Top Wander Franco Cards, Hottest eBay Auctions as Top Prospect Arrives
It was on every sports highlight show from coast to coast when Wander Franco pulled up to his first Major League Baseball game in a white Rolls Royce.
And just to make sure that the Hollywood script was perfect for the movie that the world is expecting to be made about his career some day, his first Major League hit was a game-tying, three-run home run that will no doubt turn Red Sox pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez into a trivia question.
Tampa Bay Rays fans went into a frenzy, everyone who follows baseball paid attention, and collectors rushed to their devices to check out the prices on his 2019 Bowman cards or to order his 2021 Topps Now card #402, which sold a record 61,305 copies during the 24-hour period in which it was available on Topps’ website (if you missed it, you can grab one for just a few bucks on eBay).
He’s #1
Franco was rated as the number one prospect in baseball by MLB.com. Being ranked number one does not always mean instant stardom, though. MLB began ranking prospects in 2004, and the list includes superstars, players who have had solid careers, and others that make you say, “really?”
The list includes obvious stars like Mike Trout, Alex Bregman, Corey Seager, Shohei Ohtani and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Some have taken a while to live up to the hype, such as Byron Buxton. Some have been good players, like Delmon Young, Andrew Benintendi and Jurickson Profar. And does even remember when lefthanded pitcher Matt Moore was rated number one ahead of both Trout and Bryce Harper?
Franco, who is the first player born in 2001 to reach the Majors, may or may not become the player Trout, Ohtani and Guerrero have become, but the expectations are there.
Earliest Wander Franco Cards
While the hobby is waiting for Franco’s first official Major League rookie cards, likely to arrive in 2022, his earliest issues have been hot sellers since his big league arrival on June 22.
Over 9,000 Franco cards have sold on eBay since Monday alone, with sales exceeding $800,000, according to company data. Many of those sales were for his 2019 Bowman issues.
Franco’s Bowman Prospects BP100 and Bowman Prospects Chrome BPC100 cards are staples for the Franco collector because they have the “1st Bowman” logo in the top left hand corner, indicating that it is Franco’s first card produced by Topps for the Bowman brand. PSA Gem Mint 10 versions of the Bowman paper version of the card are currently selling in the $150-$300 range with the Chrome version of the card selling in the $300-400 range. One eBay seller moved dozens of the latter between June 21 and 24 at $329.99 each. Another sold 40 at $350 each.
Bowman Chrome Autographs
As is the case with most of today’s top players, it’s the Bowman Chrome Autograph cards that are the most desirable non-rookie cards. Franco’s 2019 Bowman Chrome autos come with over a dozen parallels, numbered from 1/1 to 499. A BGS 9.5/10 Orange Refractor numbered to 25 sold Wednesday for a Buy it Now price of $50,000. A Purple Refractor numbered to 250 graded PSA 10 went for $7,839 on the same day.
You can also find Franco autographs in other products, like the Bowman Chrome Mega Boxes that were a Target exclusive. There’s also an unsigned MegaBox Refractor and a few corresponding parallels.
While Franco’s first Bowman cards may be driving the baseline demand for his pre-rookie cards, they are certainly not the only ones out there. Nor are they Franco’s first cards.
Panini and Leaf Franco Cards
In 2018, Panini included Franco in its Elite Extra Edition series as card #64. Although the card is serial numbered to 999 and the card is a premium-level card printed on foil, the logos on the uniform are removed, which some collectors don’t mind but others don’t like. The autographed parallels are not serial numbered, but they do include a statement of authenticity.
The Elite Extra Edition Future Threads Silhouette cards have a large swatch and a signature, and are serial-numbered to numbers under 100. There are purple and patch versions, both serial numbered to 25, that carry fairly modest values.
Leaf also produced Wander Franco baseball cards in 2018. These, too, don’t carry MLB licensing. Leaf Metal Draft features a Franco card in more limited quantities. There are 16 versions of parallels in the set, with 15 of them numbered to 25 or less.
2018 Leaf Flash Baseball also includes Wander Franco autographs. He has a #BA-WF1 autographed card, as well as a Flash of Brilliance autograph and a number of parallels numbered to 50 or lower, and one of one printing plates.
Leaf Ultimate Draft from 2018 is another autograph set that includes Franco. This set has drawn attention for using the popular 1990 Leaf Baseball design.
Franco also has signed cards in the Leaf Valient and Trinity sets.
Half-Million Dollar Card
The most expensive Franco card currently available is a 2019 Bowman Draft Black #BD93 1/1. The only card of its kind received a grading of PSA 8, which is less relevant in this case because it is a one of one card. It is currently on eBay with a Buy it Now price of $500,000.
The regular version of the 2019 Bowman Draft #BD93 card has less demand than the Bowman Prospects card mainly because the Bowman Prospects card has the 1st Bowman logo. The Bowman Draft paper and chrome cards are priced about 25 per cent less than their Bowman Prospects counterparts.
Some of the other popular Wander Franco cards that are out there include 2019 Bowman’s Best, 2019 Bowman Sterling , 2019 Topps Heritage Minor League #1, 2019 Topps Pro Debut #50 and 2019 Donruss Optic #7. Franco can also be found in the 2018 Grandstand Princeton Rays set from his time in the Appalachian League.
