After tedious conversations between the MLBPA and the MLB over the course of the last few months, the sides finally agreed to terms, and are ready to play some baseball. We could not be more excited about it! But how has the recent resolution affected card prices?
Letās take a closer look at two of the most popular and coveted trading cards in baseball right now, as they are a great representation of the current market:
- Ronald Acuna Jr. 2018 Topps Update Rookie #US250 (PSA 10)
- Juan Soto 2018 Topps Update Rookie #US300 (PSA 10)
Back in mid-May, Acuna’s Topps Update #US250, in a PSA 10, was selling for $200. Expectations were building for Acuna after he finished the 2019 campaign just 3 stolen bases short of the 40-40 club. Fast forward to June 22nd, shortly after news came out that the season was in jeopardy due to the rising tensions between the players and the owners, and Acunaās Topps Baseball Update fell all the way to $151. Thatās a ~25% decline in just over 30 days, something we havenāt seen too often in todayās trading card market. However, in the days after the June 23rd announcement that baseball was back, this card returned to the $195-199 range as the anticipation continues to reach new heights.
At the beginning of June, the Juan Soto 2018 Topps Update Rookie #US300 PSA 10, was trading for $125. While the possibility of not having a season impacted several cards, this one was a bit different as it only went down a few dollars. Sotoās card has been on the rise ever since he played hero for the Nationals in the 2019 World Series and the hype hasnāt slowed since. After the announcement that baseball was back, his card experienced another small upwards tick, selling for as high as $135 on June 26th, an 8% increase in less than 2 weeks.
The announcement of baseball returning undeniably had a positive impact on almost every baseball card. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how a shortened season, with each game meaning more than it has in the past, influences the card market. Adding to the intrigue is the number of young superstars in the game today. Only time will tell whether these cards continue to rise, flatten off, or fall. Make sure to check StockX often for all the latest real-time pricing.Ā
