This also is not including 1/1s. Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? One of the rarest pre-WWI candy issues ever distributed is the 1912 Plows Boy Candy set that included 69 different baseball players. During the offseason, the Padres traded Rizzo to the Chicago Cubs in a multi-player deal orchestrated by Jed Hoyer, the Cubs' general manager. The black borders are susceptible to showing wear and chipping but finding any card from the 19th century in high grade will undoubtedly be difficult anyways. But the value between the two isnt affected. 1955 Topps Sandy Koufax #123 #9. And it can be tough to find in high grade, too. This one was double-printed meaning there were more of them in circulation but its still surprisingly tougher to find in high grade than the #181 Green Ruth. 1968 Topps #177 Nolan Ryan RC Although not as popular as his 1948 Bowman rookie card, his 1948 Leaf rookie card is the tougher of the two. List by Card #, You own: 0 / 9496 items Ty Cobb and Honus Wagner also appear in this set but Jacksons card is easily the most important and most valuable card in the set. That card was later sold for $250,000 in 2007. So, if you can get your hands on one of these cards in high grade then you are looking at some big bucks. 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. The 1914 Cracker Jack Mathewson is one of the great rarities in the hobby and easily the most difficult card to find in this amazing set. Mathewson won 30 or more games four different times in his storied career, attributing much of his success to a specialty pitch that was comparable to a screwball. 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. The E106 American Caramel cards are some of the scarcest Honus Wagner cards in the hobby (but obviously not his most expensive if you look at the top of this list). After signing a three-year, $38 million deal in the offseason to remain in Cincy, the 27-year-old first baseman busted out of the gates in a full sprint in 2011. 2) Being a high number card (cards 311 407 in the set) means that fewer Mickey Mantle rookie cards were printed than the average 1952 Topps baseball card in the first place. 1985. After the 2010 campaign, manager Bobby Cox called it a career, leaving a hole in the Braves clubhouse that couldn't be filled. 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. That determination and consistency led to a phenomenal career and eye-popping stats that made him a no-brainer to be one of the first five players inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Overall, Votto hit .309 with a .947 OPS, 29 home runs, and 101 runs scored. And I attempted to estimate their current values when graded in PSA 10 condition so their "raw" or ungraded values may be wildly different. And like Altuve had done by hitting safely in the first seven games of his career to set a club record, Martinez established his own team record in August by driving in 28 runs. And this is one of the few Ruth cards overall that show him in a Boston Red Sox uniform. Shortcuts: Most Expensive , Cheapest , List by Card # So, if you're looking tosell baseball cards then you might want to check this list to see if you're sitting on something special. 0% This card, the key to the 200-card M101-5 set, is often found off-center and features a variety of advertising backs, although most existing copies exhibit blank backs. His massive upside in the future made his wildness in the present less worrisome. The Left Arm of God as he was known, Koufax possessed raw power that helped him once strikeout an astounding 382 batters in a season. And in this guide, we'll take a look at the 15 most valuable. Now that we got that out of the way let's get started Like a few others on this list, this card is technically part of the 2011 Topps Update set. Ruth was at the tail end of his career in 1933 but he still produced well enough to be named a starter in the All-Star game at Comiskey Park that year. With so many greats, how do you choose between them? Reigning NL MVP Joey Votto couldn't carry an inconsistent, snake-bitten Cincinnati Reds squad to a second-straight postseason in 2011. When these cards come up for auction, really take note. While the "Cobb Back" T206 may be his most expensive card, this one is arguably his most popular among high-end collectors. 1909 T-206 Honus Wagner: $7.25 million 3. totaled an incredible 511 wins over his career. However, Carpenter was better, tossing a complete-game three-hit shutout to oust the two-time defending NL champs, 1-0. 1914 Cracker Jack Joe Jackson The 1914 Cracker Jack Joe Jackson has a staggering value of $200,000. | Compare vs. With Mays, the opposite is true: his Bowman rookie card is worth more than his 1952 Topps card. The question is: where do you start on this list? This is true whether you're looking at the base card, the premium Tiffany variant, or even the Desert Storm version which is limited in number. Most players on this list only have one recognized rookie card to their name. Any collector lucky enough to get his hands on Mathewsons card is sure to be ecstatic. 