Ronald Acuna Jr. Rookie Card Guide and Prospect Card Highlights
Ronald Acuna cards haven’t been around for long but they sure caught on quickly. That’s what happens when you’re one of the top prospects in all of baseball. On some lists, Acuna entered 2018 as the best player on the verge of MLB stardom. And by the team the year finished, he was the National League Rookie of the Year. Just as he didn’t disappoint, neither has the Ronald Acuna Jr. Rookie Card lineup.
Acuna moved quickly through the minor league ranks in 2017, starting with the A-Advanced Florida Fire Frogs and ending with the Triple-A Gwinnett. Along the way was an appearance in the All-Star Futures Game. Following the regular season, Acuna took his game to the Arizona Fall League where he hit .325 with seven home runs in 25 games. It earned the young outfielder AFL MVP honors, making him the youngest ever to do so.
In 111 games with the Braves in 2018, Acuna hit .293 with 26 home runs, 16 stolen bases and 64 RBI. And within those numbers were several dramatic, game-changing moments.
In just a short time, he has become one of baseball’s best players and most exciting stars.
Ronald Acuna Jr. Rookie Cards began with 2018 Donruss Baseball and its wrapper redemption. From there on out, a steady flow began that should continue to the end of the baseball card season. That said, there were already plenty of prospect and minor league cards to choose from prior to that.
With this in mind, here’s a look at the full Ronald Acuna Jr. Rookie Card lineup as well as some of his key early cards.
Ronald Acuna Jr. Rookie Card Guide
This is a breakdown of Ronald Acuna Jr. Rookie Cards that are part of 2018 base sets. Inserts, parallels and variations are not included here, just cards with the RC tag in the Beckett Baseball Card Database and Price Guide.
2018 Bowman Chrome Ronald Acuna Rookie Card #40
After a couple of Prospects inserts in 2017 and 2018, this is Ronald Acuna’s first Bowman Chrome base card. It doesn’t carry a huge price tag due in part because when collectors think modern “Bowman Chrome”, thoughts jump to their debut autographs. As usual with the line, Refractor parallels are abundant.
Parallels: Refractors (/499), Purple Refractors (/250), Blue Refractors (/150), Green Refractors (/99), Gold Refractors (/50), Orange Refractors (/25), Red Refractors (/5), Superfractors (1/1)
Buy on:
2018 Bowman’s Best Ronald Acuna Jr. Rookie Card #51
Like Bowman Chrome, the 2018 Bowman’s Best Ronald Acuna Jr. Rookie Card comes on chromium stock. And you don’t have to look to Refractors for color. The design takes a more modern approach with abstract backgrounds. More color can be found with the numerous Refractors as well.
Parallels: Refractors, Atomic Refractors, Purple Refractors (/250), Blue Refractors (/150), Green Refractors (/99), Gold Refractors (/50), Orange Refractors (/25), Red Refractors (/10), Superfractors (1/1)
Buy on:
2018 Classics Ronald Acuna Jr. Rookie Card #23
In case you’re wondering where the 2018 Classics packs are, they don’t exist. At least as a standalone product. Rather, this card is in the anthology-type product, 2018 Panini Chronicles Baseball. Over a dozen brands are found in packs with Classics bringing a throwback-style vibe. That said, it’s not based on a set from the past. The past is just used as the inspiration.
Parallels: Timeless Tribute (/199), Timeless Tribute Gold (/99), Timeless Tribute Red (/25), Timeless Tribute Purple (/10), Timeless Tribute Green (/5), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1), Timeless Tribute Platinum (1/1)
Buy on:
2018 Donruss Ronald Acuna Jr. Rookie Card #283
The 2018 Donruss Ronald Acuna Rookie Card is part of the product’s wrapper redemption program. Those that sent in 24 empty wrappers from the set received a three-card pack that came with three cards that put a bookend on the checklist. Acuna was one of them. While the card doesn’t have any parallels, there is a variation version that has his full name on the front and a slightly different photo.
Buy on:
2018 Donruss Optic Ronald Acuna Jr. Rookie Card #63
2018 Donruss Optic Baseball is intended to give a more chrome look to the main Donruss release. It’s similar to what Bowman Chrome is to regular Bowman. While the construction is an upgrade over the more traditional glossy white of Donruss, this should remain a reasonably priced Ronald Acuna Rookie Card. More than a dozen colorful parallels bring a certain level of challenge.
