Introduction
The sports card market delivered another unforgettable year in 2025. While volatility remains part of the hobby, this past year proved one thing clearly: elite performance, generational talent, and iconic legacy still drive massive upside in sports cards.
From breakout rookies and playoff heroes to timeless GOATs whose markets refuse to cool off, collectors and investors saw eye-opening gains across baseball, football, basketball, and soccer. Today, we’re counting down the Top 10 Hottest Sports Cards of 2025 by Sports Card Investor based on real market performance and year-over-year price movement.
Whether you’re holding, buying, or just tracking trends, these are the cards that defined the year.
Top 10 Hottest Sports Cards of 2025
#10. Nick Kurtz
Nick Kurtz burst onto the MLB scene in 2025 and immediately made his presence felt. The A’s first baseman delivered a stellar rookie campaign, batting .289 with 26 home runs and 84 RBIs, earning American League Rookie of the Year honors. That production translated directly into the card market.
Notable Card Performances:
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2024 Bowman Draft First Bowman Auto PSA 10: $180 → $999 (+455%)
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2024 Bowman Draft Refractor PSA 10: $90 → $210
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2024 Bowman Draft Blue Auto (Raw): $393 → $1,250
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2024 Bowman Draft Sapphire Auto PSA 10: $754 → $1,600
Kurtz proved that rookie awards still matter, especially for power-hitting corner infielders with long-term upside.
#9. Barry Bonds
In 2025, collectors made a statement: iconic greatness outweighs controversy. Barry Bonds’ vintage cards surged as money poured into all-time legends, pushing multiple rookie-era issues to new highs.
Key Movers:
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1986 Donruss The Rookie PSA 10: $130 → $369
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1986 Topps Traded PSA 10: $360 → $641
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1987 Donruss PSA 10: $196 → $400
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1987 Fleer PSA 10: $230 → $492
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1987 Topps PSA 10: $240 → $552
Vintage baseball continued its quiet resurgence, and Bonds was one of the biggest beneficiaries.
#8. Lamine Yamal
Few players electrified the global sports card market in 2025 like Lamine Yamal. The Barcelona phenom posted 15 goals and 18 assists while cementing himself as one of the most valuable young assets in world soccer, just ahead of the 2026 World Cup spotlight.
Jaw-Dropping Gains:
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2023 Panini Megacracks La Liga EA Sports PSA 10: $276 → $8,200 (+2,800%)
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2023 Panini Megacracks La Liga EA Sports PSA 8: $7 → $372 (+5,000%)
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2023 Donruss Optic Club PSA 10: $31 → $72
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2023 Topps Chrome UEFA Club Competitions Refractor PSA 10: $100 → $498
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2023 Topps Chrome UEFA Club Competitions Base PSA 10: $46 → $172
Owning almost any Yamal card in 2025 was a win.
#7. Bo Jackson
Bo Jackson’s two-sport legend status powered a major nostalgia-driven surge in 2025. Collectors chased both his baseball and football rookies, pushing iconic 1980s cards higher across the board.
Standout Cards:
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1987 Donruss Base Rookie PSA 10: $275 → $400
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1987 Fleer PSA 10: $200 → $375
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1987 Topps Future Stars PSA 10: $178 → $223
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1988 Topps Football Rookie PSA 10: $1,275 → $2,400
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1990 Score Bo Jackson PSA 10: $220 → $440
Bo’s market reminds us that mythical athletes never go out of style.
#6. Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Jaxon Smith-Njigba delivered a true breakout in 2025, surpassing 1,600 receiving yards and emerging as the centerpiece of Seattle’s offense. Collectors followed the production.
Major Risers:
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2023 Absolute Kaboom Horizontal PSA 10: $500 → $1,325
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2023 Donruss Downtown PSA 10: $435 → $925
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2023 Optic Downtown PSA 10: $550 → $1,500
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2023 Prism Silver PSA 10: $50 → $25 (rare exception)
High-end case hits exploded, proving once again that NFL stars plus Kabooms/Downtowns equals volatility and upside.
#5. Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Yamamoto’s dominance on baseball’s biggest stage fueled one of the strongest pitching-card markets in years. With a 2.68 ERA, 197 strikeouts, and a World Series title, his cards took off.
Market Highlights:
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2024 Topps Base PSA 10: $30 → $175
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2024 Topps Home Field Advantage (Raw): $21 → $120
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2024 Topps Chrome Radiating Rookies PSA 10: $225 → $525
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2024 Topps Chrome Sapphire Auto /199 PSA 10: $630 → $1,850
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2024 Topps Chrome Update Rookie Debut PSA 10: $34 → $120
Pitchers can win if they win championships.
