Collectors snatch prospect trading cards as MLB season approaches
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – The Atlanta Braves open the 2025 season against the San Diego Padres on Thursday, but it’s not just players and fans getting ready for the start of a 162-game campaign.
Card collectors are watching closely as well.
When Opening Day rosters were announced last week, collectors began snatching up prospect trading cards, hoping to strike it big years or decades down the road.
“We keep all of our Atlanta cards over here,” said Ryan Van Oost, a manager at Cards HQ in Atlanta. “As you can see, we had a crazy weekend.”
Cards HQ sells itself as the “world’s largest card shop,” but even they’ve struggled to keep shelves full with collectors snatching up Braves prospect cards.
“I tried to walk around yesterday,” Van Oost said of the Sunday crowd. “I couldn’t even walk around.”
Baseball cards, especially high-value ones, fly off shelves, and the usual suspects don’t always sell. Often, collectors invest in the next generation.
“This is the first card ever produced of Nacho Alvarez,” Van Oost said, pointing out a Nacho Alvarez card selling for $5,000.
That price might seem a bit steep for a guy with 30 career at-bats, and yet, he’s not even the most sought-after Brave. That honor goes to Drake Baldwin, who has never played a major league game.
“Everyone is looking for the Baldwin kid,” Van Oost explained. “He’s about to be a starting catcher for the season because of some injuries. We actually sold out of him. There’s none left.”
The trading card industry is booming. A Pittsburgh Pirates Paul Skenes card recently sold for $1.11 million at auction. He’s pitched in 23 career games.
“Some kid hit it in California,” Van Oost said of the person who “broke” it. “Ended up selling it for $1.1 million.”
The Pirates had offered a package deal for the card, including season tickets for 30 years.
The investments can often be a swing-and-miss. But this isn’t just about one plate appearance.
“I mean, I’m banking on it,” Van Oost said. “Who needs a 401K when we got sports cards?”
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