Is someone on your Christmas shopping list a baseball card fan? Do you wonder what you can get to drop into their holiday stocking? Finding just the right baseball card can be challenging, particularly if you aren’t sure which teams and players are their favorites. Some fans only buy cards specific to their favorite players. Others buy whole sets to collect, while still others are interested in investing in popular cards they can resell for a profit. What’s a Secret Santa to do?
We’ve got you covered in this article. You’ll find some great suggestions for all types of collectors and we’ll cover a full range of price points. That way, whatever you plan to spend, you should find at least a couple of good ideas for what to put under the tree this year. Let’s get to it - there are not that many shopping days left!
Get the Right Baseball Card, not a Lump of Coal
Before you shop, see if you can find out about the likes and dislikes of your intended gift-recipient by asking these questions.
- What’s their favorite MLB team?
- Do they collect certain sets or cards from a specific era?
- Why do they collect? Are they investors? Do they just love the game? Are they carefully assembling sets to resell?
Whatever their focus, this additional information can help you find the right present to put under the tree on Christmas Eve. Using the Watchlist and search options on Cardbase, you’ll be able to scope out cards that match the interest of your gift recipient and at prices that work for your wallet. If you’re still not sure what will work best for them, check out our list of some of the most popular cards of the moment to find potential gifts suitable for your baseball fan.
Under $10 Baseball Card Christmas Gifts
If you're on a tight budget for your christmas gift, you can still find good stocking stuffer baseball cards. Under $10 cards include more common cards of popular players, reissues of classic cards or personalities, or cards from recent years. You might also consider cards with lower grades from PSA, BGS, or another reputable card grader. For casual fans, minor card flaws won't ruin the gift. Let's explore a few popular suggestions in this $10 range:
2013 Bowman Manny Machado Rookie Card #215
Let’s start with San Diego Padre Manny Machado, who is having a mid-career spike. While he’s on the other side of 30 years of age now, he continues to be one of the most consistently impressive players in the National League.
While his defensive play isn’t what it was in his earlier years, he’s still a solid fielder with the ability and speed to stop those steals. Speaking of steals, he’s been killing it there, too, having bagged 21 of 25 attempts in the last two years. That’s why we think this attractive 2013 Bowman #215 Manny Machado rookie card is a ‘steal’ for less than $10. Even in graded condition, you can pay just about a sawbuck to add this fine card to the collection of the baseball fan in your life.
2023 Topps Shohei Ohtani #17
2023 American League MVP Shohei Ohtani continues to be a firecracker in everything he does. A marvelous pitcher, he’s also exceptional on the other end of the equation. 44 home runs in a season is impressive enough, but when it’s the pitcher doing it, you’ve got Hall of Fame material going. His most expensive cards are getting really valuable now, but you can still find some bargain cards for this superstar.
Ohtani ended the season with injuries and is now a free agent, meaning that more people will be watching to see if he ends up on their favorite team. Even though his card prices are surging, you can still find some cards at reasonable prices. This 2023 Topps #17 Shohei Ohtani can be found ungraded for less than $10 and not much more in graded condition. Keep an eye out on Ohtani’s page on Cardbase to see the latest Hot Deals and to track pricing trends for his card.
2022 Topps International Trading Card Day Julio Rodriguez Rookie #25
Julio Rodriguez is drawing all kinds of favorable comparisons right now. He had a stellar rookie year playing center field for the Mariners. He blasted home runs out of the park and made plays you had to watch over again to believe it happened. He’s got charm coming out of his ears, too. Rodriguez has all the makings of another Ken Griffey Jr.
If Rodriguez can keep up this pace in the days ahead, this 2022 Topps International Trading Card Day #NTCD-25 Julio Rodriguez rookie card is going to be going for a lot more than $10. For now, you can get a highly-graded copy of this excellent card with a smiling Rodriguez on it for a comically good price. Toss this collectible in someone’s holiday sock and you’re giving them an investment likely to pay off big time in the future.
Christmas Gifts Baseball Cards Under $50
When considering cards in this price range, it's important to examine their condition. Even better: Purchase cards that have been professionally graded. This way, you can be sure that your christmas gift is authentic and in the expected condition. Below are some great options if you're uncertain about which cards would best suit your gift recipient.
