Bartolo Colon is a vibe. If you grew up watching baseball in the late 90s or the early 2000s, you remember the heater. He was this skinny kid from the Dominican Republic throwing 100 mph for the Cleveland Indians. Then, he transformed. He became "Big Sexy." He became the guy who hit a home run in San Diego at age 42 and nearly broke the internet before breaking the internet was even a thing. Because of that longevity, the Bartolo Colon rookie card has moved from the "common bin" into a legitimate piece of baseball history. It's weird. It’s inconsistent. It’s exactly like Bartolo’s career.
Finding a Bartolo Colon rookie card isn't actually that hard because he debuted right in the heart of the "Junk Wax" era's transition into the "Premium" era. We're talking 1995. This was the year of the strike-shortened season, the year the Braves finally won it all, and the year collectors were losing their minds over Hideo Nomo. Bartolo was a footnote back then. He didn't even have a card in the base Topps set in '95. He was tucked away in the updates and the "prospect" subsets.
The Only Bartolo Colon Rookie Card That Really Matters
If you ask a serious grader or a high-end collector which Bartolo Colon rookie card is the king, they’ll point to the 1995 Bowman #233. That’s it. That’s the one.
The 1995 Bowman set is legendary for its "foiled" names and high-gloss finish. It also features a very young, very lean Bartolo leaning against a dugout railing. He looks nothing like the veteran pitcher who would later struggle to keep his helmet on while swinging the bat. Honestly, it’s a bit jarring to see him that small. This card is his only "true" rookie card according to the old-school hobby rules.
But there’s a catch.
There is a 1995 Bowman "Best" version too. Don’t confuse them. The standard Bowman #233 is the blue-chip item, but the "Bowman’s Best" (Card #B11) is technically a separate, higher-end brand. Collectors usually prefer the standard Bowman because it has that classic, nostalgic feel of the mid-90s. If you’re looking at a PSA 10 copy of the 1995 Bowman #233, you’re looking at the ceiling for his base cards. Prices fluctuate wildly. One month it's $150, the next it's $300 because someone shared a clip of him behind-the-back tossing a ball to first base.
Why the 1995 Bowman Draft Picks Card Is a Trap
You’ll see a lot of people trying to sell the 1995 Bowman Draft Picks #DP15. It looks like a rookie card. It says "Draft Pick." It’s from the same year. But in the eyes of the market, it's often viewed as a secondary insert or a subset. It’s still a "rookie year" card, sure. But it doesn't command the same respect or the same price tag as the main set #233.
I’ve seen guys at card shows get into heated arguments over this. "It's a 1995, it's a rookie!" Well, sort of. In the hobby, we distinguish between a "Rookie Card" (RC) and a "Rookie Year Insert." Bartolo has a few of these.
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The Hidden Gems and Oddball Issues
Most people forget about the 1995 Multi-Ad Buffalo Bisons card. This is a minor league card. It’s ugly. It looks like it was designed in Microsoft Paint by a guy who had never seen a baseball. But for a Bartolo completionist? It’s the holy grail. It predates the Bowman cards. It shows him in the triple-A trenches.
Then there’s the 1995 Team Best series. Again, minor league. These aren't technically "rookie cards" in the MLB sense, but they are his first appearances on cardboard. If you want to bet on the rarity, you go for the minor league stuff. If you want to bet on the liquidity—meaning you can actually sell it later—you stick with Bowman.
The "Big Sexy" Premium: Why Value Doesn't Follow Logic
Usually, a pitcher’s card value is tied to his stats. 247 wins. 2,535 strikeouts. A Cy Young award in 2005 with the Angels. Those are Hall of Fame-adjacent numbers, but they aren't "first ballot" numbers. In any other case, a guy with these stats would have a $20 rookie card.
But Bartolo is different. He’s a cult hero.
The value of a Bartolo Colon rookie card is driven by memes as much as it is by wins. When he hit that home run off James Shields in 2016, the price of his 1995 Bowman PSA 10s spiked overnight. It didn't make sense. It wasn't like he suddenly became a better pitcher. He just became more beloved.
That’s the nuance of the modern hobby. You aren't just buying a piece of cardboard; you’re buying a share in a player’s "legacy." Bartolo’s legacy is joy. He played for 11 different teams. Cleveland, Montreal, Chicago, Anaheim, New York (both of 'em), Oakland... the list goes on. This means he has 11 different fanbases who all feel a sense of ownership over him. That’s a massive market of potential buyers.
