On the plus side, Chapman struck out 71 batters and gave up just 24 hits in a variety of high-leverage situations. 9 of the Most Valuable Baseball Cards in History - HISTORY 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. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. A truly great baseball card of the legendary icon. 15 Most Valuable 1969 Topps Baseball Cards - Old Sports Cards Natl along the bottom before the error was corrected. 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. 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. It should come as no surprise that the rookie card of the greatest player who ever lived would be on this list. The price would certainly be astronomical. 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! Although kind of normal for Gehrig, his offensive production was extraordinary in 1934. 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. 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. People are spending as much on old pieces of cardboard as most people spend on a house. With so many greats, how do you choose between them? 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. Cobb turned in an absolute monster of a season in 1911 as he set career highs in batting (.420), hits (248), doubles (47), triples (24), RBI (127), runs (147) and slugging percentage (.621). The 1939 Play Ball #92 issue is the Splendid Splinters only recognized rookie card. So those that remain are some of the most sought after in the hobby. You can imagine the wear and tear that children put on the cards by comparison. 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. Greatest Topps Baseball Cards of All-Time Most Expensive of All-Time #10. 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. The 1912 Plows Candy E300 Mathewson features a large photographic image of the legendary pitcher of the Dead Ball Era framed by text reading. Interestingly, the same image is used on both cards. 1986 Barry Bonds Topps Traded Rookie Card 6. 1. Top 15 Most Valuable Baseball Cards from the 1960s - PSA COLLECTOR 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. Its arguably the most visually pleasing and desirable of all the Ted Williams baseball cards in the hobby. 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. Estimated PSA 4.5 VG-EX+ Value: $1,100,000. Whenever manager Ozzie Guillen needed him to get a few outs, Sale performed. For others, it's the . And like Altuve, Martinez started with the Greeneville Astros and worked his way up to the Class AA Corpus Christi Hooks. 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. 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. Unlike the other example that features cartoons in the background, DiMaggio is shown all by himself atop a blank background. The Say Hey Kidwas arguably the greatest all-around player to step on the field. 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. That PSA 10 copy sold for $717,000 in 2016. 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. Remember, the Tiffany versions were produced in much smaller quantities and were printed on premium card stock. Average ungraded base card value (excludes parallels) for 2020 Topps However, #160 is the more difficult of the two to find in high grade so it generally fetches higher prices. While both are classics, there is no doubt that #37 is the more popular and difficult of the two. Who knows what a high grade example of this card would go for? 5. I like Posey's rookie cup card #198 from Series One better than this card that appeared in Series Two from an aesthetic standpoint. 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. 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. 10 Most Valuable Sammy Sosa Baseball Cards #4 Most Valuable Baseball Cards 2000s - Topps Finest For The Record #3B Ken Griffey Jr. Price for PSA 9 featured with Alex Rodriguez: $100 Price for PSA 10 Gem: $1,500 Player's History 13 times All-Star Ken is the son of Ken Griffey Sr, a famous baseball player and coach during his era. Prices are updated daily based upon 2023 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. The cream of the crop. 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. He also loves to write about the hobby and has written for Beckett, Topps, SABR and of course, this website. Overall, Topps did a great job with this set by balancing an excellent design with plenty of chase cards. Many collectors prefer the portrait versions of Cobbs T206 card and specifically the Green Portrait. And I attempted to estimate their current values when graded in PSA 10 condition so their "raw" or ungraded values may be wildly different. 1987 Topps Baseball Cards - 25 Most Valuable - Wax Pack Gods A record that is pretty safe to say will never be broken,Cy Youngtotaled an incredible 511 wins over his career. Prices are updated daily based upon 2006 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. This is my favoriteSandy Koufax baseball cardand one of the best-looking cards of the 1950s in my opinion. 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. 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). While not his most expensive baseball card, its arguably the most visually pleasing of them all. The card features a great image of Ruth and it remains one of his most desirable cards. The 1954 Wilson Franks Ted Williams baseball card is one of if not the most important regional card ever produced. Identical in imagery as its 1915 Cracker Jack counterpart, the 1914 version is equally as visually pleasing. We believe the following 10 cards will be tops in short-term return on investment over the next 1 to 2 years. It was clear that Topps wanted to do something special for their 60th anniversary and they certainly delivered. ThisTed Williams card features a superb black and white image of Williams following through on his classic swing. Honus. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 by Old Sports Cards, LLC. This card is often thought to be Jacksons most attractive and popular baseball card. Followed by HBO documentary cameras during his rehab process, Jeter opened up about himself and his pursuit of baseball immortality in a way he'd never done before. This is the other, less expensive, version of this card in the 1938 Goudey set. In 2014, MLB instituted rules that prevented a runner from initiating "an avoidable collision" at home plate. 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. 25 Most Valuable 1986 Topps Baseball Cards - Old Sports Cards 30. 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 centering can be so severe that it will cut into the text along the bottom. There is no doubt that this is one of Ty Cobbs most demanded and popular baseball cards. The set is one of if not the most condition sensitive of the early E class era. Exact prices are available to subscribers. Most Expensive 2006 Topps card list & price guide. 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. 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. If you look at the bottom, Sherry Magees last name is mistakenly spelled Magie. Votto led the National League in doubles (40), on-base percentage (.416), and walks (110). In PSA 4.5 grade, it is estimated this card would reel in over $1 million. Its so rare that only a handful exist and not many collectors have even seen one in person. 2022 Topps Series 1 Wander Franco RC #215 VIEW ON EBAY Winner, winner chicken dinner. 10 Most Valuable 1978 Topps Baseball Cards - Sports Card Investor 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. 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. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. When the infamous T206 set was being produced, Doyle was pitching for the New York Highlanders of the American League. The reality was that Pujols was good to go. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The Iron Horseappears twice in the 1933 Goudey setwith card #s 92 and 160 to his credit. 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. The potential for caramel stains doesnt bode well for collectors of this card. Moreover, the Mathewson Portrait is one of the toughest HOF portraits in the entire set. 10 Most Valuable Sammy Sosa Baseball Cards 10. 2022 Topps Baseball Rookie Cards Guide. 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. His massive upside in the future made his wildness in the present less worrisome. This is the second most desirable card in the famed T206 set and the only pose of the HOF pitcher. The card shows a young Ruth in a Boston Red Sox uniform before they traded him to the rival New York Yankees. The most prevalent theory is that the card suffered from a poor printing plate, resulting in many of the cards being destroyed since they could not pass quality control. Just a year prior, Sale wasn't even a starter yet. And because it features a close-up of Mantle, print defects on his face can also sometimes turn off collectors. Babe Ruths card is the key and most valuable of the 32 card set. Prices continue to climb on them, so keep your eye out for these baseball cards! 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. 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 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). 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. In true Jeter fashion, the Yankees shortstop went above and beyond the moment at hand. Once the owner of the career mark for home runs (755), Aaron possessed some of the strongest hands and wrists that produced some of the quickest bat speed the game has ever seen. | Compare vs. After winning 61 games in 2010, Seattle finished at 67-95 in 2011 for the franchise's sixth losing season in eight years. 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. 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. Many believe the 1887 N172 Old Judge set to be the most important 19th Century set in existence. This still ranks among the most popular baseball cards of all-time. Thus, Pujols was left out in a season where he finished fifth in the NL's MVP balloting. 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. And in this guide, we'll take a look at the 15 most valuable. and one of the best-looking cards of the 1950s in my opinion. Part of the great quartet of T206 Cobb cards, the Green Portrait version is the toughest of all of them to collect. 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. But its also one of the issues more difficult cards since it typically suffers from poor print quality and coloration. If so, then please fill out the form below and I'll be in touch right away. Their glossy obverse surface usually results in creasing and cracking issues making it tough to find these in high grade. Several player variations exist, some with as many as 12, so the series boasts well over 3,000 different cards in total. In fact, his 1986 Topps Traded Tiffany card can be worth over $2,000 in PSA condition. While Ty Cobb might be the most desired player in the entire set, there is no doubt that Honus Wagner is also an incredibly sought after player as well. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 by Old Sports Cards, LLC. 