2023 Topps Cosmic Chrome Aqua Equinox Nolan Arenado /199 #1
Is your favorite baseball fan from the midwest? There’s a chance they are a fan of St. Louis Cardinals superstar Nolan Arenado. This slugger strikes fear in the heart of pitchers when he comes up to the plate, having been a consistent home run machine for years. ‘Nado’, as his friends and fans call him, is also an ace defensive player. He is an eight-time All-Star, ten-time Gold Glove award winner, and six-time Platinum Glove award winner.
Delightfully, this 2023 Topps Cosmic Chrome Aqua Equinox Nolan Arenado /199 #1 card has a classic feel to it with a modern twist. This ‘Cosmic Chrome’ style has a distinctive look along with the Aqua Equinox color palette, making for an intriguing card sure to delight fans. There are only 199 of these cards and they’re fetching about $50 online right now, even with the top grades like PSA Gem Mint 10. Nab one of these for your Cards fan and you’re sure to get a smile on Christmas morning.
2016 Topps Allen & Ginter Trea Turner Rookie RC #342
Trea Turner is the real deal. His remarkable combination of speed and power at the shortstop position is what makes him such a valuable asset to the Phillies—so much so that they invested a whopping $300 million in him. Over the course of his career with the Philadelphia team, he's topped the charts across nearly all categories, from games played and plate appearances to at-bats, stolen bases, triples, batting average, and total bases.
Turner does it all.
So, naturally, he’s a popular player and a good candidate for a Christmas baseball card gift. What could be better than an Allen & Ginter version of him from his rookie year? This stylish series of classic trading cards that have that old-school feel with new players has been winning over fans since it launched. In spite of Turner’s incredible popularity, this 2016 Topps Allen & Ginter Trea Turner Rookie RC #342 card is still available for a reasonable $50 or so in top-grade condition. Who wouldn’t enjoy finding this baseball card under the tree on Christmas morning?
2023 Topps Holiday Aaron Judge Player Worn Santa Hat Relic /75 #HRC-AJ
Here’s a fun one with a holiday theme and one of the best players in the league. The mighty Aaron Judge is, literally and figuratively, a huge part of the New York Yankees’ success and one of the most popular personalities in the MLB. He’s also got a good sense of humor and holiday spirit from his willingness to be part of these Christmas-themed cards. A card featuring this exceptional player in his Santa hat is sure to be a great festive treat for your baseball card fan.
While this card is limited to just 75 copies and comes with a Santa Hat relic, you can still find this valuable card for just about $50, making this collectible a wonderful gift and also a solid investment to wrap up for the holidays. NOTE: If you like the idea of buying this card but have trouble finding a copy of the 2023 edition, keep searching. There are earlier editions from previous years that are still available for sale and imbued with the same yuletide spirit.
Stocking-worthy Under $100 Baseball Card Christmas Gifts
In this price range, you are definitely going to want to buy baseball cards that are professionally graded. Ideally, you would want to buy baseball cards that have been reviewed and mounted on a slab by PSA or BGS so you can ensure your gift recipient is getting something worth the investment you are putting in.
Let’s take a look at some of the excellent collectibles you can find in the $100 range.
2020 Topps Chrome Purple Refractor Yordan Alvarez /299 #200
Houston Astro Alvarez has become one of the game's most formidable left-handers and he’s hugely popular with fans. While this Cuban slugger isn’t winning any defensive play awards, let’s remember that he was AL Rookie of the Year for his ability to club the ball out of the park. In a short career, he’s already racked up a number of impressive awards, including going All-Star twice, a Silver Slugger, plus a World Series win.
This 2020 Topps Chrome Purple Refractor Yordan Alvarez /299 #200 card, with Alvarez finishing a triumphant hit, in the Purple Refractor format has a nice mix of a premium feel but a large enough population that you can find it at a reasonable price - meaning right about $100 for a PSA or BGS copy in tip-top shape. If you have an Astros fan on your list, this is definitely an ideal gift.
2018 Bowman Shohei Ohtani Rookie Card #49
Of course I had to add another Shohei Ohtani card that was in the higher price range. He’s been called the “Babe Ruth of Japan” and a ‘once-in-a-century’ player by more than a handful of media outlets. While Angels fans like me will cry if he leaves the team after this year, we can still enjoy his gorgeous rookie cards like this popular one from Bowman. With a fantastic action shot of Ohtani mid-pitch, this card has been inching up the list of the most popular cards from his first year in the league.