You can check out the most watched Wander Franco auctions on eBay anytime via the live list below.
2019 Bowman Sterling Refractor Wander Franco RC Rookie AUTO 08/75 Rays autograph
42 bids – Price: $1,425.00 – Watchers: 130
Item #294240040372
2019 Bowman Chrome Prospect Wander Franco ROOKIE RC AUTO #CPAWF PSA 10 GEM MINT
32 bids – Price: $3,400.00 – Watchers: 112
Item #353541520888
2019 Bowman Chrome Refractor Wander Franco ROOKIE RC AUTO /499 PSA 10 GEM MINT
87 bids – Price: $3,551.00 – Watchers: 105
Item #324688609745
2019 Bowman Chrome Blue Shimmer Refractor Wander Franco RC /150 BGS 9.5
30 bids – Price: $810.00 – Watchers: 95
Item #373618451503
2019 1st Bowman Chrome Wander Franco Atomic Refractor Rookie RC PSA 10 Gem!
41 bids – Price: $1,975.00 – Watchers: 95
Item #224506177842
2019 Bowman Prospects Chrome Wander Franco Green Shimmer /99 PSA 10 1st #100
24 bids – Price: $484.35 – Watchers: 94
Item #363441179943
Wander Franco 2019 1st Bowman Chrome Mega Box #100 PSA 10 Mojo Refractor Rookie
25 bids – Price: $348.00 – Watchers: 86
Item #393403371364
2019 Bowman Chrome Blue Refractor Wander Franco ROOKIE RC /150 #100 PSA 10 GEM
28 bids – Price: $3,450.00 – Watchers: 84
Item #353541520885
Wander Franco 2019 Bowman Chrome Prospect Base RC AUTO BGS 9.5/10
42 bids – Price: $1,625.00 – Watchers: 79
Item #154498310592
2019 BOWMAN STERLING WANDER FRANCO AUTO #1 PROSPECT AUTOGRAPH
30 bids – Price: $330.00 – Watchers: 77
Item #384232964198
2019 Wander Franco 1st Bowman Chrome Auto PSA 10/10 Low Pop Of 31! 💎
25 bids – Price: $4,250.00 – Watchers: 77
Item #174811991631
2021 Bowman Chrome Wander Franco Scouts Top 100 Refractor Auto #01/50 Rays O662
27 bids – Price: $305.00 – Watchers: 75
Item #373622796512
2019 Bowman’s Best Wander Franco Blue Refractor Auto #016/150 PSA 10 Rays
34 bids – Price: $1,325.00 – Watchers: 74
Item #373621828586
2019 Bowman Chrome Prospect Auto Wander Franco Atomic Refractor /100 BGS 8.5 SP
40 bids – Price: $920.00 – Watchers: 74
Item #124781139026
2019 Bowman Chrome Prospect Wander Franco ROOKIE RC AUTO #CPAWF BGS 9.5 GEM MINT
43 bids – Price: $1,619.00 – Watchers: 74
Item #402934710978
WANDER FRANCO 2020 Donruss Optic BLACK Auto Rated Prospect /50 Rookie Card Rays
39 bids – Price: $665.00 – Watchers: 73
Item #133794665964
2019 Bowman Chrome Wander Franco 1st Bowman Autographed Card PSA 10 Gem Mint!
36 bids – Price: $3,050.00 – Watchers: 70
Item #194206313362
WANDER FRANCO 2019 1st Bowman Chrome #BCP-100 Mega Box MOJO REFRACTOR Rays
20 bids – Price: $152.50 – Watchers: 69
Item #184900753812
2019 Bowman Baseball Factory Sealed Mega Box Target Wander Franco Auto
32 bids – Price: $182.50 – Watchers: 69
Item #164924236057
🙀 2018 LEAF TRINITY WANDER FRANCO AUTOGRAPH AUTO BUTTON Rookie RC 5/5 (= 1/1)
28 bids – Price: $355.00 – Watchers: 69
Item #114862022071
2019 Bowman Chrome Prospect Wander Franco ROOKIE RC AUTO #CPAWF PSA 9 MINT
52 bids – Price: $2,175.00 – Watchers: 69
Item #353541520886
2019 Bowman Chrome WANDER FRANCO Mega Mojo Refractor RC – BGS 9.5 GEM MINT! 🔥
17 bids – Price: $237.50 – Watchers: 68
Item #124780291092
2019 Bowman Chrome Wander Franco Prospect Refractor Auto Autograph #19/99 O684
46 bids – Price: $1,035.00 – Watchers: 64
Item #124781221424
2019 Bowman’s Best Wander Franco AUTO Prospect RC Tampa Bay Rays #B19-WF
25 bids – Price: $255.00 – Watchers: 64
Item #224504915168
2019 Bowman Chrome Wander Franco Refractor auto /499 BGS 9.5 Gem Mint
12 bids – Price: $2,275.00 – Watchers: 64
Item #194211945063
Wander Franco 2019 Bowman Prospects Signed Tampa Bay Rays Autograph PSA 10 AUTO