1986 Topps Tiffany Ryne Sandberg Chicago Cubs Card 7. The 1912 Plows Candy E300 Mathewson features a large photographic image of the legendary pitcher of the Dead Ball Era framed by text readingPlows Candy CollectionandMathewson, New York Nationals.. If you look at the bottom, Sherry Magees last name is mistakenly spelled Magie. But it wouldn't take Goldschmidt much longer to mold into the incredible talent he is today. This instantly recognizable card is easily one of Mathewsons most popular. Many collectors prefer the portrait versions of Cobbs T206 card and specifically the Green Portrait. Goldschmidt also scored 106 runs and led the National League in slugging percentage (.578), OPS (.981), and OPS+ (180), solidifying himself as one of the greatest hitters in the game. The last of the legendary quartet of 1933 Goudey Ruth cards on our list is the #144 Full Body Ruth. The 35-year-old slugger posted an OPS over .900 for the first time since 2008 (.953), exhibiting a much more discerning eye at the dish. As one of the most clutch players in Yankees history, Derek Jeter seized the moment perfectly with a dramatic introduction to baseball's 3,000-hit club. Produced in 1915 by the American Caramel Company of York, Pennsylvania, the E106 set consists of 48 different cards, including two varieties of the legendary Ty Cobb. Considered to be one of the more obscure Honus Wagner type cards its value continues to remain strong. This is the keyJackie Robinson baseball card you should add to your collection. The most important post-war card in the hobby, price movements of the 1952 Topps #311Mickey Mantle baseball cardare often seen as an indicator of the health of the sports card market overall. Votto led the National League in doubles (40), on-base percentage (.416), and walks (110). The Boston Red Sox finished a game out of a playoff spot in 2011, losing out on an AL Wild Card spot to the Tampa Bay Rays with a 4-3 loss to Baltimore on the season's final day. In his fourth year with the club, Miguel Cabrera helped Detroit silence those laughs. Download Price List, SportsCardsPro 2019-2023 Altuve was hitting an incredible .423 at that point but eventually cooled to finish with a .276/.297/.357 slash line. The glossy coatings of these cards present a bit of an issue with cracking at times but they are nonetheless some terrific cards. While his 1952 Topps card gets all the limelight, the 1951 Bowman card is Mickey Mantle's true rookie card and a fine one to behold. DiMaggio appeared twice in the 1938 Goudey set but this is the more valuable of the two. The Yellow Ruth, #53, is considered to be the toughest, closely followed by the #149 Red Ruth that shows the legendary slugger in an identical pose. A truly great baseball card of the legendary icon. There are two varieties of these cards with one version featuring a tobacco advertisement on the back and the other a checklist. Are you selling sports cards that were produced from 1868 - 1975? And like Altuve, Martinez started with the Greeneville Astros and worked his way up to the Class AA Corpus Christi Hooks. Contact him at [emailprotected]. So its no wonder that his 1948 Leaf rookie card is such and important piece of the hobby. Most Expensive To this day, there is no clear explanation for the rarity of this card, a card that is nearly as tough as the Honus Wagner from the same set. 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth: $4.212 million There are 30 cards in total and each includes seven different possible color backs. While both are classics, there is no doubt that #37 is the more popular and difficult of the two. People are spending as much on old pieces of cardboard as most people spend on a house. And with those five prime seasons back, he quite possibly couldve added enough home runs to his career 521 total to challenge Ruths record of 714 before Aaron did. Poor print quality and focus plague this short print card making high-grade copies nearly unachievable. But in 2011, the 37-year-old superstar hit just .272 with an uncharacteristic .645 OPS. During the year, Jones passed Yankees legend Mickey Mantle with his 1,510th RBI, placing him second only to Eddie Murray for the most runs batted in by a switch hitter in MLB history. Things changed dramatically in the second game of a three-game Marlins sweep when Florida outfielder Scott Cousins barreled into Posey at home plate after tagging up on a sacrifice fly. Each of the 30 unnumbered cards in the set feature an artist rendering of players atop colored backgrounds. Altuve dominated in the Minor Leagues