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. Ungraded & graded values for all '20 Topps Baseball Cards. Prices are updated daily based upon 2022 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. Interest in the Dodgers/Giants rivalry was skyrocketing, and Kershaw's brilliance was a big reason for it. Read our methodology . All of them are on this list of most valuable baseball cards so that speaks to their importance and desirability. Most Expensive [2020 Topps] Baseball Cards - SportsCardsPro Mathewson is the only player in both the 1914 and 1915 sets whose poses are entirely different. 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. Collectors go wild for it. Read our methodology. Of all theTy Cobb baseball cards, this is by far his most expensive. The card features a great image of the Sultan of Swat seated in pinstripes looking over his right shoulder atop a green background. From autographs and relics to silk cards, glove leather cards and exclusive online cards, there was so much variety for collectors to chase. Each of the 30 unnumbered cards in the set feature an artist rendering of players atop colored backgrounds. By his third season in 2013, Goldschmidt had developed into a perennial All-Star and MVP candidate. Freeman finished second in the NLs Rookie of the Year balloting, slashing .282/.346/.448 with 21 home runs, 32 doubles, and 76 RBIs. The Green Ruth is the last of the four Babe Ruth cards to appear in the 1933 Goudey set. 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. His legendary career and life were cut short on December 31, 1972, when he died in a plane crash while en route to deliver aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. 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. He also amassed less than 200 hits (184) and posted an OPS+ under 100 (86) for the first time in eleven MLB seasons. Another obscure and rarely seen card, the 1915 E106 American Caramel Honus Wagner Throwing variation is just as much of a classic. Whatever the reason, there are only approximately 50-75 or so known copies in circulation today as a result. 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. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. Like the 1997 Bowman, Donruss, Fleer, Leaf, Score and Upper Deck sets, large print runs saturated the market with these cards, driving down their values. 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. Contact him at [emailprotected]. After 60 years in the hobby, Topps helped celebrate their "Diamond Anniversary" by packing so much into their 2011 Topps baseball card set. But what most usually don't realize is that many pre-War and even high grade post-War vintagebaseball card valuescan be astronomical. However, Carpenter was better, tossing a complete-game three-hit shutout to oust the two-time defending NL champs, 1-0. 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. With that strategy, you can never go wrong! Most Valuable Baseball Cards of All Time - msn.com 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. 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. However, it just isnt as often found in high grade as #53. An SGC 2 Example Sold in August 2022 for $7,250,000. Most Valuable Rookie Card in Every Topps Baseball Set, 1952-2020 25 Most Valuable 1981 Topps Baseball Cards - Old Sports Cards 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. At the tender age of 22, Sale made his full-season debut with the Sox as a high-leverage reliever. His incredible career makesStan Musial baseball cards extremely popular with collectors. 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. And, unfortunately, Goudey mailed the card with a paper clip on it that left indentations on the card. 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. Most Valuable. Even though it is not Mickey Mantles official rookie card it is definitely his most important. So why would one of his cards be so expensive? 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. And it can be tough to find in high grade, too. However, the year ended on a bitter note. But in 2011, the 37-year-old superstar hit just .272 with an uncharacteristic .645 OPS. 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. 17 Most Valuable 1973 Topps Baseball Cards Worth Money - Rob Paulsen Cabrera was consistently brilliant from start to finish in 2011, posting an MLB-best .344 batting average for his first of three-straight AL batting titles. Again, the biggest condition issues with this card will arise from the glossy coating on the obverse that usually ends up cracking or creasing. Most expensive baseball cards in history Here is a look at the baseball cards that have exceeded a million-dollar price tag, including two by one of the sport's top active players: 1. 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. The find has since been dubbed The Lucky 7 find. Read our methodology . On the surface, the 1948 Leaf card with its use of color appears to be more attractive than the 1948 Bowman card. 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. By 1954, printing quality had improved greatly so even though centering is still a challenge with this card, finding high-end copies is not as tough as some of the others on this list. 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 is one of Ruths most desired of all. Demand for Clementes rookie card has skyrocketed over the past couple of years. 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. 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. 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. 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. There are two varieties of these cards with one version featuring a tobacco advertisement on the back and the other a checklist. Before I get started, I just want to clarify some of the criteria I used in creating this list. Theres just something about this card that makes it visually stunning.