Collectors and fans are shelling out money for Topps trading cards featuring Ceres natives Cade Cowell and Nicole “Sis” Bates.

Cowell (soccer) and Bates (softball) are professional athletes who have also represented USA in their respective sports.

“People are invested in his future and they believe in him,” said Debin Cowell, Cade’s father. “That’s the important part. They can also profit off him. He’s got a bright future.”

“I never dreamed of anything like this happening,” said John Bates, Nicole’s father. “It’s pretty surreal. All of it.”

Cowell’s newly-released 2022 Topps Major League Soccer Renaissance 1/1 San Jose Earthquakes autographed logo patch relic card sold for $1,100 or best offer on Ebay this past week.

“That’s crazy,” remarked Debin Cowell. 

Other variations of Cowell’s Renaissance auto cards have been purchased for $200, $181.49, $86, $81 and $53.

His 2022 Topps Finest MLS 1/1 Superfractor Refractor auto card sold for $613 on June 26. A total of 40 bids were made.

Cowell’s 2022 Topps MLS #90 Red 4/10 base non-auto card sold for $175.00 or best offer on June 27.

“I was never a huge card collector,” said Cowell. “I had some when I was in the seventh or eighth grade. I have one or two of his cards. That’s it. It’s much more special seeing people wearing his jersey at games. People are paying money to buy his jersey.”

Approximately 16 variations of Bates’ 2022-23 Topps Athletes Unlimited #89 autographed card have sold on eBay since April 29.

An SGC-graded 2/50 auto foil card was purchased for $96 on June 26. Approximately 20 bids were made.

A #’d to 25 gold foil auto card sold for $115 on June 18. A total of 22 bids were made.

A #’d to 50 non-auto two-color patch card was bought for $102.50 on July 5. Twenty-six bids were made.

“I’m happy for her,” said Mike Corsaut, Bates’ assistant coach her freshman year at Ceres High and U.S. History teacher in the eighth grade at Mae Hensley Jr. High. “I think it’s awesome. She’s the face of softball. Girls see how hard she works and want to play like her. She sacrificed a lot. She loves the game.”

The price of Bates’ autographed cards have increased since the Athletes Unlimited Professional Softball League’s AUX season started on June 12.

Her base autographed card sold for just $9.99 or best offer on eBay on May 6.

The same card was purchased for $81 on May 26.

Bates, a third-year shortstop, ranked ninth in the AUX individual standings.

She batted .333 (11-for-33) from the plate with one homer, five RBIs, six runs and two walks.

She made just one error on defense.

John owns a handful of his daughter’s autographed and base cards.

“I have a lot of her memorabilia,” he said. “I have every jersey she’s worn for every single team. I’m saving everything for her. None of it means anything to her right now because she’s in the middle of her career.”

John has purchased three 2022 Topps Athletes Unlimited hobby boxes and four blaster boxes. 

“I’m going to take some hobby boxes to Chicago when I go watch her play in August,” he said. “We’re going to open them in the lobby. We’ll take turns opening packs and see what we pull.”

“You have two kids from Ceres that have cards out there that are signed,” added Corsaut. “And people want them. It’s just cool to see.”

Cowell, a 6-foot-tall forward, helped the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team secure a berth to the CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals this past weekend.

Cowell and U.S. topped Canada, 3-2, in a penalty-kick shootout during their quarterfinal matchup on Sunday in Ohio. He converted the Americans’ first penalty. Cowell entered the game in the 63rd minute.

Cowell scored his first international senior goal within five minutes of stepping on the field as a substitute in a 6-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago in Group A play on July 2 in North Carolina.

Bates, a three-time All-American during her playing career at the University of Washington, will suit up for Team USA in Dublin at the July 11-15 WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup.