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Ronald Acuna Jr. gets A+ for performance on field, card market
“A” is for Acuna. Actually, make that an A+; there’s no other grade to give Ronald Acuna Jr. for his 2023 performance.
The Atlanta Braves’ star outfielder, with just days left in the regular season, was on his way to a delicious smorgasbord of stats, where he would top 40 homers, 140 runs and 100 RBI. He’ll likely lead the majors in hits (more than 210) and steals. He’s the first player in MLB history with 40 homers and 70 steals and by pushing the .340 mark in batting average, he’ll break his personal best by around 50 points.
At only 25, Acuna is only entering his prime. So it’s no wonder he has whipped the collectibles hobby into a frenzy.
In online auctions, Acuna’s 2017 Bowman Chrome rookie is the item most avidly chased. A Refractor version of that card sold on eBay recently for $15,100 on 36 bids. One of only 50 made, it bears a grade of BGS 9.5. A hot playoff season will only push the value of Acuna Chrome Refractor rookies higher.
Here’s a sampling of other prices paid for Acuna items auctioned on eBay in recent weeks:
• $12,226 on 58 bids for a signed 1-of-1 2018 Bowman Chrome Superfractor graded BGS 9.5.
• $7,800 on 43 bids for an autographed 2018 Topps Chrome Gold Refractor jersey-patch card. Marked #13/50, it was graded PSA 10.
• $6,855 on 66 bids for a signed 2018 Topps Chrome Shimmering Orange Refractor graded PSA 10. It was marked #15/25.
Also See: Top 10 Roberto Clemente cards to collect
• $4,859 on 48 bids for a 2017 Topps Heritage “Real One” minor-league card designed in Topps’ 1968 style. Marked #1/1 and graded BGS 9.5, the card features Acuna as a member of the Florida Fire Frogs.
And here’s one that demands attention: a 2018 Topps Now ungraded card signed by both Acuna and Shohei Ohtani. Marked #95/99, it sold for $5,300 on 60 bids.
Overall, there are nearly 80,000 listings for Acuna items on eBay. If you’re seeking out bargains, look hard. Believe it or not, at this writing there were no Acuna items that have sold for less than $20 over the past three months — nor are there any current listings with starting bids under $15. Clearly, Acuna isn’t a “dollar-bin” type of player.
Also See: Top 10 Mickey Mantle cards to collect
