Mike Piazza Rookie Card Market Guide

Considered Major League Baseball’s greatest hitting catcher of all time, Mike Piazza was practically born into baseball. Legendary Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda was the godfather to Piazza’s younger brother, Tom, who was named after the manager. Plus, as a teenager, Piazza was treated to a day of private batting lessons from the great Ted Williams. This guide takes a closer look into the future Hall of Famer’s MLB career while also reviewing Piazza’s rookie cards and their trending values.

From Catcher to Batting Legend

Lasorda and the Dodgers drafted Piazza in 1988, and during a stint in the minor leagues, the manager encouraged him to become a catcher. In September 1992, he made his MLB debut near the end of the season. In 1993, his first full rookie season, Piazza batted .318, raked in 35 home runs and drove in 112 RBIs. Due to these numbers, he was named National League Rookie of the Year and selected for the All-Star game, which would be the first of his 12 All-Star appearances.

Piazza had his best season in 1997, recording a .362 batting average, 40 home runs and 124 RBIs. He was also the first runner-up for the National League MVP Award that year. The next year, he and the Dodgers became embroiled in a contract dispute that led to L.A. trading Piazza to the Florida Marlins. However, he only suited up in five games for the Marlins before Florida traded him to the New York Mets.

In 2000, he achieved the second-longest RBI streak in MLB history, with one or more RBIs in 15 successive games. But it was a single performance in 2001 that most endeared him to the mainstream public.

On September 21, 2001, during the Mets’ first professional baseball game since the 9/11 attacks, Piazza hit a spectacular game-winning home run in the 8th inning that resonated emotionally with viewers not only in New York but across the nation. In 2016, the jersey he wore in that game sold for $365,000, which was the most money ever paid for a modern-era baseball jersey. It’s currently on rotational display at the 9/11 Memorial Museum, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and at Citi Field.

MLB Honors and Achievements

Piazza playedfor the Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida Marlins, New York Mets, San Diego Padres and Oakland Athletics before he retired. In his 16 MLB seasons, he had a career batting average of .308, recorded 427 home runs (396 of which he hit as a catcher) and 1,335 RBIs. By the time he retired in 2008, he was a 10-time winner of the Silver Slugger Award. He was elected to the New York Mets Hall of Fame in 2013 and was inducted in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016.

Are Mike Piazza Rookie Cards Valuable?

Mike Piazza played much of his career during the so-called “Junk Wax Era” of sports cards, when companies flooded the market with overproduced cards. Because of the resulting glut in the market, many of these cards have relatively low values because they’re available in such large numbers. However, certain Piazza cards like his rookie cards still retain their value, especially if they’re in top-grade condition.

Investment Potential for Mike Piazza Rookie Cards

As a Hall of Fame player with a well-respected legacy, Mike Piazza has a large fan base, which always bodes well for any player’s memorabilia market. His years with two iconic teams — the Dodgers and the Mets — plus, his legacy as the MLB’s greatest hitting catcher, should keep prices at a healthy level for his cards, with the potential to possibly rise further in the future.

Top Mike Piazza Rookie Cards

Here's a look at eight of the most popular Mike Piazza rookie cards:

• 1992 Bowman #461
• 1992 Fleer Update #U-92
• 1993 Topps Finest Refractor #199
• 1992 Donruss Rookie Phenoms #BC-9
• 1994 Topps #1
• 1993 Donruss #209
• 1990 Star #24 Vero Beach Dodgers
• 1993 Topps #701

Here's how these Piazza rookie cards are trending on tracking sites such as SportsCardsPro, PriceGuide.Cards and Sports Card Investor. Tracking is updated daily, so these prices may change at any time.

1992 Bowman #461 Mike Piazza ($2,438.63)

Piazza’s Bowman debut shows him in full regalia as a Dodgers catcher, kneeling in a classic catching position. The card is framed in white borders and features Bowman’s “B” logo at the upper left.

PriceGuide.Cards shows Ungraded trending at an average price of $18 and a top price of $1,354. Graded trends at an average price of $48 and a top price of $2,438 (grades unspecified).

