Aaron Judge has not only shattered records but also amassed numerous individual honors during his career with the New York Yankees, quickly becoming a face of Major League Baseball. As collectors flock to grab his cards, here are the essential insights and top picks for Aaron Judge’s best cards.
Things to Know Before Buying
The value of sports cards fluctuates based on various factors such as condition, print runs, graded population, player performance, market trends, and economic conditions. Typically, the offseason offers the lowest prices for individual cards. These recommendations aim to guide and inform rather than suggest investment behaviors.
"Raw" Cards vs. Graded Cards
Raw cards come directly from packs and can have various imperfections that affect their value. Card grading, conducted by experts, assigns a numerical grade (1-10) based on factors like corner sharpness and image centering. Graded cards, especially those rated a "PSA 10" by the Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), hold significantly higher values than raw cards.
Best Low-End ($1-$99) Aaron Judge Cards
For collectors on a budget:
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2017 Topps #287 Rookie Card
- High demand and affordably priced at around $20.
- Notable variations: Purple, Negative, Rainbow Foil, Gold, Black, and more.
- 2017 Topps Archives #62 Rookie Card
- A homage to the classic Topps designs, selling for around $40-$60.
- Limited editions: Grey Back, Peach, Blue, Red, and Black.
Best Value ($100-$499) Aaron Judge Cards
For those willing to spend a bit more:
-
2013 Bowman Chrome Draft Picks & Prospects #BDPP19
- Marks Judge’s first official Yankees card, with raw copies around $150.
- Rare variations: Refractor, Blue, Green, Gold, Black, Orange, Red, Superfractor, and more.
- 2017 Topps Chrome #169 Rookie Card
- High PSA 10 population and sells around $200.
- Notable variations: Refractor, Negative Refractor, Pink Refractor, Sepia Refractor, and more.
Best High-End ($500+) Aaron Judge Cards
For premier collectors:
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2017 Topps Heritage Real One Autographs #AJ Rookie Card
- Features an on-card autograph, selling over $2,000.
- Rare parallel: Red ink autograph limited to 68 copies.
- 2017 Topps Chrome Sapphire Edition #287 Rookie Card
- Known for its rarity, with only 250 copies, selling between $750-$2,500.
Two Other Cool Aaron Judge Cards
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2021 and 2022 Panini Absolute Kaboom!
- Despite being unlicensed, these cards are popular for their scarcity and design.
- 2021 Topps Now Field of Dreams Game Autograph and Corn Stalk Relic
- Commemorates Judge’s homers in the iconic "Field of Dreams" game.
Getting the Best Price
Card prices can vary, so it’s essential to check recent sales for a fair value. Sites like 130point.com provide sales data, and apps with in-depth sales analysis are useful, albeit often requiring subscriptions.
Why You Should Trust Us
Tyler Holzhammer, a second-generation collector with extensive market analysis experience for prominent companies, provides valuable insights.
How We Selected These Cards
Utilizing tools like Terapeak and CardLadder, we analyzed values, sales volumes, set popularity, and grading populations to curate this list, blending market data with personal collector preferences.
