From Prospect to Hero
It’s been over eight years since Aaron Judge announced himself in The Show, belting a home run in his first-ever Major League at-bat. Nearly a decade on, Judge has become an absolute superstar and one of the most important names in all of The Hobby.
Judge’s career has captivated collectors since his debut in 2016, followed by one of the greatest rookie seasons the game has ever seen in 2017. Only 32 years old, Judge has already hit for 50 or more home runs in three separate seasons. His consistency is frightening: Judge has gone over the 50-mark in all three MLB seasons in which he has played at least 150 games.
Now, for the first time, Judge will compete in the World Series as he tries to lead the most-decorated franchise in American sports history to its first title since 2009. Let’s remember his best rookie cards to commemorate the occasion.
Top Aaron Judge Rookie Cards
2017 Bowman Platinum #91 Aaron Judge RC
Player info
• led the al in home runs, runs, and walks in rookie campaign
• 52 home runs in 2017, most by a rookie in al history
Set info
• 100 card base set, supplemented by 110 card top prospect set
card info
• 2017 Bowman Platinum pack was retail-exclusive
• several parallels, including a 1/1 gold
2017 Topps Chrome Baseball Sapphire Edition #287 Aaron Judge RC
Player info
• set record for fastest exit velocity for a home run in his rookie season (eventually broken by teammate giancarlo stanton)
Set info
• 700 card set
card info
• rc that highlights Judge’s defensive prowess
• rare opportunity to find two superfractors
2017 Topps Definitive Autograph Relic Card #ARC-AJU Aaron Judge /50
Player info
The Yankees debuted a cheering section named ‘the Judge’s chambers by may of rookie year
• led al in all-star voting his rookie season
set info
• 47 total cards
card info
• On-card auto and game-used pinstripes
• only 50 of these cards in existence
2017 MLB Topps NOW® Card of the Month #M-May Derek Jeter/Aaron Judge
Player info
• broke Joe Dimaggio’s franchise rookie home run record on July 7 of rookie year
• first rookie since mark mcgwire to have 30 homers before all-star break
set info
• released May 14, 2017
card info
• card gives a real passing-of-the-torch feel with icon derek jeter
2017 Topps Heritage #214 Aaron Judge/Tyler Austin RC
Player info
• won home run derby as a rookie
• afterward, Commissioner Rob Manfred said judge “can become the face of the game”
set info
• 725 card set
• initial 500 card release supplemented by 225 card “high number series”
card info
• card features judge and Tyler Austin, who became first rookies to home run back-to-back in their first major league at-bats
