Introduction
As Thanksgiving approaches and sports fans enjoy one of the most action-packed times of the year, the sports card market continues to heat up. With football entering midseason form, baseball’s award season shaking up values, hockey prospects proving their worth, and basketball storylines unfolding, collectors are seeing major movement across every major sport.
This week’s Top 5 Sports Cards Heating Up by Sports Card Investor brings together an eclectic mix of athletes from rising NFL rookies to elite MLB superstars making history. Whether you’re a long-term investor or a quick-flip specialist, these are the cards shaping the market right now.
Let’s kick things off with the Sports Card Market Pulse and then dive into the Top 5 cards heating up this week.
Sports Card Market Pulse
The SEI 500 Index a broad, reliable measurement of 500 prominent sports cards, continues its upward trend:
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Up slightly over the past 7 days by +0.2%
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Up moderately over the past 30 days by +0.4%
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Up a strong 29.9% year-to-date
This consistent growth signals a strong collector base, heightened seasonal demand, and positive momentum across all major sports. With football heating up, hockey prospects breaking out, and baseball’s awards season fueling big jumps, the market’s energy is undeniable.
Now, let’s break down the Top 5 hottest cards of the week.
Top 5 Sports Cards Heating Up This Week
5️⃣ Tyler Shough
Key Rookie Cards Seeing a Surge:
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2024 Select XRC Prizm (Raw): Up from $26–45 to $65
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2025 Donruss Downtown (Raw): Up from $200–225 to $300
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2025 Donruss Rookie Autographs /299 (Raw): Up from $13 to $40
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2025 Elite Pen Pals Blue Ink (Raw): Up from less than $10 to $50
Why He’s Rising:
Tyler Shough has officially taken command as the Saints' starting quarterback, and he’s doing it with poise, accuracy, and the ability to extend plays. Collectors love a young QB with upward momentum, and the market is responding fast. Shough is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing midseason NFL risers, making his rookie must-watch cards.
4️⃣ Hyun-Seok Jang
Bowman Prospects Going Wild:
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2025 Bowman First Chrome Auto (Raw): Up from $5 to $70–$100
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2025 Bowman First Refractor (Raw): Up from $1 to $8–$22
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2025 Bowman Prospect Auto Purple /250: Up from $30 to $150
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2025 Bowman Prospect Auto Refractor: Up from $15–$20 to $114
Why He’s Rising:
Hyun-Seok Jang has quickly become the Dodgers' pitching prospect to watch. With mid-90s heat, advanced command, and the Dodgers’ reputation for developing elite pitchers, his cards have gone from afterthoughts to skyrocketing investments overnight. A 20x price explosion in 30 days speaks for itself. Collectors believe in his long-term upside.
3️⃣ Connor Bedard
Rookie Cards Showing Massive Strength:
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2023 O-Pee-Chee Platinum Marquee Rookie PSA 10: Up from $30 to $92
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2023 SP Future Watch Auto (Raw): Up from $1,800 to $2,400
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2023 Young Guns Base PSA 10: Up from $400–$500 to $650–$700+
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2023 O-Pee-Chee Glossy PSA 10: Up from $30 to $40–50
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2023 Young Guns PSA 9: Up from $160–$170 to $300
Why He’s Rising:
After two up-and-down seasons, Connor Bedard is finally breaking through as the centerpiece of Chicago’s rebuild. With 10 goals and 16 assists in his first 18 games this year, collectors are once again seeing flashes of the generational upside they anticipated. His market is rebounding and fast.
2️⃣ TreVeyon Henderson
Key Cards Heating Up:
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2025 Donruss “The Rookies” Auto /299 (Raw): Up from $30–$40 to $60–$100
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2025 Elite Pen Pals (Raw): Up from $20 to $76
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2025 Mosaic Stained Glass (Raw): Up from $130–$140 to $180–$225
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2025 Origins Rookie Auto (Raw): Up from $20 to $70–$85
Why He’s Rising:
Henderson erupted in Week 11 with a three-touchdown breakout performance, showing the explosiveness and versatility that made him a star at Ohio State. With 492 rushing yards and six total TDs through 11 games, he’s becoming a legitimate offensive focal point, and collectors are paying attention.
1️⃣ Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani
A special dual #1 because history demands it. For the first time in MLB history, the same two players won back-to-back MVP awards in the American League and National League.
Aaron Judge: Key Card Movement
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2013 Bowman Draft Picks PSA 10: Up from $256 to $300
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2017 Topps Chrome Rookie PSA 10: Up from $287 to $317
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2024 Bowman Anime (Raw): Up from $175 to $380
Shohei Ohtani: Even Bigger Gains
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2018 Bowman Base PSA 10: Up from $126 to $244
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2018 Topps Chrome Pitching PSA 10: Up from $210 to $370
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2025 Bowman Anime (Raw): Up from $1,000 to $1,300
Why They’re Rising:
Judge and Ohtani are rewriting the modern baseball record books. With Ohtani capturing his fourth MVP and Judge earning his third, their iconic status continues to strengthen, and so do their card markets. For long-term investors, these are blue-chip assets that rarely trend downward.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What causes a sports card to rise in value?
Sports card prices rise based on a combination of player performance, media attention, team success, rarity, and collector demand. Breakout games, awards, and major milestones like MVP wins often trigger immediate price spikes.
2. Are rookie cards still the best long-term investment?
Yes. Rookie cards remain the most valuable and stable investments in the hobby, especially for players with superstar potential like Connor Bedard or rising quarterbacks like Tyler Shough and TreVeyon Henderson.
3. Why do baseball cards often spike during award season?
Award season, including MVP and Rookie of the Year, creates massive demand as collectors look to secure cards of players cementing their legacy. The 2025 MVP wins from Judge and Ohtani are a perfect example.
4. How do I track real-time price changes on sports cards?
Tools like Market Movers, Card Ladder, and 130Point provide real-time comps, trend charts, and auction data to help collectors make informed buying and selling decisions.
5. When is the best time to buy sports cards?
Generally:
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Buy during the offseason (lower demand)
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Buy before major events (playoffs, award announcements, big matchups)
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Buy during dips in player performance if you believe in long-term upside
Conclusion
This week’s Top Five Tuesday highlights exactly why the sports card hobby remains one of the most dynamic collector markets today. Rising prospects like Tyler Shough and Hyun-Seok Jang are making massive waves, young stars like Bedard are fulfilling their potential, and all-time talents like Judge and Ohtani continue to set new standards for excellence both on the field and in the hobby.
With the SEI 500 up significantly year-to-date and collectors entering a high-energy holiday season, there’s no better time to stay ahead of the market. Keep tracking trends, watch performance closely, and use tools like Market Movers to ensure you’re making informed investments.
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