NEW STARS & CARDS: Top-selling rookies of 2024 feature new stars across all sports

Rookie cards of top prospects continued to fuel the hobby in 2024. New draft classes and new stars across several sports—most notably the WNBA’s Caitlin Clark—gave collectors something new and different to chase.

The emergence of a player like Clark gave women’s basketball a major boost. 

NEW RELEASES: Topps Series One, unique new basketball, football cards make big splash 

At the same time, baseball saw the emergence of several budding stars, most notably Paul Skenes, Elly De La Cruz and Jackson Holliday. Skenes saw his card value explode after the Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher was named NL Rookie of the Year.

Also See: Top sports card sales of 2024 

On the ice, Connor Bedard, who was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2023, continued to dominate the hockey card market. His Young Guns card—which appeared in Upper Deck Series 2 Hockey boxes released last March—sent the price of that card (and unopened hobby boxes) soaring.

The NFL—with its plethora of rookie quarterbacks—saw the emergence of C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans last season and Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders this season.

The other football—the kind with the round ball played by a majority of athletes on the planet— saw Barcelona midfielder Lamine Yamal emerge as the world’s youngest prospect after helping Spain win the European Championship.

Here’s a look at some of the best-selling rookie cards that sold at auction in 2024:

2024 Panini WNBA Select Gold Vinyl #1/1

$234,900 (Goldin)

Clark-mania dominated the card market in 2024. The No. 1 pick in last year’s WNBA draft, the highly-touted point guard propelled Panini products throughout the year. This card sold for the second-highest amount for a trading card featuring a woman in the history of auction sales.

2024 Topps Chrome Rookie Autographs Superfractor #1/1

$116,500 (Goldin)

Also See: Top 40 online card sales of 2024 

One of this past season’s top MLB rookies, the Cincinnati Reds shortstop became one of the rare 20/60 players in major league history. In all, he recorded 67 stolen bases in 2024. That made De La Cruz just the fifth player since 1900 to hit at least 20 home runs and steal 60 bases in a season.

2024 Topps Chrome Update Superfractor Autograph #1/1

$111,532 (Goldin)

Also See: Paul Skenes #1/1 MLB Debut Patch Rookie card grades PSA 10, headed to auction 

Skenes saw his card values rise after going 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA and 170 strikeouts in 133 innings. Skenes’ 170 strikeouts were also a Pirates rookie record, shattering a mark that Cy Blanton had held for 87 years. He took the majors by storm from the onset (so much so that he started the All-Star Game for the NL) and eventually was named NL Rookie of the Year.

2024 Panini Select WNBA Signatures Black Finite Prizm #1/1

$97,600 (Goldin)

Clark dominates the 2024 list of rookie cards sold at auction with three on the top 10 list. Clark’s appearance in the 2024 Panini Select WNBA set—the first time for the brand in women’s basketball—made it a must-have for collectors.

2024 Panini Instant WNBA Draft Blue Viper Autograph #1/1

$84,000 (Fanatics Collect)

Clark’s third appearance on the list—another #1/1 card—sold via Dutch auction after starting at $100,000. The price dropped every five minutes before eventually selling in less than an hour.

2023-24 Panini Noir Logoman Patch #1/1

$79,300 (Goldin)

Also See: New ‘Hobby Hustle’ film highlights good, bad and ugly of hobby 

Clark isn’t the only basketball star to make the list. Victor Wembanyama saw his debut-year Logoman patch go for a hefty price after being named the 2023-24 NBA Rookie of the Year.

2023-24 Topps Chrome Sapphire UCC Padparadscha Refractor Autograph #1/1

$74,400 (Goldin)

The Spanish teen burst onto the soccer scene in 2024 and his rookie cards soon followed in popularity. His top-selling rookie was a #1/1 autograph—like so many to make the list—on the heels of helping Spain win the Euros. He became the youngest player to ever play (and win) the European Championships, as well as the tournament's youngest-ever scorer.

2024 Topps Chrome Rookie Autographs Superfractor #1/1

$68,500 (Goldin)

Also See: Amazing collection of rare Michael Jordan cards found in Arizona 

The Baltimore Orioles infielder—another in what was a strong crop of baseball rookies in 2024—also became a hobby darling for his ability to defy expectations. Coming in as one of MLB’s top prospects, Holliday amassed 36 hits and 28 runs in 190 at-bats.

