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TEXAS HOLD ’EM: Rangers Corey Seager, Houston’s C.J. Stroud cards, collectibles on the rise
Even after winning the 2020 NL Championship Series and 2020 World Series MVP awards, Corey Seager still flew under the radar in the sports memorabilia world. How do you get out from under the shadows of Mike Trout, Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, Ronald Acuna Jr., Mookie Betts and Julio Rodriguez?
Simple. Win a second World Series MVP award.
That’s what Seager did in leading the Texas Rangers to a 2023 world championship.
The team overcame all kinds of obstacles during the playoffs, beating Tampa Bay, Baltimore and then Houston. That inspired run led to the Rangers’ punch-out of the surprising Arizona Diamondbacks in the World Series. Seager was the key cog, hitting .286 with three homers, six hits, six RBI and six runs in the World Series.
The hobby is now on board, and there’s no shortage of Seager items to chase. You’ll find nearly 50,000 Seager listings on eBay alone, and prices range from under a dollar to nearly $10,000.
On the low end are any number of base cards. They’re unautographed and without uniform patches, but together, they give you a dizzying selection of worthy action photographs. (One of countless nice examples: his 2016 Topps Chrome.)
But let’s back up four years to pinpoint the card that’s especially hot: his 2012 Bowman Chrome Draft Pick issue.
As an 18-year-old in 2012, Seager joined the Dodgers’ farm system. Over three seasons, he tore apart minor-league pitching, earning a promotion to the Dodgers in September 2015. For the next five seasons, he was a fixture at shortstop. In 2022, he signed with Texas and hit 33 homers last year, followed by another 33 in 2023.
By now, his two World Series MVP awards have combined to lift Seager’s 2012 Bowman Chrome Draft Pick card. Different variations surface regularly in eBay auctions, and they’ve climbed into four figures.
Sample prices paid for Seager’s 2012 Bowman Chrome during the Rangers’ playoff run in 2023:
• $8,500 on 51 bids for a signed Red Refractor variation. It was marked #5/5 and graded BGS 9.5.
• $6,100 on 57 bids for a signed Gold Refractor variation. This one was marked #48/50 and graded PSA 10.
• $2,202 on 44 bids for a signed Blue Refractor variation marked #92/150 and graded PSA 10 grade.
Another Seager issue drawing attention: his 2016 Topps Dynasty autographed patch card. Only five were made; one of those rarities (marked #2/5) sold for $1,260 on 34 bids in early November.
On the memorabilia front, Seager-signed bats have been selling for $350 to $550 on eBay, depending on condition and authentication. One example, a 36-inch Marucci CS5-S Pro Model, drew $500 in a Buy It Now deal. It was authenticated by Fanatics.
Baseballs signed by Seager are selling for an even wider range — anywhere from $75 to $350. Again, condition and authentication matter.
Autographed Seager photos can be had for as little as $40 up to nearly $300. At the high end, for instance, is a beautiful game-action shot from centerfield of Seager slugging a homer. This display-worthy item, issued in a limited series by MLB Players and Fanatics, sold for $180 on eBay via Steiner sports.
TEXAS II: NFL ROOKIE STROUD SOARING
Nine games into the 2023 NFL season, quarterback C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans has made a compelling case for Rookie of the Year. Stroud, an Ohio State product and the second overall pick in the 2023 draft, does have competition. Wide receiver Puka Nacua, tight end Sam LaPorta, and running backs Bijan Robinson and DeVon Achane have been turning heads every week.
But QBs always get a little more love. Stroud made sure of that on Nov. 5, when he threw five touchdown passes to lead Houston to a come-from-behind win over Tampa in the last six seconds. The performance improved his stats on the season to 14 touchdown passes (vs. only one interception), 2,270 yards and a 62 percent completion percentage in nine games.
Stroud cards are finding ready buyers on eBay. Consider these prices paid in recent weeks:
• $2,650 on 1 bid for an ungraded 2023 Pinnacle Mosaic Gold card marked #10/10.
• $2,225 on 1 bid for a 2023 Panini Plates and Patches card. Also ungraded, this 1-of-1 card features two patches, both with NFL logos, but no autograph.
• $2,300 on 58 bids for a signed 2023 Panini Instant RPS First Look card. It’s marked #101/301 and graded PSA 10.
• $2,023 on 56 bids for an ungraded 2023 Panini Mosaic Pink Fluorescent card marked #7/10.
Then there’s Stroud’s striking 2023 Panini Prizm Micro Mosaic card. An ungraded example sold for $611 on 31 bids.
By the way, all of the sales noted above came before Stroud’s five-TD game on Nov. 5. Keep a watch on the demand for his cards and collectibles as the season progresses.
