Top 10 Most Valuable: 2021 Bowman Draft Baseball

Spring Training starts at the end of February, and opening day is March 30. That will get here fast, which means the window to acquire your baseball prospect cards to flip in 2023 is already here.

Not only that, but 2022 Bowman Draft Baseball came out in December, with huge prices for the top picks like Jackson Holiday, Elijah Green and Termarr Johnson – but I’m not recommending that you go swoop up those cards just yet. In fact, a better strategy when a new release comes out, is to go back to the same release from the previous year, and snatch up the top cards.

Reason being – the market, for the most part, has settled for that release, prices have come down to their normal market value – and we also know much more about the players from the previous year than we do about the guys with inflated prices from the hot new release.

So I’m recommending that instead of getting caught up in the hype of 2022 Bowman Draft Baseball, instead go back to Bowman 2021 Draft Baseball and try to cop some of the following guys within your price range.

Here are the Top 10 most valuable 2021 Bowman Draft Baseball players, ranked by their most expensive card sold in the last year. If I didn’t do it this way, the entire list would consist of Marcelo Mayer and Jordan Lawlar cards. But we don’t want that, because there’s tons of opportunity to make profit investing in plenty of players from this release.

1. Marcelo Mayer 2021 Bowman Draft #BD-174 Black 1/1 Raw – Sold for $3,800 on 6/25/2022 – The highly heralded left handed hitting shortstop from Eastlake High in Chula Vista, California started at SS all four years of high school, and also played with the US National 17U Development Program since 2019. He “fell” to fourth overall in the 2021 MLB Draft after many experts predicted he could go #1 overall. The fact that a storied franchise in one of baseball’s biggest markets snagged him as their future star gives him huge upside in the sports card investing world, so it’s no surprise that three of the top four singles sales in this set are of Mayer cards. He’s currently the #7 overall prospect on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 with an expected Major League Debut year of 2024. This gives sports card investors some time to load up on his cards in anticipation of selling upon call up next year.

Here are his next best five best selling cards in the last 365 days:

• 2021 Bowman Draft #BDC-174 Chrome – Gold Refractor /50 PSA 10 – $2,375 (1 sale)
• 2021 Bowman Draft #BDC-174 Chrome – Orange Refractor /25 PSA 10 – $2,326.88 (1 sale)
• 2021 Bowman Draft #CDA-MM Chrome DP Auto – Refractor /499 PSA 10 – Average sale = $1,8700 (2 sales)
• 2021 Bowman Draft #BDC-174 Chrome – Orange Refractor /25 Raw – Average sale = $1,304 (4 sales)
• 2021 Bowman Draft #CDA-MM Chrome – DP Auto BGS 9.5 – Average sale = $797 (3 sales)

2. Jordan Lawlar 2021 Bowman Draft #BDC-194 Chrome – Red Refractor /5 Raw – Sold for $3,251 on 3/3/2022 – Lawlar was the second shortstop taken in the 2021 MLB Draft, going to the Diamondbacks out of Jesuit College Prep in Texas. At age 21, he sits at #12 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects with an expected MLB debut sometime in 2024. The play is the same as Mayer – grab Lawlar’s 1st Bowman Chrome cards in anticipation of a call-up next year. He’ll likely play in AA this year, and it doesn’t hurt his overall value that he sits in a Minor League System that also features MLB Top 15 Prospects Corbin Carroll (#3) and Druw Jones (#11).

Here are his next best five best selling cards in the last 365 days:

• 2021 Bowman Draft #BDC-194 Chrome – Gold Refractor /50 PSA 10 – Sold for $2,050 on 6/19/2022
• 2021 Bowman Draft #CDA-JLR Chrome DP Auto Refractor /499 PSA 10 – Sold for $1,500 on 5/29/2022
• 2021 Bowman Draft #BD-194 Orange /25 PSA 10 – Sold for $1,500 on 9/5/2022
• 2021 Bowman Draft #BDC-194 Chrome – Red Lava Refractor /5 PSA 9 – Sold for $1,500 on 3/23/2022
• 2021 Bowman Draft #BDC-194 Chrome – Orange Refractor /25 PSA 10 – Average sale = $1,524.50 (2 sales)

3. Jay Allen 2021 Bowman Draft #BDC-11 Chrome – Orange Refractor /25 PSA 10 – Sold for $2,000 on 3/2/2022 – The last pick in the first round of the 2021 MLB Draft, Allen is a big, power hitting outfielder – the kind that could be an exciting big leaguer. There’s some risk here, as he didn’t show very well at the plate in the minors last year, but he’s only 20 years old, has high upside – and if he starts to hit homers in the minors it will bump his card value in the right direction. Plus, he’s in a Reds system that features top prospect Elly De La Cruz.

Here are his next best five best selling cards in the last 365 days:

• 2021 Bowman Draft #BDC-11 Chrome – Red Refractor /5 PSA 9 – Sold for $865 on 3/15/2022
• 2021 Bowman Draft #BDC-11 Chrome – Red Lava Refractor /5 Raw – Sold for $675 on 3/12/2022
• 2021 Bowman Draft #BDC-11 Chrome – Gold Refractor /50 PSA 10 – Sold for $529 on 5/14/2022
• 2021 Bowman Draft #CDA-JA Chrome DP Auto – Refractor /499 BGS 9.5 – Sold for $343.88 on 1/27/2022
• 2021 Bowman Draft #BD-11 Red /5 PSA 10 – Sold for $300 on 1/2/2023

4. Henry Davis 2021 Bowman Draft #BDC-48 Chrome – Red Lava Refractor /5 Raw – Sold for $1,580 on 1/9/2022 – The number one overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, a catcher from Louisville, Davis had a solid first season in the minors, hitting .264 with 10 homers and 42 RBI. The Pirates have a ton of young talent, and even though he’s a catcher, there’s some room for profit here. Like Mayer and Lawlar, look for Davis to play AA ball this year, with an expected MLB call-up slated for sometime in 2024.

Here are his next best five best selling cards in the last 365 days:

• 2021 Bowman Draft #BDC-48 Chrome – Red Refractor /5 Raw – Sold for $1,233 on 1/5/2022
• 2021 Bowman Draft #BDC-48 Chrome – Blue Refractor /150 PSA 10 – Average Sale = $367 (4 sales)
• 2021 Bowman Draft #BDC-48 Chrome – Yellow Lava Refractor /75 PSA 10 – Sold for $405 on 2/8/2022
• 2021 Bowman Draft #BD-48 Red /5 Raw – Sold for $400 on 1/20/2022
• 2021 Bowman Draft #BDC-48 Chrome – Orange Refractor PSA 10 – Average Sale = $455.29 (3 sales)

5. Brady House 2021 Bowman Draft #BDC-186 Chrome – Orange Refractor /25 PSA 10 – Sold for $875 on 3/7/2022 – The 11th overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, and the third shortstop taken out of High School, the 6’4” House hit a solid .289 with 7 HR and 43 RBI in the minors last year in the Nationals organization. He’s only 19 and hasn’t made it on the MLB Pipeline Top 100 list yet. This means he’s likely a solid buy, as players typically see a significant bump in value when they debut on the list.

Here are his next best five best selling cards in the last 365 days:

• 2021 Bowman Draft #BD-186 Orange /25 PSA 10 – Sold for $715 on 4/27/2022
• 2021 Bowman Draft #BDC-186 Chrome – Gold Refractor /50 PSA 9 – Sold for $649 on 6/19/2022
• 2021 Bowman Draft #BDC-186 Chrome – Purple Refractor /250 PSA 10 – Sold for $625 on 5/17/2022
• 2021 Bowman Draft #BDC-186 Chrome – Gold Refractor /50 PSA 10 – Sold for $610 on 7/17/2022
• 2021 Bowman Draft #BD-186 Gold /50 PSA 10 – Average Sale = $475 (2 sales)

6. Harry Ford 2021 Bowman Draft #BDC-1 Chrome – Gold Refractor /50 PSA 10 – Sold for $900 on 8/11/2022 – Ford, a catcher from North Cobb High School in Georgia, was the 12th overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft for the Seattle Mariners. It’s really impressive that Ford, only 19 years old, is already on the MLB Pipeline Top 100 as the 65th ranked prospect. He got a ton of great work in the minors last year, hitting .276 with 14 HR and 75 RBI in 445 at bats. Catchers don’t typically do as well as middle infielders and outfielders in the sports card investing world, but the proof is in the data…he’s selling well, making him someone to watch.

Here are his next best five best selling cards in the last 365 days:

• 2021 Bowman Draft #BDC-1 Chrome – Orange Refractor /25 PSA 10 – Average Sale = $1,180 (3 sales)
• 2021 Bowman Draft #BDC-1 Chrome – Red Refractor /5 Raw – Sold for $640.02 on 7/13/2022
• 2021 Bowman Draft #BDC-1 Chrome – Orange Refractor /25 – Average Sale = $422.50 (2 sales)
• 2021 Bowman Draft #BD-1 Red /5 Raw – Sold for $440 on 3/21/2022
• 2021 Bowman Draft #BDC-1 Chrome – Orange Refractor /25 on PSA 9 – Average Sale = $440.66 (2 sales)

7. Sal Frelick 2021 Bowman Draft #BDC-172 Chrome – Orange Refractor /25 PSA 10 – Sold for $525 on 5/11/2022 – The star center fielder from Boston College was taken by the Milwaukee Brewers with the 15th overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft. The lefty slugger had a great season for three different teams in the MiLB last year, batting .331 with 13 HR and 80 RBI with 36 stolen bases. He’s already in AAA Nashville and as #46 overall on the MLB Pipeline Top 100, he’s expected to make his big league debut this year – which could mean an immediate payoff for his investors.

