2000 Topps Baseball marked the first release in a shiny new millennium for the reliable flagship product. It was a time of fear and change when everyone thought Y2K would destroy the world. Turns out we had to wait a year for the actual destruction in September 2001. So, this set served as a reassuring reminder that life continues.
The set included 478 cards released in two equivalent series of 239 cards. Series One came out in the dying gasps of the 20th century in December 1999. Meanwhile, Series Two arrived on the shelves in April 2000. It had many inserts, some of which were quite popular. They included Draft Picks, Prospects, Season Highlights, Magic Moments, and the classic League Leaders.
Back in those days, they didn’t have many variations. But this set did have a pretty cool one. There were 20 Magic Moments cards, 15 in Series 1 and 5 in Series 2. Each one had five variations, and they were not easy to get as they were only produced at a rate of one fifth of the base cards. But your set is not considered complete if you don’t have a copy of each one. Sorry, losers!
The design is remarkably similar to your run-of-the-mill Topps Stadium Club release. The picture takes up far more real estate than the typical flagship release. But that is partially an illusion because the silver borders on the 2000 Topps are far more subtle than the gold borders in the 1999 Topps Baseball cards release.
The Rookies In 2000 Topps Baseball Cards
The design is all good, but the crop of rookies sets a Topps release apart. 2000 may not have been an absolute vintage year in that regard. But we did have our first cards for future Hall of Famer Miguel “Miggy” Cabrera. Purists will say his card doesn’t count because it appeared in the Topps Traded release instead of Series 1 or 2. To those purists, I say, lay off. I’m trying to write an article here.
Besides the great “Miggy,” the rookie crop is pretty weak. We have Michael Young, Barry Zito, and Ben Sheets. The three had solid careers, but no one was excited about their rookie cards. The lack of really earth-shattering rookies limits the value of this release. Another issue is that Topps Chrome has already commanded higher prices than the flagship. So, you won’t be breaking the bank with Topps 2000 Baseball cards. Indeed, many of the most valuable cards belong to over-the-hill veterans.
2000 Topps Barry Zito and Ben Sheets Draft Picks Rookie Card #451
A PSA 10 sold for $40.
We usually think of rookie cards as the ones with the most serious value in any release. But that isn’t always the case. In 2000 Topps, we don’t get many top-notch rookies. But the 2000 Topps Barry Zito and Ben Sheets Draft Picks Rookie Card #451 include two fine players. Aside from sounding like the name of a delicious Italian dish, he is also a three-time All-Star pitcher. Zito would win his only Cy Young award two years later. Meanwhile, Ben Sheets was a three-time All-Star. But most impressively, a gold medal winner with Team USA at the 2000 Summer Olympics held in Sydney, Australia. The card looks weird and is a missed opportunity for one of those beautiful old-school-shared rookie cards.
2000 Topps Ken Griffey Jr. Magic Moments 1992 MVP
A PSA 10 sold for $57.
The Magic Moments series was the highlight of Topps 2000 for many collectors. It came with five variations and was a relatively rare pull. Therefore, it’s surprising that they don’t sell for higher prices. The 2000 Topps Ken Griffey Jr. Magic Moments 1992 MVP is also beautiful. It gives the Hall of Famer the heavenly surroundings he so profoundly deserves.
2000 Topps Derek Jeter Home Advantage #15
A PSA 10 sold for $59.
You don’t need me to tell you this; Derek Jeter looks incredibly cool in this picture. There is also a good chance that the 2000 Topps Derek Jeter Home Advantage #15's value will increase significantly. It’s an insert and far less common than the base. Although the only difference is, this one says “Home Advantage” in golden letters, but whatever. There are only 32 graded items of this version, as opposed to 383 of the base. And 2000 was arguably the peak of “The Captain’s” career, as he hit .339 in the regular season and then absolutely dominated in the postseason, giving him the World Series MVP award as the Yankees won the title.
2000 Topps Barry Bonds Magic Moments 40 HRS/40 SB #476
A PSA 10 sold for $75.
As one of the best hitters in baseball history, Barry Bonds has enjoyed many magic moments in his career. The 2000 Topps Barry Bonds Magic Moments 40 HRS/40 SB #476 card commemorates one of the sluggers’ trademark abilities, his base-stealing prowess. Bonds is the only player with over 500 home runs AND stolen bases. The picture has Barry in typical “I would like to see you try and stop me” mode.
2000 Topps Edgar Martinez #89
A PSA 10 sold for $76.
We are all sleeping on Edgar Martinez, but he was a big star back in the day and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2019. That, of course, bumped up the value of Edgar’s cards, including this one. The 2000 Topps Edgar Martinez #89 card showcases Edgar’s power. Remember, aside from winning two batting titles, the Mariners star also hit 309 home runs. Without an injury sustained in 2004, he would have had many more. And there will always be a market for his cards in Seattle since he was a loyal one-town player.
2000 Topps Larry Walker #150
A PSA 10 sold for $76.
Sure, Larry is making an awkward face in the 2000 Topps Larry Walker #150 card. But I love it. Very often, when a hitter connects, they know exactly where it is going. Walker’s confused face has that “I have no idea what’s happening” look, which is priceless. Who knows? Maybe it was one of the Canadian slugger’s 383 career home runs. Although honestly, when in doubt, run. That is what they taught us in little league. I am sure it applies. People sometimes forget just how good Larry Walker was. The 1997 MVP was the first player to hit over .360 in three seasons in the post-war era.
