20 Most Valuable 2021 Topps Series 1 Baseball Cards

2021 Topps #26 Bobby Dalbec Rookie Card

Estimated Base PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $55

At the beginning of the 2021 season, many considered Bobby Dalbec an older rookie playing out of position on a team with no hopes of reaching the playoffs.

And, before the All-Star break, Dalbec's future with the team wasn't looking great as poor plate discipline and a lack of production resulted in multiple rumors that Boston would try and bring in someone to replace him.

However, he found another gear in the second half of the season, and after mashing 25 home runs and playing more than adequately at first base for a Boston Red Sox that made it to the ALCS, people have taken notice. 

Those 25 home runs have helped him etch his name in Red Sox record books, becoming only the eleventh Red Sox rookie to hit more than twenty home runs in a season.

No other Red Sox rookie had hit more home runs since 1997 when Nomar Garciaparra belted 30 during his Rookie of the Year campaign.

Unfortunately, Dalbec's year ended on a sour note after going 0-12 in the playoffs.

While he is far from the echelon of Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, or David Ortiz, Dalbec is looking more and more like a mainstay in Boston for years to come.

2021 Topps #143 Ryan Mountcastle Rookie Card

Estimated Base PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $55

Ryan Mountcastle entered the 2021 season looking to build off a promising 2020 campaign in which he finished eighth in voting for AL Rookie of the Year.

Interestingly, he may have a crack at winning the 2021 AL Rookie of the Year, however.

In 2020, Mountcastle played 35 games but didn't eclipse either 150 at-bats or 45 days on the roster, meaning he maintained his rookie status for the 2021 season.

Though he suffered through a month-long slump at the start of the season, the 24-year-old Mountcastle finished the year with an impressive stat line that has Orioles fans excited for what's next.

During 144 games, Mountcastle slashed .255/.309/.487 while ranking first among qualified AL rookies in home runs (33), second in slugging percentage (.487) and RBI (89), and third in hits (178) and OPS (.796).

His 33 home runs were third-most in Orioles franchise history for an age-24 season or younger.

Tampa Bay's Randy Arozarena is looking to be the frontrunner for 2021 AL Rookie of the Year, but if Mountcastle can somehow pull it off, he'd be the first Oriole to win it since Gregg Olson in 1989.

2021 Topps #285 Dylan Carlson Rookie Card

Estimated Base PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $55

The much-improved second year for the Cardinal’s left-handed outfielder proved to be just what they needed heading into the post-season.

Carlson, who improved nearly every aspect of his game, increased his OPS+ from 68 to 117 and added .66 to his rookie year’s batting average, ending the regular season at .266.

Knocking 18 home runs during his 149 games throughout the regular season, Carlson moved the dial to a 3.2 WAR, though it was still not the All-Star performance he undoubtedly would have liked.

After Tommy Edman vacated the top spot in the order in July, Carlson filled the leadoff hitting position, showing that the youngster brought some intriguing, unquestionable value to the Cardinals’ 90-72 season.

While he might not be an MVP caliber player this season, there’s still plenty of room to grow.

2021 Topps #150 Shohei Ohtani

Estimated Base PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $50

After an up and down first few years stateside, Japanese sensation Shohei Ohtani has firmly cemented himself as one of today's best MLB stars and looks like a lock to take home 2021 American League MVP honors.

Earning his first All-Star Game honors behind a season in which he slashed .257/.372/.592 and pitched to a tune of a 3.18 ERA in 23 starts, Ohtani has proven capable of performing on both sides of the ball at baseball's highest level.

His 4.9 WAR put him in the top 25 in the league while he also finished within the top five in OPS (.965), slugging (.592), home runs (46), and total bases (318).

As the dust settles on the 2021 season, it's fair to look back at Ohtani's year as one of the truly remarkable performances because of how well he performed.

And comparisons to Babe Ruth's 1918 season with the Boston Red Sox are not too far-fetched.

