MODERN BASEBALL
Bryce Harper #BP1
2011 Bowman Prospects
Beckett Grade: 9.5 GEM MT 10
Beckett Auto Grade: 10
Centering: 10
Edges: 9
Corners: 9.5
Surface 9.5
The MVP of prospecting products returned for another season of high-quality rookie and prospects. On a side note, Bryce Harper's first Bowman auto, wearing an MLB uniform, will appear in the product. Bowman's home field advantage continued in 2011, as 30 Bowman Rookies and 110 Prospects took the field all led by #1 Draft Pick Bryce Harper.
Bryce Harper was the 2009 Baseball America Player of the Year, won the 2010 Golden Spikes Award as the “best amateur baseball player” and was named the 2010 Scenic West Athletic Conference (SWAC) Player of the Year. Bryce earned All-American honors as young as 12 years old and soon became the most sought-after amateur baseball player. In 2009, Harper won the Babe Ruth Award by hitting the longest home run in the International Power Showcase High School Home Run Derby as he blasted a 502 ft. shot in Tampa Bay’s Tropicana Field. The Washington National selected Bryce with the #1 overall pick of the 2010 MLB June Amateur Draft and he batted .297 with 17 home runs in 63 minor league games in 2011. Bryce Harper was the most media covered minor league player of his generation, followed closely by teammate and fellow #1 pick Stephen Strasburg. Bryce is considered a five-tool player with speed, fielding prowess, a strong throwing arm and the ability to hit for both average and power. All of those assets were on display during Harper’s first year in the Major Leagues when he batted .270 with 144 hits including 22 home runs and stole 18 bases while also posting a .976 fielding percentage with 17 outfield assists to earn the 2012 National League Rookie of the Year.
Paul Skenes
2024 Bowman Chrome
Fuschsia Refractor 72-of-299
CGC Grade: GEM MT 10
2024 Bowman Chrome Baseball is basically the second installment of the year’s main Bowman trilogy. Largely a continuation of 2024 Bowman Baseball, the checklist is driven by three things: prospects, autographs and refractors. The base set has 100 cards. This is where collectors will not only find veterans but a lot of rookies. These are often an overlooked part of the product, though, as Bowman is connected more today with its prospects and those getting some of their earliest MLB cards. Both the base cards and Chrome Prospects carry a similar design, all having a wide assortment of refractors that parallel each card. This fuchsia refractor is numbered 72-of-299 and is pulled at a rate of 1:35 hobby.
Paul Skenes was part of the LSU pitching staff during the team’s 2023 Men’s College World Series championship, and was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. He enter the 2023 MLB draft as some considered the best pitching prospect since Stephen Strasburg. He was selected 1st overall by the Pirates and signed a $9.2 million bonus. After working through the Pirate’s farm system in just one season, he made his MLB debut in May of 2024, named the starting pitcher for the National League in the 2024 All-Star Game -becoming only the fifth rookie in MLB to do so.
Ichiro Suzuki
2023 Leaf Metal
Enshrined Earth Auto 1/1
PSA Grade: GEM MT 10
2023 Leaf Metal Baseball has a lot of similar elements as the past. That means lots of autographs from draft picks and top prospects. But some collectors may notice the term “Draft” has been dropped. There’s a reason for that. The checklist also includes a more significant number of current MLB stars and retired greats, making it more than just a prospecting product.
It’s not just the player selection that’s evolved in 2023 Leaf Metal Baseball. There’s a base set (and the accompanying parallels) this time. Consisting of nearly 100 cards, it shows just how varied the checklist is, covering the sport’s past, present and future. This Enshrined Earth is a 1-of-1 autographed by Ichiro Suzuki in 2023.
Anthony Volpe
2019 Leaf Ultimate Bats
#UB-AV2 Autograph
Silver Spectrum
CGC Card Grade: GEM MT 10
CGC Auto Grade: 10
Rookie Autographs make up the biggest part of the checklist with slightly more than 100 different signers. These include Adley Rutschman, Wander Franco, Andrew Vaughn and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Juan Soto. Other autograph themes in 2019 Leaf Ultimate Draft Baseball include Future Stars Autographs, Ultimate Arms and Ultimate Bats.
The autograph-only release is from Leaf’s lower-production draft product of 2019. The Ultimate Bats autograph set checklist only includes 33 players. Collectors could find 2019 draft picks, rising prospects in the Minor League ranks and MLB rookies too. The Yankees selected Volpe in the first round of the 2019 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2023, winning the American League Gold Glove award at shortstop in his rookie year.