and, by 2011, found himself slashing .361/.388/.569 with five home runs and 25 RBIs in 35 games for the Class AA Corpus Christi Hooks. Wander Franco 2022 Topps Heritage Chrome Gold Refractor RC Rookie /5 (sold for $1,400) Wander Franco 2022 Wander Franco Heritage Real One Auto Red Ink (sold for $1375) It was the first time since 1924 that a pitcher accomplished the feat in both leagues during the same season. buy stuff after clicking links on our site This card is a prime example of an instance where neither being a star nor an error card can bring in big bucks. Kershaw was more than up to the task, bringing home the Dodgers' first Cy Young trophy since Eric Gagne in 2003 with a banner year. Read our methodology . Considered the Holy Grail of all trading cards, the 1909 American Tobacco CompanyT206 Honus Wagner cardremains the symbol of trading card collecting today. That means there are also many fakes out there, so considerPSA grading services or other reputable third party graders before buying or selling one of these. Shortcuts: Only 7 of the Ty Cobb cards have ever been submitted to PSA for grading which speaks to the rarity of them. And yes, that includes those famously priceless Mickey Mantles. Possessing an explosive triple-digit fastball with electric movement, Chapman struggled to harness his high-octane stuff in his first full year with the Reds. Track your collection for free. Seldom seen at auction, the 48 card set distributed by the American Caramel Co. of York, Pa. released some of the rarest type cards in existence. 10 Most Valuable Sammy Sosa Baseball Cards 10. Because of his alleged participation in the Black Sox Scandal during the 1919 World Series, Jackson was banned from baseball during his prime. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. The bright yellow background makes this card pop and the portrait of the young Big Train makes for an unforgettable baseball card. Interestingly, this card was not originally part of the 1933 Goudey set. For others, it's the . As you already know, there wasnt much difference between the 1914 and 1915 Cracker Jack sets except that 1915 Cracker Jack cards are usually found in better shape since they were a redemption set. Like Jose Altuve, J.D. Was it because Wagner wanted to be paid by the tobacco company to use his image? 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. Its arguably the most visually pleasing and desirable of all the Ted Williams baseball cards in the hobby. This pre-rookie card of Ruth is one of rarest cards in the hobby with 10 copies known to exist and can be found with either blue or red borders. #1: 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle An SGC 9.5 Example Sold in August 2022 for $12,600,000 Dimensions: 2-5/8" x 3-3/4" The most important post-war card in the hobby, price movements of the 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle baseball card are often seen as an indicator of the health of the sports card market overall. 1986 Topps Nolan Ryan Card 5. Just a year prior, Sale wasn't even a starter yet. Remarkably, he still only finished fifth in the MVP race! Yet, packed within all of that excitement was a run of base cards that featured big-name stars and promising rookies. #15 1966 Topps Ferguson Jenkins (RC) #254 Sold for $8,988 1966 Topps Ferguson Jenkins rookie card on eBay The E300 issue is one of the scarcest prewar sets and had relatively been unknown until the 1960s. His record for most games played in a season stood for decades until 1995 when Cal Ripken, Jr. played in his 2,131st straight game. The White Cap variation is considered to be the most difficult of the three Mathewson cards, but the Portrait is the most popular. The future first-ballot Hall of Famer finished the year at 19-6 with a career-high 220 strikeouts and his best ERA since 1998 (2.35). As with most early candy or tobacco issues, this card with the image of the Georgia Peach ready to swing is the most valuable and sought after in the set. He ultimately fell short of the incredible feat but still finished the season batting .317 with 35 home runs and 115 RBIs. It was a brutal way for the season to end for the 90-win Red Sox. Neither makes a difference when it comes to value, though. Matty was on the backside of his career in 1911 but still managed to lead the league in ERA (1.99) and put up 26 wins. The Reds' fall from contention cost Votto at the ballot box, though, as he followed up his 2010 MVP triumph with a sixth-place finish in 2011. Moreover, the Mathewson Portrait is one of the toughest HOF portraits in the entire set. After spending 1908 and 1909 with the Philadelphia Athletics, they quickly gave up on him and traded him to the Cleveland Naps for the 1910 season. From a design standpoint, I liked how Topps kept things nice and clean without trying to go over the top in celebrating their 60th anniversary. What's wackier is that Detroit's Justin Verlander, on the AL side, also earned a pitching Triple Crown in 2011. Although past his prime, he still achieved success in the Majors and was twice named an All-Star. 3)Many high number cards were famously dumped into the ocean leaving even less of them in existence. Mantle is easily one of the most widely collected players in the hobby. Please note many of these cards have variations, which won't all be listed here. What's worse was that his (relative) struggles were coming at a low point for the Mariners organization. 