If 2021 is any indication, Ohtani should have plenty in the tank for another stellar showing in 2022.

2021 Topps Fernando Tatis Jr. #1

Estimated Base PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $40

Padres’ shortstop extraordinaire Fernando Tatis Jr. had a regular rollercoaster of a season in 2021.

While ending the season with a league-leading 21 errors, most of those came from earlier in the season, proving Tatis Jr. to be a reliable defenseman toward the latter half of the season.

The coaching staff decided to have him play the outfield for over twenty games during August and September, feeling that he would fair better from there while dealing with a nagging shoulder injury.

Despite the injuries and setbacks, the 2021 All-Star Shortstop still put up some incredible production and numbers during the 2021 regular season.

Steadily raising his OPS+ over his three years to 166 and leading the league in home runs with 42, packed alongside a .282 batting average, it’s clear that Tatis is worth every bit of his impressive 14-year contract.

With the late-season breakdown of the Padre’s removing them from any post-season glory, the last question is, does he deserve the MVP nod?

Leading the league in home runs, third in OPS, runs, and steals, and tied for sixth in RBI, the answer is still as mysterious as the utter collapse of an otherwise promising season for the Padres.

2021 Topps #27 Mike Trout

Estimated Base PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $40

Trout’s disappointing 2021 wasn’t due to a lack of performance but an inability to stay on the field.

After playing in only 36 games, Trout suffered a season-ending calf strain on May 17th but still managed to earn his ninth All-Star selection despite the early exit.

That selection may have not only been due to his sterling reputation and popularity but also the red-hot start that saw him batting .333 with a 1.090 OPS and an astounding 195 OPS+ (100 is considered an average MLB regular player).

Trout is only 29 years old, and yet he has solidified himself among the game’s greatest players of all time.

The average career WAR of all centerfielders in the Hall of Fame is 71.9, while Trout has already notched a 76.1 WAR in just eleven seasons.

His 76.1 WAR has already passed some of the game’s greatest Hall of Famers: Johnny Bench (75.1), Reggie Jackson (73.9), Derek Jeter (71.3), and Tony Gwynn (69.2).

With a strong season next year, Trout may pass Yankees legend Joe DiMaggio and his 79.2 WAR.

2021 Topps #43 Jo Adell Rookie Card

Estimated Base PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $40

While spending the last couple of months on the injured list due to a left abdominal strain, former first-round draft pick Jo Adell still managed to play a total of 35 games during the 2021 regular season.

After failing to impress during his rookie year struggles, the Angels' 2017 first-round draft pick finally made his way back to the major league stage this August with some pretty significant improvements.

For instance, his batting average rose from .161 to a more respectable .246.

He also significantly increased his RBI this year, from 7 to 26, showing that his time spent back in the Minors wasn't for nothing.

While Jo had a much improved year, that still doesn't make him a shoo-in for a starting position on the Angels' outfield next season.

The 22-year-old is still in contention for playing time with veteran Justin Upton and the other newcomer, Brandon Marsh.

Despite the vast improvements, his OPS+ was still only 90, where the league considers 100 to be the average.

While injuries kept him out of the last part of the season, we will have to wait to see if his improvements are sustainable and if he can play at the top level consistently.

2021 Topps #187 Christian Pache Rookie Card

Estimated Base PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $40

Braves’ top prospect Cristian Pache has all the makings for a long-term career in Atlanta but appears to need a bit more time to put it all together.

After earning a spot on the Braves’ 2020 postseason roster, Pache was forced into a starting role after Adam Duvall strained his oblique muscle during the NL Championship Series.

He struggled during the series, but it was a vital experience not many young players can boast.

After starting the 2021 season down in Triple-A Gwinnett, Pache received a call up to the Big Leagues later in the year to man centerfield.

Unfortunately, he never really got it going with the bat, notching six hits in 68 plate appearances.

