Logan Webb Rookie Cards, Prospect Issues Among Collecting Bargains
When is the last time that you could buy rookie cards of one of the most dominant players in baseball for under five bucks, or even for a dollar?
The answer is now, if you hurry.
This is one of the great examples of when a player has a breakout year and becomes a star while still flying largely under the hobby radar.
The player is San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb. The Giants’ ace was so far under the radar at the beginning of the season that he didn’t make it into either 2021 Topps Series 1 or Series 2.
Those who like to chase potential future returns are busy looking for Fernando Tatis Jr., Shohei Ohtani and Wander Franco cards but fans who follow the game have realized Webb’s impressive run.
Last week against the Milwaukee Brewers, Webb was at his best. He struck out 10 in seven innings, walked one, and gave up a run on four hits. Although it was a no-decision, it was another example of how good the 24-year-old has been.
After the Milwaukee game, the Giants were 12-1 in Webb’s last 13 starts. Over that period, Webb had allowed two or fewer runs in all of those starts, with a 1.63 ERA, and a .198 opponents’ average. While Dodger teammates Max Scherzer and Walker Buehler or Brewers ace Corbin Burnes might be the frontrunners for the NL Cy Young Award, Webb is pitching his way into the discussion.
And you can buy his rookie card for a buck or two.
While Topps left him out of its flagship set, Webb did earn a Topps Now card (#747) last for setting a Giants record with his 14th start allowing two earned runs or fewer.
Grew Up Near San Francisco
In 2014, Webb was drafted by the Giants out of Rocklin High School in Rocklin, CA, about 100 miles northeast of San Francisco. That year, Webb appeared in the Elite Extra Edition Prospects set and the Panini Prizm Perennial Draft set. Both–including the Elite autographed copies–are inexpensive.
He worked his way up through the minors before getting his call-up to the Giants in August 2019. He made eight starts that year, going 2-3 with a 5.22 ERA.
Webb appeared in a number of prospect sets in 2019, including Bowman Chrome Prospects, Bowman Heritage Chrome, Bowman Platinum, Bowman Prospects, Elite Extra Edition and Topps Pro Debut. His 2019 numbered, autographed cards are on an upward trend.
In the strike shortened 2020 season, he was 3-4 in 11 starts with a 5.47 ERA. His official rookie cards also came out that year. Webb’s Absolute and Bowman’s Best signed and low-numbered cards are also undervalued but on the rise.
One of the more interesting rookie cards to watch is Webb’s 2020 Topps Heritage #276 Rookie Stars card. Using the timeless classic 1971 Topps design, Webb is featured on a dual card with another rookie pitcher, Tyler Rogers. If Webb is under the radar, Rogers is in a realm that those operating the radar are unaware of. A 30-year-old reliever in his third big league season, Rogers led the Majors in appearances in 2020 with 29 games in the shortened season. As of Labor Day, Rogers was again was tops in appearances with 67 games while sporting a 5-1 record, a 1.75 ERA and 12 saves.
There are buy-it-now listings on eBay for that double rookie card for under $2 plus shipping.
In the month of August, there was only one Webb that sold for above $200 on eBay. On August 18, a 2020 Panini Immaculate Triple Patch Autograph rookie card number 4/5 sold for $275.
In the first week of September, a 1/1 Topps Five Star Red Parallel on-card autograph was purchased for $225 in a fixed price eBay sale. The only other Webb sales on eBay at $200 or more were a 2019 Bowman Chrome Prospect Refractor autographed card numbered out of 499 that sold for $200.45, and a 2020 Topps Chrome Red Refractor RC #2/5 that sold for $200.
On the other hand, there were more than 80 Webb cards that sold for $1 or less, including a 2020 Panini Chronicles Mosaic Silver Prizm #22 that sold via auction for one cent. There was also a 2020 Topps RC that sold for 21 cents– with free shipping.
Certainly, it is more difficult for a pitcher to hit the hobby hot lists. But the best ones do. And in 2021, Logan Webb has been among the best, and his rookie cards may be the most undervalued of any player in baseball today.
(You can see all of Logan Webb’s cards on eBay here).
About Jeff Morris
Jeff Morris is a hobby veteran who has been a collector for more than 50 years. Originally a hobby journalist, he became brand manager at Pinnacle, and then was an executive for Collector’s Edge and Shop at Home before joining Pacific Trading Cards as VP Marketing. He is the former editor and publisher of Canadian Sports Collector magazine, and he was also a columnist for ESPN.com.