2024 Topps Chrome Update MLB Debut Patch Auto #1/1

$66,000 (Fanatics Collects)

One of the biggest innovations to hit the card market was the insertion of MLB Debut Patches in boxes of Topps Chrome Update. In 2024 alone, 170 of the 253 MLB Debut Patch cards had been pulled. One of those early pulls, featuring Tampa Bay Rays slugger Junior Caminero, sold for five figures. It could set the pace for other high-dollar sales in the months to come.

2023-24 Panini Prizm Monopoly Black #1/1

$59,800 (Goldin)

Wembanyama closes out the top 10 list with another high-dollar card. The #1/1 card, matching Wemby’s jersey number, came together to create both a stunning and iconic rookie collectible.

BREAKING NEWS: Forgery suspects charged in major sports memorabilia fraud case

BASKETBALL

1. Caitlin Clark

2024 Panini WNBA Select Gold Vinyl (#1/1)

$234,900 (Goldin)

2. Caitlin Clark

2024 Panini Select WNBA Signatures Black Finite Prizm (#1/1)

$97,600 (Goldin)

3. Caitlin Clark

2024 Panini Instant WNBA Draft Blue Viper Autograph (#1/1)

$84,000 (Fanatics Collect)

4. Victor Wembanyama

2023-24 Panini Noir Logoman #LM-WEM Patch (#1/1)

$79,300 (Goldin)

5. Victor Wembanyama

2023-24 Panini Prizm Monopoly Black #81 (#1/1)

$59,800 (Goldin)

BASEBALL

1. Elly De La Cruz

2024 Topps Chrome Rookie Autographs SuperFractor #RA-EDLC (#1/1)

$116,500 (Goldin)

2. Paul Skenes

2024 Topps Chrome Update SuperFractor #RA-PS Autograph (#1/1)

$111,532 (Goldin)

3. Jackson Holliday

2024 Topps Chrome Rookie Autographs SuperFractor #RA-JH Signed (#1/1)

$68,500 (Goldin)

4. Junior Caminero

2024 Topps Chrome Update MLB Debut Patch (#1/1)

$66,000 (Fanatics Collects)

5. Yoshinobu Yamamoto

2024 Topps Chrome L/E Auto Superfractor #1/1)

$40,260 (Goldin)

FOOTBALL

1. Caleb Williams

2024 Topps Now 1st Pick Caleb Autograph #1/1)

$37,200 (Fanatics Collect)

2. Brian Thomas Jr.

2024 Panini Black Finite Prizm #Jaguars #1/1

$14,600 (Probstein)

3. Jayden Daniels

2024 Panini Origins Black #1/1

$12,300 (Probstein)

4. Caleb Williams

2024 Select XRC Gold Prizm Caleb #4/10)

$9,600 (Fanatics Collect)

5. Jayden Daniels

2024 Panini Origins Jumbo NFL Shield Logo Patch #1/1

$7,100 (Probstein)

HOCKEY

1. Connor Bedard

2023-24 SkyBox Metal Universe Rookie Retro Precious Metal Gems Gold #1/1

$40,260 (Goldin)

2. Connor Bedard

2023-24 Upper Deck Series 2 Hockey Young Guns High Gloss #1/10

$27,000 (Fanatics Collect)

3. Connor Bedard

2023-24 OPC Gold Rainbow #1/1

$16,620 (Goldin)

4. Connor Bedard

2023-24 Upper Deck Ice Exquisite Collection Autograph Patch #03T-CB #12/25

$15,900 (Goldin)

5. Connor Bedard

2023-24 Upper Deck SP Authentic Future Watch Autograph #14/999

$11,700 (Goldin)

SOCCER

1. Lamine Yamal

2023-24 Topps Chrome Sapphire UCC Padparadscha Refractor Autograph #1/1

$74,400 (Goldin)

2. Lamine Yamal

2024 Topps Chrome UEFA Euro Chapter XXIV Autograph SuperFractor #1/1

$51,800 (Goldin)

3. Lamine Yamal

2024 Topps NSCC Silver Pack UEFA Autographs Superfractor

$28,100 (Goldin)

4. Lamine Yamal

2023-24 Topps Chrome UEFA Club Champions Youthquake Super #1/1

$13,400 (Goldin)

5. Lamine Yamal

2023-24 Panini Select FIFA Gold Prizm #98 #09/10

$12,200 (Goldin)