While he’s still ranked as MLB’s top prospect for the Braves, he still has a lot to prove heading into 2022.

2021 Topps #224 Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Estimated Base PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $40

When your father is a former MLB superstar and Hall of Famer, there is a certain level of expectation placed upon your shoulders, fairly or not.

At this point, it's safe to say Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is handling the pressure and comparison to his father as well as anyone could hope.

In a season in which Shohei Ohtani didn't perform at an otherwordly level on the mound and with the bat, Vlad Jr. would certainly run away with AL MVP honors.

Threatening for baseball's Triple Crown all season long, Vlad Jr. led the American League in four statistical categories: OBP (.401), slugging percentage (.601), OPS (1.002), and OPS+ (169).

And he led all of MLB in three more: runs (123), home runs (48), and total bases (363).

To put his abilities with the bat further into perspective, Vlad Jr. ranked second in both average exit velocity and barrel percentage, alongside being in the top 20 for max home run distance and max exit velocity.

Though he likely won't win the MVP, a 2021 Hank Aaron Award would be a tremendous consolation prize for the incredible body of work he turned in during the 2021 season.

2021 Topps #277 Alec Bohm Rookie Card

Estimated Base PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $40

Bohm headed into the 2021 season looking to capitalize on his success the year before that landed him a second-place finish in NL Rookie of the Year voting.

Off to a slow start in the early months, Bohm never really got things going with the bat, but the Phillies were OK playing the 24-year-old, hoping he'd snap out of it.

Unfortunately, his defense took a nosedive and the flashes of leather he displayed in 2020 quickly soured to a tune of sixteen errors in 110 games.

Bohm's disappointing play ultimately culminated with a mid-July demotion to Triple-A affiliate Lehigh.

Fortunately, he showed improvement in the Minors, which led to getting the call back to the Majors on September 29, though he never quite came out of his slump.

While there's no guarantee that Bohm will be the Phillies starting third baseman on Opening Day in 2022, collectors are still hoping for a rebound while snatching up his rookie card.

2021 Topps #321 Casey Mize Rookie Card

Estimated Base PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $40

Though his 7-9 record may not look like it, Detroit Tigers youngster Casey Mize turned in a solid year on the mound during his second year in the Majors.

The Tigers' organization hopes that pitching coach Chris Fetter can eventually turn their promising former number one pick into one of the top aces in the league.

But, they've been careful with their future star during a down year in which the Tigers finished third in the AL Central with a 77-85 record.

Often limiting his innings to preserve his arm for the long haul, especially during the later part of the year, Mize notched 150.1 innings over 30 starts.

His 3.71 ERA will certainly drift lower in the future, but he still turned in a solid 1.137 WHIP and 118 strikeouts.

The future is bright for Mize and hopes in the Motor City couldn't be higher for the budding future ace out of Auburn.

2021 Topps #250 Bryce Harper

Estimated Base PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $35

Bryce Harper tore the cover off the ball in 2021 and put up his best season since 2015 when he won the National League MVP and Silver Slugger with the Washington Nationals.

Now in his third year with the Phillies, Harper put on a performance that has him contending for his second MVP.

Harper batted .309 with 35 home runs, 84 RBI, and 101 runs scored while leading the Majors in doubles (42), slugging percentage (.615), OPS (1.044), and OPS+ (179).

The last time he led MLB in those three previous categories, he took home the MVP, but with the kind of season Juan Soto had, it's going to be a close call to see if Harper will take home his second MVP.

Individual accomplishments aside, Harper did his best to keep his team in contention for a playoff spot all season long.

Still, the Phillies ultimately fell short of a playoff birth after finishing 82-80 and 6.5 games out of first behind the Braves.

2021 Topps #263 Ronald Acuña Jr.

Estimated Base PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $35

Another victim of the injury bug, Acuña started the 2021 campaign looking as strong as ever, finishing April as the NL Player of the Month after going 30-for-88 with six doubles, one triple, and eight home runs.