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. His 3,003rd hit (and last of the day) was an RBI single that put the Yankees ahead for good in the 8th. Being card #261 in the set, its not a high number card (#311 407) which means it is not as scarce as Mantles #311 card. The E106 cards feature identical artwork on their fronts as the E90-1 and E92 caramel issues but differ by the advertising on their backs. 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. Read our methodology . Greatest Topps Baseball Cards of All-Time Most Expensive of All-Time #10. Centering issues, as well as dark print blotches in the yellow background, are usually the two key issues of this card. Two hits shy heading into a July 9th home game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Jeter took his spot as the 28th member of the 3,000-hit club with a 5-for-5 day now etched in Yankees lore. Many believe the 1887 N172 Old Judge set to be the most important 19th Century set in existence. As the reigning NL Central champs sputtered to a 79-83 record and failed to make the playoffs, Chapman worked out the kinks in his delivery in 53 relief appearances. Many in the hobby feel this card is overlooked in importance but what no one can deny is just how rare it is. That is a fact not likely to end any time soon. The Angels recalled him for a home stand against the Baltimore Orioles on August 19, 2011, and he would finish the remainder of the season in the Majors. Prices are updated daily based upon 2020 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. And come the postseason, he was on another level, leading St. Louis from a 90-win Wild Card berth to a second World Series title in six years. And with cameras rolling from every angle, Jeter made sure to give HBO a show worth airing. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 by Old Sports Cards, LLC. Especially his American Caramel E90-1 rookie card on which he is shown leaning on his bat against a purple backdrop. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 by Old Sports Cards, LLC. And after striking out 145 times in 518 at-bats the year before, Ortiz K'd just 83 times in 525 at-bats in 2011. Prices are updated daily based upon 2023 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. All of them are on this list of most valuable baseball cards so that speaks to their importance and desirability. Of all theTy Cobb baseball cards, this is by far his most expensive. Most Valuable Baseball Cards All the information and details has been compiled from the trusted sites including Wikipedia, New York Post, and Forbes. Natl along the bottom before the error was corrected. This still ranks among the most popular baseball cards of all-time. However, it just isnt as often found in high grade as #53. Get my weekly newsletter with the latest hobby updates delivered straight to your inbox! While the Dodgers failed to make the playoffs at 83-78, Kershaw made a second-straight playoff miss easier to stomach in Chavez Ravine. It should be no surprise that Ty Cobb's 1915 Cracker Jack card carries an enormous price tag with it, given his iconic status in baseball history. Let's be clear: most of the cards from this set do not have any value these days. Whatever the reason, there are only approximately 50-75 or so known copies in circulation today as a result. The Big Train is a true legend of the game and this card is a great tribute to him. Collectors who take on the challenge of completing this set are no doubt in for an extremely tough challenge. Prices are updated daily based upon 2022 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. 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. His career cut short by arthritis in his pitching arm, he went on to become the youngest player ever elected to the Hall of Fame in 1972. It just goes to show that scarcity and condition can have just as much of an impact on the value of a card as the player who is on it. Read our methodology. It is by far the most important of allHank Aaron baseball cards. The Tigers couldn't capitalize on Cabrera's otherworldly October and lost to the Rangers in the ALCS in six. 