Even in top-notch condition, you can find this 2018 Bowman Shohei Ohtani Rookie Card #49 card for less than $100. While there may be rookie Panini cards with more bells and whistles, this classic card gives you the glory of a rookie card at a reasonable price.
2022 Topps Chrome Sapphire Edition Gold Sandy Alcantara /50 #606
Miami Marlin Sandy Alcantara has matured into one of the finest pitchers on the mound. Alcantara dominated the lead in the MLB for innings pitched last season and is the only pitcher to top 200 innings for the past two seasons. The Cy Young winner packs some power from his 6’5” stature, stunning batters with his nearly 100 mph shots over the plate. The sluggers can only groan when he strikes them out and denies their home run dreams.
This 2022 Sapphire Edition Gold card celebrates Alcantara’s prowess on the field beautifully with a windup photo that shows the pitcher with his energy coiled up and ready to fire another unhittable fastball. While limited to just 50 copies, lucky holiday shoppers can find this gem for less than $100 online. Not a bad price for a card featuring a future Hall-of-Famer in his prime.
Festive Over $100 Baseball Card Christmas Gifts
For the perfect present, you can venture into the over $100 range to find some premium items sure to delight on the 25th of December. So, if you’re ready to open up your wallet a bit wider, here are some exceptional cards featuring some of the best in the league and even some of the top players in history.
1966 Topps Mickey Mantle #50
Is your baseball fan into classic players? Finding reasonable priced gifts for collectors with a focus on the earlier days of the sport can be tough. However, if you’re willing to forgo the minty-freshness of a PSA 10 Gem Mint or BGS 10 Pristine grading, you can still find some historical cards that are still valuable and exciting to own that won’t break the bank.
Take, for example, the continued interest in the late, great Mickey Mantle. While the most valuable Mickey Mantle cards are selling for tens of thousands to more than a million dollars, you can find copies of this affordable 1966 Topps Mickey Mantle #50 card. With an excellent shot of Mantle, bat-in-hand, this card in PSA/BGS grades on the low end can be had for not much more than $100. Keep an eye out for the best deals because these cards are not always available. If Mantle isn’t your fan’s big obsession, consider cards from other early greats like Jackie Robinson, Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, and Willie Mays. Just shop the lists on Cardbase to find cards of a quality that works for your budget.
2023 Bowman Chrome Flag Refractor Mike Trout /499 #WBC90
There was no way we’d get through this holiday list without a Mike Trout card. This future Hall-of-Famer is one of the greatest players of the modern era and one of the most popular baseball players in the sport. While not everyone is a big fan of the Los Angeles Angels, everyone can appreciate a good Mike Trout card with him suited up in Team USA colors and with a flag refractor. This 2023 card is a crowd-please from Bowman’s Chrome line and is sure to delight the baseball fan on your shopping list (well, maybe not the Yankees fans).
In graded, high-quality condition, this gorgeous card will sell for a bit over $100 but there are nearly 500 of them printed so keep your eyes peeled and you may be able to find one for less. Of course, if your baseball fan loves the Angels, there are all kinds of great Mike Trout cards out there, which are easy to find on his Cardbase.
1990 Topps Glossy Rookies Ken Griffey Jr. #11
Another great player that fans love is the immortal Ken Griffey Jr. You don’t have to be a Mariners fan to appreciate his talent and personality, easily shown off in his Upper Deck rookie card that is so popular. But this 1990 Topps Glossy Rookies card has a similar million-dollar smile from this exceptional player and it’s more reasonably priced than the UD card.
While this time period in baseball cards is often overlooked as the “Junk Wax” era, Ken Griffey Jr.’s cards are bright spots of value and desirability. This 1990 Topps Glossy Rookies Ken Griffey Jr. #11 card can be found for a couple of hundred dollars and anyone who loves the sport should enjoy having this early card from his career added to their collection as a gift.
Have Yourself a Merry Baseball Card Christmas Gift
Baseball cards collectors are sure to enjoy opening up a holiday gift that features their favorite pastime. Spending a bit more than they might on something that will make them truly happy is what gift-giving is all about. We hope this list gave you some ideas about what to put under the tree for your favorite sports fan.
As with the best gifts, some effort to find out what your recipient likes really helps you get something that will be cherished for years to come. We hope our tips help inspire you to round out your shopping list with a hit out of the park. Happy Holidays!