Parallels: Bronze, Holo, Pink, Purple, Red and Yellow, Shock, White Sparkles, Aqua (/299), Orange (/199), Blue (/149), Red (/99), Carolina Blue (/50), Black (/25), Gold (/10), Cracked Ice (/7), Green (/5), Gold Vinyl (1/1)
Buy on:
2018 Limited Ronald Acuna Jr. Rookie Card #9
This isn’t an overly complicated Ronald Acuna Rookie Card. Rather, it’s one with an elegant design that emphasizes white space. It’s one of the simpler options found in 2018 Panini Chronicles Baseball, a product that brings together several brands in the same packs. Acuna has lots of cards on the master Chronicles checklist and, like Classics, this is one of the most affordable.
Parallels: Silver (/199), Gold (/99), Ruby (/25), Purple (/10), Emerald (/5), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1), Sapphire (1/1)
Buy on:
2018 Panini Chronicles Ronald Acuna Jr. Rookie Card #37
Although the newspaper-style layout isn’t as apparent as 2017 Chronicles, there are still influences with the 2018 Panini Chronicles Ronald Acuna Rookie Card. The headline is there on the front and backs take an abbreviated story approach as well.
Parallels: Press Proof (/299), Teal (/199), Holo Gold (/99), Blue (/49), Pink (/25), Artist’s Proof (/10), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1)
Buy on:
2018 Panini Crusade Ronald Acuna Jr. Rookie Card #18
The Crusade name goes back to Donruss and the late-1990s. It has been revamped somewhat for 2018 Panini Chronicles to take some design elements inspired by its past. However, it also takes a more traditional chromium approach than the brand usually has, no matter the decade.
Parallels: Holo, Hyper (/299), Ruby Wave (/199), Blue Ice (/149), Purple Mojo (/99), Green (/50), Pink (/25), Gold (/10), Gold Vinyl (1/1)
Buy on:
2018 Panini Flawless Ronald Acuna Jr. Rookie Card #11 /20
With just 20 copies, the 2018 Panini Flawless Ronald Acuna Rookie Card is exceptionally rare. Unlike most ultra high-end cards that have an autograph, the standout feature on this one is an actual diamond embedded into it.
Parallels: Pink (/3), Black (1/1)
Buy on:
2018 Panini Illusions Ronald Acuna Jr. Rookie Card #14
Panini introduced Illusions in 2017 in football. On the gridiron, the set, which has some design nods to Flair Showcase, combined a current player with someone from the past. This makes it cross-generational. For its first spin in baseball, released in 2018 Panini Chronicles, that theme is gone. Acuna is pictured on his own, although the look is similar to 2018 Illusions Football.
Parallels: Trophy Collection Blue (/99), Trophy Collection Red (/25), Trophy Collection Gold (/10), Trophy Collection Black (1/1)
Buy on:
2018 Panini National Treasures Ronald Acuna Jr. RC Auto Patch #59 /99
The 2018 Panini National Treasures Ronald Acuna is one that has premium all over it. The signature is on-card, the player-worn patch is big and the numbering, to 99 copies, is low.
Parallels: Gold (/49), Holo Gold (/25), Holo Silver (/10), Brand Logo (1/1), Platinum (1/1), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1), Tag (1/1)
Buy on:
2018 Panini Phoenix Ronald Acuna Jr. Rookie Card #21
Phoenix is one of the busier themes to come out of 2018 Panini Chronicles. Moving over from football, it’s got a lot of lines as well as a significant amount of color with its various Prizm parallels.
Parallels: Prizm, Aqua (/299), Orange (/199), Blue (/149), Red (/99), Carolina Blue (/50), Black (/25), Gold (/10), Gold Vinyl (1/1)
Buy on:
2018 Panini Prizm Ronald Acuna Jr. Rookie Card #6
It has been a few years since Prizm has had a standalone baseball set. It lives on, but now as part of the anthology 2018 Panini Chronicles. Prizm has the same chromium focus as always along with a decent-sized parallel rainbow. For the most part, Chronicles goes with quantity and variety for its many base sets. So while not particularly valuable, there’s plenty to chase both with Prizm and the product’s many other Ronald Acuna Rookie Cards.
Parallels: Holo, Hyper (/299), Ruby Wave (/199), Blue Ice (/149), Purple Wave (/99), Green (/50), Pink (/25), Gold (/10), Gold Vinyl (1/1)
Buy on:
2018 Panini Revolution Ronald Acuna Jr. Rookie Card #22
The 2018 Panini Revolution Ronald Acuna Rookie card is only available in 2018 Chronicles blaster boxes. As a result, it can be a little tougher to find than some of his other cards in the product but it’s still not rare. Its busy foil backgrounds not only make for a bold look but a different type of parallel chase.