Sports Card Investor shows a low price of $39 and a top price of $800 (grades unspecified).

At SportsCardsPro, Ungraded trends at $19, Grade 7 at $16, Grade 8 at $24 and Grade 9 at $37. Grade 9.5 trends at $104 and Gem Mint at $194.

1992 Fleer Update #U-92 Mike Piazza ($1,580)

A fan-favorite, this card was included in the 132-card Fleer Update release from 1992, which had a lower print run than other sets for that year. This makes it more scarce and highly sought-after by collectors.

PriceGuide.Cards shows Ungraded trending at an average price of $41 and a top price of $399. Graded trends at an average price of $105 and a top price of $1,580 (grades unspecified).

Sports Card Investor shows a low price of $65 and a top price of $999 (grades unspecified).

At SportsCardsPro, Ungraded trends at $46, Grade 7 at $49, Grade 8 at $51 and Grade 9 at $85. Grade 9.5 trends at $134 and Gem Mint at $399.

1993 Topps Finest Refractor #199 Mike Piazza ($1,220.51)

Topps’ Refractor cards, printed in a run of approximately 250 copies, were distributed at a ratio of around two per Topps boxed set, making these extremely hard to come by today. This sophisticated-looking card shows an image of Piazza at bat, set against a colorful Refractor background framed with gold sunburst geometrics. The logo “Baseball’s Finest” is at the top of this kaleidoscopic card.

At SportsCardsPro, Grade 7 trends at $410, Grade 8 at $565 and Grade 9 at $1,208.

PriceGuide.Cards shows Ungraded trending at an average price of $7 and a top price of $500. Graded trends at an average price of $30 and a top price of $277 (grades unspecified).

1992 Donruss Rookie Phenoms #BC-9 Mike Piazza ($481)

This classic Phenoms insert was part of the 1992 Donruss “The Rookies” set and features a striking shot of Piazza running the bases. It’s highlighted by Deco-style framing in black and silver, with a bold silver “Phenoms” logo at the top.

At SportsCardsPro, Ungraded trends at $7, Grade 8 at $9 and Grade 9 at $60. Additionally, Gem Mint examples trend at $481 .

PriceGuide.Cards shows Ungraded trending at an average price of $7 and a top price of $110. Graded trends at an average price of $25 and a top price of $125 (grades unspecified).

1994 Topps #1 Mike Piazza ($398)

As part of Topps’ All-Star Rookie Cup series, this card celebrates Piazza’s breakout rookie year. It shows an action shot of Piazza just after getting a hit, as he starts to run to first base. The card features Topps’ gold cup “All-Star Rookie” trophy at the lower right. On the reverse, the stats mention that Piazza’s home run total that season was the third highest by any National League rookie.

PriceGuide.Cards shows Ungraded trending at an average price of $14 and a top price of $300. Graded trends at an average price of $24 and a top price of $398 (grades unspecified).

At SportsCardsPro, Ungraded trends at $2, Grade 8 at $13 and Grade 9 at $20. Grade 9.5 trends at $33 and Gem Mint at $90.

1993 Donruss #209 Mike Piazza ($206)

Mike Piazza made his late-season MLB debut in September 1992, so he only played a few games during his first official year. This card celebrates that debut season with a great shot of Piazza dropping his bat and running to first base. It’s framed in a white border and features the Donruss “Rated Rookie” logo at the upper right.

PriceGuide.Cards shows Ungraded trending at an average price of $2 and a top price of $150. Graded trends at an average price of $20 and a top price of $205 (grades unspecified).

At SportsCardsPro, Ungraded trends for under $2, Grade 7 at $10, Grade 8 at $12 and Grade 9 at $17. Grade 9.5 trends at $46 and Gem Mint at $50.

1990 Star #24 Mike Piazza - Vero Beach Dodgers ($138)

As one of Piazza’s earliest baseball cards, this piece of history was issued as part of a 31-card set featuring the Class-A Vero Beach Dodgers, which was a Florida affiliate team of the Los Angeles Dodgers. It features a colorful photo of a young Piazza kneeling in a catcher’s position and holding the ball above his gloved hand. Interestingly, he’s not wearing his catcher’s mask in this shot. The image is framed in eye-catching colors of silver, white and cobalt blue.

