That production boosted his legend and popularity making him one of the most highly collected players in the hobby. 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. Baseball Cards. But its also one of the issues more difficult cards since it typically suffers from poor print quality and coloration. We believe the following 10 cards will be tops in short-term return on investment over the next 1 to 2 years. However, the gold borders of the T205 cards leave them vulnerable to chipping and wear. His aggressive play on the field and his generous ways off the field made him a special individual. Considered the Holy Grail of all trading cards, the 1909 American Tobacco CompanyT206 Honus Wagner cardremains the symbol of trading card collecting today. Many believe the 1887 N172 Old Judge set to be the most important 19th Century set in existence. Read our methodology. This is the other, less expensive, version of this card in the 1938 Goudey set. Given all of the variations, parallels, inserts, autograph, and memorabilia cards included in the set, developing a definitive "most valuable" list can be quite difficult. Most players on this list only have one recognized rookie card to their name. It's these end-year series that comprise the most valuable Topps baseball cards today. Unfortunately, as with most high-numbered cards in the set, Mantles rookie card often suffers from print lines, poor centering and wax stains on the back. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. 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. The 1932 U.S. Caramel set is one of the most desirable and challenging prewar sets in the hobby. 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. Those that have been found in high grade are thought to have never been packaged and instead left the factory by hand. And yes, that includes those famously priceless Mickey Mantles. This card has been and will likely remain the most valuable baseball card for years to come. Surprisingly, many dont even consider him the best pitcher ever, though. 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. 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. Please note many of these cards have variations, which won't all be listed here. A year away from taking over the Cincinnati Reds closer role and simultaneously becoming a perennial All-Star, Aroldis Chapman showed flashes of his forthcoming game-breaking dominance in 2011. Prices are updated daily based upon 2005 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. 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. 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. He was also clutch, maintaining a sub-1.00 World Series ERA and twice being named series MVP in 1963 and 1965. 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. totaled an incredible 511 wins over his career. Especially his American Caramel E90-1 rookie card on which he is shown leaning on his bat against a purple backdrop. 1914 Cracker Jack Joe Jackson The 1914 Cracker Jack Joe Jackson has a staggering value of $200,000. Their glossy obverse surface usually results in creasing and cracking issues making it tough to find these in high grade. 1991 Chipper Jones Topps Desert Shield RC #333 Buy on eBay So named because his dad saw him as a "chip off the old block", Chipper Jones has an RC which is the most valuable card from the 1991 Topps set. If so, then please fill out the form below and I'll be in touch right away. The Green Ruth is the last of the four Babe Ruth cards to appear in the 1933 Goudey set. However, it just isnt as often found in high grade as #53. 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. 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. Download Price List, SportsCardsPro 2019-2023 Prices are updated daily based upon 2020 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. He also turned heads with his slick glove work at first, earning the only Gold Glove of his career thus far. And I attempted to estimate their current values when graded in PSA 10 condition so their "raw" or ungraded values may be wildly different. Most Expensive 2021 Topps Chrome card list & price guide. 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. Yet, packed within all of that excitement was a run of base cards that featured big-name stars and promising rookies. And while they are keys to the set and arguably the most popularLou Gehrig baseball cards, they are still overshadowed by the Ruth quartet. The Say Hey Kidwas arguably the greatest all-around player to step on the field. 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. 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 . Read our methodology . 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. Collectors love the eye appeal of this beautiful pre-war set. The 2011 Atlanta Braves had an excellent crop of rookie riches. In high grade, this card can fetch big bucks. Ungraded & graded values for all '22 Topps 1st Edition Baseball Cards. After hitting .363 with 49 home runs and 166 RBI he would go on to win the Triple Crown. And with cameras rolling from every angle, Jeter made sure to give HBO a show worth airing. 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. Some collectors go for the base 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. Theres just something about this card that makes it visually stunning. 2020 Topps card list & price guide. 