Corey Seager has achieved so much in his career and had so many ups and downs (mostly ups, though) that it's hard to believe he is under 30 years old. He has ranked among the best shortstops in the league since entering with a tremendous rookie season in 2016. Indeed. Seager was awarded National League Rookie of the Year.
However, in the 2023 postseason, we discovered a whole new facet of Corey Seager. His ability to deliver in the clutch is unparalleled by any of Corey’s peers. The shortstop had already won a World Series MVP with the Dodgers. So we knew he was capable.
But somehow, he was even better at helping the Rangers to the title. Corey became one of four players to ever win the second World Series MVP award twice, alongside legends Bob Gibson, Reggie Jackson, and Sandy Koufax.
ESPN analyst Tim Kurkjian said, “He’s one of the greatest postseason players we’ve ever seen. He’s got more World Series home runs now than Reggie Jackson, and Derek Jeter’s the only shortstop with more career homers in the postseason. This was ridiculous, how good Corey Seager was this year.”
Between his four All-Star appearances and two stupendous World Series performances, Seager is already halfway to the Hall of Fame. Since 2023 was his best regular season yet, the shortstop is improving. That is a terrifying thought, considering he slashed .327/.390/.623 with 33 home runs and 96 RBIs. His 170 OPS+ placed him as the second most effective hitter in baseball.
Collecting Corey Seager Rookie Cards
Seager has proven to be an elite shortstop. Or at least he is so good at hitting that it makes him elite. But he doesn’t really have that elusive star quality. Seager can seem unremarkable or dull when he isn’t on the field. Meanwhile, he has moved from the Dodgers, a team with a fan base that really loved him, to the Rangers. So it's unclear which fans will pay top dollar for Corey Seager cards.
However, the pluses are more than makeup for that. Seager is now the main face of two memorable World Series wins. He has also shown a remarkable consistency and ability to rise to the occasion, which will serve him well over the coming years. With all the data at our disposal, it seems likely that Corey is a future Hall of Famer. Therefore, he is very much worth collecting.
2016 Topps Heritage Corey Seager, Jose Peraza RC #168
A PSA 10 sold for $29
If you are a vintage guy, the Heritage double rookie format will appeal to you. If you aren’t, it might appear weird. But I love these cards. They remind me of the great rookies in this format, like Nolan Ryan or the famed Molitor/Trammell one. Of course, this is a Heritage card, a faux auto. Therefore, these 2016 Topps Heritage Corey Seager, Jose Peraza RC #168 cards are worth very little.
2016 Bowman Corey Seager Chrome Rookie Card #150
A PSA 10 sold for $47
All of the Corey Seager cards in the regular Bowman release are worth little. Well, there is an auto, but it's hard to find. You must look at the Bowman Chrome release for the more worthwhile cards. It is also disturbing how many times Topps used this template for its design over the last ten years. Still, the 2016 Bowman Corey Seager Chrome Rookie Card #150 is an attractive card with a wonderfully unusual action shot, which seems to follow a solid line drive. But it's quite disappointing that the card doesn’t have that Bowman 1st designation.
2016 Topps Gypsy Queen Corey Seager Rookie Card #7
A PSA 10 sold for $57
The Gypsy Queen design suits Seager, as do many other retro releases. He just looks like he could have been a baseball star in any era. The 2016 Topps Gypsy Queen Corey Seager Rookie Card #7 (WHITE JERSEY-FRAMED GREEN) design works particularly well, creating a fascinating contrast of color. The card is numbered to /99. However, because this is a Gypsy Queen release, it still isn’t worth much. It is still among his most attractive Corey Seager rookie cards. There are also mini and GQ versions of this card.
2016 Topps Allen & Ginter Corey Seager Rookie Card #121
A PSA 10 sold for $60
Corey Seager has the kind of classic baseball star features that are wonderfully emphasized by the vintage sketching style of the Allen & Ginter brand. We also like the dreamy green background and how the modern RC designation stands out from the retro feel. Great card. Unfortunately, the 2016 Topps Allen & Ginter Corey Seager Rookie Card #121 doesn’t come in any particularly valuable parallels or auto versions. That is a shame because he was one of the most promising rookies in the product. However, the mini version is pretty cool despite its low value. The population count, at 155, is pretty low for a base card. But that is probably because few people want to grade an Allen & Ginter card.
2016 Topps Finest Corey Seager Rookie Card #58 (GREEN REFRACTOR)
A PSA 10 sold for $75
Love it or hate it, the 2016 Finest Baseball design was unique and eye-catching. As is often the case, the refractors look far more attractive than the other cards. The 2016 Topps Finest Corey Seager Rookie Card #58 (GREEN REFRACTOR) version has a bit more value than most. But sadly, none of the cards in this release go fro much. You ould expect more from a rookie refractor of a legend like this. But I guess the weird design throws a lot of people off. I kind of like it.
2016 Bowman Chrome Corey Seager Rookie Card #40 (GOLD REFRACTOR)
A PSA 10 sold for $82
The Corey Seager rookie card above sold for a very low price back in 2017. But of course, that was before Seager rose to prominence twice as World Series MVP. Also, baseball cards have become far more valuable in general since that time. Unfortunately, the 2016 Bowman Chrome Corey Seager Rookie Card #40 (GOLD REFRACTOR) is not marked as a Bowman 1st. But it is still his first card in the release. There is a population of 10 PSA-graded copies of the Gold Refractor. Therefore, if you can get it for a reasonable price, it is a very strong investment. The design is pretty awful, if we are honest. But the action shot is nice, emphasizing the calm precision of a Corey Seager at-bat.