Grading: The PSA vs. SGC Struggle
Should you grade your Bartolo?
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If it’s a 1995 Bowman and it looks sharp, yes. But be careful. The 1995 Bowman set is notorious for "chipping." The edges are dark and the foil is sensitive. Finding a "Gem Mint" copy is actually a nightmare.
- PSA 10: The gold standard for resale.
- SGC 10: Often called "The Tuxedo." Looks great with the black border, and many vintage/90s collectors are moving this way.
- Raw: Only worth it if you just want it for your desk.
I’ve seen "raw" (ungraded) copies sell for $5 on eBay. I’ve seen PSA 10s go for $400 during peak nostalgia cycles. That is a massive spread. If you have one sitting in a shoebox, look at the corners. If they aren't white, you’re in the money. If they look fuzzy? It’s a $10 card.
The Montreal Expos Factor
There’s a specific niche of collectors who hunt for Bartolo in his Expos gear. While his rookie card is in an Indians uniform, his 2002-2003 era cards are becoming weirdly popular because the Expos don’t exist anymore.
It’s not his rookie year, but it’s part of the "Bartolo Lore." It’s the trade that sent Grady Sizemore, Cliff Lee, and Brandon Phillips to Cleveland for half a season of Bartolo. One of the most lopsided trades in history. Collectors love a good story, and that trade is a great story.
Spotting a Fake (Yes, They Exist)
You wouldn't think people would fake a Bartolo card, but they do. Usually, they aren't "counterfeits" in the traditional sense. They are "reprints" that people try to pass off as originals.
Check the "Bowman" logo. On the 1995 original, the gold foil should have a specific luster. It shouldn't look like a flat yellow print. If the card feels too thick or the image looks slightly blurry—almost like a scan of a photo—walk away. Also, check the back. The 90s cardboard had a specific smell and texture. It shouldn't feel like a modern, plastic-heavy card.
Future Outlook: Hall of Fame or Hall of Very Good?
Will Bartolo make the Hall of Fame? Probably not. The PED suspension in 2012 is a massive hurdle for the writers.
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Usually, when a player is snubbed from the Hall, their card prices crater. But I don't think that happens here. Bartolo transcends the Hall of Fame. He’s a character. He’s the guy who played until he was 45. He’s the guy who gave us the greatest baseball highlight of the 21st century.
Investing in a Bartolo Colon rookie card today is a bet on his staying power in baseball culture. Ten years from now, people will still be watching that home run clip. They’ll still be laughing at him trying to run to first base. That kind of cultural relevance keeps card prices stable even when the "stat-heads" move on.
What You Should Do Right Now
If you want to own a piece of the Big Sexy era, here is the playbook.
First, skip the "lots" of 100 cards on eBay. You’ll just get junk. Instead, hunt for a 1995 Bowman #233 in a PSA 9 holder. Why a 9? Because the price gap between a 9 and a 10 is huge, but the visual difference is almost zero. You get the prestige of a graded "rookie" without paying the "perfection" tax.
Second, look for his 1994 Upper Deck Minors card. It’s not an MLB rookie, but it’s his first real appearance. It’s cheap. It’s cool. It’s Bartolo.
Lastly, keep an eye on the "Certified Autograph" market. Bartolo didn't have many autos in the 90s. If you can find a modern "on-card" auto of him in an Indians or Mets jersey, grab it. It pairs perfectly with the rookie card for a "then and now" display.
Don't overthink it. Collecting should be fun. And nobody in the history of the game was more fun than Bartolo Colon. Get the Bowman, put it in a sleeve, and enjoy the fact that you own the rookie card of a guy who defied gravity, age, and physics.
Actionable Steps for Collectors:
- Verify the Number: Ensure the 1995 Bowman is #233. This is the "True RC."
- Inspect the Foil: Look for scratches on the gold foil nameplate; this is the first thing graders mark down.
- Compare Prices: Check "Sold Listings" on eBay, not "Asking Prices." Sellers can ask whatever they want, but the sold data tells the truth.
- Diversify: If the Bowman is too pricey, the 1995 Bowman's Best B11 is a gorgeous alternative with a higher-end finish.