The biggest value increases in most sports cards over the years are often seen in the rookie cards of Hall of Fame players. Such as Chipper Jones, one of the best 3rd basemen of all time.
Jones played his entire 19-year career with the Atlanta Braves. Finishing his career with a .303 batting average, .401 OBP, and a .930 OPS. All while hitting 468 home runs and driving in 1,623 RBIs.
He was an 8-time all-star, the 1999 NL MVP, and won a World Series title with the Braves in 1995. Below are the top 15 Chipper Jones rookie cards, draft pick cards, and minor league cards. As well as some extra memorabilia items.
Chipper Jones – Rookie, Draft Pick and Minor League Cards
It is important to note that many industry experts in the baseball card market only designate a baseball card as a rookie card if that card features a player after they have already competed at the MLB level. Therefore, they do not consider draft pick cards and minor league cards true rookie cards.
However, other industry experts do consider draft pick and minor league cards rookie cards. Determining a true rookie card is usually more of an issue with baseball cards. Since Major League Baseball, unlike other professional sports leagues, has an extensive minor league system that can take players years to get through.
8 of the 15 cards below, as indicated next to the card name, are widely recognized as Chipper Jones rookie cards by most respected memorabilia companies.
The other 7 cards are draft pick or minor league cards featuring Chipper Jones. Whether or not these draft pick and minor league cards are considered rookie cards ultimately comes down to the preferences of individual collectors.
15. 1990 Classic Yellow, Card #T92 – (Draft Pick Card)
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $30
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $12
The 1990 Classic Yellow #T92 draft pick card has the distinction of being one of the earliest Chipper Jones cards ever produced.
The card was a part of the 3rd and final set produced by Classic that year. Containing a very bright yellow border on the front of the card that makes it stand out from most sports cards of the day.
The back of the card contains a very brief summary of Jones’ career up to that point. Noting that he was taken in the supplemental draft by the Atlanta Braves and hit .448 in high school.
It also contains several baseball trivia questions, something that old Topps cards from the 70s would frequently include.
14. 1991 Classic Best, Card #268 – (Minor League Card)
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $35
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $12
The #268 1991 Classic Best card is one of the most readily available minor league cards of Chipper Jones. Featuring him during his days on the Macon Braves.
Unlike many other minor league cards, which are limited to regional distribution. This card was sold all over the country in both pack and factory sets.
However, it is still a nice addition for collectors seeking early career cards of Jones at a very affordable price.
The back of the card contains Jones’ general prospect information and rookie ball stats for the 1990 season.
13. 1991 Score, Card #671 – (Rookie Card)
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $47.50
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $16.50
The first “official” rookie card on this list. The #671 1991 Score card was a part of the biggest baseball card set ever produced at the time. With an incredible 893 cards.
The 1991 Score set was mass-produced. Making this Chipper Jones rookie card one of the easiest and least expensive to get a hold of.
The best part of this card is the beautiful orange/yellow background design that resembles the colors of a sunset, truly making it a piece of art.
The back of the card lists the career accomplishments of Jones up to that point. Including his high school and rookie ball stats.
12. 1991 Upper Deck, Card #55 – (Rookie Card)
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $60
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $15
The 1991 Upper Deck #55 rookie card contains a better overall design and more detailed layout than most of the other Chipper Jones cards on this list.
Instead of simply portraying Jones posing with a bat, it displays him in the field at shortstop. The position he was originally drafted to play before being switched to 3rd base.
The card employs a sleek, glossy design, with a home plate designed in the bottom left of the card’s front. Making the card resemble a baseball diamond.
The back of the card includes Jones’ rookie ball stats. As well as a more detailed player bio than all the other cards up to this point.
11. 1990 Classic Draft Picks, Card #1 – (Draft Pick Card)
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $65
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $30
Originally distributed as a part of a 25-card factory set. The 1990 Classic Draft Picks #1 card joins the Classic Yellow #T92 card as the only card from 1990 on this list.
The Classic Draft Picks #1 card has an estimated 150,000 copies. So collectors looking for an investment option may want to look elsewhere.
It features the same basic card design of showcasing Jones posing with a bat on the front of the card. While listing his player information on the back of the card.
One cool aspect of this card is that it lists several offensive batting statistics from Jones’ senior year in high school. Unlike most other early cards, which would at most note his batting average.
10. 1991 Topps Base Version, Card #333 – (Rookie Card)
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $105
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $25
1991 Topps has four different versions of the #333 Chipper Jones rookie card. With the base version being the least valuable.
The late-80s and early 90s trend of printing several versions of a single rookie card significantly devalued the traditional rookie card. Normally the crown jewel of sports cards up to that point.
This rookie card is still one of the most iconic baseball cards of the 90s. And the base version is a solid addition to any collection.
One of the most impressive features of this card is that it contains Jones’ high school stats for his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons. Going one step further than the 1990 Classic Draft Picks Card which only contained his senior season stats.
9. 1991 Bowman, Card #569 – (Rookie Card)
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $115
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $17.50
The 1991 Bowman #569 rookie card contains by far the best photo of Chipper Jones in any of the rookie, draft pick, or minor league cards.
The photo style of showcasing Jones from the waist up posing in a follow-through after a swing is reminiscent of the iconic Topps baseball cards of the 50s and 60s.
The back of the card employs a retro design with a green/cardboard style background similar to Topps baseball cards of the 70s. All while listing Jones’ basic player bio information and rookie ball stats.
8. 1992 Classic Best, Card #93 – (Minor League Card)
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $115
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $30
Along with the 1991 Upper Deck #55 rookie card. The 1992 Classic Best #93 card is one of the few early Chipper Jones cards to picture him in a fielding position.
The card features Jones during his days playing with the Durham Bulls, a high A team in the Braves organization.
He would end up spending about half the 1992 regular season at Durham, before being promoted to the Greenville Braves, the AA affiliate of the franchise.
The back of the card lists Jones’ stats for the 1990 and 1991 seasons in both rookie ball and the Macon Braves, the Braves low A affiliate.
7. 1991 Classic Best Macon Braves, Card #19 – (Minor League Card)
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $150
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $40
The 1991 Classic Best Macon Braves #19 card is a very rare early Chipper Jones card. And is not listed on sportscardspro.com or psacard.com.
With only 4 officially graded copies currently selling on eBay. Both finding this card and determining its price is not an easy task.
Other than Classic’s logo and same basic design, little stands out with this card other than its rarity. It contains very little bio information on Jones but does include his rookie ball stats, like many of the cards on this list.
6. 1992 Topps Stadium Club 1st Draft Pick, Card #1 – (Draft Pick Card)
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $160
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $25
The 1992 Topps Stadium Club set included a 3-card mini-set in its 3rd series of the year. Featuring the top 3 picks of the 1990, 1991, and 1992 drafts, Chipper Jones, Brian Taylor, and Phil Nevin.
Chipper Jones was by far the most successful of the top overall draft picks. As Nevin would make just 1 all-star team and Taylor would never get higher than AA.
The front of this card pictures a close-up shot of Jones posing with the bat from the waist up.
The back of the card lists a picture of Jones in a Braves draft-style hat and striped-colored dress shirt and some brief bio information.
5. 1991 ProCards Macon Braves, Card #872 – (Minor League Card)
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $300
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $40
Collectors that are fortunate enough to land the 1991 ProCards Macon Braves #872 card should consider this card as a potential high-value investment item.
It is by far, the rarest card on this list. With no listings on prosportscards.com or psacard.com, and incredibly, only 3 officially graded versions listed on eBay.
Although rare doesn’t always translate to higher prices. Any rare minor league card of a hall of fame player in top condition has the potential to skyrocket in price.
The yellow and green design of the card, which mimics the outline of a notepad, is a nice creative change from traditional sports cards of the day.
4. 1991 Topps Micro, Card #333 – (Rookie Card)
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $500
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $50+
The 1991 Topps Micro #333 rookie card is one of the 3 Topps special edition Chipper Jones rookie cards.
Measuring just 1 inch by 1.375 inches, roughly the size of a postage stamp. The so-called “Micro” card isn’t as rare as some of the other special versions of the card. But is rare enough to make it one of the pricier rookie cards of Jones.
It contains the same design, specifications, and information as the base version. With the only difference being the actual size of the card.
3. 1991 O-Pee-Chee, Card #333 – (Rookie Card)
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $530
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $80+
O-Pee-Chee, the Canadian counterpart to Topps, also produced a Chipper Jones rookie card. Almost identical in design to the original base version of a card.
Other than the name O-Pee-Chee being listed in small print at the bottom of the card. The only major differences are that the back of the card. This contains some of the bio information about Jones in French and the background of the card is much whiter.
Because fewer cards were printed for the smaller Canadian market, finding a higher-grade version of this card is very difficult and is much more valuable than the American base version.
2. 1991 Topps Tiffany, Card #333 – (Rookie Card)
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $5,000
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $600+
The 2nd special edition Chipper Jones rookie card. The Topps Tiffany version, is one of the more valuable Chipper Jones cards in existence.
It has the same design as the base version. With a few subtle differences that identify it as the Tiffany version.
First, it has a glossy front with a shiny reflection when direct light shines on it.
Second, the back of the card has a whiter background, similar to the O-Pee-Chee version.
1. 1991 Topps Desert Shield, Card #333 – (Rookie Card)
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $14,000
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $2,000
The most valuable Chipper Jones rookie card in existence is the Topps Desert Shield #333. The 3rd special edition of the Topps Chipper Jones rookie card.
Topps made a special set of cards to send to the troops overseas involved in the Gulf War.
The distinguishing feature of this card is the golden emblem in the top right of the card with the words Operation Desert Shield.
Because so few of these cards were printed. And those that made it overseas obviously couldn’t be kept in ideal conditions. A PSA 9 or 10 version of this card is extremely valuable.
Bonus Memorabilia Items
In addition to baseball cards, Chipper Jones has plenty of other sports memorabilia available for purchase by collectors. With many great items currently listed on sportsmemorabilia.com.
One of the best items, retailing at $699.99, is an autographed Mitchell & Ness authentic Atlanta Braves jersey, with either a white home or gray away version available to buyers.
Higher-end collectors can purchase an autographed, game-used bat in PSA/DNA GU 10 condition for $9,154.99.
A great option to showcase in an office, workspace, study, or man cave would be an autographed Spotlight Hitting Photograph of Chipper Jones, available for $149.99.
Finally, several different autographed baseballs can also be purchased. Ranging in price from $200 to $600 depending on the specifications of the product.
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