36 bids – Price: $510.00 – Watchers: 64
Item #363443329501
2019 Bowman Wander Franco 1st Paper Prospects Rookie Card PSA 10 GEM MINT Rays
28 bids – Price: $117.50 – Watchers: 63
Item #224507512563
2019 Bowman Chrome Blue Shimmer Refractor Wander Franco Rookie RC #/150
19 bids – Price: $213.50 – Watchers: 63
Item #373622749233
2019 Wander Franco Bowman Chrome Prospects Rookie Card #100 PSA 10 Gem Mint RC
36 bids – Price: $316.00 – Watchers: 58
Item #154503302977
2019 Bowman Chrome Wander Franco Atomic Refractor Rookie RC PSA 10 Rays Non Auto
14 bids – Price: $555.00 – Watchers: 58
Item #255027573103
2019 Bowman Chrome Draft “Sapphire” Wander Franco RC – Gem Mint – HGA 9.5 Rookie
1 bids – Price: $109.99 – Watchers: 57
Item #294232895220
2019 Bowman Chrome Mega Box Purple Refractor Wander Franco ROOKIE RC /250 PSA 10
32 bids – Price: $1,005.00 – Watchers: 57
Item #224507506668
2019 Bowman Sterling Wander Franco Prospect Auto Tampa Bay Rays Autograph
26 bids – Price: $142.50 – Watchers: 57
Item #324685204660
2020 Bowman Transcendent WANDER FRANCO Auto GOLD FRAME Variation SP RC /25! 🔥
41 bids – Price: $495.00 – Watchers: 56
Item #124780305967
2019 Bowman Chrome Wander Franco RC Rookie AUTO BGS 9.5 w/ 10 ” HIGH END ”
18 bids – Price: $1,535.00 – Watchers: 56
Item #373624352033
2019 Bowman Chrome Wander Franco 1st Bowman Prospects Chrome PSA 10
12 bids – Price: $94.02 – Watchers: 55
Item #194211229310
2019 BOWMAN CHROME WANDER FRANCO MEGA RC AUTO ORANGE REFRACTOR #21/25 BGS 9.5 10
6 bids – Price: $1,525.00 – Watchers: 54
Item #133796568918
2019 BOWMAN STERLING – WANDER FRANCO – AUTO – BGS MINT 9.5 – #BSPA-WF
22 bids – Price: $410.00 – Watchers: 53
Item #133795541449
2020 Leaf Metal Draft WANDER FRANCO Auto Red Rainbow Prizm 2/5 Tampa Bay Rays
17 bids – Price: $152.50 – Watchers: 53
Item #164923863694
2020 Panini Immaculate Black Wander Franco AUTO Autograph Jersey Patch 2/7 Rays
55 bids – Price: $228.50 – Watchers: 52
Item #265203934601
2019 Bowman Chrome Green Shimmer Wander Franco ROOKIE RC AUTO /99 BGS 9.5 GEM MT
48 bids – Price: $1,800.00 – Watchers: 52
Item #324688612090
2019 Bowman Sterling Wander Franco Wave Auto /125
13 bids – Price: $325.00 – Watchers: 50
Item #133794694223
2019 Bowman Sterling Prospects Auto Wave Refractor Wander Franco BGS 9 Mint SP
12 bids – Price: $274.00 – Watchers: 50
Item #255025372293
🔥Wander Franco Panini Redemption auto⚡️🔥⚡️📈📈INVEST # 1 Prospect
15 bids – Price: $50.00 – Watchers: 50
Item #194212340641
WANDER FRANCO AUTO 2019 Bowman Sterling Autograph Rookie Card RC PSA 10 GEM MINT
9 bids – Price: $460.00 – Watchers: 49
Item #255027578100
2019 Bowman Chrome Mega Box Wander Franco Gold Refractors /50 RC Rookie BGS 9.5!
25 bids – Price: $1,601.00 – Watchers: 49
Item #224506119935
Wander Franco Rated Prospect Auto 2020 Panini Donruss Optic /75
7 bids – Price: $354.00 – Watchers: 48
Item #234061206173
2019 Bowman Draft Wander Franco Chrome Sapphire #BDC93 PSA 10 GEM MT Rays O628
14 bids – Price: $255.00 – Watchers: 48
Item #124781392985
2019 Bowman Chrome Green Refractor Wander Franco RC AUTO /99 BGS 9.5 w/ 10
29 bids – Price: $2,551.00 – Watchers: 48
Item #373625350077
2019 1st Bowman Chrome Wander Franco Rookie Prospects PSA 10 Rays
18 bids – Price: $271.00 – Watchers: 47
Item #114863879811
2019 Bowman Chrome WANDER FRANCO Speckle Refractor RC #’d /299 BGS 9.5 GEM MINT!
16 bids – Price: $300.00 – Watchers: 47
Item #363441156983
Wander Franco 2019 1st Bowman Chrome Mega Box #100 PSA 10 Mojo Refractor Rookie
32 bids – Price: $434.00 – Watchers: 47
Item #184900966391
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.
