List by Card #, You own: 0 / 9496 items However, as mentioned earlier, the 1914 Cracker Jack cards were packaged directly inside the boxes so theyre usually more difficult to find in good condition. Was it because Wagner wanted to be paid by the tobacco company to use his image? Caramel cards are usually more scarce than tobacco cards since they were sold to children rather than adults. His five complete games and epic, generation-defining showdowns with San Francisco's Tim Lincecum were jolts of electricity for a Dodgers fan base desperate for a winner. This card is often thought to be Jacksons most attractive and popular baseball card. His 3.60 ERA and not-so-great 1.300 WHIP only told part of the story because when Chapman was locked in, he was virtually unhittable. Babe Ruth rookie cardsare also part of the 1916 M101-4 Sporting News set that is believed to have been printed shortly after the M101-5 set. This isBanks only recognized rookie cardin the hobby and along with the Hank Aaron and Al Kaline rookies, a key to the 1954 Topps set. Of all theTy Cobb baseball cards, this is by far his most expensive. Who did Freeman finish runner-up to in the leagues RotY race, you ask? Ortiz's 29 home runs and 96 RBIs were pretty on-brand compared to recent years. And if you remember, the 1952 Mantle card is relatively more expensive than his 1951 Bowman card. 15 Most Valuable 1969 Topps Baseball Cards - Old Sports Cards After seeing his batting average dip considerably in the previous three seasons, Ortiz posted the second-best full-season mark of his career thus far with a .309 finish. Those that have been found in high grade are thought to have never been packaged and instead left the factory by hand. 9 of the Most Valuable Baseball Cards in History - HISTORY Most Expensive 2022 Topps 1st Edition Baseball Cards - SportsCardsPro 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle: $12.6 million 2. Thus, Pujols was left out in a season where he finished fifth in the NL's MVP balloting. Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, and Cy Young were also featured in the set but Cobbs issue is undoubtedly the most desired. Along with the Killebrew and Koufax rookies, theRoberto Clemente rookie card is an anchor in the 1955 Topps baseball card set and the most expensive of the three. This card has been and will likely remain the most valuable baseball card for years to come. On the surface, the 1948 Leaf card with its use of color appears to be more attractive than the 1948 Bowman card. 1985. As a result, there werent manyJoe Jackson baseball cardsproduced. 1990 Bowman Tiffany Sammy Sosa Rookie Card Price: $750 The 1990 Bowman Baseball set features an impressive rookie class. In 2010, Jones blew out his left knee in mid-August and could not help his Braves teammates in a tense five-game NLDS loss to the eventual World Series champion Giants. So its no wonder that his 1948 Leaf rookie card is such and important piece of the hobby. The card is subtle in design and imagery but remains a truly majestic card for any serious collector to consider. Card: Willie Mays Team: New York Mets Value: $1,675 In 1950 and 1951, Topps and Bowman were both releasing baseball trading cards with their candy. In fact, with PSA 10s in such short supply for the set's top cards, we elected to go with PSA 9 prices for this list. It's still a very unusual-looking card but is one that many collectors dream of owning. This card can be quite challenging and is the key to the set. And then, his season came to a screeching halt with a play that changed the game of baseball forever. He also topped 100 runs scored (111) and 100 RBIs (105) while playing in an AL-best 161 of 162 regular-season games. Cobb is pictured is his Detroit Tigers uniform leaning on his bat atop a multi-colored background. And he pitched with a tenacious on-mound presence in the toughest of game situations. Both are not cheap but it is this version that is the more desirable and expensive of the two. Identical in imagery to the 1933 Goudey #160 Lou Gehrig that you saw earlier on this list, this card does usually present whiter borders and lighter blue backgrounds than its #92 counterpart. Before I get started, I just want to clarify some of the criteria I used in creating this list. All of them are on this list of most valuable baseball cards so that speaks to their importance and desirability. And that first season with the Red Sox in 2018 has been the greatest of his career so far. A fantastic portrait of the Sultan of Swat wearing a tilted Yankees cap is shown atop a bold, red background. Kimbrel led all NL relievers with 46 saves, pitching to a 2.10 ERA with 127 strikeouts in 77.0 innings. Although it features identical imagery as his 1914 Cracker Jack issue, most high-end examples of these two issues are of the 1915. Napoleon Lajoie was considered the best defensive second baseman of his day and won three batting titles, had 3,242 total hits and a .338 average. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. While a PSA 10 Gem Mint copy sold for $432,690 in 2012 a PSA 9 copy sold for an even higher amount, $478k, in 2016. Collectors go wild for it. He also loves to write about the hobby and has written for Beckett, Topps, SABR and of course, this website. A true baseball legend who spent most of his career in the Negro Leagues, Paige finally got his shot in the majors at the age of 42 with the Cleveland Indians. Try finding something to not like about this card! Halladay was great, giving up just one run on four hits in eight innings. That PSA 10 copy sold for $717,000 in 2016. Prices continue to climb on them, so keep your eye out for these baseball cards! Error cards like Joe Doyles that make it into circulation usually end up being very popular with collectors and this one is no exception. Interestingly, the same image is used on both cards. Average ungraded base card value (excludes parallels) for 2020 Topps But since we are talking about "The Home Run King" in the year after he passed Babe Ruth on the all-time list, the odd, side-view photo cannot take away from the card's historical . The first Dodgers hurler to secure the NL pitching Triple Crown since Sandy Koufax back in 1966, Kershaw led the National League in wins (21), strikeouts (248), and ERA (2.24), the latter serving as the best mark for a starter in all of baseball. Most Expensive 2022 Topps 1st Edition card list & price guide. When these cards come up for auction, really take note. . Mathews had a prolific career as a feared power hitter and spent many years alongside Hank Aaron to form one of the greatest home run hitting duos the game has ever seen. You could argue the imagery isn't the nicest in the hobby but it makes for an unforgettable card design. And its extremely rareone of the rarest in the hobby. It was a brutal way for the season to end for the 90-win Red Sox. Considered one of the toughest post-war cards to collect, Leroy Satchel Paiges rookie card is a key to this set along with rookie cards of Jackie Robinson and Stan Musial. Most Expensive 2022 Topps card list & price guide. While both are classics, there is no doubt that #37 is the more popular and difficult of the two. Jones was able to return for Opening Day in 2011, but the 39-year-old third baseman was still dealing with plenty of aches and pains daily. The card features a great close-up of the star pitcher surrounded by the famous T205 gold borders. Top 15 Most Valuable Baseball Cards from the 1960s - PSA COLLECTOR If you remember, during Game 3 of the 1932 World Series against the Chicago Cubs, Babe Ruth made his famous Called Shot. Trout didn't exactly raise any eyebrows in his first game, finishing 0-3 at the plate. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 by Old Sports Cards, LLC. Ten days after the Houston Astros called up Altuve from the Hooks, the team called up Martinez to make his MLB debut on July 30, 2011, replacing the recently-traded Hunter Pence. Its amazing to think of the stats that Williams could have produced had he not missed nearly five full seasons of his prime to military service. Most Expensive [2020 Topps] Baseball Cards - SportsCardsPro 1953 Topps #82 Mickey Mantle RC #3. Who knows what a high grade example of this card would go for? I like Posey's rookie cup card #198 from Series One better than this card that appeared in Series Two from an aesthetic standpoint. 1986 Topps Tiffany Rickey Henderson 2. However, there are a handful of his T206 cards that were produced with N.Y. Conditions of these cards are not very good but even a PSA 4 is expected to bring in roughly $900,000. 1984. 15 Most Valuable 2011 Topps Baseball Cards - Old Sports Cards However, at the beginning of his career, things didn't go so smoothly for Goldschmidt after he made his MLB debut on August 1, 2011, against the San Francisco Giants. Unlike the other example that features cartoons in the background, DiMaggio is shown all by himself atop a blank background. Either 10 Turkey Red Cigarette coupons or 25 Old Mill or Fez Cigarette coupons would earn you one card. Although past his prime, he still achieved success in the Majors and was twice named an All-Star. While collectors could pull 1914 Cracker Jack cards directly from the box, that also meant they usually had caramel stains on them. Track your collection for free. Theres just something about this card that makes it visually stunning. Remarkably, he still only finished fifth in the MVP race! If you look at the bottom, Sherry Magees last name is mistakenly spelled Magie. Youll typically find that #160 shows whiter borders and a lighter blue background, too. This is my favoriteSandy Koufax baseball cardand one of the best-looking cards of the 1950s in my opinion. The most valuable baseball cards in the hobby can easily fetch six and seven figure price levels these days. By 2008, Altuve moved from Venezuela to Tennessee to play for the Greeneville Astros, who were the Houston Astros' Rookie-level Appalachian League affiliate until 2017. Most Expensive [2023 Topps] Baseball Cards 1955 Topps #164 Roberto Clemente RC #4. Though he may not have been MLB's hottest rookie in 1990, he certainly turned into one of the biggest superstars of his era. The set is one of if not the most condition sensitive of the early E class era. Cobb was known as a ferocious competitor who was determined to be the best day in and day out. Most players on this list only have one recognized rookie card to their name. There are only a handful of known copies of this card in the hobby making it a rare and highly demanded issue. Even though it is not Mickey Mantles official rookie card it is definitely his most important. It would fetch much more than that today. 