2016 Panini Flawless Corey Seager Rookie Card Sapphire #87
A PSA 10 sold for $159
The 2016 Panini Flawless Corey Seager Rookie Card Sapphire #87 overcomes the limitations inherent to unlicensed baseball cards by producing one of the shortstop playing for Team USA. Of course, Seager is the embodiment of the American athlete in looks and attitude, therefore the card really works. Of course, Flawless is also a beloved and prestigious release. Therefore, this Corey Seager rookie card will likely stand above the usual place that Panini baseball cards occupy at the bottom of the proverbial totem pole.
2016 Bowman Platinum Corey Seager RC #40 (ICE)
**A PSA 10 sold for $220 **
If the sale price for this beautiful card seems a bit low to you, there is a good reason for that. The last time a 2016 Bowman Platinum Corey Seager RC #40 (ICE) sold was in 2021. The market was lower, and Seager was in a relatively slow stage of his otherwise impressive career.
Make a case that this is the best-looking Corey Seager rookie card. The ice-style refractor glimmer is impeccable and looks perfect on the grey, red, and blue background. Meanwhile, that look on Corey’s face is one his fans all know and love. It appears just before the worst damage is done to opposing defenses. A deeply underrated card, which will likely find the value it deserves with time.
2016 Topps Corey Seager Rookie Card #85 (RAINBOW FOIL)
A PSA 10 sold for $225
We are seeing a theme in these Corey Seager rookie cards. They all feature that great expression that appears on the shortstop's face when he appears to have made good contact with the ball but isn’t sure of the outcome yet. Something about it speaks to all the hope and disappointment inherent to the game we love. The shot featured in the 2016 Topps Corey Seager Rookie Card #85 (RAINBOW FOIL) card is made more impressive by the iconic relief of the Dodgers blue and his wide shoulders. The Rainbow colors are added in a clever and almost surreal way. Like so many of Seager's rookies, this is a raving beauty. There are only 54 of these, with 19 grading as gem mints. Therefore, the combination of rarity and beauty will likely drive the value up.
2010 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Corey Seager #BDPP108 (PURPLE REFRACTOR)
A PSA 10 sold for $300
I said it before, and I will say it again: Corey rocks that team USA uniform.
2016 Topps Triple Threads Corey Seager Autographed Jersey #/99
A raw version is currently on sale on eBay for $600
The 2016 Topps Triple Threads Corey Seager Autographed Jersey #/99 is a genuine RPA (Rookie Patch Auto) of a potential future Hall of Famer. There are no equivalents, which should make this the focus of investment in Corey Seager rookie cards. However, the baseball part of the hobby is still somewhat behind on RPAs. Therefore, you can still get this card for a surprisingly reasonable price.
2012 Bowman Chrome Draft Pick Autographs Corey Seager #BCA-CS (PURPLE REFRACTOR)
A PSA 9 sold for $1,525
While not the earliest card of Seager, this is his first Bowman card. Though like all the others, it does not have the Bowman 1st designation. Sad! There is only one 2012 Bowman Chrome Draft Pick Autographs Corey Seager #BCA-CS (PURPLE REFRACTOR) on the PSA books. It is a beauty as well. As a particular favorite of Seager fans, the low numbered versions of this card will likely be worth a fortune if Corey continues his path to cooperstown.
2016 Topps Chrome Corey Seager RC #150 (ORANGE REFRACTOR)
**A PSA 10 sold for $1,680 **
The Topps Chrome Corey Seager rookie cards do very well on the market. Indeed, they often seem to get better value than the Bowman cards, which does reflect how the market worked in 2016. However this would not hold true for current players. The action shot is, of course, the same one used in the 2016 flagship product. However, there is not doubt that the 2016 Topps Chrome Corey Seager RC #150 (ORANGE REFRACTOR) benefits nicely from the Chrome treatment. It looks beautiful in your hand.
I chose the orange refractor for a couple of reasons. First, it enjoys very good value. However, the price you see here reflects a sale in 2021. A 2023 sale was for about half as much. However, the higher price better reflects actual value. Second, the way the orange is distributed here gives the card a very pleasing honey comb look.
Final Words On Corey Seager Rookie Cards
Corey Seager has very little to prove after leading two teams to titles and enjoying several phenomenal regular seasons. Indeed, last year he was the second most potent offensive weapon in the MLB. At age 29, he probably has a few seasons like that left in the arsenal. In addition, even a cursory glance at his rookie cards reveals a plethora of beautiful cards. Much nicer looking than most players. Partly due to luck, and partially because Seager looks the part of a baseball star.
Nonetheless, his cards are surprisingly affordable. That may seem surprising. But it is a common issue in baseball card collecting. With many new prospects coming into the system every year, mid-career stars are sometimes forgotten as everyone focuses on the next big thing. But that is a good thing for investors. Seager has real quality. Especially in the clutch. That means he will likely retire as a legend. Think Reggie Jackson. Corey has similar money instincts. Therefore, there is a very good chance his cards will be worth far more than they are today in a decade. Long after many of today's prospects are forgotten.
