Card Info and Matchups
With March Madness going strong, we thought we get into the bracket-busting game with our very own March Slabness! Beginning today and continuing through Saturday, make sure and visit Topps on Instagram and vote on the greatest RCs of all time.
Check out the full bracket and breakdown of each RC below.
#1. 1954 Topps Baseball #128 Hank Aaron RC
Coming into March Slabness in the 1st seed, Hammering Hank’s rookie card. The 1954 Topps Baseball #128 Hank Aaron RC is the one and only rookie card that was ever printed and put into existence, making it a must-have for collectors. This card deserves the number one slot, but will it win it all in March Slabness.
2. 2011 Topps Update #175 Mike Trout
The four-time MVP Mike Trout and his 2011 Topps Update #175 Mike Trout RC fills the second seed in our rankings. This card has several variations. One notable version is the 2011 Topps Update Mike Trout Diamond Anniversary #US175, which reportedly sold for as much as $29,000 in 2021.
3. 1955 Topps #164 Roberto Clemente RC
The 1955 Topps #164 Roberto Clemente card holds immense significance in the world of baseball collecting for several reasons. That’s why it gets the third seed in our bracket. Not only does it mark the debut of the legendary Roberto Clemente in the Topps series, but it also captures the early stages of a career that would eventually lead him to become one of the most revered and iconic figures in the sport.
#4. 2018 Topps Update Series #US250 Ronald Acuna JR. RC
2024 Topps Series 1 cover athlete Ronald Acuna Jr is our 4th seed with his 2018 Topps Update Series #US250 Ronald Acuna JR. RC. Acuna has an SSP rookie in Series 2, but the general release RC is his base version in the 2018 Topps Update Series. Acuna also has three image variations and several autographs in the release.
5. 2001 Topps #726 Ichiro Suzuki
The 2001 Topps Ichiro Suzuki RC #726, the fifth seed in our bracket, is a pivotal card in baseball collecting, signifying the rookie debut of a transformative player. Ichiro’s arrival from Japan reshaped MLB, making this card not just a symbol of his brilliance but also a testament to the game’s global evolution.
#6. 1993 Topps Baseball #98 Derek Jeter RC
Checking in at the 6th seed is the 1993 Topps Baseball #98 Derek Jeter Rookie Card. This RC is the Hall of Famer’s first Topps card. This sought-after card has several variations, including one featuring a Rockies stamp commemorating the organization’s inaugural season.
#7. 2018 Topps #700 Shohei Ohtani RC
Ohtani’s flagship rookie card, the 2018 Topps #700 Shohei Ohtani RC, could be found in 2018 Series 2 packs and is slotted in the seventh seed of our bracket . The card touted the arrival of one of the game’s current best players outside of Topps Now products and features several short prints.
#8. 1989 Topps Traded #41T Ken Griffey Jr. RC
The Kid checks in as the 8th seed. Topps jumped into the Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card frenzy with its 1989 Traded set, unleashing a baseball card that became an instant classic. The card features a young and vibrant Griffey Jr. in his Mariners uniform, exuding the confidence of a future Hall of Famer.
#9. 2017 Topps #287 Aaron Judge RC
Stand in reverence for the honorable Aaron Judge, whose flagship rookie card debuted in the 2017 Topps Series 1 and checks in at the ninth seed in our rankings. The 2017 Topps #287 Aaron Judge RC’s prestige isn’t just from its placement in Topps’ premier product but also from being released during the year when the Yankees’ superstar smashed the record for most homers by a rookie (52) and clinched the AL Rookie of the Year title.
#10. 2001 Topps Traded #T247 Albert Pujols RC
Albert Pujols’ 2001 Topps Traded RC is our 10th seed. This HOFer’s card remains popular with collectors in large part because, although not rare, fewer of these are in circulation than more recent Flagship RC releases.
#11. 1987 Topps Baseball #366 Mark McGwire RC
When it comes to heavyweight baseball cards, few pack a punch like Mark McGwire’s 1987 Topps rookie card, ranked as our 11th seed on this list. This iconic card commemorates a significant moment in baseball history, but the question remains: will it survive its first-round matchup?
#12. 1984 Topps Traded #42T Dwight Gooden RC
The 1984 Topps Traded #42T Dwight Gooden RC stands as Gooden’s inaugural card with Topps and earned the 12th seed in our bracket. During that remarkable season, he clinched Rookie of the Year honors, dominating the NL with an impressive 276 strikeouts and swiftly ascending to household name status.
#13. 1993 Topps Baseball #701 Mike Piazza
The 1993 Topps Baseball #701 card features four prospects and is Piazza’s first Topps card. This is one of the most coveted cards from 1993 and is very deserving of the 13th seed. Piazza and Carlos Delgado went on to have memorable careers with both exceeding 400 career homers and making multiple All-Star teams.
#14. 2019 Topps #475 Pete Alonso
Alonso’s Topps flagship rookie card, the 2019 Topps #475 Pete Alonso RC, gets the 14th seed in our bracket . Few knew how dominant his first season would be. The Mets’ superstar popped onto the scene and topped Aaron Judge’s record for most homers by a rookie, totaling 53.
#15. 1980 Topps #482 Rickey Henderson RC
The Man of Steal’s RC is the 15th seed. The 1980 Topps #482 Rickey Henderson RC is one of the most valuable, if not the most valuable card, of the 1980s. And what a pristine version of the bad boy goes for validates that. In 2021, a 1980 Topps #482 Rickey Henderson RC sold for a whopping $180,000. Rickey costs a ticket!
#16. 2024 Topps Series 1 Baseball #141 Elly De La Cruz RC
And last but certainly not least, our 16th seed is the electrifying Elly De La Cruz. The 2024 Topps Series 1 Baseball #141 Elly De La Cruz RC brought the neon goodness and excitement for the 2024 Topps Series 1 release. Will he be able to pull off the ultimate bracket upset?
