The Yankees Ace Best Cards
Gerrit Cole entered The Show in 2013 with all the expectations that come along with being a first-overall draft pick. Only four months after making his bow, Cole was starting Game Two of the NLDS for the Pittsburgh Pirate, which he won. He would eventually head to Houston and then onto New York City, all while building a resume that should one day put him in Cooperstown.
Cole has been New York’s ace since joining the Yankees in December 2019. Signing a then-record nine-year $324 million contract to play under the bright lights of Yankee Stadium ramped up the pressure even more. Cole responded, winning a Cy Young in 2023 and leading this year’s squad to the Yankee’s first World Series since 2009. Cole has already started three games in the 2024 postseason. The Yankees have won all three. Unsurprisingly, he will take to the hill tonight for Game 1 of the 2024 World Series. Cole, who started Game 1 of the 2019 edition, will become the 10th pitcher in MLB history to start Game One of the World Series for two different teams.
With Gerrit Cole and the Yankees only four wins from a championship, let’s look at some of the best Gerrit Cole cards to collect.
Top Gerrit Cole Cards
2013 Topps Chrome Baseball Rookie Autographs Black #GC Gerrit Cole RC /100
Player info
• originally drafted in the first round by the New York Yankees in 2008 draft but chose to attend UCLA instead
• selected first overall by Pittsburgh in 2011 draft
Set info
• 220 card set
card info
• part of Cole’s chrome debut
• rookie autograph insert also included autos from Manny Machado and Christian Yelich
2024 Topps Archives Signature Series Active Player Edition Dual Auto Gerrit Cole/Corbin Burnes /47
Player info
• Led MLB with 257 strikeouts in 2022
• only right-handed pitchers in Yankee history to lead MLB in strikeouts
Set info
• part of Topps archives limited release run
card info
• Dual images and autos of 2022 al and NL strikeout leaders
• card back displays strikeout leaders from both leagues
2023 MLB TOPPS NOW® Card Collector’s Edition #OS14CE Gerrit Cole /23
Player info
• became third-youngest pitcher to reach 2,000 career strikeouts in 2023
• named al starter for 2023 all-star game
• went 15-4 with a 2.63 era, 0.98 whip and 222 strikeouts
set info
• part of topps now collector’s edition
card info
• card released to commemorate Cole’s 2023 Cy Young Award, short print of only 23
2012 Bowman Chrome Prospect Autograph Gold Refractor #BCP86 Gerrit Cole Gold Refractor RC /50
Player info
• struck out leadoff hitter on three pitches in his MLB debut on June 11, 2013
• won nl rookie of the month in September 2013
• won his first-ever playoff start in the 2013 NLDS against St. Louis
set info
• 220-card set supplemented with a 110-card Prospects insert set
card info
• all-important first bowman
• shows cole wearing #75 jersey (before switching to the #45 he is best known for)
2013 Topps Update Black #US150 Gerrit Cole RC /62
Player info
• in 2019, Cole became second pitcher in MLB history to record at least 14 strikeouts in three straight games
• ended 2019 with 20-5 record, 2.50 era, 0.89 whip and 326 strikeouts
set info
• 330 base card set
card info
• black parallel of what is one of Cole’s most enduringly covetable RCs
• features the ace in pirates alternate yellow hat
