Bryce Harper Rookie Card Market Guide
Posted on 6/14/2023
Thanks to his multiple talents as a hitter, runner, fielder and thrower, right fielder Bryce Harper is famous for being one of baseball's best "five-tool players," a rare designation for any MLB player. So, how does that success on the field translate to the value of his rookie cards? This guide will take a look at that and more.
Harper's Breakout Rookie Season
Harper was drafted by the Washington Nationals in 2010 and made his professional debut with the team in 2012 after spending two seasons in the minor leagues. In his first game, played against the Los Angeles Dodgers, he earned his first major league hit (a double) and got an RBI.
A few weeks later, in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies, he was hit by a pitch (for which pitcher Cole Hamels later got suspended for five games, admitting that it was intentional rookie hazing). After the hit, Harper advanced to third and stole home plate, becoming the MLB's first teenager to steal home plate since 1964.
Later that season, Harper became the youngest position player (and third-youngest player overall) to make the All-Star team. Harper finished his rookie year with 254 bases, and 57 extra base hits, the most ever recorded by a player under 20. Likewise, his 22 home runs, 98 scoring runs and .477 slugging percentage were the best regular season numbers for a teenage player in nearly 50 years and led to him being named the National League Rookie of the Year.
A Double MVP Winner
In April 2015, in a game against the Phillies, Harper hit his longest MLB home run, batting a 461-foot drive over center field. That season, he tied for the National League home run title (42) and became the youngest MLB player with 40 home runs and 120 walks in a single season, a record previously held by Babe Ruth. At the end of the season, he won his first NL MVP Award.
In 2019, Harper signed with the Philadelphia Phillies. The following year, he won his second National League MVP Award, becoming only the fifth MLB player to be named MVP with two different teams. In 2022, Harper won the NLCS MVP Award and helped lead the Phillies to the World Series (where they lost to the Houston Astros four games to two).
Other honors for Harper include two Silver Slugger Awards, Baseball America's Player of the Year, two Hank Aaron Awards, ESPN's MLB Person of the Year, seven MLB All-Star nods and two Silver Slugger Awards.
Are Bryce Harper Rookie Cards Valuable?
Harper's breakout rookie year captured the imagination of millions of fans, and he continues to fulfill his rookie promise as one of the MLB's greatest powerhouse sluggers. This has fueled a healthy market for many of his rookie cards, keeping them at relatively high prices.
Investment Potential for Bryce Harper Rookie Cards
If Harper continues to play as he has over the early years of his career, prospects seem good for his cards to maintain their value. And if Harper can eventually win a World Series, this may increase their investment potential even more.
Top Bryce Harper Rookie Cards
As one of the MLB's most popular and highly anticipated draft prospects, Bryce Harper appeared on hundreds of cards in his rookie year. Fortunately for collectors, this means that there's a huge variety of Harper rookie cards available at every price point. Here are eight of the most popular:
2012 Topps Chrome #196 Bryce Harper ($4,649)
This fan favorite from the popular Topps Chrome series shows an exciting action shot of Harper following through after a swing of the bat. The card is set against a colorful chromium background, with the Chrome logo at the top left and the “RC” rookie card logo above his name and team name at the bottom left.
At PriceGuide.Cards, Ungraded trends at an average price of $20 and a top price of $480. Graded trends at an average price of $113 and a top price of $4,649 (grades unspecified).
SportsCardsPro shows Ungraded trending at $32, Grade 7 at $29, Grade 8 at $39 and Grade 9 at $51. Grade 9.5 trends at $142, and Gem Mint at $221.
2012 Topps Series 2 #661 Bryce Harper - “Red Helmet” Version ($2,850)
Although this is a flagship Topps rookie card, it came out in a Series 2 pack that was added later than usual. The resulting shorter print run makes this card highly collectible. It features a great action shot of Harper at bat, framed in a simple white border with the "RC" logo at the lower left.
The base card includes an action shot of Harper at bat in the Nationals’ blue batting helmet. However, there is also a variant "Red Helmet" version, also known as the "Screaming" version because of its candid shot of Harper, who's reacting rather emotionally to something occurring on the field.
At PriceGuide.Cards, for the Red Helmet version, Ungraded trends at an average price of $36 and a top price of $1,744. Graded trends at an average price of $97 and a top price of $2,850 (grades unspecified).
At SportsCardsPro, for the Blue Helmet version, Ungraded trends at $20, Grade 7 at $15, Grade 8 at $23 and Grade 9 at $29. Grade 9.5 trends at $47, and Gem Mint at $75.
2012 Topps Heritage #H650 Bryce Harper - #’d/1,000 ($2,550)
Topps' Heritage series is always a favorite among collectors. Limited to just 1,000 copies, it shows a retro-style portrait of Harper (think 1960s baseball cards) framed in a white border, with another image of Harper in black-and-white at the lower right.
At PriceGuide.Card, Ungraded trends at an average of $353 and a top price of $1,026. Graded trends at an average price of $782 and a top price of $2,550 (grades unspecified).
SportsCardsPro shows Ungraded trending at $730, Grade 8 at $675 and Grade 9 at $757. Grade 9.5 trends at $1,078 and Gem Mint trends for $1,193.