Parallels: Galactic, Cosmic (/99), Sunburst (/49), Cubic (/25), Lava (1/1)
Buy on:
2018 Panini Spectra Ronald Acuna Jr. Rookie Card #78
Spectra marks some of the premium content in 2018 Panini Chronicles Baseball. It has also one of the biggest checklists of the many products within the larger series. The result is one of the top Ronald Acuna cards in Chronicles save for the autographs. The parallels are not only colorful but come with lots of patterns as well.
Parallels: Neon Blue (/99), Neon Pink (/75), Neon Green (/49), Green Mosaic (/25), Gold Pulsar (/10), Neon Orange (/5), Nebula (1/1)
Buy on:
2018 Panini Status Ronald Acuna Jr. Rookie Card #21
The Status brand was born out of Elite in basketball in 2017-18. Now it makes its baseball debut as part of 2018 Panini Chronicles Baseball. The Ronald Acuna Rookie Cards brings with it a different color palette than most sets with soft blues and pinks on foil board stock.
Parallels: Blue (/99), Red (/25), Gold (/10), Black (1/1)
Buy on:
2018 Prestige Ronald Acuna Jr. Rookie Card #8
The 2018 Prestige Ronald Acuna Rookie Card is one of the more straightforward ones found in Chronicles. Between the large photo and the dynamic background, action the big thing that’s being conveyed.
Parallels: Holo Silver (/199), Gold (/99), Red (/25), Purple (/10), Green (/5), Platinum (1/1), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1)
Buy on:
2018 Rookies and Stars Ronald Acuna Jr. Rookie Card #3
The history of Rookies and Stars goes back two decades. Another set within Chronicles, it’s a fairly basic Ronald Acuna Rookie Card that doesn’t have a lot of flash. This also helps keep it on the more affordable end, even when you’re comparing strictly with other Acuna cards.
Parallels: Holo Silver (/199), Gold (/99), Red (/25), Purple (/10), Green (/5), Platinum (1/1), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1)
Buy on:
2018 Score Ronald Acuna Jr. Rookie Card #10
The Score name has a lot of nostalgia. But it’s also never fully gone away. Its baseball presence has been minimal in recent years but football has kept its legacy going. As has been the case since it debuted, this isn’t a card that’s concerned with the high-end. It’s one of a handful of extremely accessible cards found in 2018 Panini Chronicles.
Parallels: Press Proof (/299), Teal (/199), Gold Zone (/99), Blue (/49), Pink (/25), Artist’s Proof (/10), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1)
Buy on:
2018 Select Ronald Acuna Jr. Rookie Card #2
Select brings another chromium Ronald Acuna Rookie Card to 2018 Panini Chronicles Baseball. It doesn’t take the tiered approach with multiple base cards, which has been the case in recent Select sets for football, basketball and soccer. But there’s still lots of color to chase at varying quantities.
Parallels: Prizm, Aqua (/299), Orange (/199), Blue (/149), Red (/99), Carolina Blue (/50), Black (/25), Gold (/10), Gold Vinyl (1/1)
Buy on:
2018 Studio Ronald Acuna Jr. Rookie Card #19
Traditionally, Studio has been a brand that uses portraits to convey a player’s personality. Remember Steve Lake and his pet bird in 1991 Studio Baseball? This changed over the years, moving to credit card-style designs, cityscapes and more. But it usually came back to connecting with who players are. 2018 Studio cards, found in 2018 Panini Chronicles, us black and white as they have before. However, it’s for more of a design flair in the background. Acuna is shown with a fairly standard color action shot.
Parallels: Blue (/99), Red (/25), Gold (/10), Kaleidoscope (1/1)
Buy on:
2018 Topps Allen & Ginter Ronald Acuna Jr. RC #207
Bringing an old-time antique flair, there isn’t much that’s complicated with the 2018 Topps Allen & Ginter Ronald Acuna Rookie Card. While the set is extremely popular, it’s also plentiful. Plus, the gimmicks are left out of the base set so there isn’t anything that would drive the price of this one up. The vast majority of the card’s parallels are done in a mini format meant to mimic old tobacco cards.
Acuna has an autograph in 2018 Allen & Ginter as well.