And, on June 20, Acuña hit his 100th career home run, which, combined with his 76 stolen bases at that point, made him just the fifth player in MLB history to reach the 100 home run and 70 stolen base milestone before turning 24 years old.

In case you're wondering, the other four guys were Ken Griffey Jr., Mike Trout, Andruw Jones, and Alex Rodriguez.

However, things came to a sudden halt when he tore his ACL after attempting a catch at the warning track during a July 10 game in Miami.

At the time, he was the centerpiece of an underperforming Atlanta Braves team, mashing .283/.394/.596 with 24 home runs and 4.0 WAR, and his teammates watched in sadness as he was carted off the field.

While the Braves have turned the season around altogether to make their first World Series appearance since 1999, they'll have to try and win the title without their MVP.

2021 Topps #310 Bo Bichette

Estimated Base PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $35

After a few good, though short, seasons to kick off his career for the Toronto Blue Jays, Bo Bichette put it all together in 2021 to earn his first All-Star Game appearance.

Bichette played top-notch baseball all season long, and his hard hitting and smooth fielding kept the Blue Jays in postseason contention under the very end.

On the year, Bichette led the AL with 191 in 640 at-bats while slashing .298/.343/.484 with an OPS+ of 123 and 24 home runs.

He may not be MVP-caliber material yet, but he certainly lived up to the enormous expectations this year.

Bichette will look to keep the good vibes rolling into the offseason as he preps for his fourth season north of the border as one of the many centerpieces of this Blue Jays team looking to remain a real threat in the American League East.

2021 Topps #330 Juan Soto

Estimated Base PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $35

In front of fans for the first time since the end of 2019, Soto gave Nationals fans an Opening Day they wouldn't forget when his ninth-inning single drove in the winning run to seal his first career walk-off hit.

Soto built off that momentum to put up another stellar year in his already impressive career.

In 151 games, Soto batted .313, hit 29 home runs, drove in 95 runs, and scored another 111 runs.

He also ranked first in MLB for OBP (.465) for the second year in a row while also drawing the most walks (145), the most since Barry Bonds walked 232 times in 2004.

It's fair to say that Soto was a shining light for an otherwise forgettable Washington Nationals team that finished 23.5 games behind first-place Atlanta with their 65-97 record.

Still, Soto's performance kept the MVP chatter around his name alive and well, with many expecting he will take home his first MVP award.

2021 Topps #197 Nick Madrigal Rookie Card

Estimated Base PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $30

Nick Madrigal, the former Chicago White Sox #3 overall prospect in 2020, was off to a stellar start of the 2021 season that was unfortunately cut short by a season-ending hamstring injury.

After undergoing surgery to repair the proximal tendon tears in his right hamstring, the Sox dealt Madrigal and Codi Heuer across town to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for reliever Craig Kimbrel to help with their playoff push.

While he couldn't set foot on the field for the Cubs in 2021, Madrigal did show promise during his 54 games with the Sox, slashing .305/.349/.774 with sixteen extra-base hits.

Madrigal will look to broaden his pure contact hitter style with the Cubs in 2022 if he wants to propel himself into superstardom and greatness.

His bat-on-ball skills are excellent, and his OBP of .358 is high for someone who walks only around 5% of the time, but his low power hurts his prospects.

While he can potentially raise his walk percentage with his pitch identification skills, he could be the start of a great infield foundation for the Cubs in the coming years.

2021 Topps #13 Mookie Betts

Estimated Base PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $25

Mookie Betts "struggled" to start the 2021 season, but it's a label you can only direct at a player of his caliber.

After the middle of July, Betts was hitting .245 with an OPS of .799, nearly 100 points lower than his lifetime .895 OPS, but eventually snapped out of it, ending the year slashing .264/.367/.487 with a resectable 128 OPS+.