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. As a result, there werent manyJoe Jackson baseball cardsproduced. I think it's safe to say that Topps did a great job of commemorating an incredible 60 years in the business with this set. Six hits away from 3,000 in mid-June, New York Yankees captain Derek Jeter suffered a calf strain that sidelined him for 18 games. Not surprisingly, Cobbs card is the cornerstone and to the set. Halladay was given the ball for Games 1 and 5. Halladay was great, giving up just one run on four hits in eight innings. 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. 1986 Topps Traded Bo Jackson Rookie Card 4. Any modern flagship Topps Baseball set has a lot going on. While not as pricey as the Yellow or Red Ruths of the same set, its still a very expensive card and a key member of the Ruth quartet. The price would certainly be astronomical. The card features a great image of the Sultan of Swat seated in pinstripes looking over his right shoulder atop a green background. In comparison, Suzuki's lowest full-season OPS in the Majors to that point was .747 in 2008, over 100 points better than his 2011 mark. But, there are two major glaring differences overall between Mathewsons cards. However, he still put together a worthy encore to his 2010 breakthrough. This card can be quite challenging and is the key to the set. There are four different Babe Ruth cards in the 1933 Goudey set, #s 53, 144, 149 and 181. 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. 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. Overall, Topps did a great job with this set by balancing an excellent design with plenty of chase cards. 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. 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. 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. The Iron Horseappears twice in the 1933 Goudey setwith card #s 92 and 160 to his credit. Johnson is considered by many to be the best pitcher of all time after turning in an amazing 12 seasons of 20 or more victories, including two with more than 30. After winning 61 games in 2010, Seattle finished at 67-95 in 2011 for the franchise's sixth losing season in eight years. Caramel cards are usually more scarce than tobacco cards since they were sold to children rather than adults. 1953 Topps #82 Mickey Mantle RC #3. With approximately 22 or less known to exist, all in low grades, the Ty Cobb back is the rarest of them all. Most Valuable. Considered by most to be the greatest lefty of all-time, Sandy Koufax has one rookie card to his name and this is it. The Bat On Shoulder and Bat Off Shoulder would then follow. 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. Maybe the most shocking Musial stat of all was that he hit the same number of hits at home as he did on the road: 1,815 each way for a total of 3,630 hits. Prices are updated daily based upon 2020 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. 30. The eye appeal is top-notch, as with most 1914 Cracker Jack cards. Prices are updated daily based upon 2005 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. In true Jeter fashion, the Yankees shortstop went above and beyond the moment at hand. Wagner, Ruth, Cobb, Mantle and Mays are just several of the baseball greats that reside on this list of cardboard rarities. Freeman finished second in the NLs Rookie of the Year balloting, slashing .282/.346/.448 with 21 home runs, 32 doubles, and 76 RBIs. As with the American Caramel Cobb card mentioned just a bit ago, the design of the card isnt unique but it is certainly one of the more desirable Cobb poses in the hobby. (Note: The following sections contain affiliate links to current eBay and Amazon listings for the cards being discussed.) 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. Its nearly impossible to describe the importance of Jackie Robinson to baseball and American history after breakingbaseballs color barrier in 1947. A PSA Gem Mint 10 #128 Aaron sold for $357,594 in 2012, a price that would easily be overcome in todays market. There are only a handful of known copies of this card in the hobby making it a rare and highly demanded issue. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. Conditions of these cards are not very good but even a PSA 4 is expected to bring in roughly $900,000. And if you remember, the 1952 Mantle card is relatively more expensive than his 1951 Bowman card. So those that remain are some of the most sought after in the hobby. Premium: As with Mantles 1952 Topps card, some still mistake this card as Mays rookie, too. He was also clutch, maintaining a sub-1.00 World Series ERA and twice being named series MVP in 1963 and 1965. Several player variations exist, some with as many as 12, so the series boasts well over 3,000 different cards in total. Its so rare that only a handful exist and not many collectors have even seen one in person.