Collecting Baseball’s Most Storied Franchise
At Topps RIPPED, we’re taking a look at how to collect your favorite teams. If you’re new to the chase, take a look at our Team Collecting Primer. Not meant to be a definitive guide, these profiles aim to give team collectors, and those looking to get started, an idea of what to keep in mind when collecting each franchise.
To kick things off, we’re going to the most decorated franchise in American sports — the 27-time World Series Champion New York Yankees.
Yankees Lore
What’s unique about collecting the New York Yankees? Lifelong Yankees superfan and collector Sooz Lulgjuraj, who recently spoke with Topps RIPPED about her extensive collection, has an answer. “So much history,” Lulgjuraj said. “So many of the all-time greats featured on cards dating all the way back to Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, through to modern times with Derek Jeter and Aaron Judge. You have so many different players from so many different decades that you can collect.”
Indeed, when it comes to grail cards in The Hobby, the Yankees are their very own Mount Rushmore. There’s the grandaddy of them all, the 1952 Topps Baseball Mickey Mantle, which holds the record for most expensive card ever sold at $12.6 million. Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig’s 1933 Goudey cards and Joe Dimaggio’s 1941 Play Ball card are among the most iconic cards ever made.
While these cards are in a different stratosphere, there are myriad ways to collect Yankee legends through more accessible vintage cards, reprints, commemorations, and new releases. Mantle, Ruth, and Gehrig all appear in 2025 Topps Baseball Series 1.
When it comes to grail cards, Lulgjurag said, “It’s funny because it really just depends on what somebody wants to collect. The ‘71 Munson is one of my favorite all-time cards.” Often, grail cards like that Thurman Munson will be accessible in lower grade ranges.
The Captain and The Judge
While Yankees lore is unmatched, when it comes to the modern era, the two most sought-after Yankees are Derek Jeter and Aaron Judge. Lulgjuraj, a Jeter supercollector, has amassed over 3,000 cards of The Captain. “I like to collect early Jeter, 1992-1996. I want to complete that entire run. There is a hierarchy in that way. After that, I’ll go to his playing year cards.” Outside of his playing years, Lulgjuraj is interested in cards that feature images of Jeter from the early days. “I call it Baby Jeter, if a card comes out like that, I’m more inclined to buy it.”
While Jeter cards can be extremely valuable, it’s also about finding ones with great images, fun stories, or interesting tie-ins. Lulgjuraj is a big fan of Jeter’s 1993 Topps Baseball Florida Marlins Inaugural card, both because it’s an early Jeter and because he went on to work for the Marlins organization.
Judge has taken the torch from The Captain, becoming one of The Hobby’s true superstars. Per Card Ladder, three of his Bowman cards have sold for six figures, including a top sale of $324,000 for his 2013 Bowman Chrome Superfractor Auto 1-of-1. His 2017 rookie cards are among the most coveted cards of the present-day Hobby.
For more accessible Judge cards, Lulgjuraj brought up Stadium Club. “If you want to find really fun cards, the imagery with Stadium Club is always great,” she said. “It’s a great place to go if you’re looking for something different.”
Collect Who and What You Love
Lulgjuraj recommends collecting your favorite players. “Always collect what resonates with you, stuff that you really like.” One of her personal favorites is Anthony Rizzo, who’s no longer with the team. “That way, no matter what happens, you won’t be regretful about what you buy,” Lulgjuraj said.
With Rizzo cards coming from the more recent era, Lulgjuraj was able to go after more autos, relics, and patch cards. Even that chase can be personalized. For her, “When it comes to jersey cards, it has to have a pinstripe.”
Word on the Street
Team collecting is a great way to engage with other collectors and fans of your favorite team. Get a sense of what people in The Hobby are thinking and who’s getting buzz while building a network for your collection.
Lulgjuraj spends a lot of time talking to other collectors. “Anthony Volpe’s the next guy, but Austin Wells. I’m in Yankee chat groups and people love Austin Wells,” she said. The 25-year-old catcher got his rookie card in 2024 Topps Baseball Series 2 and could make for an exciting rainbow to chase. A PSA 10 2024 Topps Baseball Series 2 Austin Wells RC numbered to 50 sold for $125 dollars in October 2024.
Capture the Quirks
While the Yankees are defined by a historic winning legacy, every team has its quirks. The Yankees recently announced that the famous ban on beards implemented by the club is no longer active. Get ready for bearded Yankee cards! But, while you’re at it, go chasing for those Yankee cards of the past that capture players with mustaches, like the 1975 Topps Baseball Sandy Lyle or 1976 Topps Traded Oscar Gamble.
Down on the Farm
It’s a well known fact, and a hard truth for Yankee collectors, that early cards of the team’s prospects often come at a premium. It makes sense, as the club’s overwhelming popularity and place in the history of The Hobby makes it extremely appealing to figure out who’s next. 19-year old Shortstop George Lombard Jr. made a splash early in Spring Training, and The Hobby responded, with his Bowman cards becoming hot items to chase. Five of the top six sales of Lombard Jr. cards have come this March alone, ranging from $2,425 – $6,750.
Your Team Your Way
Obviously, books could be written on all the cards to collect of the New York Yankees. But the incredible history, superstar players, iconic legends, and exciting future give collectors endless possibilities. What it all comes down to is finding your own way to show off in Pinstripes.