Still, for a player like Betts, it wasn't as good of a season for him individually as he's accustomed to, but most of his struggles can be chalked up to nagging inflammation in his hip.

Despite his dip in production, Betts continued to prove why he is one of baseball's most coveted players both on and off the field, helping carry the Dodgers to a 106-56, second-place finish in the NL West to grab a Wild Card berth.

If it wasn't obvious before, it should be clear now: the Dodgers won the trade.

2021 Topps #298 Luis Garcia Rookie Card

Estimated Base PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $25

On August 14, 2020, the Washington Nationals needed someone to replace the injured Sterling Castro for a game against the Baltimore Orioles, so they called on 20-year-old Luis Garcia to take his place.

Garcia's MLB Debut was quite successful, as he went 2-5 with a double, two RBI, and one run scored.

And two games later in Atlanta, he became the first player born in the 2000s to hit a home run when he belted a two-run shot off Touki Toussaint over the outfield wall in the second inning.

Garcia started the 2021 season on the Nationals roster, but the team optioned him to AAA Rochester, where he spent 37 games developing his game, ultimately mashing 13 home runs with a .970 OPS.

The Nationals later called Garcia back up to be their everyday second baseman right before the trade deadline, but Garcia struggled out of the gate.

As the season wore on, Garcia settled in and has shown flashes of potential to be quite effective after a bit more polishing and experience.

2021 Topps #223 Luis Robert

Estimated Base PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $20

After a rookie debut with the White Sox in 2020 that saw Luis Robert take home a Gold Glove and finish second in the Rookie of the Year vote, he looked to turn things up a notch in 2021.

Unfortunately, thanks to a torn hip flexor in May, he only played 68 games on the year.

Thankfully, Robert’s return in August proved there were no lingering effects from his injury, and he ended the year slashing .338/.378/.567 with 13 homers and 43 RBI to help the White Sox to a 93-69 first-place finish in the AL Central.

The young centerfielder has honed his free-swinging approach at the plate and is much better able to identify the fastball versus breaking ball that frequently stumped him during his rookie season.

Firmly established as a central figure in the White Sox’s plans moving forward, expect Robert to work hard this offseason to play an entire season in 2022, where expectations for the Cuban slugger will be sky-high.

2021 Topps #300 Yordan Alvarez

Estimated Base PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $20

Yordan Alvarez's third year with the Houston Astros proved to be a continuation of the enormous talent that he first displayed during his 2019 Rookie of the Year campaign.

After appearing in only two games in 2020, Alvarez looked for a fresh start in 2021 and bounced back in a huge way to help the Astros to a 95-67 record and first-place finish in the AL West.

Smashing a robust 33 home runs in the middle of Houston's potent lineup, Alvarez managed to play in 144 games as the club's primary designated hitter (with some short stints in left field).

Eclipsing the 100-RBI mark for the first time in his career with 104, Alvarez is undoubtedly seen as a mainstay in an Astros lineup that stands to lose a few high-profile players to free agency.

With the team as perennial postseason contenders, the Astros will need Alvarez to continue his robust production in future years.

Base

2021 Topps Series 1 Baseball Cards In Review

I love the 2021 Topps Series 1 base set design as it flashes a modern look and feel to it without being too over the top.

The diagonal nameplates can sometimes make it slightly tedious to make out the player's name and position info, but it's not too big of a deal.

While there weren't really any blockbuster rookies that preceded the release of this set, time will tell if some of these guys develop into superstars that could send prices of their rookies soaring in future years.

Still, the rookie class is decent enough and there are plenty of big-name stars and future Hall of Famers to collect within the 330-card checklist.

If you're looking for subsets, there are a few traditional ones, including:

• Future Stars
• League Leaders
• World Series Highlights

And as usual, there are plenty of parallels, variations, autographs, and memorabilia cards to keep you busy chasing down some of those more exciting pulls.

Overall, I think Topps did a great job with this set.