Full-Sized Parallels: Glossy Silver, Glossy (1/1)
Mini Parallels: Mini, Mini A&G Back, Mini Black Border, Mini Glow in the Dark, Mini Gold Border, Mini No Number (50 copies), Mini Brooklyn Back (/25), Mini Framed Printing Plates Black (1/1), Mini Framed Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Mini Framed Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Mini Framed Printing Plates Yellow (1/1), Mini Glossy (1/1), Mini Wood (1/1)
Buy on:
2018 Topps Allen & Ginter X Ronald Acuna Jr. RC #207
The 2018 Topps Allen & Ginter X Ronald Acuna Rookie Card comes from the online-exclusive spinoff. Sold only as boxes, 2018 Allen & Ginter X sold out almost instantly on the company’s website. Other than its much more limited print run, the biggest difference is the black backdrop that comes with it. The parallels are limited to three mini cards, all with different colored backgrounds: a base black, one that’s red and a one-of-one done in silver. Acuna also has an autograph in the product.
Parallels: Mini, Mini Red (/5), Mini Silver (1/1)
Buy on:
2018 Topps Archives Ronald Acuna Jr. RC #212
Like everything in 2018 Topps Archives, the set’s Ronald Acuna Rookie card channels a retro vibe. In this case, it’s done with a nod to the 1981 Topps Baseball design, complete with its cap icon. It’s not a particularly high-end card, but it still came along early as far as pack-inserted MLB-licensed Rookie Cards go so it got a bit of an early boost.
Parallels: Logo Swap, Purple (/175), Silver (/99), Blue (/25), Gold Foil (1/1)
Buy on:
2018 Topps Archives Snapshots Ronald Acuna RC #AS-RAC
2018 Topps Archives Snapshots is a small set sold exclusively through the company’s website. The idea is that images come from Topps’ photo archives. As far as the Acuna goes, it’s a simple card but the online-only distribution may keep it from being readily available in large numbers.
Parallels: Black and White Image, Blue (/50), Gold (/10), Black (1/1)
Buy on:
2018 Topps Big League Ronald Acuna Jr. RC #369
Big League Baseball is a new brand for 2018. Aiming in many ways to be something along the lines of Opening Day, only with a standalone design and checklist, this is an entry-level product that doesn’t translate into big secondary market prices for most aspects of the checklist. That includes the base cards, like Acuna’s Rookie.
Parallels: Blue, Gold, Rainbow Foil (/100), Black and White (/50), Red Foil (1/1)
Buy on:
2018 Topps Chrome Ronald Acuna Jr. RC #193
The base version of the 2018 Topps Chrome Ronald Acuna Rookie Card is shiny, but it’s not overly fancy or high-end. The chase comes in a couple of other forms. For starters, there’s the massive Refractor rainbow. It’s not just colors this year, but several have “Wave” versions that bring in patterned backgrounds. Acuna is also one of the key Rookie Autographs in 2018 Topps Chrome Baseball. These cards come with on-card signatures and another rainbow to hunt for.
Parallels: Refractors, Negative Refractors, Pink Refractors, Prism Refractors, Sepia Refractors, Xfactors, Purple Refractors (/299), Blue Refractors (/150), Green Refractors (/99), Green Wave Refractors (/99), Blue Wave Refractors (/75), Gold Refractors (/50), Gold Wave Refractors (/50), Orange Refractors (/25), Red Refractors (/5), Red Wave Refractors (/5), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1), Superfractors (1/1)
Buy on:
2018 Topps Chrome Update Ronald Acuna Jr. RC #HMT25
Released separately from the main Chrome set, the 2018 Topps Chrome Update Ronald Acuna Jr. Rookie Card could only be found in Target stores. The product is more plentiful than past years with its own dedicated configuration of blaster boxes and jumbo packs. Besides his RC, Acuna also has a Rookie Debut subset card and autographs.
Parallels: Pink Refractors, Refractors (/250), Gold Refractors (/50), Red Refractors (/25), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1), Superfractors (1/1)
Buy on:
2018 Topps Clearly Authentic Ronald Acuna Jr. RC #CAA-RA
The 2018 Topps Clearly Authentic Ronald Acuna Rookie Card isn’t your average autograph. It’s done on acetate, giving a translucent appearance in the background. It also gives the signature a way to pop a little more.
Parallels: Green (/99), Black (/75), Red (/50), Blue (/25), Purple (/10), Orange (/5), Gold (1/1)
Buy on:
2018 Topps Diamond Icons Ronald Acuna RC Autographs #AC-RA /25
Hailing from a product that reaches well over $1,000 per box (often closer to $2,000), it shouldn’t be surprising that this is considered to be one of the most high-end Ronald Acuna Rookie Cards. The base version has just 25 copies and includes an on-card autograph. Three levels of parallels total another 16 cards total. So even when you take them all together, this is a card that is exceptionally scarce.