#4. Tom Brady
Even in retirement, Tom Brady’s card market remains unstoppable. From ultra-high-end grails to entry-level rookies, Brady cards rose across every tier.
Key Cards:
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2000 Bowman PSA 10: $5,200 → $12,000+
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2000 Bowman Chrome PSA 10: $7,500 → $11,300
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2000 Bowman Chrome Refractor PSA 9: $48,000 → $62,500
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2000 Press Pass PSA 10: $950 → $1,075
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2000 SkyBox Dominion Rookies Pairs PSA 10: $28 → $295
Legacy matters, and Brady’s legacy is unmatched.
#3. Drake Maye
Drake Maye’s rapid ascent powered one of the strongest rookie QB markets of the year. With elite production and playoff expectations, his cards went ballistic.
Top Movers:
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2024 Absolute Kaboom Horizontal PSA 10: $3,000 → $3,900
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2024 Donruss Downtown PSA 10: $1,700 → $3,100
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2024 Optic Downtown PSA 10: $1,500 → $3,600+
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2024 Prism Silver PSA 10: $826 → $1,600
Quarterbacks still rule the hobby, and Maye proved why.
#2. Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani delivered yet another historic season, winning his third straight MVP and helping lead the Dodgers to a World Series title. His card market? Still climbing.
Massive Gains:
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2017 Bowman Mega Box Chrome Prospects PSA 10: $1,500 → $2,750
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2018 Bowman Chrome Blue Auto /150 Pitching BGS 9.5: $27,000 → $60,000
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2018 Bowman Chrome Blue Auto /150 Batting BGS 9.5: $17,000 → $87,000
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2018 Topps Chrome Refractor Pitching PSA 10: $565 → $1,850
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2018 Topps Update Rookie Debut PSA 10: $174 → $280
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2018 Topps Update Base Rookie PSA10: $122 → $239
Even at the top, Ohtani keeps climbing.
#1. Michael Jordan
The #1 card market performer of 2025 belongs to the most iconic athlete in sports history: Michael Jordan. On average, Jordan cards rose 40% across the board, with high-end pieces delivering six-figure gains.
Elite Sales:
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1984 Star Base PSA 8: $192,000 → $268,400
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1984 Star Olympic Team PSA 7: $5,500 → $15,200
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1984 Star Rookie of the Year PSA 6: $6,200 → $10,000
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1986 Fleer PSA 9: $19,300 → $30,500
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1986 Fleer Sticker PSA 8: $1,200 → $2,500+
In 2025, Jordan reminded the hobby: there is no safer blue chip.
Sports Card Market Pulse
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Legends dominated: Jordan, Brady, and Bonds proved legacy investing still works
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International stars surged: Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Yamal led global growth
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Case hits ruled football: Kabooms and Downtowns delivered outsized returns
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High-end capital returned: Collectors moved back into premium cards
Momentum heading into 2026 remains strong, but selectivity matters more than ever.
FAQs
1. What was the hottest sports card of 2025?
Michael Jordan cards led the market, with both vintage and modern issues posting massive gains.
2. Which modern athlete had the biggest increase?
Lamine Yamal delivered the highest percentage gains, with some cards rising over 2,000%.
3. Are quarterback cards still worth investing in?
Yes, elite QB performance continues to drive high-end football card prices.
4. Is the sports card market still growing?
Yes, but growth is concentrated in elite players, iconic cards, and global stars.
Conclusion
What a year 2025 has been for the sports card market. From all-time legends like Michael Jordan and Tom Brady proving once again why they sit at the very top of the hobby, to modern superstars like Shohei Ohtani continuing to defy expectations, and emerging talents like Drake Maye, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto exploding onto the scene, this was a year that rewarded collectors who paid attention.
We saw vintage cards surge, modern case hits go absolutely wild, and global stars bring more eyes and more money into the hobby than ever before. In many cases, cards people thought had already peaked found another gear, while patience with elite talent paid off in a big way.
The biggest takeaway from 2025 is simple: the sports card market still rewards greatness. Whether it’s proven GOATs, dominant postseason performers, or young stars taking the next step, the market continues to follow performance, legacy, and moments that matter.
As we head into 2026, the opportunity is still there, but staying informed is more important than ever. Tracking the market, understanding price movement, and knowing when to buy or sell can make all the difference. If this year taught us anything, it’s that being plugged into the data is no longer optional.
Here’s to an incredible year in the hobby and an even bigger one ahead.
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