1956 Topps Mickey Mantle #135 #6. Estimated PSA 4.5 VG-EX+ Value: $1,100,000. It is one of the most difficult cards to find overall, making it one of the most important cards on this list. The 31-year-old superstar ended the year slashing .299/.366/.541 with 37 home runs, 29 doubles, 105 runs scored, and 99 RBIs in 651 plate appearances (579 at-bats). Interestingly, this card was not originally part of the 1933 Goudey set. After hitting .363 with 49 home runs and 166 RBI he would go on to win the Triple Crown. Most Valuable Cards in 2022 Topps Series Two With nearly a month since it was released, let's take a look at some of the most valuable 2022 Series 2 cards that have been pulled to date, according to eBay. The four Ty Cobb cards in the T206 all differ in popularity, scarcity, and appearance but they are all just as important to the hobby as the 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth quartet. 2022 Topps Series 1 Baseball Box: Top 5 Cards and Review Collectors got a glimpse of what it was like to be a pitcher in that era with Cobb intensely staring them down before the pitch. When the infamous T206 set was being produced, Doyle was pitching for the New York Highlanders of the American League. In 11 playoff contests against the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers, he slashed a blistering .314/.489/.771 with four home runs, 12 walks, four doubles, seven runs scored, ten RBIs, and two stolen bases. Not many people outside of the baseball card hobby know who Joe Doyle is. buy stuff after clicking links on our site Sammy Sosa, Frank Thomas, Bernie Williams, and Larry Walker all claim Class of '90. 1978 Topps Andre Dawson 72 PSA 10 Rookie Cup PSA 10 Image Credit: ebay While most of these newer A&G Topps cards were baseball players, you can also find other sports represented (wrestling, soccer, MMA, basketball, softball, beach volleyball, boxing, and car racing). So, there you have it: the most expensivebaseball cardsthat youre ever likely to encounter. Both of theDiMaggio cards in this set feature a caricature of the Yankee legend, the only difference between the two versions is that this one features small cartoons and information in the background while the other has a blank background. DiMaggio appeared twice in the 1938 Goudey set but this is the more valuable of the two. In PSA 4.5 grade, it is estimated this card would reel in over $1 million. The legendary Cap Anson appears on two different cards with the uniform version being the rarer of the two. 3)Many high number cards were famously dumped into the ocean leaving even less of them in existence. This is the other, less expensive, version of this card in the 1938 Goudey set. The 97-win Yankees eventually fell well short of their championship aspirations with a five-game ALDS loss to the Detroit Tigers. 1989 Bowman Tiffany Ken Griffey Jr. 2. Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? Remember, the Tiffany versions were produced in much smaller quantities and were printed on premium card stock. This is the second most desirable card in the famed T206 set and the only pose of the HOF pitcher. Altuve went 1-5 that game, but little did he know then he had kicked off a piece of Houston Astros history. Freeman finished second in the NLs Rookie of the Year balloting, slashing .282/.346/.448 with 21 home runs, 32 doubles, and 76 RBIs. Most Expensive 2021 Topps Chrome card list & price guide. Let's be clear: most of the cards from this set do not have any value these days. PSA 10s in the card have commanded more than $40,000, but since '78 Topps has a notorious history of off-centered printing, there are so few gem mints out there. PriceIt Game | That was the most any Houston Astros rookie had ever driven in during one month as a rookie. That is a fact not likely to end any time soon. Gehrig was one of a long line of Yankee legends and no doubt put up some of the greatest hitting statistics of them all. The cream of the crop. Gehrig again appeared on two different cards, #37 and #61, in the 1934 Goudey set. And with cameras rolling from every angle, Jeter made sure to give HBO a show worth airing. However, it just isnt as often found in high grade as #53. Most collectors will tell you they prefer the eye appeal of his 1915 Cracker Jack card but his 1914 version is the more rare and valuable of the two. Overall, Votto hit .309 with a .947 OPS, 29 home runs, and 101 runs scored. The Say Hey Kidwas arguably the greatest all-around player to step on the field. And this is one of the few Ruth cards overall that show him in a Boston Red Sox uniform. After winning the NL Cy Young Award in 2010 and leading the Philadelphia Phillies to within two games of a third-straight World Series appearance, Roy Halladay was a man on a mission in 2011. By 2014, Rizzo had settled into his role as the Chicago Cubs' everyday first baseman and earned his first trip to the All-Star Game that season. 