Top 3 Most Overhyped MLB Rookie Cards of My Childhood
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MLB Opening Day is one of my favorite non-holidays of the year. For me, it not only signals the start of baseball (Let’s Go Phils!), but also the upcoming changing of seasons. With the start of the MLB season, you have renewed hope on your home teams’ prospects of a good year, and with that, as a sports card collector, your hoping the minor and major league prospects you’ve been scouting yourself pan out (or you’ll be eating ramen for the next few months).
We all know the cycle - every year around MLB Opening Day, the hype train starts rolling hard and fast. We get excited about which top minor league prospects will get the call-up, and what rookies will live up to all the potential we’ve been told they have. But if your like me, and collected baseball cards during the late ’80s and early ’90s, you learned a valuable and hard lesson:
Not every future star becomes one.
While the list could be extensive, here are my personal picks for the top three most overhyped MLB rookies of my generation—guys who were expected to be next-level and change the baseball and hobby world, but ended up fading away to obscurity.
RELATED: Brien Taylor: The Most Over Hyped, Underwhelming Autograph Chase of All Time
1. Kevin Maas – New York Yankees
The Summer of Maas was awesome while it was happening. In 1990, Kevin Maas came out swinging (literally), and many collectors like me jumped in fast. I still remember pulling his 1990 Upper Deck Star Rookie card #70, thinking I just hit the jackpot! While he also had rookie cards in all the other major brands, such as Topps Traded, Score, and Fleer, the Upper Deck one was the one I was chasing.
Why we believed:
10 home runs in his first 72 at-bats - and playing for the iconic New York Yankees - put his directly in the media and collecting spotlight. All of his cards—Topps, Upper Deck, Fleer, Score—exploded in value.
What went wrong:
It’s the usual story - pitchers figured him out, his production dropped, and so did the demand for his cards. By the end of the 1995 season, he was out of baseball.
Card memory:
Believe it or not, at the time, I remember local card shops having his card displayed proudly next to Ken Griffey Jr.!
I traded two decent Bo Jackson rookie cards to get a handful of Maas rookies. I felt like I won that trade at the time - but that feeling was fleeting.
2. Todd Van Poppel – Oakland Athletics
Everyone loved the Oakland A’s in the 1990’s. They were one of the most popular teams in the MLB. While they had many good (and bad) prospects come and go, if there was a Mount Rushmore of overhyped pitching prospects, Todd Van Poppel would be on it.
Opening Day buzz:
The A’s drafted him in 1990, and along with 3 other pitchers they selected, were being referred to as the “Four Aces”. Of course the baseball card hobby reacted instantly, with his rookie card becoming a hot commodity. The 1991 Upper Deck Todd Van Popped Top Prospect card - man that was nice!
Why it fell apart:
Tons of velocity, but lacked MLB control. Now add in injuries and inconsistency followed. Van Poppel never lived up to the hype, but still managed a pro career spanning 11 seasons.
Card memory:
I was all in on Upper Deck at the time - and while he had other cards, that one sticks out to me the most. I remember paying $10 for my first Topps Van Poppel rookie card from my local card shop, which was a ton of money for me at the time, and feeling like I was making an investment!
Today? It’s in a binder somewhere next to some of my other commons from that era.
3. Brien Taylor – New York Yankees
As close to a “can’t miss” prospect that ever was. A No. 1 overall pick in 1991, a lefty with tons of heat, and a Yankees prospect. His cards weren’t just hot—they were on fire!
The Card Chase:
While his “rookie” cards were pre-MLB (Classic, Topps minor league sets), my favorite for sure was the 1991 Classic 4 Sport. As a kid, I just connected with the card - big smile, hat on backwards…it was just awesome!
The Downfall:
In a crazy turn of events that seems like a story out of Hollywood, he got injured in a bar fight. Then followed major shoulder surgery. Never made it to the majors, and never threw a pitch in an MLB game.
Final Thoughts on MLB 2025 Opening Day and Hobby Hype
MLB 2025 Opening Day is all about hope. Every team is 0-0, and every collector is chasing the next great rookie. But if my childhood taught me anything, it’s that not all that glitters in gold. Prospecting can be fun, but remember to not over-do it, and that approximately 1.5% of all MLB players actually become hall of famers.
But enjoy the chase, rip a few packs, and keep routing for your favorite players through their baseball cards - it’s a great way to connect with the game at another level.
Rich has been sharing hobby content since 2018 under his brand, The Happy Collector. A professional digital content creator and writer with over a decade of experience, Rich brings a unique perspective to the hobby, focusing on storytelling “by the collector, for the collector.” His engaging approach has made him a sought-after guest on numerous hobby-related podcasts. Whether he’s diving into the latest trends or reflecting on timeless collectibles, Rich’s passion for the hobby shines through in everything he creates. You can reach Rich @thehappycollector on TikTok or Instagram.
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