Baseball cards have a rich history in American culture. As several generations of Americans often look back with nostalgia to their childhood days of collecting and trading cards with their friends.
With the sports card market as a whole again burgeoning in popularity over the last few years. Baseball cards have begun to increase in value.
One year in particular that collectors have been targeting is 2015. A great year for baseball cards and memorabilia in general.
Below are 7 baseball cards from 2015 that all collectors should add to their watchlist. As well as some extra memorabilia items that would be a great addition to any collection.
7. 2015 Topps Chrome Francisco Lindor Rookie Card #202
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $275
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $80
Francisco Lindor is one of MLB’s best shortstops, excelling at both the offensive and defensive facets of the game.
He has been named to the all-star game 4 times, won 2 silver slugger awards. Won 2 gold glove awards, led all of MLB in runs during the 2018 season, and finished at least 9th or higher in MVP voting 3 times.
He was traded to the Mets in 2021 and proceeded to sign a 10-year, $341 contract with them. The highest contract for a shortstop in baseball history.
Lindor is one of the key figures in the 2022 Mets resurgence under new owner Steve Cohen. Hitting 21 home runs and driving in 85 RBIs so far in 128 games this season.
The 2015 Topps Chrome Rookie Card of Lindor is one of the key cards of the 2015 Topps set.
The card contains a photo of Lindor in an at-bat after hitting a ball on the front. With his name listed in the bottom left and the Cleveland Indians (now Guardians) logo in the bottom right.
The back of the card contains his 2014 minor league stats and a very brief player bio.
6. 2015 Panini Prizm Blue Prizm Mike Trout #120
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $350
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $75
Any list of the top baseball cards from 2015 has to include at least one card featuring Mike Trout. The best player in MLB for the last decade.
He has won 3 AL MVP awards and finished 2nd in MVP voting 4 times. While also taking home 8 silver slugger awards.
Although the 2015 Panini Prizm series has many different colored prizm cards featuring Trout. The Blue Prizm card has prove popular with collectors.
While the prices listed above for this card are much lower than many of the asking prices currently on eBay. It is important to note that although this card is desirable, it is a little overpriced on eBay. Especially when you dig into what the card has sold for in the past.
The front of the card pictures Mike Trout in an in-game at-bat with a gorgeous blue background. While the back of the card contains his career statistical totals to date and a very brief bio.
5. 2015 Topps Bowman Chrome Draft Pick Auto Kyle Tucker #BCAKT
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $450
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $150
Kyle Tucker is probably the best young right fielder in baseball today. The latest successful home-grown position player to come out of the Houston Astros organization.
Named an all-star for the first time this season. Tucker has established himself as a mainstay in the Houston Astros’ potent lineup.
The Topps Bowman Chrome Draft Pick Autograph card is a great investment option for collectors. Especially as Tucker is still largely overshadowed in the sports memorabilia world by many of his more famous teammates including Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, and Yordan Alvarez.
The card itself pictures Tucker on the front in an at-bat follow-through after hitting the ball in a minor league game, with his signature centered at the bottom of the card.
The back of the card contains plenty of minor league stats and prospect info organized in an efficient and easy-to-read fashion. A hallmark of Topps baseball cards.
While there is currently a more valuable gold refractor version of this card in print. The Gold card is very rare and very difficult to find in the market.
4. 2015 Panini Prizm Autographs Aaron Judge, Card #28
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $500
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $150
In the midst of a historically great 2022 season. Aaron Judge has a .293 batting average, .393 OBP, .655 slugging, and 1.048 OPS, and has also hit 49 home runs and driven in 109 RBIs through 124 games.
He has been the face of the Yankees franchise since the 2017 season and is in the final season of his contract with the Yankees, who will most likely sign him to a massive deal during the upcoming offseason.
The 2015 Panini Prizm Autographs card featuring Judge continues the long line of successful cards in the Panini Prizm series.
The card itself is a beautiful piece of art. With much of the card’s front background containing a shiny white, blue, and silver color scheme.
Aaron Judge is pictured on the front of the card in an at-bat with his signature at the bottom.
3. 2015 Topps Bowman Chrome Prospect Auto Rafael Devers #RD
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $600
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $250
One of the most underrated 3rd basemen in MLB today. Rafael Devers has been a terrific offensive player for the Boston Red Sox since his arrival with the team in 2017.
He has been named an all-star the last 2 seasons, won a silver slugger award in 2021, and led the American League in doubles in 2019 with 54.
The 2015 Topps Bowman Chrome Prospect Autograph card featuring Devers is a great addition to any collection of baseball cards.
The front of the card pictures Devers in an at-bat in the minor leagues. It has his signature in the bottom left, and the Red Sox logo in the bottom right.
The back of the card lists his 2014 minor league stats and accomplishments, as well as some bio information.
2. 2015 Topps Allen & Ginter Framed Mini Auto Kris Bryant Rookie #AGA-KB
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $1,500
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $350
It wouldn’t be a 2015 top baseball card list without a card featuring Kris Bryant. The top rookie prospect in his class.
Bryant burst onto the scene immediately for the Chicago Cubs, winning the NL Rookie of the Year award in his first season, and the NL MVP in his 2nd season.
He and Anthony Rizzo were the two best offensive players on the 2016 Chicago Cubs team that finally won the World Series in 2016, after a more than 100-year drought for the franchise.
The Allen & Ginter design by Topps features an upper body shot of Bryant holding a bat. Instead of using a photo, the picture of Bryant appears to be a drawing or painting of his likeness.
The card is more elongated, similar to Topps basketball cards of the late 60s and early 70s.
Bryant’s autograph is located directly under his photo, with his last name placed under the signature on a golden banner.
The back of the card tries to emulate a retro feel from the early days of card production. Containing a collection of different fonts, designs, and information about Bryant and the card itself.
1. 2015 Leaf Trinity Autograph Aaron Judge, Card #A-AJ1
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $3,000
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $500
Although not as successful as the many Panini specialty/luxury cards. The Leaf Trinity series has nonetheless done a solid job in producing high-end baseball cards.
The Leaf Trinity Autograph card featuring Judge may seem to have a high valuation at first compared to other similar autograph cards. However, it is important to note that Judge is in the midst of a historic season. He could potentially break the all-time American League single-season home run record of 61 held by former Yankee Roger Maris.
This card employs a white background on the front of the card, containing Judge’s signature and a personal note from him saying “Can’t wait to play in the Big Apple”.
The back of the card contains draft and bio information about Judge, a nice inclusion for a specialty card. Which typically do not include much player information on the card itself.
This particular card is from a print run of 25. There are others of the same type that also contain personal messages. But these aren’t numbered off with a limited print run.
2015 Baseball Memorabilia
2015 is also a tremendous year for baseball memorabilia other than baseball cards, some of it on sportsmemorabilia.com.
One of the best overall items is a Mike Trout signed 2015 All-Star Game baseball. Commemorating his back-to-back MVPs in this game in 2014 and 2015, retailing for $1,836.99.
An actual game-used baseball from the 2015 All-Star Game, also autographed by Trout, is currently selling for $5,463.99.
While a Jose Altuve game-used helmet from the 2015 All-Star game can be purchased for $5,385.99. High-end collectors can also purchase a 2015 regular season game-used bat signed by Yadier Molinia, available for $12,759.99.
A David Ortiz autographed, game-used base from the game where he hit his 500th home run is a great option for high-end Red Sox fan collectors, retailing for $4,995.00.
A 2015 World Series MVP signed baseball by Salvador Perez, selling for $582.99, is a perfect item for Kansas City Royals fans.
Finally, several Aaron Judge game-used batting gloves can be purchased for $999.99.
Interested in reading about more baseball cards. Our Topps 2016 Baseball card article has plenty to get your teeth into.
When I was just starting out with my card collection, I had lots of questions about authenticity, trading, and card conditions. But with not that much information available online, I felt quite alone in my queries. Some questions still haven’t been answered to this day.
This site aims to rectify this, and now, I am passing on my knowledge!
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