio of 1 in 17,562 packs and are available exclusively through hobby and jumbo hobby boxes.
6 2009 Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects Chrome Prospects Gold Refractors Mike Trout /50
- Variation: Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects
- Card Number: BDPP89 AU
- Lowest Price (Ungraded): $16.50
- Highest Price (BGS 10): $109,200
Mike Trout is an outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels. He was first selected by the Angels in the 2009 MLB Draft, but he didn’t make his major league debut until 2011. Trout became a regular player in 2012, a breakout season in which he won the American League Rookie of the Year Award unanimously.
Topps traditionally releases a major baseball card set toward the end of each year, and in 2009, that set was Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects. The release featured a wide variety of parallel Refractors and, for the first time, introduced a 35-card World Baseball Classic Stars subset. Among the most sought-after cards in the set was the Autographed Chrome Prospect card of Mike Trout, widely regarded as the most iconic and valuable card from the release.
5 1916 Successful Farming Joe Jackson
- Variation: Base
- Card Number: NNO
- Lowest Price (Ungraded): $75.92
- Highest Price (Ungraded): $58,560
Joe Jackson, nicknamed «Shoeless Joe,» was an outfielder who played from 1908 to 1920 for the Philadelphia Athletics, Cleveland Naps/Indians, and the Chicago White Sox. His career batting average remains the fourth-highest in Major League Baseball history. He still holds franchise records for triples in a season and career batting average with both the Cleveland Guardians and Chicago White Sox.
In the early to mid-19th century, both baseball and photography saw a surge in popularity. Many businesses capitalized on this trend by producing baseball cards featuring photographs of popular players as a means of advertising and promotion. While bubblegum and tobacco cards are the most well-known, Successful Farming magazine also created its own line of cards. Unlike modern cards, which typically feature player statistics on the back, the Successful Farming cards displayed advertisements for the publication instead.
4 2024 Topps Chrome Update Autographs SuperFractor Paul Skenes /1
- Variation: Autographs Superfractors
- Card Number: RA-PS
- Lowest Price (PSA 10): $111,532.40
- Highest Price (PSA 10): $111,532.40
Paul Skenes, a pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, made his MLB debut in 2024 after playing college baseball for both the Air Force Falcons and LSU Tigers. One of the most highly anticipated prospects in the 2023 MLB Draft, Skenes quickly lived up to expectations, earning the role of starting pitcher for the National League in the 2024 All-Star Game. He became only the fifth rookie in MLB history to receive that honor.
Among the most coveted collectibles featuring the rising star is this SuperFractor Paul Skenes card. Graded Gem Mint 10, the card was sold through Goldin Auctions, underscoring its rarity and high value among collectors. This unique, one-of-a-kind card also features an on-card blue ink signature, making it a true centerpiece for a high-end baseball card collection.
3 2018 Bowman Chrome Rookie Autographs Orange Refractor Shohei Ohtani /25
- Variation: Chrome Rookie Autographs Orange Refractor
- Card Number: CRA-SO
- Lowest Price (Ungraded): $2,300
- Highest Price (BGS 9.5/ 10): $115,920.74
While Shohei Ohtani plays in Major League Baseball, he continues to proudly represent Japan on the international stage. At the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Ohtani earned the tournament’s MVP Award after leading Japan to a victory over the United States. The championship game became one of the most-watched baseball broadcasts in history, with a highlight coming in the final inning: Ohtani struck out his Los Angeles Angels teammate and Team USA captain, Mike Trout, sealing Japan’s three-to-one win.
This particular parallel of Ohtani’s 2018 Bowman Chrome autograph card shares the same image as the Blue Refractor variation, but features an orange border. While the Blue Refractor was limited to 150 prints, the Orange Refractor was numbered to just 25, making it significantly more rare and desirable among collectors.
2 2018 Topps Transcendent Collection 1952 SuperFractor Autographs Shohei Ohtani /1
- Variation: 1952 SuperFractor Autographs
- Card Number: 52S-SOH
- Lowest Price (BGS 9.5/ 10): $246,440
- Highest Price (BGS 9.5/ 10): $246,440
As one of Japan’s most celebrated athletes, Shohei Ohtani has been under intense media scrutiny throughout his professional career. The Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters took steps to protect his privacy, allowing him to maintain a quiet routine centered around the team dormitory and the gym. Ohtani is also known for his close bond with his dog, Dekopin, who was even granted an honorary visa by the Embassy of the United States in Tokyo.
Among the most coveted Shohei Ohtani collectibles is the 1952 SuperFractor Autographs subset from the 2018 Topps Transcendent collection. This ultra-rare release features 83 one-of-one autographed cards. The design pays tribute to the iconic 1952 Topps Baseball set, enhanced with modern SuperFractor foiling to create a visually stunning and highly sought-after piece of memorabilia.
1 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle
- Variation: Base
- Card Number: 311
- Lowest Price (Ungraded): $0.99
- Highest Price (PSA 8.5): $2,370,000
Mickey Mantle is one of the most iconic and legendary figures in baseball history. A center fielder for the New York Yankees, Mantle’s powerful hitting and speed made him a fan favorite and a dominant force during his career. In 1956, he won the Triple Crown, awarded to a player who leads the league in batting average, home runs, and runs batted in during a single season. Mantle still holds the highest on-base and slugging percentages in World Series history.
The 1952 Topps set is considered the company’s first major baseball card release and one of the most significant sets issued after World War 2. Mantle’s card, appearing in the scarce sixth series, marks his first appearance in a Topps product. One unique detail: the stitches in the circle surrounding the card number point to the right, one of only three cards in the entire set with this rare design quirk.