Here are his next best five best selling cards in the last 365 days:

• 2021 Bowman Draft BDC-172 Chrome – Gold Refractor /50 PSA 10 – Sold for $399 on 12/19/2022
• 2021 Bowman Draft #CDA-SF Chrome DP Auto – Refractor /499 PSA 10 – Average Sale = $257.79 (7 sales)
• 2021 Bowman Draft #CDA-SF Chrome DP Auto – Refractor /499 SGC 9.5 – Sold for $190 on 5/3/2022
• 2021 Bowman Draft #BD-172 Orange /25 Raw – Average Sale = $109.07 (3 sales)
• 2021 Bowman Draft #CDA-SF Chrome DP Auto PSA 10 – Average Sale = $142.45 (12 sales)
• 2021 Bowman Draft #BDC-172 Chrome – Orange Refractor /25 Raw – Average Sale = $197.83 (3 sales)

8. Izaac Pacheco 2021 Bowman Draft #BDC-46 Chrome – Red Refractor /5 Raw – Sold for $520 on 7/7/2022 – The 39th pick overall in the 2021 MLB Draft, Pacheco was the 11th shortstop taken. He is 6’4” and only 20 years old from Friendswood High School in Texas. He’ll play for the High-A West Michigan Whitecaps after a solid first season in the minors where he hit .248 with 12 HR and 59 RBI in 496 at bats. He’s one of the most affordable players on this list, meaning there is a solid path to profit as long as he keeps moving up to the next level.

Here are his next best five best selling cards in the last 365 days:

• 2021 Bowman Draft #BDC-46 Chrome – Blue Refractor /150 PSA 10 – Sold for $120 on 9/22/2022
• 2021 Bowman Draft #BDC-46 Chrome – Gold Refractor /50 PSA 9 – Sold for $102.50 on 7/9/2022
• 2021 Bowman Draft #BDC-46 Chrome – Gold Refractor /50 SGC 10 – Sold for $89.88 on 57/2022
• 2021 Bowman Draft #BDC-46 Chrome – Gold Refractor /50 Raw – Average Sale = $102.96 (5 sales).
• 2021 Bowman Draft #BDC-46 Chrome – Yellow Lava Refractor /75 Raw – Average Sale = $39.67 (5 sales)

9. Benny Montgomery 2021 Bowman Draft #BDC-84 Chrome – Orange Refractor /25 BGS 9.5 – Sold for $475 on 7/18/2022 – The 8th overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft was extremely impressive in the minors last year, batting .310 with six long balls and 50 RBI in 302 at bats for the Fresno Grizzlies – the Rockies’ Single-A Affiliate. The power hitting outfielder from Red Land High School in Pennsylvania isn’t on the MLB Pipeline Top 100 yet, so that will likely be the first marker for his card value to increase. Being in the Rockies organization could be solid for his future MLB home run stats, which is the main statistic baseball card investors care about.

Here are his next best five best selling cards in the last 365 days:

• 2021 Bowman Draft #BD-84 Orange /25 PSA 10 – Sold for $455 on 7/24/2022
• 2021 Bowman Draft #BDC-84 Chrome – Orange Refractor /25 Raw – Average Sale = $437.50 (2 sales)
• 2021 Bowman Draft #CDA-BM Chrome DP Auto BGS 9.5 – Sold for $232.50 on 4/10/2022
• 2021 Bowman Draft #BDC-84 Chrome – Gold Refractor /50 Raw – Average Sale = $192.20 (4 sales)
• 2021 Bowman Draft #CDA-BM Chrome DP Auto – Refactor /499 PSA 10 – Average Sale = $412.38 (4 sales)

10. Kyle Manzardo 2021 Bowman Draft #CDA-CC Chrome DP Auto Refractor /499 PSA 10 – Sold for $350 on 12/9/2022 – The first baseman from Washington State was taken 63rd overall (the end of the second round) in the 2021 MLB Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays, and played super well in the minors last year, hitting .330 with 24 HR and 89 RBI. He’s a super sleeper from a card perspective, and is incredibly affordable compared to the other guys on this list. But he’s very liquid, with the highest sales volume, and greatest margin of raw to PSA 9 for both his 2021 Bowman Chrome DP Auto and Refractor Auto /499. This means that profit can be made immediately by buying raw and grading at PSA. And as long as you get a PSA 9, you’ll make some money, but if you get a Gem Mint grade – an even larger profit margin could be yours. Because of this, unlike other prospects on this list, you don’t even have to wait for a call-up to make money on Manzardo.

Here are his next best five best selling cards in the last 365 days:

• 2021 Bowman Draft #CDA-KM Chrome DP Auto PSA 10 – Average Sale = $172.84 (5 sales)
• 2021 Bowman Draft #CDA-KM Chrome DP Auto – Refractor /499 PSA 9 – Average Sale = $109.74 (4 sales)
• 2021 Bowman Draft #CD-KM Chrome DP Auto – Refractor /499 Raw – Average Sale = $61.39 (43 sales)
• 2021 Bowman Draft #CDA-KM Chrome DP Auto PSA 9 – Sold for $72.01 on 10/19/2022
• 2021 Bowman Draft #CDA-KM Chrome DP Auto Raw – Average Sale = $35.52 (100+ sales)

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Paul Hickey is a regular contributor to Sports Card Investor, the creator of the Sports Card Investment Report at NoOffseason.com, and the host of the Sports Card Strategy Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube. He can be found on Instagram at @sportscardstrategy and on Twitter @nooffseasoncard.