Emerging from the shadows of Chavez Ravine, a new Diamond Star is beginning to twinkle in Los Angeles; his name is Hyeseong Kim. This 26-year-old rookie has not only taken the Major Leagues by storm since his debut on May 3, but he’s also shaking up the trading card world with an urgency that has collectors scrambling for opportunities more lucrative than a tax cut in Beverly Hills.
To the avid baseball fan, Kim’s rise may seem as sudden and refreshing as a cool Pacific breeze in summer. He boasts a staggering .386 batting average paired with an on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) that’s flirting outrageously with the .985 mark. Over a span of 31 magical games, Kim is proving himself a valuable asset on the field and a wizard in the numbers world. His prowess isn’t going unnoticed by the fans in the stands or the scribblers of scoresheets. Rather uniquely, however, Kim’s emergence is equally earthshaking for the steadfast collectors of cardboard dreams.
Step to one side, payroll spreadsheets—Kim’s presence is invigorating a different financial field. His 2025 Topps Series 2 rookie cards are stealing hearts and inciting bidding wars faster than a Hollywood casting call. The allure begins with the bewitching headline acts: the redemption autos. These signed treasures are defying traditional price ceilings as if they’re channeling Levi Strauss’s gold rush spirit. Sales in the four-figure range are becoming commonplace—numbers like $1,200 to a cool $1,704 dance daringly beyond the fainthearted reach.
Kim’s cards, with their awe-inspiring one-of-ones and enviable low-numbered parallels, are becoming more social than a debutante ball. A Gold Foil 1/1 has seen a hefty exchange at $650; a Black Diamante out of a mere ten has garnered $600, and a Fireworks Foil from the same limited series found a fiery exit at $350. The Red Fireworks Foil /5 card is teasing in the marketplace like a shy peacock, drawing relentless attention without a single dance yet.
But Kim’s star appeal reaches beyond straightforward financial transactions. The 1990 Topps Baseball Mojo Foil RC, a nostalgic nod with its classical Dodger Blue borders, is trading vigorously at around $10 for the unmarked raw versions. As for the signed cards in this series, $400 is the going rate for a slice of nostalgic history blessed by Kim’s autograph.
In a curious twist of the memorabilia market, one hobby curiosity stands out: Kim’s Golden Mirror Variation. This card captures the rookie mid-verbal rally, delivering a delightful slice of the unexpected. The scene wrapped in golden hues has listings that aren’t shy of throwing demands anywhere from $150 to a hefty $425, capturing collector whims like honey attracting bees.
And let’s not overlook the golden goose of Kim’s roster: the orange foil autograph from his Flagship Real One card, emblazoned with a humble number out of 25. A tempting morsel for card flippers and fans alike, a recent redemption clinched a deal for $1,704, while another listing is fishing for potential buyers at $1,500.
Unmistakably, Kim’s rookie season is staking its claim among the hobby’s elite. The impressive feat—his cards holding their own against titans like Shohei Ohtani and Roki Sasaki—signals to collectors that Kim’s value might just extend beyond the Dodgers’ roster. It’s as if this youthful Dodger has learned a few tricks from the curtails of his team’s historical greats, now back spinning in the playground of contemporary collecting.
The Dodgers themselves are no strangers to success stories, but with Kim’s inclusion, they’ve redefined the narrative. Of the top 20 highest-valued sales exceeding $1,000 from the entire 2025 Topps Series 2 collection, Kim’s name headlines three—a staggering achievement when sharing the stage with the game’s giants. Not to be outdone, the Dodgers franchise as a whole claims victory with 16 of these top-tier triumphs, ruling confidently over eager collectors as if they were old friends rejoined.
As this Korean sensation cements his role on the field, alternating between second base and center field like a theater actor discovering dual lead roles, his footprint continues an upward march within the sacred realms of sports memorabilia. Hyeseong Kim, intriguing both fans in bleachers and collectors on screen displays, is a rookie like none other, warranting an attentive watch.
Collectors, in their wisdom, have proved equally as discerning. As sales ascend and fabled tales of Kim’s escapades echo across collector circles, one can almost hear the hearts of baseball aficionados skipping an excitable beat, eager to say they knew him when. Or better yet, have the rookie card to show for it.