Parallels: Purple (/10), Red (/5), Gold (1/1)
Buy on:
2018 Topps Dynasty Ronald Acuna Jr. RC Auto Patch #AP-RAC1 to AP-RAC6 /10
Ronald Acuna Jr. has six different Rookie Cards in 2018 Topps Dynasty Baseball. Individually, each has ten copies. On-card signatures and large patch pieces are the other main draws. Each different card comes with a different photo.
Parallels: Blue (/5), Gold (1/1)
Buy on:
2018 Topps Fire Ronald Acuna Jr. RC #109
If you’re a fan of bold, modern designs, this is a Ronald Acuna Rookie Card that certainly fits the bill. That’s the driving force behind 2018 Topps Fire Baseball. The set is a Target-exclusive. This limits availability somewhat due to the fact that some collectors are able to get to one. That said, this isn’t a rare card by any means.
Parallels: Blue Chip, Flame, Gold Minted, Onyx, Orange (/299), Green (/199), Purple (/99), Magenta (/25), Inferno (1/1)
Buy on:
2018 Topps Five Star Ronald Acuna Jr. RC Autograph #FSA-RA
By virtue of the signature on the front, it should come as a surprise that the 2018 Topps Five Star Ronald Acuna is one of his most expensive Rookie Cards. The on-card nature of the signature adds a little more extra to those who aren’t fans of stickers.
Parallels: Purple (/50), Blue (/25), Green (/15), Gold (/10), Orange (/5), Red (1/1)
Buy on:
2018 Topps Gallery Ronald Acuna RC #140
The 2018 Topps Gallery Ronald Acuna Jr. Rookie Card takes an artistic approach. Sticking with the brand’s focus on art-based images, Acuna’ portrait is by Kevin Graham. The set is exclusive to Walmart, releasing in time for the holiday shopping season. There shouldn’t be too much of a supply issue but collectors may have to look outside of traditional hobby channels to a certain extent.
Parallels: Artist’s Proof, Canvas, Private Issue (/250), Green (/99), Blue (/50), Orange (/25), Artist Originals (1/1), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1), Red (1/1)
Buy on:
2018 Topps Gold Label Ronald Acuna Jr. RC #99
The 2018 Topps Gold Label Ronald Acuna Rookie Card takes a dual-photo approach that doesn’t happen in a lot of sets anymore. In a throwback to the brand’s origins, there’s a tiered approach outside of the traditional parallels. Like every card in the base set, there are three different “Classes.” Each is progressively more rare. Class 1 is the most common and considered the RC.
Parallels: Black, Blue (/150), Red (/75), Gold (1/1)
Buy on:
2018 Topps Heritage Ronald Acuna Jr. RC #580
Found in packs of 2018 Topps Heritage High Number, this is a Ronald Acuna Rookie Card that calls upon the past — 1969 to be exact. Both the design and the card stock are a nod to a relatively distant past. So is the card’s straightforward approach. That said, even without being a short print or anything remotely high-end, Heritage High Number Rookies have held up well value-wise historically compared to cards from similar sets. In addition to the base version and parallels, the 2018 Topps Heritage Ronald Acuna has multiple variation short prints.
Parallels: Mini (/100), Black Border (50 copies), 100th Anniversary (25 copies), Magenta Back (10 copies), Reverse Stock (5 copies)
Buy on:
2018 Topps High Tek Ronald Acuna Jr. RC #HT-RA
2018 Topps High Tek has one of the flashier designs among the many Ronald Acuna Rookie Cards. That’s because it combines acetate stock with foil backgrounds — which have many pattern variations if you want to dig deep.
Parallels: Galactic Diffractors, Magma Diffractors, Orbit Diffractors, Rainbow Foil Blue (/150), Magma Diffractors Green (/99), Rainbow Foil Green (/99), Magma Diffractors Black (/50), Orbit Diffractors Black (/50), Rainbow Foil Black (/50), Galactic Diffractors Orange (/25), Magma Diffractors Orange (/25), Orbit Diffractors Orange (/25), Rainbow Foil Orange (/25), Galactic Diffractors Red (/10), Magma Diffractors Red (/10), Orbit Diffractors Red (/10), Rainbow Foil Red (/10), Galactic Diffractors Gold (1/1), Gold SpecTEKular Diffractors (1/1), Magma Diffractors Gold (1/1), Orbit Diffractors Gold (1/1), Rainbow Foil Gold (1/1)
Buy on:
2018 Topps Transcendent Ronald Acuna Jr. Rookie Card #49 /83
The 2018 Topps Transcendent Ronald Acuna Jr. Rookie Card has been a very strong seller. Despite not having an autograph, early copies were moving at over $300, some significantly higher. But then again, it does come from a product that’s tens of thousands of dollars to open. Most of those opening have come in the form of group breaks. And of those, lots of cards have gone straight into personal collections. Expect this to be a tough find moving forward.