Mark Teixeira
2001 SPx #207
Autographed Rookie Card
Numbered 630-of-1500
PSA Grade: GEM MT 10
2001 SPx Baseball is one of the top sets from a very strong year in the hobby. With lots of serial-numbered short prints, autographs and autographed memorabilia cards, the set is a challenge. Add the fact that a pair of rookies can go for big bucks and you've got one of the priciest sets up until that point. The checklist is led by two immensely popular cards. It boasts the most iconic Ichiro Suzuki rookie card, which has both an autograph and a jersey swatch. Albert Pujols also has an autographed rookie in the set, which is numbered to 1500. Another popular rookie card is Mark Teixeira. Like Pujols, his card is limited to 1,500 copies and comes signed.
Before his professional career, Teixeira played college baseball at Georgia Tech, where in 2000 he won the Dick Howser Trophy as the national collegiate baseball player of the year. Drafted fifth overall by the Texas Rangers in 2001, Teixeira made his MLB debut on Opening Day in 2003, and would hit 26 home runs as a rookie. As one of the most prolific switch hitters in MLB history, Teixeira was an integral part of the Yankee’s 27th World Series in 2009, leading the American League in home runs and runs batted in while finishing second in the MVP ballot voting. He was a three-time All-Star, won 5 Gold Glove Awards and 3 Silver Slugger Awards. Teixeira holds the major-league record for most games with a run from both sides of the plate, with 14. He was the fifth switch hitter in MLB history to reach 400 home runs.
Carlos Rodon
2023 Topps
Stars of MLB
Black 20-of-25
PSA Grade: GEM MT 10
2023 Topps is a 660-card set released in two equal series of 330 cards. Series One was issued the week of February 15th. The “Stars of MLB” set is exclusive to retail packs and included parallels of red (serial numbered to 75), black (numbered to 25) and platinum (one-of-one). Only 50 players were featured in the Stars of MLB set, and if being numbered to 25 wasn’t neat-enough, retail odds of scoring a “black” parallel were 1:33,338.
Carlos Rodon is a professional baseball pitcher for the Yankees, but previously pitched for both White Sox and Giants. He is a two-time MLB All-Star. He was selected by Chicago in the first round, with the third overall pick of the 2014 MLB draft. On April 14th, 2021, Rodon pitched the 20th no-hitter in White Sox history. Opting out of his contract with San Francisco after one season, Rodon signed a six-year contract with the Yankees after the 2022 season which is depicted on this card.
Tom Glavine
2024 Leaf Metal Sports Heroes
“A Season to Remember” autograph
#ASR-TG1 numbered 1-of-7
Dark Blue Acetate
CGC Grade: GEM MT 10
CGC Auto Grade: 9
Among the legends with autographs in Sports Heroes are Sandy Koufax, Joe Montana, John Elway, Nolan Ryan, Floyd Mayweather and Patrick Ewing. Current stars include both of the reigning MLB MVPs, Shohei Ohtani and Ronald Acuña Jr. Conor McGregor, Brock Purdy and Mookie Betts and more. The “Season to Remember” autographs checklist is a short one, featuring only 21 players. The acetate version includes a few different color variations, with this dark blue numbered 1-of-7.
Glavine was a five-time 20-game winner and two-time Cy Young Award, and one of only 24 pitchers (and just six left-handers) in major league history to earn 300 career wins. He was the MVP of the 1995 World Series as the Braves beat the Cleveland Indians. In 2014, Tom Glavine was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
Robinson Cano
2003 Bowman Chrome #124
Draft Picks
PSA Grade: GEM MT 10
Like many prospect-driven sets, 2003 Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects Baseball has seen its share of boom and bust rookies. Things have largely settled now and a few big-time standouts remain. Combine those key cards with a growing number of inserts and hits, and the result is an enduring set that stays true to the Bowman brand. For the second straight year, 2003 Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects Baseball combinesd both Bowman and Bowman Chrome into a single release.
The two biggest rookie cards in 2003 Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects are Robinson Cano and Ryan Howard. Other highlights include Jonathan Papelbon, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Aaron Hill. Nick Markakis has just two total rookie cards and one of them is a 2003 Bowman Chrome Draft autograph. Delmon Young is the other key signature in the set. As usual, the Bowman Chrome versions command a premium over the basic Bowman cards.