2012 Topps Archives #241 Bryce Harper ($2,420)
If you're a fan of vintage cards, you'll love this throwback-style card, which features the same graphics as Topps' 1984 cards. It shows an action shot of Harper fielding the ball, with a huge vertical "Nationals" banner in an 80s-style font on the left side, all bordered in classic white.
At PriceGuide.Cards, Ungraded trends at an average of $396 and a top price of $1,325. Graded trends at an average price of $800 and a top price of $2,420 (grades unspecified).
SportsCardsPro shows Ungraded trending at $500, Grade 8 at $500 and Grade 9 at $562. Grade 9.5 trends at $757, and Gem Mint at $1,365.
2012 Topps Triple Threads Autograph Relics #129 Bryce Harper - #’d/99 ($1,300)
Limited to just 99 copies, this Topps offering shows a close-up of Harper at bat, flanked by three relic pieces and a bold signature at the top. There are multiple low-edition parallels available as well.
At PriceGuide.Cards, Ungraded trends at an average price of $435 and a top price of $1,300. Graded trends at an average price of $248.02 and a top price of $300.
2012 Topps Update #US299 Bryce Harper ($940)
Because of the relative scarcity of Harper's flagship Topps rookie card, many collectors had to wait until this Update version was released. This helped fuel sales and added to its popularity. This card features several different images of Harper — including one with Harper at bat and another showing him running the bases.
At PriceGuide.Cards, for the Batting version, Ungraded trends at an average price of $10 and a top price of $150. Graded trends at an average price of $48 and a top price of $940 (grades unspecified).
Sports Card Investor shows prices for the Running version trending at a low of $19 and a top price of $452 (grades unspecified).
2012 Topps Five Star #1 Bryce Harper - #’d/80 ($500)
As one of the rarer Bryce Harper rookie cards, this classy card features an image of Harper at bat, set against a silver and blue background with Art-Deco styling.
At PriceGuide.Cards, Ungraded trends at an average price of $174 and a top price of $500. Graded trends at an average price of $215 and a top price of $499 (grades unspecified).
2012 Bowman Chrome Prospects #BCP10 Bryce Harper ($425)
This fun (and relatively affordable) card shows Harper at bat in a retro-styled red frame with a simple white border and the "Bowman Chrome" logo at the upper left. If you've got money to spare, you can also invest in one of the higher-priced Refractor parallels.
At PriceGuide.Cards, Ungraded trends at an average price of $7 and a top price of $241. Graded trends at an average price of $34 and a top price of $425 (grades unspecified).
SportsCardsPro shows Ungraded trending at $4, Grade 7 at $11, Grade 8 at $13 and Grade 9 at $17. Grade 9.5 trends at $28, and Gem Mint at $45.
Where Can I Find Bryce Harper Rookie Cards?
You can find Bryce Harper rookie sports cards at sports memorabilia retailers and online auction sites. Here's a look at some of the top auction sites for sports memorabilia:
You can also find Harper’s rookie cards at sports memorabilia shows across the country. To find out when a show is coming to your location, be sure to check social media sites, collector forums and newspaper listings.
How Are Bryce Harper Rookie Cards Graded?
Expert appraisers grade cards by using a universally recognized numeric grading system that ranges from Ungraded to Pristine 10. Here's how it works:
Pristine 10: The best a card can possibly be, with Gem Mint scores across the four grading criteria: surface, centering, edges and corners. Even under 10x magnification, this card is flawless.
Gem Mint 10: An overall 10, with Gem Mint scores for all criteria except one, due to a very minor condition issue or flaw.
Grade 9.5: Almost Gem Mint, except for a very minor condition issue or manufacturing flaw.
Grade 9: Excellent, with very minor wear or an unimportant production flaw.
Grades 8 and below: Condition wear and production flaws, with the amount and severity of issues reflected in the grade.
Raw: Just removed from an original box or pack.
Ungraded: Not graded.
Sports card values and prices are fueled by condition, rarity and collector interest. Rarity and condition can be assessed according to established grading criteria, but collector demand can't be predicted and sometimes runs contrary to expectations.
Because of collector demand (or the lack of it), a lesser-grade card from a popular athlete can sell for substantially more than a rare, Gem Mint card from a more obscure player. Likewise, an athlete who had a breakout rookie season but didn't live up to their potential may fade quickly from view in the popularity polls. Bidding wars can affect values too, especially in a highly publicized auction where prices can skyrocket.
With so many factors and uncertainties involved, if you're a collector, it's best to choose cards you really love, and buy the most pristine examples you can afford.
Should I Get My Sports Cards Graded?
By getting your cards professionally graded, you can help ensure the authenticity of your cards, and establish a recognized quality for your collection.
During the grading process, professional graders assess each card for condition and originality, and rate them according to a numeric system that's universally recognized throughout the industry. This information is then kept in an international database, so there's a permanent record of your card and its rating.
Typically, a card that's graded can be easier to sell or trade than an Ungraded card, and graded cards often sell for higher prices. And if you don't plan to sell or trade your cards, you may want to consider passing them on to a family member, friend or museum later in your life. By having your collection graded, you can ensure that your cards have been authenticated and given a quality rating that will always be recognized by future generations of collectors. For further information on CGC Cards’ 10-point Grading Scale and to find out more about our industry-leading services, visit CGCcards.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.
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