Buy on:
2018 Topps Triple Threads Ronald Acuna Jr. RC Auto Triple Relic #RFPA-RRA /99
Part of the Rookies and Future Phenoms portion of the 2018 Topps Triple Threads Baseball checklist, the Ronald Acuna Rookie Card has both an autograph and three separate relic pieces. While these and the print run of just 99 copies are all high-end markers, Triple Threads is historically overlooked when it comes to Rookie Cards. Collectors are usually breaking the product to chase major patches and signatures, not going after first-year players.
Parallels: Silver (/75), Emerald (/50), Onyx (/35), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1), Ruby (1/1), Wood (1/1)
Buy on:
2018 Topps Update Ronald Acuna Jr. RC #US250
Yes, Ronald Acuna has a card in 2018 Topps Series 2, but it’s a variation, which is similar to an insert. Therefore, even if it’s not worth as much, it’s this 2018 Topps Update base card that gets the RC tag. The fact that the images are so similar only adds to the potential confusion, not to mention the variation’s variation found in 2018 Topps factory sets. This is the RC. Acuna’s other cards in 2018 Topps Update are subset cards.
Besides the parallels, this card has multiple variations of its own.
Parallels: Black and White Negative, Rainbow Foil, Gold (/2018), Vintage Stock (/99), Independence Day (/76), Black (/67), Father’s Day Blue (/50), Mother’s Day Pink (/50), Memorial Day Camo (/25), Clear (/10), Platinum (1/1), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1)
Buy on:
2018 Topps Walmart Holiday Snowflake Ronald Acuna Jr. RC #HMW50
This card offers up a wintery spin on the year’s flagship release. Another Walmart-exclusive, it comes from a set that’s fairly straightforward. Besides the regular base card, the 2018 Topps Walmart Holiday Snowflake Ronald Acuna has a pair of parallels that add some glitter to the festive highlights.
Parallels: Snowflake, Gold Snowflake (1/1)
Buy on:
Ronald Acuna Pre-Rookie and Minor League Card Highlights
2016 Topps Heritage Minor League Ronald Acuna #165
Ronald Acuna appeared in just one set in 2016 — Topps Heritage Minors. While it may not carry a lot of value compared to his key 2017 autographs, it’s still significant for being a definitive first card. And that has helped interest considering it’s by no means a high-end card.
Parallels: Blue (/99), Peach (/25), Black (1/1)
Buy on:
2017 Bowman Prospects Ronald Acuna #BP127
Found in 2017 Bowman Baseball, this is the first set to feature Acuna in his MLB uniform. Between the Chrome version and the autograph, this one is largely overlooked and carries the lowest prices. Other than collectors going deep on Ronald Acuna cards, this one is best suited for those on a tight budget. Even then, Chrome doesn’t cost that much more and comes with the added shine.
Parallels: 70th Anniversary Logo Red, Yellow, Silver (/499), Purple (/250), Blue (/150), Green (/99), Gold (/50), Orange (/25), Red (/5), Black (1/1), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1)
Buy on:
2017 Bowman Chrome Prospect Autographs Ronald Acuna #CPA-RA
As far as readily available Ronald Acuna cards go, this is the best by many. It has the distinction of being the first Bowman Chrome autograph, something that many treat as similar to an old-school Rookie Card. Other cards may eventually come along and be more valuable, but this one is the key card that acts as a benchmark for all Ronald Acuna cards.
Parallels: 70th Anniversary Blue Refractors, Refractors (/499), Purple Refractors (/250), Blue Refractors (/150), Green Refractors (/99), Green Shimmer Refractors (/99), Gold Refractors (/50), Gold Shimmer Refractors (/50), Orange Refractors (/25), Orange Shimmer Refractors (/25), Red Refractors (/5), Red Shimmer Refractors (/5), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1), Superfractors (1/1)
Buy on:
2017 Bowman Chrome Prospects Ronald Acuna #BCP127
The 2017 Bowman Chrome Ronald Acuna autograph is expensive and out of many collectors’ price range already. Even many of his alternative autographs aren’t much better. If that’s the case, the 2017 Bowman Chrome Prospects card is out there. It looks solid with the chromium stock. But it comes at a fraction of the cost of the signed version. And don’t overlook the massive Refractor rainbow that brings in plenty of color and potential rarity.
Like the regular Bowman and Bowman Chrome autograph, this card can be found in packs of 2017 Bowman.