It's hard to imagine that a member of the New York Yankees can be a quiet superstar. That's exactly what Robinson Cano was for many years as part of the Yankees line-up. Dodging the spotlight that followed the every move teammates Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter, Cano emerged as one of baseball's best second basemen.
Cano has just six rookie cards. None are autographed, serial numbered or massively short printed, making them affordable to all collectors. For those looking for the high-end chase, Cano does have a handful of rare parallels and one autographed insert. His most popular rookie cards come are 2003 Topps Pristine Baseball and 2003 Bowman Chrome Draft Baseball.
Cano's 2003 Bowman Draft Baseball card features the second baseman in his Futures Game uniform. The black borders make it a little more difficult to keep in mint condition as even the most minor ding shows up. This version, the chromium version, of Cano's regular Bowman Draft card, is one of the superstar's best rookie cards. Inserted in the same packs as Bowman Draft, the Bowman Chrome cards are somewhat rarer.
Canó signed with the Yankees organization as an amateur free agent in 2001. He played for the Yankees from 2005 to 2013, also winning the 2009 World Series over the Phillies. Robinson Canó recorded 1,695 hits in the 2010s, the most of any major league player during that decade. He is an eight-time MLB All-Star, a five-time Silver Slugger Award winner, and a two-time Gold Glove Award winner. He is also the 2017 All-Star Game MVP, and the 2011 Home Run Derby winner.
Luisangel Acuna
2024 Bowman Chrome
Garbage Pail Kids
#BGP-10 “Big Apple Acuna”
CGC Grade: GEM MT 10
The brother of Ronald Acuna Jr and Bryan Acuna, Luisangel made his MLB debut in 2024 as an infielder for the New York Mets. His garbage pail kids card is an illustrated version of Acuna in a “big apple.” These are considered “case hits” as they fall at a rate of just one in every 200 packs of 2024 Bowman Chrome. As a crossover featuring top baseball prospects and rookies, they are reimagined as Garbage Pail Kids characters. The GPK franchise is known for its’ irreverent humor and distinctive, sometimes gross, artistic style but has remained a cult favorite since the 1980’s.
These cards are essential because they offer a fresh, playful perspective on the game’s rising stars, appealing to sports card collectors and pop culture fans too. In total, there are 23 players included as GPK characters, but oddly, the Topps checklist displays the players by their real name and not by their GPK name.
Bill Belichick
2023 Topps Now #BB1
“Turn Back the Clock”
PSA Grade: GEM MT 10
On “Brady Day” (12/12), Topps unveiled a campaign commemorating the legendary quarterback. The one-minute and 20-second video, a nod to his jersey number, features a dream sequence where Brady pursued a baseball career with the Montreal Expos. The video concludes with Brady waking up at 12:12. Additionally, Topps released special edition baseball cards in their MLB Draft set, showcasing Brady in an Expos jersey, with 81 autographed cards. The collection includes cards of top MLB prospects and a unique card featuring “Expos manager” Bill Belichick in a baseball dugout, reimagining the Patriots head coach in a different sporting role.
In 1995, the Montreal Expos did in-fact draft a left-handed hitting catcher, Tom Brady, from Serra High School in San Mateo, Calif. Despite an impressive high school baseball career, Brady opted to pursue football and became a quarterback at the University of Michigan. The 2023 Topps Now #BB1 trading card reimagines Bill Belichick as the manager of the Montreal Expos during the 1987 baseball season. The card is part of Topps' Turn Back the Clock series and features an '87 baseball trading card design. The printed-to-order cards were done in the style of the discontinued sets which were only available for 24 hours beginning on December 12th. The card depicts Belichick as manager of the Montreal Expos and was released around the time of the much ballyhooed "baseball" card of Tom Brady in 2023 Bowman Draft. Only 26,936 cards were sold.
Arjun Nimmala
2024 Bowman Chrome
Ascensions Autographs
#BAA-AN Numbered 111-of-150
CGC Card Grade: MINT 9
CGC Auto Grade: 10
2024 Bowman Chrome Baseball is the second installment of the year’s main Bowman trilogy. The checklist is driven by three things: prospects, autographs and Refractors. The base set had 100 cards. This is where collectors will not only find veterans but a lot of rookies. These are often an overlooked part of the product, though, as Bowman is connected more today with its prospects and those getting some of their earliest MLB cards. This specific card is numbered 111-of-150. The Bowman “Ascensions” autographs set includes only 23 cards (base) inserted 1:1,234. Other key inserts from the checklist are Prospect parallels, International Impact inserts, and Gladiators of the Diamond inserts. Bowman Ascension are found 1 per case.