2000 Topps Cal Ripken Jr. #4
A PSA 10 sold for $77.
Cal Ripken Jr. is best remembered for his tremendous “Iron Man” streak of 2,130 straight games played. This record seems unbreakable, considering how often modern players rest and get injured. But 2000 was the season when Cal reached another major milestone; he got the 3,000th hit of his illustrious career. And Ripken was not finished yet; he was an All-Star in 2000 and 2001; what about the picture on the 2000 Topps Cal Ripken Jr. #4? “The Iron Man” has central walking dead vibes going here. Not the best view of him.
2000 Topps Mark McGwire #1
A PSA 10 sold for $153.
This card is one of my favorite late-career “Big Mac” items. Despite all the controversy surrounding Mark McGwire, those who saw him chase Babe Ruth’s record will always have fond memories of the player. The 2000 Topps Mark McGwire #1reminds us why. He took incredible joy in baseball and relished every home run, as seen in this heartfelt celebration. But this card also has a sad side. Only two months into the season, Mark suffered a knee injury that would end his incredible run of form in the late 1990s. McGwire would never be quite the same player again.
2000 Topps Pedro Martinez Home Team Advantage #60
A PSA 10 sold for $79.
I have seen many pitchers in my day, but few can hold a candle to the 2000 season version of Pedro Martinez. The pitcher went 18-16, with an ungodly 1.74 ERA, and led the league with 284 strikeouts. But most impressive, his .213 on-base percentage against was the lowest in baseball’s modern era. The 2000 Topps Pedro Martinez Home Team Advantage #60 showcases the pitcher his motion, about to unleash devastation on some hapless hitter. It’s a great picture. And the Home Team Advantage insert has a lower pop number, so the long-term value should be solid.
2000 Topps Traded Dwight Gooden #T130
A PSA 10 sold for $86.
Former Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award winner Dwight “Doc” Gooden was in the last year of his career. And he finished it in Yankees pinstripes. An ironic end for a job that had started for the crosstown rival Mets. Indeed, some believe Yankees owner George Steinbrenner brought Gooden in as a finger in the eye for the Queens-based team. The 2000 Topps Traded Dwight Gooden #T130 captures Gooden in one of his last starts.
2000 Topps Traded Mike Young Certified Autograph #TTA46
A PSA 10 sold for $140.
Mike Young was an excellent player and a legend among Texas Rangers fans. I assume they are the leading market driving up prices for the 2000 Topps Traded Mike Young Certified Autograph #TTA46. It is also a beautiful card. The auto is classy and fits nicely in the diamond graphic, and our hero looks like an All-American athlete straight out of a bad Hollywood baseball movie.
2000 Topps Traded Adam Wainwright Rookie Card #T88
A PSA 10 sold for $202.
The 2000 Topps Traded Adam Wainwright Rookie Card #T88 is interesting. It appeared five years before Adam debuted for the St. Louis Cardinals on September 11, 2005. But while it took the pitcher a while to make the majors, he made an incredible mark once Adam Wainwright got there. He currently has a 198–119 record with a .344 ERA. Getting that 200th win this year will undoubtedly help his case as a potential Hall of Famer. And we love the card itself. Adam may look like he just started shaving the day before, but he has that winning gleam in his eye.
2000 Topps Tony Gwynn #2
A PSA 10 sold for $214.
Tony Gwynn was beyond a veteran in 2000. The grand-hitting master was on the verge of retirement. But 2000 Topps #2 Tony Gwynn provided “Mr. Padre” with a great send-off. At this time, Tony was in his 40s and just not up to the rigors of daily baseball anymore. But when the man did hit, he was still incredible. Gwynn hit .323 and .324 in his final seasons. It is a testament to his brilliance that his cards are still out-performing most rookies this late in Gwynn's career. Well done, sir. The card portrays the proverbial lion in winter, still hitting them consistently with that unflappable form.
2000 Topps Traded Miguel Cabrera Rookie Card #T40
A PSA 10 sold for $950.
Miguel Cabrera is a certified future Hall of Fame stud, and this is his primary rookie card. “Miggy” was just 18 when this card came out, and everyone was already watching the young player. Since then, he has hit over 500 home runs, and Cabrera hasn’t done yet. The 2000 Topps Traded Miguel Cabrera Rookie Card #T40 showing the teenage prodigy ready for his next pitch, is nothing short of iconic. It embodies the raw promise every rookie card should display. One of the most important cards of the decade.
2000 Topps Traded Miguel Cabrera Certified Autograph Rookie Card #TTA40
A PSA 10 sold for $22,784.
The incredibly high price you see above isn’t representative. It usually sells for around $3,000 to $4,000. But it’s a verified sale, so we will use it to impress you. The 2000 Topps Miguel Cabrera Certified Autograph Rookie Card #TTA40 is not as beautiful as the OG Topps traded rookie. But population numbers speak very clearly. There are over 5,700 graded copies of the base card and only 134 of the auto. And there aren’t a lot of “Miggy” auto rookies to choose from.
Final Word On The 15 Most Valuable 2000 Topps Baseball Cards
Aside from the two awesome Miguel Cabrera rookie cards topping this list, 2000 Topps Baseball doesn’t offer massive value. But just this brief overview gives you an idea of how much history is in this set. It was a time when the great legends of the 1980s like Dwight Gooden, Cal Ripken Jr., and Tony Gwynn were leaving the game, and a new generation like “Miggy” and Wainright was poised to take their place.