Parallels: 70th Anniversary Blue Refractors, Blue Shimmer Refractors, Mega Box Refractors, Refractors (/499), Mega Box Purple Refractors (/250), Purple Refractors (/250), Blue Refractors (/150), Mega Box Green Refractors (/99), Green Refractors (/99), Green Shimmer Refractors (/99), Gold Refractors (/50), Gold Shimmer Refractors (/50), Mega Box Orange Refractors (/25), Orange Refractors (/25), Orange Shimmer Refractors (/25), Red Refractors (/5), Red Shimmer Refractors (/5), Mega Box Black Refractors (1/1), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1), Superfractors (1/1)
Buy on:
2017 Bowman Chrome Scouts’ Top 100 Update Autograph Ronald Acuna #BSU-RA /150
It might not leave the lasting impression as his main Bowman Chrome Prospects Autograph, but right now any Ronald Acuna autograph draws attention. A parallel of sorts to the main Scouts’ Top 100 Update insert set, it’s limited to 150 copies plus one Superfractor. To find it, you’ll need to bust packs of 2017 Bowman Chrome.
Parallels: Superfractors (1/1)
Buy on:
2017 Bowman Topps Holiday Ronald Acuna #TH-RA
This version of the 2017 Bowman Ronald Acuna came in special promo packs given out during a hobby shop promotion leading up to Christmas. Design-wise, it’s virtually identical to the regular Bowman card. But when you get into the themed parallels, things get a little more fun. These include things like snowflakes, a Thanksgiving turkey stamps and different colors of ugly sweater patterns.
Parallels: Ugly Sweater Green (/99), Blue Snowflake (/50), Turkey (/35), Ugly Sweater Red (/10), Ugly Sweater Gold (1/1)
Buy on:
2017 Bowman’s Best Baseball America’s Dean’s List Autographs Ronald Acuna #BADL-RA /75
This is another signed version of a regular insert. The design doesn’t scream autograph and it’s certainly not Acuna’s most notable signature card. But with just 75 copies, it’s pretty rare and a draw for those more focused on tough cards.
Parallels: Superfractors (1/1)
Buy on:
2017 Bowman’s Best Best of ’17 Autographs Ronald Acuna #B17-RA
As it has been since Bowman’s Best returned, this is a solid alternative to the Ronald Acuna Bowman Chrome autograph. He’s in his Braves uniform. It has all the MLB marks. It’s signed on-card. Yet, the price tag is a fraction of Bowman Chrome. That’s largely because Bowman’s Best autographs don’t have nearly the same history as Chrome. But what they lose in that regard, they make up for with a bolder design.
This card may not carry the same potential as far as value goes, but for those looking for a MLB autograph card, it’s one to consider.
Parallels: Refractors, Green Refractors (/99), Gold Refractors (/50), Atomic Refractors (/25), Red Refractors (/10), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1), Superfractors (1/1)
Buy on:
2017 Elite Extra Edition Autographs Ronald Acuna #31
Elite Extra Edition has been around for a long time. In its early days under Donruss, it was similar to a traditional traded set highlighting rookies. But as licenses and the hobby as a whole evolved, it has become more prospect-driven. Done with foil stock and a somewhat bold design, it’s biggest draw is affordability compared to Acuna’s Bowman Chrome autograph.
Parallels start with colors, although many are also die-cut, another tradition with the Elite brand.
Parallels: Aspirations Purple (/100), Status Die Cut Red (/75), Aspirations Blue (/50), Emerald (/25), Status Die Cut Emerald (/25), Aspirations Tie Dye (/10), Tie Dye (/10), Status Die Cut Tie Dye (/5), Aspirations Gold (1/1), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1), Status Die Cut Gold (1/1)
Buy on:
2017 Elite Extra Edition Future Threads Silhouette Autographs Ronald Acuna #14 /99
2017 Elite Extra Edition Baseball also has the first Ronald Acuna autographed memorabilia card. Done with a Silhouettes format, it involves layering the jersey under a die-cut image. The base version has 99 copies and parallels drop significantly from there.
In addition to this card, 2017 Elite Extra Edition has several other inserts with swatches from Acuna gear.
Parallels: Silver (/49), Red (/35), Purple (/10), Emerald (/5), Blue (/3), Gold (1/1)
Buy on:
2017 Florida Fire Frogs Choice Ronald Acuna #14
Taking the traditional minor league approach, this card from Choice came as part of a team issue set. Because it was aimed largely at local fans, it’s not the easiest card to find. And if the design on the front seems familiar, it is. The layout has a lot of similarities to 2013 Topps Baseball.
