Chipper Jones Rookie Cards | Market Value Guide

Widely regarded as one of the best switch-hitters to ever play the game, Chipper Jones was selected first overall by the Atlanta Braves in the 1990 MLB Draft season. After making his Major League debut in 1993, he went on to become one of the most iconic third basemen in baseball history. 

His baseball achievements are well-documented, but how does this translate into Chipper Jones rookie cards? Back in the height of card collecting through the early '90s, Chipper Jones rookie cards were everywhere and among the most common collectors' cards. 

Jones' cards were everywhere back then, and every kid and his baseball card-collecting friends had one in their collection. But what about in 2022? Are they still this abundant, and are they still valuable? 

Let's dive in and discover what some of the top Chipper Jones rookie cards are worth right now, from the most common to some of the oddball rarities. But first, let's go into who Chipper Jones was as a player in more detail. 

Who Is Chipper Jones? 

Chipper Jones, now a legendary name in baseball, spent his entire 19-year MLB career with the Atlanta Braves. He was an eight-time All-Star team player, won the NL MVP in 1999 and was a two-time Silver Slugger award winner. In 1995, he'd help the Braves lift the franchise's third World Series trophy.

In 2008, his batting average was .364, making him the MLB batting champion, a considerable feat almost two decades after his introduction to MLB. He finished his career in 2012 boasting a .303 career batting average, 468 home runs, and 1,623 runs batted in (RBIs). Post-retirement, Chipper Jones was inducted into the Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame in 2013 and the team retired his jersey number. Five years later in 2018, Cooperstown inducted the third baseman into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. 

Without a doubt, Chipper Jones is a baseball legend with outstanding career stats to back it. So how does such a fantastic career affect the value and availability of his baseball cards in 2022? Let’s find out. 

Chipper Jones Rookie Cards Value 

While his achievements on the field are well known, they also coincided with the rise in popularity of baseball cards through the 1990s. Every other person on the street seemed to be collecting back then, and baseball card shops were everywhere. 

Despite Jones' accomplishments on the field, you may still be able to find most of his baseball cards for next to nothing. However, that doesn't mean there aren't some exceptions to the rule, and some extremely intriguing Chipper Jones cards stand out from others.

Because so many Chipper Jones rookie cards were printed, there are still large numbers in circulation, and demand today is much lower than what's out there. You probably have a Chipper Jones card or several in your collection, right? But what about the lesser-known cards? Some Chipper Jones cards with unique characteristics can fetch more significant sales figures and provide an exciting investment opportunity for collectors.

Get your hands on one of these oddball cards, combine it with some high-quality grading, and you never know; you could be sitting on a pot of gold. So what are some of the best, most valuable Chipper Jones cards out there?

The Best Chipper Jones Rookie Cards 

1991 Topps Desert Chipper Jones #333

While this card is another variation of the #333 card, it's one considered extremely valuable: a very unique and interesting card that sets itself apart from all the other Chipper Jones rookie cards on this list. The Topps Desert card was created as part of a special initiative to bring some small amount of joy to the soldiers fighting in Iraq. 

When the first war began in Iraq in 1990, Topps decided to create these cards and send them out to the American troops in the Middle East. The cards that made it to the Middle East were understandably battered, meaning it’s tough to find them in good condition. 

The card came with a foil stamp, serving as another unique point of differentiation, and because of the super low production volume, this is a Chipper Jones rookie card that can fetch a high value. Very minimal high-quality versions are left in circulation, making for a highly sought-after card, chased by the most serious collectors. 

Fair Market Value: According to SportsCardsPro sales data, this card sells for just over $15,000 for a gem mint grade 10 card. These are big numbers for a rare card and one that could be an extremely lucrative investment should you get your hands on one. 

1991 Topps Tiffany Chipper Jones #333

While there is the standard regular edition of the #333 Topps card, the Tiffany is the premium edition and perhaps the creme de la creme of Chipper Jones rookie cards. This card combines high-quality manufacturing and design with low-volume production as part of a limited edition factory set, a baseball card recipe for something extraordinary and valuable. This was also the final year of production for the Topps series of baseball cards, adding to this card's prestige.

This is one of the highest value Chipper Jones rookie cards on the market, and for good reason, due to its fantastic design and scarcity. So how do you tell the difference between the Tiffany version and your average version worth considerably less?

