Top Five Most Valuable Albert Pujols Rookie Cards
Throughout his career, Albert Pujols was a threat every time at the plate, but there was a 10-year period where he dominated beyond his peer group placing himself among the best to ever play the game. The swing Pujols had, one would be hard pressed to find a better knob to the ball batter during the 2000s that could spray the field with power.
Destined to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer when his time is due in 2027, we look at the rookie cards that hold strong value and may get that extra bump with HOF attached to Pujols’ name.
The Season that Kickstarted a Career
The rookie season with the St. Louis Cardinals would be a career year for most players. Pujols was among the league leaders batting .329 with 37 homers, 47 doubles, and knocked in 130.
Starting in 2001, Pujols strung together 10 consecutive seasons of .300 or better at the plate, just missing an eleventh in 2011 finishing at .299.
The 2001 campaign was noteworthy for other reasons, including winning National League Rookie of the Year and earning his first of 11 All-Star selections.
Career Superlatives
From 2001 to 2011, Pujols played for St. Louis, with the Cards winning the World Series in 2006 and 2011. Pujols was named NL MVP in 2005, 2008, and 2009 with Gold Gloves earned at first base in 2006 and 2010.
Hitting .359 in 2003, Pujols earned his only batting title but was the NL home run leader in 2009 (47) and 2010 (42). Six Silver Slugger Awards were claimed by Pujols (2001, 2003-04, and 2008-10).
Over the span of 22 years, Pujols hit .299; .326 during his 12 years in St. Louis. The slugger produced 703 career home runs, 2,218 RBI, and 3,384 hits.
Playing with the Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels from 2012-2021, Pujols hit .256, and he batted .254 during his only season with the Los Angeles Dodgers (2021).
Going full circle, Pujols returned to St. Louis in 2022, retiring as a Cardinal.
*Pricing per Beckett Online Price Guide and via secondary markets.
The Rookie Cards
2001 SP Authentic #126 Albert Pujols FW (Future Watch)
Collectors responding to the short print in SP have driven up the value of Pujols’ Authentic rookie card. There are two serial-numbered cards, one to 1,250 and the other to 50 (Limited).
Pricing on this one can range. The Limited /50 can start around $300 with the /1,250 at half the price per Beckett Online Price Guide. On secondary markets like eBay, pricing is much higher with a midline around $1,500. There is a catch, a raw version can outprice a Near Mint/Mint ($1,000). A Pristine 10 can cash out at $3,500 or more. There are listings for this card as a BGS 10 for over $10,000.
2001 Donruss #156 Albert Pujols
Donruss’ Rated Rookie card for Pujols is as valuable raw as a Near Mint-Mint at $190 to $200. Buyers do need to take note; there are 12 different variations of the card with 10 of them being short prints ranging from /999 (Baseball’s Best Bronze #156) to /17 (Stat Line Season #156). On the positive, no matter which one you have, the card is of value.
2001 Topps Traded #T247 Albert Pujols
The base #T247 can start at $120 to $150 raw with the parallels going up in value; Retrofractors, Chrome, and Gold. The Gold variation is a short print to /2001. A Pristine can bring in over $1,700.
The opportunity to get a valuable BGS grade is highly likely. BGS has awarded 591 9s and 500 9.5s. Getting a Pristine 10, out of 1,555 graded overall, just eight have earned the coveted number. A Black Label has not been given to this card… yet.
2001 Topps Chrome #596 Albert Pujols
Same image as the Topps Traded, different values. The Chrome base version starts off around $150 raw going to $140 Near Mint/Mint, jumping over $1,300 in a Pristine grade. Have a Retrofractor? A Near Mint starts at $1,250, going up to $3,125. BGS has graded 29 8.5s, 25 9s, and 10 9.5s Retrofractors.
2001 Leaf Rookies & Stars #205 Albert Pujols
A shortstop in college, Pujols started his minor league career, one that brought a Single-A Midwest League MVP award, at third base. Before Pujols found his “home” at first, he also played left and right field in the big leagues; the Cardinals just wanted that stick in the lineup.
For Pujols’ rookie card with Leaf, they pegged him as a third baseman. If you like reading card backs, Topps had him as an outfielder in their 2001 release, Donruss had him at 3B, and Upper Deck shared, “Pujols began the season in the outfield but seems to have found a permanent home at third base.”
The base card value begins at $150 with a 9 going for $200 and a 10 popping up near $1,900. Leaf had three parallels of the base: Autographs /50, Longevity /25, and Chicago Collection /5.
The Autographed Rookie Cards… and More
Right or wrong, it feels like cheating when doing a most valuable player card list comprised solely of autographed cardboard. Obviously, those cards are worth more, but it would be misleading to not mention a few of the more valuable Pujols RC AUs in circulation.
Mixed in with the autographed cards, a few more RCs worth adding to your collection.
**For a complete list of Albert Pujols rookie card pricing, check out the Beckett Online Price Guide.
2001 Bowman Chrome #340 Albert Pujols AU
Values: $6,000 to $15,000
2001 Topps Chrome Traded Retrofractors #T99 I.Suzuki/A.Pujols ROY
Values: $2,000 to $5,000
2001 Donruss Elite Turn of the Century Autographs #156 Albert Pujols
Values: $750 to $2,000
2001 Studio Private Signings 5 x 7 #34 Albert Pujols SP /50
Values: $750 to $2,000
2001 Leaf Certified Materials Mirror Red #158 Albert Pujols FF Hat AU
Values: $600 to $1,500
2001 SPx #206 Albert Pujols YS AU
Values: $500 to $1,200
2001 Fleer Showcase Sweet Sigs Leather #20 Albert Pujols SP /75
Values: $500 to $1,200
2001 Donruss Class of 2001 Crusade Autographs #C26 Albert Pujols /50
Values: $400 to $1,000
2001 Donruss Class of 2001 Rookie Autographs #268 Albert Pujols PH /100
Values: $400 to $1,000
2001 Donruss Elite Status #156 Albert Pujols /68
Values: $400 to $1,000
2001 Donruss Signature Series #151 Albert Pujols AU
Values: $400 to $1,000
2001 Donruss Classics Significant Signatures #108 Albert Pujols
Values: $300 to $800
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