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The Minnesota Twins selected Byron Buxton (12/18/93) with the 2nd overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft. Buxton caught pro scouts’ attention as a decorated high school player at Appling County High School in Baxley, GA.
He’s been described as “Diet Trout”, flashing elite defensive skills, power, consistent contact, and speed on the offensive side. We’ve identified some of the most valuable cards featuring this highly skilled ballplayer.
Buy Byron Buxton Rookie Cards on eBay
Buxton is a high-floor investment opportunity for baseball card enthusiasts. These are some of the cards to seek when hunting for high-value Buxton RCs.
Update 2023: If you invested in Buxton rookie cards when this article was initially released, you are a pleased man or woman.
1. 2013 Byron Buxton Bowman Chrome Prospect Auto RC #BCP-BB
If not the market leader, this prospect card is one of the most popular Byron Buxton cards on the market. It has all the trappings of a high-quality rookie/prospect card: Buxton in a Twins jersey, an autograph, strong visual appeal, and a variety of parallels.
The card features Buxton at the plate, recoiled in his compact stance. He wears the trademark prospect helmet, two ear covers, and a pair of blue-and-white batting gloves. Buxton is fresh out of high school, as his rail-thin frame would be out of place on a big-league field.
The card’s design features a rounded rectangular border with a downward-facing arch that connects with a nameplate. Above the arch is Buxton’s autograph in blue ink.
Different parallels feature unique exterior border colors. Rare parallels include Superfractor (/1), Red (/5), and Purple (/10). Other, less rare parallels are also worth investing in.
2. 2015 Byron Buxton Topps Chrome Auto RC #AR-BBN
The 2015 Topps Chrome set included a subset of 55 autographed rookie cards. Buxton’s is a standout from this subset. The card features Buxton in his grey, pinstriped #70 Twins uniform. He stands at the plate, casually extending the bat in his left hand.
A pixellated background shows spectators, while a thin colored border varies in color depending on the specific parallel.
The bottom of the card features a nameplate, an MLB diamond logo featuring an “RC” for a rookie card, and a Minnesota Twins logo. A white autograph plate contains Buxton’s signature in silver ink. There are several valuable Refractor parallels available, including the SuperFractor (/1), Red Refractor (/5), and Orange Refractor (/25).
3. 2015 Byron Buxton Topps Heritage RC #724
The 2015 Topps Heritage set combines the old school with the new. The chosen design mirrors that of the 1966 Topps baseball set. The lettering on the nameplate, as well as the overall simplicity of the card, will remind collectors of baseball cards from a bygone era.
And yet, the players on the cards (including rookie Byron Buxton) are undeniably new-school. Buxton poses in his freshly-laundered white Twins uniform, bat resting on his right shoulder. A “Twins” banner bisects the upper left corner.
The backside of the card features Buxton’s minor league stats, a blurb about his ascent, and a cartoon illustration that is thoroughly 1966. Gold Refractor and Black Refractor parallels are rare versions of this card.
- 2013 Bowman Chrome Prospect Auto Byron Buxton RC #BCP-BB
- 2015 Topps Chrome Auto Byron Buxton RC #AR-BBN
- 2015 Topps Heritage Byron Buxton RC #724
- 2015 Topps Chrome Update Byron Buxton Refractor RC #US136
- 2015 Panini Prizm Byron Buxton RC #34
- 2013 Bowman Inception Gold Auto Byron Buxton /99 RC
Byron Buxton Rookie Card Value
The most expensive Byron Buxton rookie card is the 2013 Byron Buxton Bowman Chrome Prospect Auto Refractor rookie card (i.e., Blue Refractor, Purple, ETC).
Buyers Rating and Investment Outlook
Byron Buxton has always had the makings of a superstar. Though he’s had injuries throughout his career, Buxton’s cards have a high-value floor thanks to his talent.
Let’s be frank: Minnesota has always been a tough market for an athlete’s national exposure. That said, a change of scenery could result in a corresponding uptick in Buxton’s card value.
Buxton is certainly trending in the right direction as a player, which is a good sign for those who own his rookie cards.