Buy on:
2017 Leaf Metal Draft Ronald Acuna Autograph #BA-RA1
Another Bowman Chrome autograph alternative, 2017 Leaf Metal Draft has everything on Refractor-esque Prismatic stock. Another bonus with Leaf’s card that some may overlook is that the edges have etching. It may seem like a small detail to some, but it adds considerably to how much it pops.
Parallels: Wave Prismatic, Blue Prismatic (/25), Purple Prismatic (/15), Pink Prismatic (/10), Black Prismatic (/7), Green Prismatic (/5), Red Prismatic (/3), Gold Prismatic (1/1), Gold Super Prismatic (1/1), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1)
Buy on:
2017 Leaf Valiant Ronald Acuna Autograph #BA-RA1 /99
The solid background, even on the base version, helps Valiant standout from Leaf Draft. The base version also comes serial numbered, something that Leaf Draft is not. 2017 Leaf Valiant Baseball comes with a BGS-graded card in every box. That means many of these have already been slabbed.
Parallels: Blue (/35), Orange (/25), Purple (/15), Yellow (/10), Black (/5), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1), Red (1/1)
Buy on:
2017 Panini Contenders Draft Picks Prospect Ticket Autographs Ronald Acuna #7
2017 Panini Contenders Draft Picks Baseball brings the brand’s trademark “ticket” approach to a late-season prospect release. Acuna is part of the Prospect Ticket Autographs checklist, which aren’t numbered. However, several parallels are. This is one for collectors looking for something a little cheaper (but no certified Ronald Acuna autograph is cheap) but still with a signature.
Parallels: Draft Ticket (/99), Cracked Ice (/23), Playoff Ticket (/15), Championship Ticket (1/1), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1)
Buy on:
2017 Topps Heritage Minors Real One Autographs Ronald Acuna #ROA-RA
Although minor league autographs don’t carry the same clout as MLB ones, there’s still a fair bit going for the 2017 Topps Heritage Minors Ronald Acuna Real One Autograph. Almost anything Heritage carries a lot of popularity. It carries history in both the vintage set it emulates plus the Heritage name. This particular card is based on 1968 Topps and comes hard-signed.
Parallels: No First Name, Blue (75), Gray (/25), Orange (1/1)
Buy on:
2018 Topps Photo Variations Ronald Acuna “Bat Down” #698
Ronald Acuna made his 2018 Topps Baseball debut in Series 2 packs. That said, his main card in the product is only a variation. Because these sorts of variations are treated like inserts, it doesn’t get the RC tag in the Beckett database. The 2018 Topps Heritage Shohei Ohtani is a similar situation. Some will see it differently and it doesn’t take away from the card in any way. It’s relative scarcity should ensure it holds up over time. It’s also not an extremely tough to the point where it’s near-impossible to find. For something a little easier, 2018 Topps Baseball factory sets have a slightly different version that’s basically a variation of the variation.
Acuna also has a 1983 Topps Autograph in 2018 Topps Series 2.
Buy on:
2018 Topps Living Set Ronald Acuna #19
The Topps Living Set Ronald Acuna has a couple of things going for it. First, it was made available right after he was called up, giving it a little historical significance. Sold on the Topps website for a week, a record 46,809 copies were ordered. By comparison, the number is more than double what Shohei Ohtani did a couple of weeks earlier.
The idea behind the Topps Living Set is that players don’t get a new card unless they change teams. So while the checklist expands over years, as long as Acuna is on the Braves, he won’t get another card.
Buy on:
2018 Topps Stadium Club Variations Ronald Acuna #223
Similar to 2018 Topps Series 2, Ronald Acuna only appears in 2018 Topps Stadium Club as a variation short print. So because it’s like an insert, it doesn’t have the RC tag in the Beckett database. This card replaces Hank Aaron on the main checklist. This will likely be a fairly tough card to find down the road as variations are 1:109 hobby packs and there are 50 in the set. So finding this particular card is roughly every 20 to 25 cases. Acuna also has a Base Autograph in 2018 Stadium Club that uses the same photo and design.
Buy on:
2018 Topps Now Ronald Acuna #125
Ronald Acuna got his first card as a major leaguer within hours of his Braves debut. 2018 Topps Now documented his first game with not only a regular card but an autograph as well. Like all regular Topps Now cards, it was available for just 24 hours with the print run determined by how many were ordered. That number came in at 11,131 copies. So there’s a lot of them out there.
It didn’t take long for Acuna to get more 2018 Topps Now cards. The in-season nature of the checklist means he’s likely to have several before the season is done.
Buy on:
2018 Topps On Demand 3D (269 copies made)