1986 Topps Tiffany Ryne Sandberg Chicago Cubs Card 7. With their one-two finish in the NLs Rookie of the Year vote, Kimbrel and Freeman became the first teammates to do so since Chicago Cubs rookies Jerome Walton and Dwight Smith in 1989. In the deciding Game 5, Halladay squared off with his former Toronto Blue Jays teammate and close friend Chris Carpenter. The Tigers couldn't capitalize on Cabrera's otherworldly October and lost to the Rangers in the ALCS in six. Although not as popular as his 1948 Bowman rookie card, his 1948 Leaf rookie card is the tougher of the two. Over twelve seasons, Martinez has played for the Astros, Detroit Tigers, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Boston Red Sox, with whom he's been since 2018. Centering can also be a challenge as with most cards of the era. Its nearly impossible to describe the importance of Jackie Robinson to baseball and American history after breakingbaseballs color barrier in 1947. It is one of the most difficult cards to find overall, making it one of the most important cards on this list. Freeman finished second in the NLs Rookie of the Year balloting, slashing .282/.346/.448 with 21 home runs, 32 doubles, and 76 RBIs. Halladay finished with four first-place votes to Clayton Kershaws 27, finishing as the leagues Cy Young runner-up for the second time in four years. Are you selling sports cards that were produced from 1868 - 1975? While collectors could pull 1914 Cracker Jack cards directly from the box, that also meant they usually had caramel stains on them. The base set from Bowman holds little value. And that first season with the Red Sox in 2018 has been the greatest of his career so far. 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. 1990 Bowman Tiffany Sammy Sosa Rookie Card Price: $750 The 1990 Bowman Baseball set features an impressive rookie class. This card is often thought to be Jacksons most attractive and popular baseball card. Martinez's career began with the Houston Astros when they drafted him in the 20th round of the 2009 MLB Draft out of Nova Southeastern University. buy stuff after clicking links on our site 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. 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. So, there you have it: the most expensivebaseball cardsthat youre ever likely to encounter. 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) In the NLDS, the 102-win AL East champion Phillies faced a molten-hot St. Louis Cardinals squad that had fought back from a massive Wild Card deficit in September. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. It was clear that Topps wanted to do something special for their 60th anniversary and they certainly delivered. As with any colored border, though, theyre susceptible to showing chipping and wear. Or, as most believe, was it because he didnt want to be involved in promoting tobacco use to children? Many collectors are happy to just be able to own one of these legendary cards in the first place, though. Most Expensive 2020 Topps card list & price guide. Posey suffered torn ligaments in his left ankle and a fractured fibula in a violent collision that reverberated for years. 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. Error cards like Joe Doyles that make it into circulation usually end up being very popular with collectors and this one is no exception. 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. Moreover, the Mathewson Portrait is one of the toughest HOF portraits in the entire set. 25) 1987 Topps Wade Boggs (#150) 1986 Topps Pete Rose Card 3. 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth: $4.212 million 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. Overall, Topps did a great job with this set by balancing an excellent design with plenty of chase cards. 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. You could argue the imagery isn't the nicest in the hobby but it makes for an unforgettable card design. Each of the 30 unnumbered cards in the set feature an artist rendering of players atop colored backgrounds. There are two varieties of these cards with one version featuring a tobacco advertisement on the back and the other a checklist. When the infamous T206 set was being produced, Doyle was pitching for the New York Highlanders of the American League. That PSA 10 copy sold for $717,000 in 2016. It's still a very unusual-looking card but is one that many collectors dream of owning. That card was later sold for $250,000 in 2007. Interestingly, the same image is used on both cards. 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. Both are not cheap but it is this version that is the more desirable and expensive of the two. Ungraded & graded values for all '05 Topps Baseball Cards. 1909 T-206 Honus Wagner: $7.25 million 3. The second toughest of the four 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth cards, the #149 Red Ruth is every bit as appealing as the #53 Yellow 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. The young Florida native made 58 appearances out of the bullpen, finishing 17 games and saving eight. Gehrig again appeared on two different cards, #37 and #61, in the 1934 Goudey set. 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. A high number card, Mathews rookie is extra tough to collect since it was positioned at the bottom corner of print sheets and usually is found off-center as a result. The White Cap variation is considered to be the most difficult of the three Mathewson cards, but the Portrait is the most popular. The famous Pittsburg Pirate shortstop is shown ready at the bat with his name Hans along the bottom border of the card. Top 26 Most Valuable 1986 Topps Baseball Cards In The World 1. Yet, it was the patient way Big Papi produced in 2011 that kicked off his late-career renaissance in style. Especially for high condition copies of the card. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 by Old Sports Cards, LLC. To commemorate Posey's 2010 Rookie of the Year honor, Topps released this card in Series One packs and you can see the "2010 Rookie of the Year" along the bottom just above his name. Prices are updated daily based upon 2023 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. 