Arjun Nimmala plays professional baseball, as a shortstop, for the Toronto Blue Jays. He was ranked 4th on MLB’s 2024 Top 30 Blue Jays prospects list. Nimmala was named the Florida Gatorade Player of the Year, and was given the Wade Boggs Athletic Award. The Blue Jays selected him in the first round, with the 20th overall selection, in the 2023 MLB draft. He signed with the Blue Jays for a below slot value of $3,000,000.
Matt Chapman
2023 Topps Update
Major League Material
PSA Grade: GEM MT 10
2023 Topps Update Series Baseball closed out another flagship collecting season with a mix of rookie and veteran stars. Naturally, the 2023 set was also home to multiple memorabilia inserts. The selection includes several All-Star-based sets, such as All-Star Stitches, which contains event-worn All-Star Game workout jersey relics. This card, stylized as “Major League Material” promised game-used relics. The checklist was only 47 cards, and were inserted 1:51 hobby packs.
Matt Chapman made his MLB debut in Oakland in 2017. He was traded to the Blue Jays prior to the 2022 season and signed with the Giants as a free agent before the 2024 season. Renowned for his defense, Chapman has won five Gold Glove Awards, two Platinum Glove Awards, and three Fielding Bible Awards. He also won the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2018 and was an All-Star in 2019.
Caleb Durbin
2024 Bowman Chrome
#BCP-214 Prospects
Reptilian Blue Refractor
Numbered 60-of-150
CGC Grade: GEM MT 10
This set is where collectors will not only find veterans but a lot of rookies. These are often an overlooked part of the product, though, as Bowman is connected more today with its prospects and those getting some of their earliest MLB cards. Both the base cards and Chrome Prospects carry a similar design. All have a wide assortment of Refractors that parallel each card. These include several new “Reptilian” colors that have patterns around the border.
Durbin was a 14th round pick of the Atlanta Braves in the 2021 Major League Baseball draft. He signed out of Washington University in St. Louis, and received a $50,000 signing bonus. The Braves traded Durbin to the Yankees in December 2022. By enhancing their bullpen, the New York Yankees traded their starting pitcher Nestor Cortes. and prospect infielder Caleb Durbin to the Milwaukee Brewers The Yankees received closer Devin Williams in the trade, but speedster Caleb Durbin may be flying a bit under the radar to both Yankees and Brewers fans.
Antone DeJesus
2010 Grandstand
Springfield Cardinals
PSA Grade: GEM MT 10
A friend of the family, DeJesus is a former University of Kentucky standout that was drafted in the 16th round of the 2007 MLB draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. He played in 481 games in his career over the course of six professional seasons. He is a .271 career hitters with 98 extra base hits and 66 stolen bases. He bats and throws left-handed and reached Double-A Springfield in the Cardinals organization.
As a Lexington, KY native, he was a key part of the 57-win Grizzlies team in 2012 that won the Frontier League West Division. He played the entire season in centerfield for the Grizzlies.
Elly De La Cruz
2024 Topps
Gold Foil
PSA Grade: GEM MT 10
As the baseball world prepared for the 2024 MLB season, collectors and fans eagerly awaited the annual release of Topps Series 1, a cherished tradition in the trading card world. Like the changing seasons, this iconic release carries a rich history dating back decades. As pitchers and catchers report to spring training, Topps Series 1 marks the beginning of a new baseball season. Over the years, it has introduced rookie cards of legendary players like Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Aaron Judge and Adley Rutschman, catapulting these names into the collecting world’s spotlight.
The 2024 Topps Series One #141 Elly De Le La Cruz signifies “La Cocoa’s” first official Topps RC and should quickly become one of the most coveted cards in the De La Cruz card family. In 2024, the base set is 350 cards. Veterans are joined by what should prove to be a deep rookie crop.
