In high grade, this card can fetch big bucks. 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. 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. I remember seeing one of these in abaseball card shop near where I grew up and I would just stare in awe. The card features a great image of the Sultan of Swat seated in pinstripes looking over his right shoulder atop a green background. Not many players were as consistent as Musial was over their careers as he went on to win seven batting titles and three MVP awards. From autographs and relics to silk cards, glove leather cards and exclusive online cards, there was so much variety for collectors to chase. One of the bright spots for Boston was the re-emergence of designated hitter David Ortiz as an elite hitting threat. Over his remarkable career, Aaron made 24 All-Star appearances, a record shared with Mays and Musial and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982. Most cards in the T206 set are not rare but the Honus Wagner cards are because they were pulled from production early. But in 2011, the 37-year-old superstar hit just .272 with an uncharacteristic .645 OPS. Or, feel free to call/text me at 305-684-6680! 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. If so, then please fill out the form below and I'll be in touch right away. Any collector lucky enough to get his hands on Mathewsons card is sure to be ecstatic. The 1911 George Close Candy (E94) baseball card set may not be as popular as others of the pre-WWI era but it is still iconic in the hobby. 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. Two great images of Banks are show atop a white border than can be notorious for showing print defects. Prices are updated daily based upon 2022 Topps 1st Edition listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. Its nearly impossible to describe the importance of Jackie Robinson to baseball and American history after breakingbaseballs color barrier in 1947. 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. But the value between the two isnt affected. This is the second most desirable card in the famed T206 set and the only pose of the HOF pitcher. After a rough start at the plate, 21-year-old first baseman Freddie Freeman found his footing in the seasons final five months or so. The card is key for three main reasons: 1) 1952 was the first year Topps entered the sports card market so the set itself is wildly popular and even common cards in mint condition can fetch over $1,000. It was a brutal way for the season to end for the 90-win Red Sox. Each of the 30 unnumbered cards in the set feature an artist rendering of players atop colored backgrounds. His massive upside in the future made his wildness in the present less worrisome. Anson was arguably the biggest star of his era but unfortunately, there are very few cards from those days that show him as a player. Between the Reggie and Rollie rookie cards, Bench and Ryan's second-year cards, the variations, the variety of stars and Hall of Famers, and Mantle's last card, there is just so much to appreciate. 1990 Bowman Tiffany Sammy Sosa Rookie Card Price: $750 The 1990 Bowman Baseball set features an impressive rookie class. #1. 2010 and 2011 were two of the most emotionally draining years of Chipper Jones' Hall of Fame career. 2022 Topps Series 1 Wander Franco RC #215 VIEW ON EBAY Winner, winner chicken dinner. Anthony Rizzo made his MLB debut for the San Diego Padres on June 9, 2011, against the Washington Nationals, going 1-2 at the plate with a triple and a run scored. A record that is pretty safe to say will never be broken. Babe Ruths card is the key and most valuable of the 32 card set. 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. 2020 Topps card list & price guide. 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. Big names like Albert Pujols, Ichiro, David Ortiz, Derek Jeter, Miguel Cabrera and Clayton Kershaw help round out a solid checklist. ThisTed Williams card features a superb black and white image of Williams following through on his classic swing. Track your collection for free. On the plus side, Chapman struck out 71 batters and gave up just 24 hits in a variety of high-leverage situations. Are you selling sports cards that were produced from 1868 - 1975? From Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Famer Honus Wagner to Los Angeles Angels standout Mike Trout, here are nine iconic cards of star players that were sold or auctioned for significant sums: 1. The cream of the crop. Although not as popular as his 1948 Bowman rookie card, his 1948 Leaf rookie card is the tougher of the two. Since starting his professional baseball journey with the Orix Blue Wave of the Nippon Baseball League in 1992, the legendary outfielder posted a .300 batting average or better for 19 straight seasons through the 2010 campaign. #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. In one of the great stories about this card, a collector once purchased an unopened five-card pack of1952 Topps baseball cardsand pulled the only Pafko to ever be graded PSA Gem Mint 10. Estimates place the number of front/back combinations around 5,500 which led to this set being nicknamed The Monster.. Key to the 1953 Topps set is the #244 Willie Mays baseball card. For others, it's the . Nadja was a brand name of the Blake-Wenneker Candy Co. of St Louis and the set features 62 cards in total. Although kind of normal for Gehrig, his offensive production was extraordinary in 1934. Remember, the Tiffany versions were produced in much smaller quantities and were printed on premium card stock. 