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. While Posey would recover and play an MVP-caliber role for San Francisco's 2012 and 2014 title teams, his injury in 2011 forced the hands of baseball's decision-makers. Some argue that this is Mickey Mantles most beautiful card. In the season's first 46 games, the 24-year-old star slashed .284/.368/.389 with four home runs and 21 RBIs in 162 at-bats. So, if you can get your hands on one of these cards in high grade then you are looking at some big bucks. But there was plenty to like about their accomplishments before the season's heartbreaking finale. This card is a prime example of an instance where neither being a star nor an error card can bring in big bucks. But it wouldn't take Goldschmidt much longer to mold into the incredible talent he is today. Key to the 1953 Topps set is the #244 Willie Mays baseball card. 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle: $12.6 million 2. Ungraded & graded values for all '06 Topps Baseball Cards. Remember, the Tiffany versions were produced in much smaller quantities and were printed on premium card stock. 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. Prices are updated daily based upon 2022 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. Considered to be one of the more obscure Honus Wagner type cards its value continues to remain strong. While the Dodgers failed to make the playoffs at 83-78, Kershaw made a second-straight playoff miss easier to stomach in Chavez Ravine. There is no doubt that this is one of Ty Cobbs most demanded and popular baseball cards. 1. Many baseball historians still consider Cobb the greatest all-around player that ever graced a baseball diamond. 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. Exact prices are available to subscribers. 1956 Topps Mickey Mantle #135 #6. That is a fact not likely to end any time soon. The card is one of Ruths most desired of all. Of all theTy Cobb baseball cards, this is by far his most expensive. Five Hall of Famers made their rookie card debut in the T206 set and Walter Johnson is one of them, a fact that makes this card even more interesting. After an impressive finish to the 2010 MLB campaign, the Los Angeles Dodgers tabbed 23-year-old lefty Clayton Kershaw as their Opening Day starter for 2011. The card is subtle in design and imagery but remains a truly majestic card for any serious collector to consider. This is no doubt one of the most sought after cards of one of the games best pitchers of all time. Gehrig was one of a long line of Yankee legends and no doubt put up some of the greatest hitting statistics of them all. 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. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? Halladay was great, giving up just one run on four hits in eight innings. And by 2016, he'd solidified his place as a Cubs legend when he helped the franchise win its first World Series title since 1980, finally breaking the "curse" that had haunted them for over 100 years. Most cards in the T206 set are not rare but the Honus Wagner cards are because they were pulled from production early. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. This is the first Topps card to feature Willie Mays, putting it high on Mays collectors wish lists and making it a key card in the hobby overall. These are the Top 3 Most Valuable Baseball Cards Worth Money. It is by far the most important of allHank Aaron baseball cards. Altuve went 1-5 that game, but little did he know then he had kicked off a piece of Houston Astros history. Wagner, Ruth, Cobb, Mantle and Mays are just several of the baseball greats that reside on this list of cardboard rarities. Collectors will pay big money for either version as long as its in high grade. The 1986 Topps Traded Bo Jackson rookie card is his most desirable and most expensive card you can find. One of the bright spots for Boston was the re-emergence of designated hitter David Ortiz as an elite hitting threat. Rizzo soon earned a reputation as a guy capable of smacking 30 home runs and driving in 100 runs to become a fan favorite at Wrigley. One of the most popular 1930s sets, the 1933 Sport Kings R333 set consists of 48 cards in total. In PSA 8 condition, this card would likely sell for $1 million or more. 1986 Topps Traded Bo Jackson Rookie Card 4. 1954 Topps #128 Hank Aaron RC #7. Read our methodology. In 49 games for Padres that season, Rizzo slashed a less-than-impressive .141/.281/.242 with one home run, nine RBIs, and nine runs scored in 128 at-bats. 1985. Track your collection for free. 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. At the tender age of 22, Sale made his full-season debut with the Sox as a high-leverage reliever. He received 20 first place votes in the NL Rookie of the Year vote and his 129 vote points outpaced Atlanta's Jason Heyward who 107 vote points for his impressive debut performance. There are four different Babe Ruth cards in the 1933 Goudey set, #s 53, 144, 149 and 181. A PSA Gem Mint 10 #128 Aaron sold for $357,594 in 2012, a price that would easily be overcome in todays market. However, he still put together a worthy encore to his 2010 breakthrough. Get my weekly newsletter with the latest hobby updates delivered straight to your inbox! 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 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. Just a year prior, Sale wasn't even a starter yet. The card is key for three main reasons: It should come as no surprise that the rookie card of the greatest player who ever lived would be on this list. Neither makes a difference when it comes to value, though. 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. The 1912 Plows Candy E300 Mathewson features a large photographic image of the legendary pitcher of the Dead Ball Era framed by text reading.