You'd be hard-pressed to know without holding each in your hand, but ultimately, it comes down to the finish. The Tiffany edition has a beautiful glossy finish and a shine that standard baseball cards lack, and it is printed on a bright white stock card, giving it a beautiful aesthetic. 

Fair Market Value: Unsurprisingly, the Tiffany edition of #333 fetches big numbers across the sales databases. We checked out pieces in 2022, and according to SportsCardsPro, a gem mint grade 10 version of this card sells for $4,920, on average. 

For a card with such low production and high-quality construction, the numbers it sells for fluctuate and go to amounts even higher than this. For example, on July 18, 2021, a gem mint 10 card sold for $5,222. According to the SportsCardsPro database, even an ungraded version of this highly sought-after, fantastic card sells for $325. 

1991 Topps Micro Chipper Jones RC #333

This one screams differentiation and is a card you won't find in many baseball card collections, let alone another with Chipper Jones on it. This card edition was created at the size of a postage stamp, measuring only 1 inch by 1 ⅜ inch and only ever packaged in factory set form. 

While this card isn't crazy rare—the top and most enthusiastic collectors will likely have a copy—its relatively low volume and differentiation make this a super-interesting Chipper Jones rookie card nonetheless. 

Fair Market Value: We dove into the SportsCardsPro database and found out what this card's 1991 Topps Micro edition was worth. At the market top, this grade 10 gem mint edition card is worth around $565. 

However, sales data also states a grade 10 gem mint edition of this card sold for $1,050 on April 20, 2021. Despite this, you can pick up an ungraded version of this card for next to nothing, with Sports Cards Pro indicating you can purchase an ungraded card for between $4 and $5. 

1991 Upper Deck Chipper Jones #55

This is one of the most common and simplistic Chipper Jones cards, with many versions of the same card from different publishers. However, the Upper Deck edition of #55 is the best, with a sleek glossy finish much like Tiffany’s premium card series, appearing better in terms of aesthetics than standard versions. 

Despite its great looks and design, many of these cards are in circulation, so the prices are pretty low compared to other cards on this list. But while it may not be a card with a huge investment opportunity, it's still a great-looking card that will slip nicely into your collection if you don’t have one. 

Fair Market Value: Taking things down a notch from the cards we’ve looked at, the Upper Deck Chipper Jones #55 is a much more common card with many cards in circulation. The sales databases reflect this perfectly, with a gem mint edition going for around $55, according to SportsCardsPro, and an ungraded card selling for $2. 

1991 Score Chipper Jones Rookie Card #671

A card that screams the '90s in terms of design and aesthetics but one that stands out among the other relatively plain Chipper Jones card designs. The golden orange gradient background sets this card, which is one of Jones' earliest, apart from the others. 

While this card is low value due to how easy it is to find, it remains a classic for any collector, just perhaps not an investment opportunity. 

Fair Market Value: This card remains relatively low-value in terms of Chipper Jones rookie cards, and the market sales reflect this accurately. For example, we checked the sales data using SportsCardsPro and found a gem mint edition of this card to sell for, on average, $45.50, whereas an ungraded version of the same card can be found for as little as $1.30. 

1991 Bowman Chipper Jones Rookie Card #569 

One of the best action shot images in the Chipper Jones rookie cards range gives you an excuse to buy this card, if for no other reason. While the image is a standard baseball card image, it’s still iconic and a must-have for any Chipper Jones fan or collector. 

Fair Market Value: According to the SportsCardsPro database, the gem mint 10 version of the Bowman Chipper Jones #569 costs around $116, and sales data throughout 2022 shows this price doesn't fluctuate much. For an ungraded version of this card, the database indicates you can grab one for as little as $3.50.

Summary 

It's no secret; Chipper was a legend on the field and a super popular player. Through the 1990s, everyone who opened a packet of baseball cards had a Chipper card in their collection. And today, while his legendary performances and stature in the sport remain firmly ingrained in the brains of baseball fans around the world, his cards are much less remembered. 

However, that doesn't mean Chipper Jones' rookie cards aren't valuable. Everyone should have the basic common cards in their collection—that goes without saying—but find yourself one of those lesser-known rarities, and you could have a significant investment opportunity on your hands. That, or a scarce card to make even the best collectors out there green with envy. 

If you’ve got a rare Chipper Jones Rookie Card in your hands as you eagerly read this, why not get it authenticated and graded? Here at CSG, we offer high-quality, fast-turnaround grading services. Every card we grade is backed by the CSG guarantee of authenticity and grade, giving you confidence in your collection.