Celebrating One of Baseball’s Biggest Stars
Bryce Harper has been in the spotlight on and off the field, and in The Hobby, for a long, long time. In 2009, at the age of only 16, Harper graced the cover of Sports Illustrated. The headline read: Baseball’s Chosen One – Bryce Harper is the Most Exciting Prodigy Since LeBron. The phenom had otherworldly expectations from the get-go. A year later, a 17-year old Harper was chosen first overall in the 2010 MLB Draft.
Since then, Bryce Harper has put together a Hall-of-Fame-worthy career and become one of the biggest stars of The Hobby. Let’s take a look at the two-time MVP’s legacy and cards as he continues to seek his first World Series title with the Philadelphia Phillies.
A Generational Talent
For those who are too young to remember, it’s hard to put into words the hype that surrounded the young Bryce Harper. On the heels of the SI cover, Harper was named Baseball America’s High School Player of the Year. Only a year later, he won the Golden Spikes Award for best amateur player in the country. Though playing as a catcher in his early years, the Washington Nationals took him at the top of the draft as an outfielder.
Unsurprisingly, Harper’s early Bowman cards have proven to be extremely desirable. His 2011 Bowman Chrome Prospect Autographs Superfractor is one of the most valuable prospect cards of all-time. The first sale registered per Card Ladder came in 2022 when it sold for $432,000.
As recently as April 26, 2025, a PSA 10 2011 Bowman Chrome Prospect Auto numbered to 25 went for over $50,000. This PSA 10 is currently listed on Fanatics Collect for just over $2,000.
Interestingly, the 2011 card is not Harper’s Bowman debut. That came a year earlier, when the prodigy appeared in 2010 Bowman Chrome as part of a USA Baseball insert. In 2009, Harper represented the USA 18u National Team, leading the Americans to a gold medal with a team-leading 12 RBI. On April 20, an autographed version of the card numbered to 100 sold for $3,750.
Bryce Harper Takes the Capital
Less than two years after being drafted, Bryce Harper was called up to the big leagues, debuting on April 28, 2012. Only 19 years old, he became the youngest position player ever to be named to an All-Star team. He also won the 2019 NL Rookie of the Year Award.
The first Bryce Harper official rookie card available in packs is his 2012 Topps Archive, showing Harper rearing back to throw. The set also included a Harper entry in the Fan Favorites insert, including autographed versions that have sold for as much as $2,000.
Harper’s fame and success helped lead to his late inclusion in 2012 Topps Baseball Series 2. Included was a short-printed RC, which remains one of Harper’s most sought-after cards. At #661, Harper was the final card of 2012 Topps Baseball.
Bryce Harper’s ‘Blue Helmet’ 2012 Topps Baseball RC also appeared in Series 2. This particularly intriguing card is signed by Harper with an MLB Debut inscription, marking his first-ever MLB game on April 28, 2012. It’s currently listed for $599 through Fanatics.
Bryce Harper: MVP
In 2015, Harper made the leap from unquestioned talent to the top of the sport, winning the NL MVP. The superstar led the NL with 42 home runs. He led MLB in on-base percentage, slugging, and OPS (a career-high 1.109). At only 23, Harper became the youngest player in MLB history to be unanimously named MVP.
Between 2012 and 2017, Harper and the Nationals made the playoffs four times. However, the team couldn’t get over the hump, losing in the NLDS on each occasion.
Harper’s Next Chapter: The Superstar Heads to Philadelphia
In 2019, Bryce Harper was one of the most hotly-pursued free agents in recent history. Many teams made attempts to secure his services, but in the end, Harper chose to sign with the Philadelphia Phillies. At the time, the 13-year, $330 million deal was the biggest free agent contract in the history of the sport. MLB Topps NOW® commemorated the signing with a historic card showing Harper donning his new Phillies jersey and cap.
Harper got off to a solid start in his first two years with the Phillies, but it was 2021 when he made his way back to the mountaintop. Hitting 35 home runs, to go along with an MLB-leading 78 extra-base hits, and 1.044 OPS, Harper won his second NL MVP award. The achievement was honored with a dual card from Topps NOW®, featuring Harper alongside AL MVP Shohei Ohtani.
As one of the biggest stars of the sport and The Hobby, Bryce Harper cards come in many different shapes and sizes. The outfielder was included in the popular Topps Project70, featuring on a collaboration card between Topps and The Shoe Surgeon inspired by the cover art of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. The card last sold on May 6, 2025 for $125.
Chasing a Ring
Bryce Harper is still fighting for his first World Series title, but that doesn’t mean he’s been short on postseason heroics. In 2022, he was phenomenal in leading the Phillies to the World Series. He hit a game-winning two-run home run to send Philadelphia to the Fall Classic, earning NLCS MVP in the process. Harper and Philadelphia have appeared in the postseason in each of the last three seasons. Over that span, he played in 34 playoff games, hitting 12 home runs with 24 RBI.
Harper’s Next Chance: 2025
Harper’s Phillies remain among baseball’s best and are considered a likely postseason team with a chance to win it all. As a Hobby stalwart, Harper remains a frequently featured player in Topps baseball releases, including recent 2025 offerings.
Harper’s entries in 2025 Topps Baseball Series 1 include base cards, parallels, variations, inserts, autos, and relics. He appears in the popular 1990 Topps Baseball insert as well as the short-printed Player Number Variation, where his card is numbered to three. One sought-after Harper card in the set is his Big Head Variation, currently available on Ebay for as low as $142.
Whether Bryce Harper becomes a champion remains to be seen, but there’s no doubt that the phenom-turned-superstar has made good on his potential, becoming one of the best players of recent times and one of the enduring stars of The Hobby.