PriceGuide.Cards shows Ungraded trending at an average price of $19 and a top price of $65. Graded trends at an average price of $43 and a top price of $137.75 (grades unspecified).

1993 Topps #701 Mike Piazza ($103)

This pre-rookie minor league card represents Piazza’s debut on a Topps card, where he shares the spotlight with Brook Fordyce, Carlos Delgado and Donnie Leshnock. Piazza is wearing a Dodgers AAA-team baseball cap. Above the four portraits, there’s a “Top Prospects” logo, with “Catchers” underneath. This card is especially popular with fans because it also features Delgado, who became a future star batter, with more than 450 home runs for the Toronto Blue Jays.

PriceGuide.Cards shows Ungraded trending at an average price of $2 and a top price of $52. Graded trends at an average price of $14 and a top price of $102 (grades unspecified).

At SportsCardsPro, Ungraded trends at just over $1, Grade 8 at $7 and Grade 9 at $10.

Where Can I Find Mike Piazza Rookie Cards?

You can find Mike Piazza rookie cards, plus all kinds of sports cards and memorabilia, at sports card retailers, sports card shows and online auctions. Here’s a list of popular auction sites for sports memorabilia:

• eBay
• Christie's
• Sotheby's
• Memory Lane
• Invaluable
• Lelands
• Heritage Auctions
• SCP Auctions
• Goldin
• EBTH
• PWCC
• Pristine Auction

You can also find Piazza’s rookie cards at one of the many sports memorabilia shows held across the country. To find a show near your city, just do a quick Google search or check social media sites and collectors’ forums.

How Are Mike Piazza Rookie Cards Graded?

Professional graders use a numeric system to identify the condition and quality of sports cards. This system ranges from Ungraded to Perfect 10, and is universally recognized by dealers, collectors and appraisers. Here’s how it works:

Perfect 10: This is a flawless card in the best possible condition, with Gem Mint ratings for all four criteria: edges, corners, centering and surface. This card is perfect in every way, even under 10x magnification.

Gem Mint: A perfect card, with vibrant colors and printing, sharp corners and flawless centering and edges.

Grade 9.5: Near Mint across all four criteria, with just one minor flaw.

Grade 9: Excellent in all criteria, with just a few minor flaws.

Grade 8 and below: These cards have lower grades because of manufacturing flaws, condition-related wear, or both. They’re priced according to the number and severity of issues.

Ungraded: These cards have never been graded or certified.

Raw: These cards are new to the collectors’ market and have just recently been removed from their original packaging.

Three primary factors drive sports card values: condition, rarity and collector demand. Professionals can assess condition and rarity, but collector demand is an unknown quantity that can change at any time.

A rare or Gem Mint card may stagnate on the market if there isn’t enough collector interest, while a more common, lesser-grade card will sell for significantly more if enough collectors want it. Online bidding wars can cause prices to skyrocket too.

Ultimately, it is always best to collect the cards you love, while trying to find the best, condition-wise, that you can afford.

Should I Get My Sports Cards Graded?

Professional grading can enhance your cards by providing a recognized stamp of authenticity and quality to your collection. During grading, an expert appraiser will assess each card, looking for manufacturing flaws, overall wear and other condition issues. Once your card has been graded, its information will be entered into an international database as a permanent record.

Graded cards are usually easier to sell, and they often sell for significantly higher prices than Ungraded cards. And even if you don’t plan on selling your cards, grading can give you professional authentication. By getting your cards graded, you’ll have a collection with an established quality and authenticity that you can proudly pass down to future generations. For further information on CSG's 10-point Grading Scale and to find out more about our industry-leading services, visit CSGcards.com.

*Any mention of "investment potential" is for entertainment only and should not be construed as investment advice. The Certified Collectibles Group does not provide investment advice and is not liable for any buy, sell or trade decisions made by any parties.