Rowdy Tellez
2015 Bowman Chrome
#BCAP-RT Prospects Autographs
CGC Grade: MINT 9
CGC Auto Grade: 10
2015 Bowman Chrome Baseball continues from where 2015 Bowman off, delving into more prospects, autographs and Refractors. The base set has 200 rookie and veteran players done on chromium card stock. Rookie Autographs are also hard-signed. These come from players who have already made their MLB debuts. And, yes, these have Refractors as well.
In 2013, Tellez was both a Baseball American and a Rawlings First-Team High School All-American. He was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 30th round of the 2013 MLB draft. In 2015, he was a Midwest League All-Star, and named to the Arizona Fall League All-Prospect Team. He made his major league debut in 2018, and is the only player since 1913 to hit seven doubles in his first seven major league games.
Hudson Head #RS-HH1
2019 Leaf Ultimate
Rookie Signatures
CGC Grade: GEM MT 10
CGC Auto Grade: 9
Promising six autographs per box, 2019 Leaf Ultimate Baseball mixed in key prospects across several fronts. Collectors found 2019 draft picks, rising prospects in the minor league ranks and MLB rookies. Per Leaf, the autograph-only release "is our lower production draft product of 2019." With just autographs in play, the 2019 Leaf Ultimate Baseball checklist relies on a few designs and multiple parallels. Options consist of Rookie Signatures, Ultimate Bats Autograph and the throwback 1990 Leaf Autograph line. Teased signers included Bobby Witt Jr., Gavin Lux, Riley Greene, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Wander Franco and Yordan Alvarez, along with more prospect names.
Hudson was drafted in the 3rd round (84th overall) by the San Diego Padres in 2019 (signed for $3,000,000). Named one of the biggest risers when it came to recently-drafted prospects, the monetary amount just goes to show how much power was being his name back in 2019. He played baseball with the Oklahoma Sooners, and would break the record for a player taken in the third round.
Parker Meadows #98
2024 Bowman Chrome
Fuchsia Refractor
Numbered 298-of-299
CGC Grade: GEM MT 10
The 2024 Bowman Baseball checklist was driven by three things: prospects, autographs and Refractors. The base set had 100 cards. Collectors would not only find veterans but a lot of rookies. These are often an overlooked part of the product, though, as Bowman is connected more today with its prospects and those getting some of their earliest MLB cards. The Fuchsia Refractor parallels were numbered to 299 or less, and inserted at a rate of 1:59 hobby.
The Detroit Tigers selected Meadows in the second round, with the 44th overall section, of the 2018 MLB Draft. He received a $2.5 million signing bonus, nearly a full $1 million above the slot value for that numbered pick. On November 15th, 2022, he was added to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. He made his major league debut against the Chicago Cubs, and at his third at-bat, Meadows singled off starter Assad for his first hit. His first MLB home run was a three-run walk-off to right field off Ryan Pressly that ended a 4-1 home win over the Astros.
Collin Cowgill
2012 Topps #502
1-of-1 Blank Back
Topps Vault
This 2012 Topps baseball #502 rookie card of Collin Cowgill is a 1-of-1 straight from the Topps Vault. With a blank back, this card comes with a letter COA from ToppsVault as a proof card to get ready for full production. They’re a legit part of the printing process, similar to a printing plate. But because they’re not pack inserted, some would not consider them part of a rainbow.
In his final season at Kentucky, Cowgill was named a third-team All-American by Rivals. In 2007 he played for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox where he was named a league all-star. The Arizona Diamondbacks drafted Cowgill in the fifth round of the 2008 Major League Baseball draft. In July of 2011, Cowgill was called up from the Triple-A Reno Aces, and hit his first MLB home run as a Diamondback against the San Diego Padres. He was the manager of the Arkansas Travelers, the Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, played for the Diamondbacks, Athletics, Mets, Angeles and Indians, and is currently the first base coach for the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds named Cowgill their first base coach before the 2023 season.
Ben Rice
2024 Bowman Chrome
Prospects #BCP-186
Purple Shimmer Refractor
Numbered 179-of-250
CGC Grade: GEM MT 10
Bowman cards lean heavily on prospects. Depending on which version it is, there can be some rookie cards (RC) in there as well as veteran players, but it’s really about the future and their 1st Bowman card. If you don’t know who’s who in the draft or in international signings, it can be a daunting task to figure it out. If you’re willing to sit on them for 3-5 years before you find out if they’re hype or the real deal though, then it can be a really fun product in the end.
