Collect the Greatest Topps Chrome Update RCs
Since its debut in 2013, Topps Chrome® Baseball Update Series has become one of The Hobby’s premier destinations for Flagship-style chromium rookies, and collectors often look back at the standout names that have defined the product. Over the years, Chrome Update has delivered some of the most important modern RCs and Rookie Debuts in The Hobby, producing a growing list of stars whose cards have become long-term staples.
From MVP winners and perennial All-Stars to breakout performers who reshaped the game, we’re running down some of the best Topps Chrome Update rookies of all time.
Topps Chrome® Baseball Update Series has produced some of The Hobby’s most important modern rookie cards, including future MVPs, Cy Young winners, and October legends. This guide highlights key RCs, set details, and memorable quotes that showcase why Chrome Update remains a premier destination for Flagship-style chromium rookies.
The Greatest Topps Chrome® Baseball Update Series Rookie Cards
2019 Topps Chrome® Baseball Update Series #21 Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Gold Refractor RC
player Info
• 2025 Alcs
• five-time all-star
• three-time all-mlb first team
Set Info
• 100 base cards
what they said
• “I met them when we were young, we were 14, 15 doing tryouts together. Vladdy was putting on a show every day. I remember one time we went to the Nationals academy and Vladdy hit for like 30 minutes straight. We were just shagging and he was hitting balls 500 feet all over the field. We were just watching balls going out all over the field — boom, boom, boom. And we were like what is going on?”
2022 Topps Chrome® Baseball Update Series #USC345 Bobby Witt Jr. Purple Refractor RC
player Info
• two-time gold glove winner
• two-time silver slugger winner
• two-time all-star
Set Info
• 2o0 base cards
What They Said
• “I don’t want to put any pressure on him. It’s hard enough to play in the big leagues. So many players get here and they don’t know what they’re doing. But he’s different. He’s a natural.” – hall of famer george brett
2018 Topps Chrome® Baseball Update Series #HMT1 Shohei Ohtani RC
player Info
• four-time mvp
• five-time all-star
• two-time world series champion
set Info
• 100 base cards
What They Said
• “He changed the rules. Anybody who changes the rules on anything has to be a great player. This guy, he can outrun a deer. He can throw a hundred miles an hour, hit a ball a mile.” – baseball lifer dusty baker
2018 Topps Chrome® Baseball Update Series #HMT25 Ronald Acuna Jr. RC X-Fractor
player info
• five-time all-star
• 2023 nl mvp
• 2018 nl rookie of the year
Set Info
• 100 base cards
What They Said
• “That swing is not typical. The optics are different. You have a lot of guys who can hit a deep home run, but the way he does it – so quick, so late. He waits beyond what you think could be possible before he swings.” – baseball lifer mark melancon
2014 Topps Chrome® Baseball Update Series #US-20 Mookie Betts RC
player Info
• eight-time all-star
• four-time world series champion
• 2018 al mvp
Set Info
• 55 base cards
what they said
• “if you’re talking about a player that really was valuable to this team this year, I’m saying Mookie Betts is number one.’’ – milwaukee brewers manager pat murphy
2017 Topps Chrome® Baseball Update Series #HMT40 Aaron Judge
player Info
• seven-time all-star
• three-time al mvp
• 2017 al rookie of the year
Set Info
• 100 base cards
what they said
• “I mean, he’s definitely the focal point, right? When you look at the lineup, you look at it and say, ‘You don’t want this guy to beat you.'” – yankees pitcher max fried
2018 Topps Chrome Baseball Update Series #HMT98 Juan Soto
player Info
• four-time all-star
• 2019 world series champion
• 2025 nl stolen base leader
Set Info
• 100 base cards
What They Said
• “Obviously, we know he has power, he has the hit tool. He can hit for average. Super dynamic player offensively. But the thing that I really benefit from is just seeing, because he sees a ton of pitches, and just kind of seeing what they’re doing to him, obviously, it really helps.” – mets teammate pete alonso
2025 Topps Chrome Update Series Rookies Up Next
2025 Topps Chrome® Baseball Update Series #USC178 Nick Kurtz RC
player Info
• 2025 Al rookie of the year
• led all rookies in homers (36)
•one of three players in 2025 with at least 400 plate appearances and an ops of over 1.000
Set Info
• 200 base cards
what they said
• “There’s only a few guys in the game that can hit oppo homers and know, when you got it, you got it, which [Kurtz] did. It’s like Barry Bonds and Jim Thome and a couple Hall of Famers.” – a’s manager mark kotsay
2025 Topps Chrome® Baseball Update Series #USC88 Drake Baldwin RC
player Info
• 10th braves player to be named rookie of the year
• ranked first among nl rookies in fwar (3.1)
• made mlb debut on march 27, 2025
Set Info
• 200 base cards
what they said
• “He’s one of the first guys to show up and one of the last guys to leave. I think that goes a long way for that position. He can hit. He’s probably one of the better hitting prospects I’ve seen.” – braves pitcher ian anderson
2025 Topps Chrome® Baseball Update Series #USC63 Cade Horton RC
player Info
• no. 7 pick in the 2022 mlb draft
• made mlb debut on may 10, 2025
• posted an 11-4 record in 2025
set Info
• 200 base cards
What They Said
• “Different things happen that give opportunities to guys like Cade. You got to see how dominant he can be at the big league level.” – cubs teammate justin steele
Topps Chrome® Baseball Update Series Rookie FAQs
- What makes Topps Chrome Baseball Update rookie cards so popular?
- Collectors value Chrome Update RCs for their chromium stock, Flagship photography, and strong rookie checklists. Many modern superstars have key RCs or Rookie Debuts in the product, making it a trusted destination for long-term Hobby staples.
- Which Chrome Baseball Update rookie is considered the biggest chase?
- Depending on Hobby preference, Shohei Ohtani, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Aaron Judge are among the top long-term chases, with standout RCs and parallels that remain highly collected.
- What’s the difference between a Chrome Baseball Update RC and a Rookie Debut card?
- A true RC typically features a player’s standard Flagship image, while Rookie Debut cards commemorate a player’s first MLB appearance. Both can be collectible, but RCs generally carry stronger long-term interest unless the debut moment becomes iconic.
- Why do some Chrome Baseball Update rookies become more desirable over time?
- Interest often rises when a player wins awards, shines in the postseason, or develops into a perennial All-Star. Because Chrome Update often includes late-season call-ups and breakout stars, many of its rookies gain momentum as careers evolve.
- Which Topps Chrome Update rookie in this list has the most MVP awards?
- Shohei Ohtani leads the group with four MVP awards, making his 2018 Topps Chrome Update RC one of the most decorated modern cards. His combination of elite pitching and hitting elevates his chromium rookies to long-term Hobby cornerstone status.
Key Facts
- Debuted in 2013 as a chromium extension of Topps Update
- Features Flagship photography on chrome stock
- Known for major RCs of MVPs and Cy Young winners
- Includes parallels, Rookie Debuts, and autograph subsets
