The Best Topps Baseball Rookie Cards From The Year 1952-2020

The baseball Rookie Cards of Topps have become a tradition since its advent in 1952. Some years, there were a lot of star Rookie Cards. Other seasons were not so great. Though these are not the fanciest or rarest cards, these are one of the biggest draws of the hobby. Here, we’re going to show the best Topps baseball Rookie Cards from each year 1952-2020.

Best Topps Baseball Rookie Cards From Each Year- 1952-2020

Topps Eddie Mathew Rookie Card 1952 #407

Mickey Mantle isn’t the biggest Rookie Card in 1952 Topps Baseball because it's in the 1951 Bowman set. The honor of that year’s best Rookie Card goes to Eddie Mathew’s Rookie Card.

Topps Jim Gilliam Rookie Card 1953 #258

One of the reasons for the Topps Jim Gillian RC to be the best RC of the year is him winning the National League Rookie of the year award in the year 1953 and for also being an All-Star twice. Moreover, this is also a high series short print.

Topps Hank Aaron Rookie Card 1954 #128

Having a powerful RC lineup with Al Kaline, Ernie Banks, and Tommy Lasorda, the year 1952 was surely a hit for baseball RC fans. But, the undisputed winner in the battle of Rookie Cards in the year 1952 is the Topps Hank Aaron Rookie Card.

The Years 1955-1965

The best Topps baseball Rookie Cards during the year 1955-1965 are:

• Roberto Clemente RC 1955 #164
• Luis Aparicio RC 1956 #292
• Brooks Robinson RC 1957 #328
• Roger Maris RC 1958 #47
• Bob Gibson RC 1959 #514
• Carl Yastrzemski RC 1960 #148
• Juan Marichal RC 1961 #417
• Lou Brock RC 1962 #387
• Pete Rose RC/Pedro Gonzalez RC/Ken McMullen RC/Al Weis RC 1963 #537
• Phil Niekro RC/Phil Roof RC 1964 #541
• Steve Carlton RC/Fritz Ackley RC 1965 #477

The Years 1966-1975

Now, let’s see the best Topps baseball Rookie Cards from the year 1966-1975.

• Bart Shirley RC 1966 #591
• Tom Seaver RC 1967 #581
• Nolan Ryan RC 1968 #177
• Reggie Jackosn RC 1969 #260
• Thurman Munson RC 1970 #189
• Dusty Baker RC/Don Baylor RC/Tom Paciorek RC 1971 #709
• Carlton Fisk RC/Cecil Cooper RC/Mike Garman 1972 #79
• Mike Schimidt RC/John HiltonRC/Ron Cey 1973 #615
• Dave Winfield RC 1974 #456
• George Brett RC 1975#228

The Years 1976-1985

• Dennis Eckersley RC 1976 #98
• Andre Dawson RC/Gene Richards RC/John Scott/Denny Walling RC 1977 #473
• Paul Molitor RC/Alan Trammell RC/Mickey Klutts RC/U.L. Washington RC 1978 #707
• Ozzie Smith RC 1979 #116
• Rickey Henderson RC 1980 #482
• Fernando Valenzuela RC/Jack Perconte RC/Mike Scioscia RC 1981 #302
• Cal Ripken Jr. RC/Bob Bonner RC/Jeff Schneider RC 1982 #21
• Tony Gwynn RC 1983 #482
• Don Mattingly RC 1984 #8
• Mark McGwire RC 1985 #401

The Years 1986-1995

• Ozzie Guillen RC 1986 #254
• Barry Bonds RC 1987 #320
• Tom Glavine RC 1988 #779
• Traded Ken Griffey Jr. RC 1989 #41T
• Frank Thomas RC 1990 #414
• Chipper Jones RC 1991 #333
• Traded Nomar Garciaparra RC 1992 #39T
• Derek Jeter RC 1993 #98
• Traded Paul Konerko RC 1994 #112T
• Traded Carlos Beltran RC 1995 #18T

The Years 1996-2005

• Sean Casey RC 1996 #25
• Eric Chavez Rc/Adam Eaton RC 1997 #479
• Cory Lidle RC 1998 #348
• Traded C.C. Sabathia RC 1999 #T33
• Traded Miguel Cabrera RC 2000 #T40
• Traded Albert Pujols RC 2001 #T247
• Joe Maker RC 2002 #622
• Traded Robinson Cano RC 2003 #T200
• Yadier Molina RC 2004 #324
• Justin Verlander RC 2005 #677

These years were particularly significant in terms of best Topps baseball Rookie Cards.

The Years 2006-2015

• Update Jon Lester RC 2006 #UH14
• Justin Upton Update RC 2007 #UH327
• Update Clayton Kershaw RC 2008 #UH240
• Daniel Murphy RC 2009 #182
• Update Giancarlo Stanton RC 2010 #US50
• Update Mike Trout RC 2011 #US175
• Bryce Harper RC 2012 #661
• Update Christian Yelich RC 2013 #US290
• Update Mookie Betts RC 2014 #US26
• Kris Bryant RC 2015 #616

The Years 2016-2020

• Update Wilson Contretras RC 2016 #US266
• Aaron Judge RC 2017 #287
• Update Ronald Acuna RC 2018 #US250
• Fernando Tatis Jr. RC 2019 #410
• Luis Robert RC 2020 #392

So, these were the best Topps baseball Rookie Cards from the year 1952-2020.