If you were Rip Van Winkle and just woke up from a six-year nap, you might be shocked to see Bo Bichette’s name surfacing in trade rumors involving the Mets or the Yankees. For those of us living through the daily grind of the hobby, it’s just another Tuesday. But for collectors, these headlines change the math on the bo bichette rookie card topps market faster than a 98-mph heater.
Bo didn't just arrive; he exploded. When he debuted in 2019, he set records for doubles. By 2020, his face was plastered on every Topps product imaginable. Now, in 2026, he’s a seasoned vet coming off a massive bounce-back 2025 season where he slashed .311/.357/.483. He’s about to hit free agency. That makes his rookie cards—specifically the ones with the "RC" logo—more than just cardboard. They're a bet on where his plaque might end up one day.
The One Everyone Wants: 2020 Topps Series 1 #78
The flagship. The base. The card that launched a thousand eBay listings.
If you say "Bo Bichette rookie" to any serious collector, they picture card #78 from 2020 Topps Series 1. It’s a clean shot of Bo mid-throw, hair flowing, looking every bit the part of a future All-Star. Honestly, the sheer volume of these cards in the wild is staggering. PSA alone has graded over 30,000 of them. Because of that supply, you can usually snag a PSA 10 for somewhere between $15 and $25 these days.
But wait. There’s a catch.
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If you’re looking at your card and Bo is wearing a "Players Weekend" jersey or he’s looking directly at the camera in a close-up portrait, you’ve stumbled onto a Short Print (SP) or a Super Short Print (SSP). These aren't your average base cards. The SP (code ending in 284) and the SSP (code ending in 285) are the real whales of the flagship set. While the base card is a few bucks, a high-grade SSP can still command hundreds because they are just so hard to pull.
Topps Chrome #150: The Shiny Standard
While the paper flagship is the classic, Topps Chrome is the king of the "modern" era. Card #150 is the Chrome equivalent of the base rookie. It’s got that metallic finish that collectors crave.
Prices for the Chrome version usually track a bit higher than the paper. You’ve got the base Refractors, the Sepia ones (found in those retail mega boxes), and the Pink Refractors. If you're hunting for real value, look for the "color." A Gold Refractor numbered to /50 or an Orange Refractor to /25? That’s where the big money lives.
- Base Chrome PSA 10: ~$35 - $50
- Refractor PSA 10: ~$90 - $120
- X-Fractor: Always a fan favorite for the "grid" pattern, usually sits right in the middle.
There’s something about the way the light hits the Blue Jays' blue on a Chrome refractor. It just looks right. Collectors treat these as the "blue chip" version of his rookie year.
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The "1st Bowman" Confusion
Kinda weirdly, many people argue about what counts as a "true" rookie. Technically, Bo’s 2016 Bowman Draft card is his first "pro" card. It has the "1st Bowman" logo. In the eyes of many prospectors, this is the most important card he has.
But if you’re strictly looking for the bo bichette rookie card topps with the MLB rookie logo, you’re looking at 2020. Don't let a seller convince you a 2017 or 2018 card is his rookie just because he’s in a minor league uniform. It's a "prospect" card. Important? Yes. A rookie? No.
Why 2026 is a Turning Point for Bo
Context is everything in sports cards. Bo’s 2024 season was, frankly, a disaster. He struggled with injuries and hit a measly .225. People started dumping his cards. Panic selling is a real thing in this hobby.
Then 2025 happened. Bo reminded everyone why he’s a two-time All-Star. He stayed healthy, drove the ball into the gaps, and finished with 44 doubles. Now, as he enters the 2026 season, he’s a free agent. Imagine Bo Bichette playing shortstop for the New York Yankees or the New York Mets. The "New York Premium" is a real phenomenon in card pricing. If he signs a massive deal in a huge market, those $20 Topps #78 cards won't stay $20 for long.
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Other Topps Rookies to Watch
Topps didn't stop at Series 1 and Chrome. They flooded the gates in 2020.
Topps Heritage (#52) is a massive hit for the "old school" collectors. It uses the 1971 Topps design, which is notoriously hard to get in a high grade because of the black borders. If you have a PSA 10 Heritage Bo, you’ve got something special. Most of those come back as 8s or 9s because the edges chip if you even look at them wrong.
Then there's Topps Finest (#27). It's a more "premium" feel than Chrome. The "Finest Firsts" inserts are also popular. If you're into the weird and wonderful, look for Topps Stadium Club (#112). Stadium Club is known for its photography, and Bo’s card there is a work of art.
Spotting the Fakes and the Flips
It’s rare to see a forged base Topps card because they aren't expensive enough to justify the effort. However, people do try to pass off "reprints" or "custom cards" as the real deal. Always look for the Topps hologram on the back or the specific "RC" logo placement.
Centering is the biggest killer for the 2020 Series 1. If you look at the borders on the front, they're often shifted too far to the left or right. A card that looks "crooked" won't get that elusive PSA 10, even if the corners are sharp enough to cut paper.
Actionable Next Steps for Collectors:
- Check the Code: Look at the fine print on the back of your 2020 Topps #78. If the last three digits are 284 or 285, stop touching it with your bare hands and get it into a top-loader immediately.
- Monitor the Trade Market: Keep an eye on MLB insiders like Ken Rosenthal. If Bo gets traded to a big-market contender before the 2026 deadline, that is your window to sell if you're looking for a profit.
- Grade the Chrome: If you have a Topps Chrome rookie that looks perfectly centered, it is worth the $20 grading fee. A raw Chrome might sell for $15, but a PSA 10 can triple that value instantly.
- Diversify with Heritage: If you find a clean copy of the 2020 Heritage #52, buy it. The 1971 design is timeless and holds value better than the flashy, overproduced "insert" cards.
Bo Bichette is one of the few players from the 2020 rookie class—which included Yordan Alvarez and Luis Robert Jr.—who has maintained a high floor. His swing is violent, his hair is iconic, and his stats are starting to look like Hall of Fame "maybe" territory. Whether you're a Blue Jays fan or just a shark looking for the next market spike, the bo bichette rookie card topps remains a cornerstone of any modern baseball collection.