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. For example, one easy way to tell if youve got an M101-4 Ruth rookie is if the Sporting News ad is on the back of the card as no M101-5 Ruths featured that ad. Theres just something about this card that makes it visually stunning. Wagner, Ruth, Cobb, Mantle and Mays are just several of the baseball greats that reside on this list of cardboard rarities. That would be his teammate, 23-year-old closer Craig Kimbrel. 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. (Note: The following sections contain affiliate links to current eBay and Amazon listings for the cards being discussed.) However, Bochy picked Florida Marlins standout Gaby Sanchez as the final first base pick to ensure Florida had a representative in Arizona. We believe the following 10 cards will be tops in short-term return on investment over the next 1 to 2 years. Financial problems would cause Dunn to sell Ruths contract to the Boston Red Sox later that year, however. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. His career ERA of 2.13 proves just how difficult it was to hit off of him. With that strategy, you can never go wrong! 1. Mathewson is the only player in both the 1914 and 1915 sets whose poses are entirely different. The last card in the '75 Topps set, this Hank Aaron collectible won't ever be confused as the baseball legend's best-looking card. Some argue that this is Mickey Mantles most beautiful card. 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). 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. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. The potential for caramel stains doesnt bode well for collectors of this card. Shortcuts: Most Expensive , Cheapest , List by Card # Hoyer had originally drafted Rizzo in the sixth round of the 2007 MLB Draft while he was an assistant general manager for the Boston Red Sox and knew that Rizzo's performance in San Diego didn't reflect his true talent and abilities. Natl along the bottom before the error was corrected. Collectors find rookie cards are some of the most valuable baseball cards to collect from any player. Some collectors go for the base set. Again, the biggest condition issues with this card will arise from the glossy coating on the obverse that usually ends up cracking or creasing. That card was later sold for $250,000 in 2007. Ungraded & graded values for all '23 Topps Baseball Cards. 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. Just be prepared to put up big money if you want one in high grade. The White Cap variation is considered to be the most difficult of the three Mathewson cards, but the Portrait is the most popular. He also loves to write about the hobby and has written for Beckett, Topps, SABR and of course, this website. A PSA 10 1954 Topps Banks rookie card sold for $142,836 in May 2012. 1990 Topps #414 Frank Thomas Rookie Card Estimated PSA 10 Value: $175 Check prices on: Amazon Now, this is what Thomas's rookie card is supposed to look like when his full name appears at the bottom of the card. He missed 36 games in 2011, slashing .275/.344/.470 with 18 home runs and 70 RBIs in 455 at-bats for Cox's handpicked successor, Fredi Gonzalez. 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. Premium: This is no doubt one of the most sought after cards of one of the games best pitchers of all time. Most Expensive 2023 Topps Baseball Cards Most Expensive 2023 Topps card list & price guide. Halladay was given the ball for Games 1 and 5. 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. Prices are updated daily based upon 2005 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. While the "Cobb Back" T206 may be his most expensive card, this one is arguably his most popular among high-end collectors. And with 103 RBIs on the year, he became the first Reds player since Dave Parker to post back-to-back 100-RBI seasons (1985-86). Gehrig again appeared on two different cards, #37 and #61, in the 1934 Goudey set. Many collectors are happy to just be able to own one of these legendary cards in the first place, though. 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). This card can be quite challenging and is the key to the set. 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. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. Not only did he help the team to a World Series title, but Martinez also became the first and only player in MLB history to win two Silver Sluggers in the same season, one as an outfielder and the other as a DH. 1954 Topps #128 Hank Aaron RC #7. 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. It would fetch much more than that today. Without further adieu, then, here are the 25 most valuable 1987 Topps baseball cards in reverse order, and with a couple of bonus runs tagged on for good measure 35 cards in all! Only 7 of the Ty Cobb cards have ever been submitted to PSA for grading which speaks to the rarity of them. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. The Wagner soon reclaimed its title, but the 2009 Bowman Draft Trout remains a big deal in the baseball card world. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. Many baseball historians still consider Cobb the greatest all-around player that ever graced a baseball diamond. Most Expensive 2022 Topps 1st Edition card list & price guide. Especially for high condition copies of the card. 1914 Cracker Jack Joe Jackson The 1914 Cracker Jack Joe Jackson has a staggering value of $200,000. All of them are on this list of most valuable baseball cards so that speaks to their importance and desirability. After hitting .363 with 49 home runs and 166 RBI he would go on to win the Triple Crown. Average ungraded base card value (excludes parallels) for 2020 Topps 1984. But, there are two major glaring differences overall between Mathewsons cards. A record that is pretty safe to say will never be broken,Cy Youngtotaled an incredible 511 wins over his career. Cobb was known as a ferocious competitor who was determined to be the best day in and day out. This still ranks among the most popular baseball cards of all-time. He ultimately fell short of the incredible feat but still finished the season batting .317 with 35 home runs and 115 RBIs. 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. The Big Train is a true legend of the game and this card is a great tribute to him. I like Posey's rookie cup card #198 from Series One better than this card that appeared in Series Two from an aesthetic standpoint. That milestone was part of a scintillating month for which Freeman captured NL Rookie of the Month honors while batting .362 with a .433 on-base percentage in July and leading all rookies with 38 hits. 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. Larry Doyle, a second baseman, played for the New York Giants of the NL at the time so most likely that is the reason for the mix-up. 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. Issued by the Mayo and Brother Tobacco Works of Richmond, VA, the set contains 48 different cards overall but Anson's is undoubtedly the most coveted. Prices are updated daily based upon 2022 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. By his third season in 2013, Goldschmidt had developed into a perennial All-Star and MVP candidate. Was it because Wagner wanted to be paid by the tobacco company to use his image? Please note many of these cards have variations, which won't all be listed here. The most expensive 2022 Topps Heritage baseball cards feature the likes of Wander Franco, Shohei Ohtani, Julio Rodriguez, and even Nolan Ryan making an appearance. M101-5 cards are more difficult to find than the M101-4 cards but pricing of the M101-4 version is also expected to realize around $1 million in PSA 8 condition. These are the Top 3 Most Valuable Baseball Cards Worth Money. He was also clutch, maintaining a sub-1.00 World Series ERA and twice being named series MVP in 1963 and 1965. Although past his prime, he still achieved success in the Majors and was twice named an All-Star. Nothing against Bourjos, but many Angels fans had been eagerly awaiting a chance to see Trout since many considered him the number-one prospect heading into the 2011 season. Most Valuable Baseball Cards All the information and details has been compiled from the trusted sites including Wikipedia, New York Post, and Forbes. But its also one of the issues more difficult cards since it typically suffers from poor print quality and coloration. He also turned heads with his slick glove work at first, earning the only Gold Glove of his career thus far. Over time, the Freddie Freeman rookie has remained the key card from the 2011 Topps base run, while rookie cards of Mike Trout, Jose Altuve, Paul Goldschmidt, Anthony Rizzo and J.D. 1986 Topps Tiffany Ryne Sandberg Chicago Cubs Card 7. 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. Like Jose Altuve, J.D. Theyre undoubtedly very condition sensitive. Most Expensive Honus. As with Mantles 1952 Topps card, some still mistake this card as Mays rookie, too. 1952 Topps #1 Andy Pafko #8. Since its not his rookie card or his most scarce, the1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #53 isnt his most expensive card but it is arguably one of his most beautiful cards. As a result, there werent manyJoe Jackson baseball cardsproduced. Collectors will pay big money for either version as long as its in high grade. But whats not up for debate is whether its one of his most important. Not many baseball cards possess as much elaborate and ornate decoration as those of the 1909 Ramly Cigarette T204 set. 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. This card is often thought to be Jacksons most attractive and popular baseball card. 15 Most Valuable 2011 Topps Baseball Cards More. While the #144 Full Body Ruth was double-printed and isnt as scarce, it is harder to find in high-grade than the #181 Green Ruth. 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. Posey was one of the biggest young names in the game at that point so seeing Topps issue multiple cards for him in this set should be no surprise. The Green Ruth is the last of the four Babe Ruth cards to appear in the 1933 Goudey set. It's still a very unusual-looking card but is one that many collectors dream of owning. Most Expensive 2020 Topps card list & price guide. Another obscure and rarely seen card, the 1915 E106 American Caramel Honus Wagner Throwing variation is just as much of a classic. Identical in imagery as its 1915 Cracker Jack counterpart, the 1914 version is equally as visually pleasing. 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. . Considered by most to be the greatest lefty of all-time, Sandy Koufax has one rookie card to his name and this is it. Either 10 Turkey Red Cigarette coupons or 25 Old Mill or Fez Cigarette coupons would earn you one card. Unlike the other example that features cartoons in the background, DiMaggio is shown all by himself atop a blank background. Bowman did not include him in their 1953 set so that makes his Topps card of that year even more sought after. On the surface, the 1948 Leaf card with its use of color appears to be more attractive than the 1948 Bowman card. While both are classics, there is no doubt that #37 is the more popular and difficult of the two. His 3,000th hit was a solo shot in the 3rd inning that tied the game at one. The postseason drought would only get longer, but Sale's transition to a starting role in 2012 was the dawning of a new ace on the Southside. The question is: where do you start on this list? 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. Those that have been found in high grade are thought to have never been packaged and instead left the factory by hand. Read our methodology . Many collectors prefer the portrait versions of Cobbs T206 card and specifically the Green Portrait. Walter Johnson appears twice in the T206 set, one in a pitching pose and then again in this portrait layout. 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. And in this guide, we'll take a look at the 15 most valuable. And it can be tough to find in high grade, too. Ungraded & graded values for all '20 Topps document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 by Old Sports Cards, LLC. 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. 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. There are 30 cards in total and each includes seven different possible color backs. Their glossy obverse surface usually results in creasing and cracking issues making it tough to find these in high grade. 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. There arent manySatchel Paige baseball cards in the hobby but this is a great looking card of the legendary pitcher. In the postseason, Cabrera was predictably excellent. The card is key for three main reasons: Not many people outside of the baseball card hobby know who Joe Doyle is. The 1912 Plows Candy E300 Mathewson features a large photographic image of the legendary pitcher of the Dead Ball Era framed by text reading. The sale smashed the record for most valuable baseball card at the time, beating the then-highest sale of a Honus Wagner T206 White Border card at $3.1 million. So why would one of his cards be so expensive? And with a 20-game hit streak late in the year, Freeman joined Dan Uggla as the first Braves teammates in modern history to have simultaneous hitting streaks of twenty or more. 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. Prices are updated daily based upon 2020 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. 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. The legendary Cap Anson appears on two different cards with the uniform version being the rarer of the two. That tells you how much the prices of Clementes rookie card have increased. It is one of the most difficult cards to find overall, making it one of the most important cards on this list. He also posted what many believe to be the greatest single season for a pitcher in 1913 after going 36-7 with a 1.14 ERA. 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. While currently ranked as the 5th most valuable baseball card, when Trouts 2009 Bowman Chrome Superfractors autographed card serial-numbered 1/1 sold in August 2020, it became the most valuable baseball card . 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. In the deciding Game 5, Halladay squared off with his former Toronto Blue Jays teammate and close friend Chris Carpenter. But, Joe Jackson is instantly recognizable on this card depicting him as a member of the Cleveland Naps minor league team, the New Orleans Pelicans. Centering can also be a challenge as with most cards of the era. By Ryan Cracknell. While not his most expensive baseball card, its arguably the most visually pleasing of them all. The 1939 Play Ball #92 issue is the Splendid Splinters only recognized rookie card. In 2016, seven copies of this card were miraculously found in an old paper bag. Before I get started, I just want to clarify some of the criteria I used in creating this list. However, #160 is the more difficult of the two to find in high grade so it generally fetches higher prices. While Sale was still working on controlling his pitch mix and hitting corners consistently (his 3.4 BB/9 is the second-worst of his career so far), he still showcased elite stuff. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. Neither makes a difference when it comes to value, though. So those that remain are some of the most sought after in the hobby. Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? The 23-year-old left walked a career-worst 41 batters in 50 innings pitched, issuing a ghastly 7.4 walks per 9 innings.