1986 Topps Tiffany Ryne Sandberg Chicago Cubs Card 7. Jose Altuve's relationship with the Houston Astros began in 2007 when the club evaluated him at a camp in Maracay, Venezuela, when he was just a teenager. In the deciding Game 5, Halladay squared off with his former Toronto Blue Jays teammate and close friend Chris Carpenter. In Game 1, the Phillies picked Doc up after he gave up a three-run shot to Lance Berkman in the 1st inning, scoring 11 unanswered runs as Halladay settled in to retire 21 straight in a convincing Philly win. His 3,000th hit was a solo shot in the 3rd inning that tied the game at one. Of all theWillie Mays baseball cards out there, this is his most important. Distracting print lines usually hold this card back from higher grades, though. One of the most popular 1930s sets, the 1933 Sport Kings R333 set consists of 48 cards in total. What's wackier is that Detroit's Justin Verlander, on the AL side, also earned a pitching Triple Crown in 2011. Most Valuable. With approximately 22 or less known to exist, all in low grades, the Ty Cobb back is the rarest of them all. He was also clutch, maintaining a sub-1.00 World Series ERA and twice being named series MVP in 1963 and 1965. It was the first time since 1924 that a pitcher accomplished the feat in both leagues during the same season. Or, as most believe, was it because he didnt want to be involved in promoting tobacco use to children? Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. What's worse was that his (relative) struggles were coming at a low point for the Mariners organization. Jackson dominated the minors that year and the Naps called him up late in the 1910 season. 1. Because Mantle was exclusively signed with Bowman in 1954 and 1955, you won't find him on any of Topps' cards in either of those two sets. 1986 Barry Bonds Topps Traded Rookie Card 6. The potential for caramel stains doesnt bode well for collectors of this card. As with pretty much any pre-war set that features Cobb, his card is the heart and soul of this legendary set. Whether you can find one in high grade or not, though, its a superb card for any collector to own. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. Trout exploded during his official rookie campaign the following season, earning AL Rookie of the Year honors and finishing second in the MVP race. But, that doesnt necessarily mean its his most expensive. On the plus side, Chapman struck out 71 batters and gave up just 24 hits in a variety of high-leverage situations. #15 1966 Topps Ferguson Jenkins (RC) #254 Sold for $8,988 1966 Topps Ferguson Jenkins rookie card on eBay However, since it's one of the most iconic cards of the modern era, I made an exception to include it (and some other 2011 Topps Update cards) on this list. In high grade, this card can fetch big bucks. Financial problems would cause Dunn to sell Ruths contract to the Boston Red Sox later that year, however. The Astros had seen enough and quickly called up Altuve, bypassing AAA entirely, to make his first Major League at-bat on July 20, 2011, against the Washington Nationals. 25) 1987 Topps Wade Boggs (#150) It was clear that Topps wanted to do something special for their 60th anniversary and they certainly delivered. Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? In PSA 8 condition, this card would likely sell for $1 million or more. There arent manySatchel Paige baseball cards in the hobby but this is a great looking card of the legendary pitcher. and one of the best-looking cards of the 1950s in my opinion. His 3,003rd hit (and last of the day) was an RBI single that put the Yankees ahead for good in the 8th. Premium: 10 Most Valuable Baseball Cards 2000s - Best Investments for Baseball Fans While the "Cobb Back" T206 may be his most expensive card, this one is arguably his most popular among high-end collectors. 10 Most Valuable Sammy Sosa Baseball Cards 10. Ungraded & graded values for all '22 Topps Baseball Cards. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. With Mays, the opposite is true: his Bowman rookie card is worth more than his 1952 Topps card. It should be no surprise that this card is the key to the entire set with the Willie Mays and Jackie Robinson cards coming in second and third place, respectively. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. In four starts against Lincecum, Kershaw went 4-0 with a minuscule 0.30 ERA in 30.1 innings pitched. Altuve was hitting an incredible .423 at that point but eventually cooled to finish with a .276/.297/.357 slash line. The Tigers couldn't capitalize on Cabrera's otherworldly October and lost to the Rangers in the ALCS in six. 5. Most cards in the T206 set are not rare but the Honus Wagner cards are because they were pulled from production early. The T210 Old Mill set features hundreds of minor league ballplayers that most people have never heard of before. Prices are updated daily based upon 2006 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. Although not as popular as his 1948 Bowman rookie card, his 1948 Leaf rookie card is the tougher of the two. Shortcuts: If you look closely at each of the double prints of this card, youll notice that one version shows better clarity and focus than the other. Baseball Cards. However, #160 is the more difficult of the two to find in high grade so it generally fetches higher prices. This also is not including 1/1s. Jackie Robinson, Mike Piazza, Hideo Nomo and, you guessed it, Fernando Valenzuela each took the league by storm as soon as they stepped on the field. But, the fact that his is the last card in the iconic 407 card set gives it an extra bump due to the inherent difficulty in collecting the card. So, whoever says that baseball cards are no longer valuable simply doesn't know what he or she is talking about Sure, the massive print runs during the late 80's and early 90's killed the value of most post-1980's cards. Milwaukee's Prince Fielder earned the first base start for the Senior Circuit, and Cincinnati's Joey Votto was a no-doubt pick as a backup.