As first baseman for the New York Yankees, Rice played college baseball for Dartmouth College and was selected by the Yankees in the 12th round of the 2021 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2024, and spent his first professional season with the rookie-level Florida Complex League Yankees. On July 6th, 2024, in a game against the Red Sox, Rice became the first rookie in Yankees history to hit three home runs in a single game – his seven runs batted in also matched Lou Gehrig’s record for a Yankee rookie.
Ty Floyd #FR-TFD
2023 Panini Elite Extra Edition
First Round Materials
CGC Grade: GEM MT 10
A solid prospect when he pitched for his Georgia high school, Floyd went on to Louisiana State after he wasn’t taken in the shortened 2020 Draft. He pitched well out of the Tigers’ bullpen as a freshman and showed flashes -- albeit inconsistently -- in a Draft-eligible sophomore year, and came back to campus when he went unselected a second time. He was a full-time starter in 2023 with mixed results, though he tied a College World Series nine-inning record with 17 strikeouts in the finals against Florida. Floyd was selected by the Cincinnati Reds with the 38th pick of the 2023 MLB draft. He signed with the Reds in July of 2023 for $2.1 million.
2023 Elite Extra Edition Baseball is all about the prospects. The base set lays the foundation for much of the checklist. Included are such top 10 picks as Paul Skenes, Dylan Crews, Jacob Wilson and Chase Dollander. Standard cards give way to Base Signatures, which maintain the same general design. Collectors can expect several parallels at both the base and autograph levels. First Round Materials is among the set’s memorabilia offerings.
Jackson Holliday
2024 Bowman Chrome
25th Anniversary International
Refractor #BI25-15
Numbered 97-of-100
CGC Grade: MINT 9
Among the product’s inserts is a 1999 Bowman Chrome 25th Anniversary set. These take the woodgrain-inspired design and apply it to today’s players. Joining these are International Variations that tie in with the original set’s parallels that have city skylines in the background.
Like all of the main Bowman sets, Chrome Prospect Autographs are the key to the entire checklist. For those getting their first such card, it instantly becomes one of their most important baseball cards, period. As a prospect evolves into a superstar, it’s their 1st Bowman Chrome Autograph that acts as the benchmark. This is a big reason why Bowman, Bowman Chrome and Bowman Draft are, historically, among the most popular products each year.
Paul Skenes #SMLB-64
2024 Topps Update
Stars of MLB
CGC Grade: GEM MT 10
The 350-card base set lays the foundation for the 2024 Topps Update Series Baseball checklist. Rookies are the main attraction with standouts like Paul Skenes and Jackson Holliday, among others. Among the subsets are Rookie Debut, which highlight players’ first games, and Season Highlights from early in the season. New installments of Home Field Advantage, Legendary Home Field Advantage and the retail-only Stars of MLB are also in 2024 Topps Update Series Baseball.
Skenes grew up in Orange County and went to El Toro High School, also known for Nolan Arenado, Matt Chapman and Austin Romine. He enrolled at the Air Force Academy and was a catcher and a pitcher. LSU coach Jay Johnson persuaded him to transfer after the 2022 season and he became a fulltime pitcher last year. Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Paul Skenes retired Steven Kwan, Gunnar Henderson and Aaron Judge as the National League starting pitcher in 2024 MLB All-Star Game.
Aaron Judge #99
2024 Topps
CGC Grade: GEM MT 10
A long leader of annual releases, 2024 Topps tracks 652 players including Stone Garrett, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Masyn Winn, Jake Irvin, Ryan McMahon, Devin Williams, Dominic Canzone, Shea Langeliers, Max Kepler, Mason Miller and many more. Along with these star rookies, the popular veteran list ran just as deep.
Judge played college baseball for the Fresno State Bulldogs, and was selected by the Yankees with the 32nd pick in the first round of the 2013 MLB draft. After making his MLB debut in 2016, Judge unanimously won AL Rookie of the Year and finished second in AL MVP voting. He hit an AL-leading 52 home runs, breaking the MLB rookie record, and was the first rookie to win the Home Run Derby. He won his first MVP in 2022, after breaking the AL single-season home run record. Standing at 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighing 282 pounds, he is one of the tallest and largest players in MLB.
Paul Skenes #US288
2024 Topps Update
CGC Grade: GEM MT 10
This 350-card base set captured the season’s most impactful players and moments and features Paul Skene’s rookie card debut. The highly-anticipated release completed the flagship Topps Baseball lineup, featuring the latest rookie call-ups, traded players in their new uniforms, and highlights from the season’s biggest moments.
The total amount of earned runs Skenes has allowed (29) all season long, is one more than the amount that Roger Clemens gave up during his first six starts during his rookie campaign with the Boston Red Sox.
Aaron Judge #99
2021 Topps UK Edition
CGC Grade: MINT 9
2021 Topps UK Baseball takes a “greatest hits” sort of approach to the main Series 1, Series 2, and Update Series releases. There’s a bit of a British twist, but it’s subtle at a glance. Available through Topps’ UK website, it’s not an overly complex set with only a couple of insert sets, scarce autographs and a handful of parallels joining the base set. If you take all three of the 2021 Topps Baseball releases, you’ll have 990 cards. 2021 Topps UK shrinks that down to 220. That means collectors can expect a high concentration of big stars and rookies. The overall layout and design is the same except for the addition of the Union Jack.
In high school Judge played football, basketball and baseball. Some universities recruited him to play football and baseball, and others, including Notre Dame and Stanford, recruited him to play football. Judge, however, decided he wanted to play baseball exclusively. In 2010, when he was 18 years old, Judge was selected in the MLB amateur draft by the Oakland A’s. By that time, however, he had received a scholarship to play baseball at California State University, Fresno (Fresno State), his parents’ alma mater, and he was influenced by them to continue his education. He played for the Fresno State Bulldogs from 2011 through 2013 before being chosen by the New York Yankees in the first round of the 2013 draft.
Everson Pereira #84
2024 Topps Allen & Ginter
Foil Filagree
CGC Grade: Pristine 10
2024 Topps Allen & Ginter Baseball returns with its unique blend of baseball stars, rookies, and eclectic subjects from the world beyond baseball. A base set of a few hundred, the checklist includes base, hot box silver and also foil filigree (1:25). 400 cards featuring current MLB stars, rookies, and retired legends; the set including Yamamoto, De La Cruz, Chourio, Holliday, Lanford and Jung Hoo Lee among others.
Pereira signed with the Yankees as an international free agent on July 2nd, 2017, for a $1.5 million signing bonus. He would play at the rookie level in 2018. In November of 2021, the Yankees added Pereira to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. By August of 2023, the Yankees had promoted Pereira to the major leagues for the first time, and he made his major league debut that month too. In 27 games during his rookie campaign, he hit .151/.233/.194, 10 RBI and 4 stolen bases.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto
2024 Topps Update
Black Gold #BG-13
CGC Grade: GEM MT 10
Collectors found cards of familiar faces in new uniforms, new rookies celebrating their recent MLB debuts, and cards capturing the festivities from MLB All Star Weekend in the 2024 Topps Update Series. The 2024 Series offers an assortment of favorite and all-new variation themes and collectible inserts, including Topps Black Gold—bringing the 90s’ favorite insert into the modern day with a new design to showcase baseball’s best.
In NPB, Yamamoto was a three-time Pacific League MVP, Eiji Sawamura Award, and a three-time Triple Crown winner. He was the second player in professional baseball to ever with the Trip Crown in three consecutive years, after Korean pitcher Sun Dong-yol. Yamamoto played internationally for Japan, winning gold at both the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, and the 2023 World Baseball Classic. He is the first ballplayer in history to have won an Olympic gold medal, the World Baseball Classic, and a World Series ring. Following the 2023 NPB season, Yamamoto signed a 12-year, $325 million contract with the Dodgers. In 2024, he won the World Series in his first season with the team.
Tyler Alexander #US235
2024 Topps Update
Numbered 19-of-25
Memorial Day Camo
CGC Grade: GEM MT 10
The 2024 Topps Update set included many different parallels, and the Memorial Day Camo base set inserts were numbered to 25.
Drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 23rd round of the 2013 MLB draft, Tyler Alexander did not sign with the Tigers, and instead chose to attend Texas Christian University where he played college baseball. After his sophomore season, Alexander was again drafted by the Tigers, this time in the second round of the 2015 MLB draft. In November of 2023, Alexander was claimed off waivers by the Tampa Bay Rays and in May, 2024, he threw 7 1/3 perfect innings against the Blue Jays. This was the 2nd longest perfect game bid in Rays history, behind the duo of Ryne Stanek and Ryan Yarbrough in 2019 and Drew Rasmussen in 2022.