1. Reigning NL MVP Joey Votto couldn't carry an inconsistent, snake-bitten Cincinnati Reds squad to a second-straight postseason in 2011. Mike Trout made his Major League debut on July 8, 2011, when the Los Angeles Angels called him up to replace speedy centerfielder Peter Bourjos who had injured his hamstring the day before. Its an extremely tough card to find in high grade. A record that is pretty safe to say will never be broken. This still ranks among the most popular baseball cards of all-time. And he pitched with a tenacious on-mound presence in the toughest of game situations. With just one playoff appearance from 1988-2010 (2006), the Detroit Tigers' comedy of errors was a running punchline for two-plus decades. Altuve went 1-5 that game, but little did he know then he had kicked off a piece of Houston Astros history. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Although past his prime, he still achieved success in the Majors and was twice named an All-Star. 30. You could argue the imagery isn't the nicest in the hobby but it makes for an unforgettable card design. 1986 Topps Tiffany Rickey Henderson 2. Bowman did not include him in their 1953 set so that makes his Topps card of that year even more sought after. In high grade, this card can fetch big bucks. And yes, that includes those famously priceless Mickey Mantles. 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth: $4.212 million Read our methodology . 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. The 48-card 1915 American Caramel E106 shows some nice artistic renderings of players of the National, American and Federal Leagues. 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. His 3,003rd hit (and last of the day) was an RBI single that put the Yankees ahead for good in the 8th. 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. Freeman finished second in the NLs Rookie of the Year balloting, slashing .282/.346/.448 with 21 home runs, 32 doubles, and 76 RBIs. 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. Prices continue to climb on them, so keep your eye out for these baseball cards! 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. Hes also the only key player in the 1914 set on a horizontal layout. In his fourth year with the club, Miguel Cabrera helped Detroit silence those laughs. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. 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. 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. Whatever the reason, there are only approximately 50-75 or so known copies in circulation today as a result. 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. Any collector lucky enough to get his hands on Mathewsons card is sure to be ecstatic. One of the rarest pre-WWI candy issues ever distributed is the 1912 Plows Boy Candy set that included 69 different baseball players. And I attempted to estimate their current values when graded in PSA 10 condition so their "raw" or ungraded values may be wildly different. Prices are updated daily based upon 2020 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. The 1986 Topps Traded Bo Jackson rookie card is his most desirable and most expensive card you can find. Contact him at [emailprotected]. 1968 Topps #177 Nolan Ryan RC It was clear that Topps wanted to do something special for their 60th anniversary and they certainly delivered. In four starts against Lincecum, Kershaw went 4-0 with a minuscule 0.30 ERA in 30.1 innings pitched. 1986 Topps Reggie Jackson Card 8. The Wagner soon reclaimed its title, but the 2009 Bowman Draft Trout remains a big deal in the baseball card world. 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). 30 Most Valuable Topps Tiffany Cards Rankings are based on the online Beckett Price Guide and Database. 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. 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. His career ERA of 2.13 proves just how difficult it was to hit off of him. 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. 2022 Topps Series 1 Wander Franco Photo Variation SP RC #215 Most Expensive 2020 Topps card list & price guide. 2022 Topps Series 1 Wander Franco RC #215 VIEW ON EBAY Winner, winner chicken dinner. 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. Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, and Cy Young were also featured in the set but Cobbs issue is undoubtedly the most desired. Any modern flagship Topps Baseball set has a lot going on. The 1954 Wilson Franks Ted Williams baseball card is one of if not the most important regional card ever produced. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. Cracker Jacks cards are wildly popular and the serious-looking Cobb is one of the keys to this set. This incredibly important card is beautiful in design, depicting nice artwork of Mantle ready at the bat. Ungraded & graded values for all '23 Topps Baseball Cards. Considered by most to be the greatest lefty of all-time, Sandy Koufax has one rookie card to his name and this is it. Prices are updated daily based upon 2022 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. Who did Freeman finish runner-up to in the leagues RotY race, you ask? Centering issues, as well as dark print blotches in the yellow background, are usually the two key issues of this card. 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. These are the Top 3 Most Valuable Baseball Cards Worth Money. He also topped 100 runs scored (111) and 100 RBIs (105) while playing in an AL-best 161 of 162 regular-season games. A fantastic portrait of the Sultan of Swat wearing a tilted Yankees cap is shown atop a bold, red background. By Ryan Cracknell. 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. After winning 61 games in 2010, Seattle finished at 67-95 in 2011 for the franchise's sixth losing season in eight years. 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. In addition to the Satchel Paige and Stan Musial rookie cards, Robinsons rookie is key to the set. Not many baseball cards possess as much elaborate and ornate decoration as those of the 1909 Ramly Cigarette T204 set. 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. The famous Pittsburg Pirate shortstop is shown ready at the bat with his name Hans along the bottom border of the card. Only a finite number of them still exist and as likely as it is that baseball will remain a very popular sport, collectors will do anything to get their hands on them. Its so rare that only a handful exist and not many collectors have even seen one in person. buy stuff after clicking links on our site Not many people outside of the baseball card hobby know who Joe Doyle is. 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. Votto reached base in the team's first 27 games, finishing April with an eye-popping .370 batting average. Walter Johnson appears twice in the T206 set, one in a pitching pose and then again in this portrait layout. But in 2011, the 37-year-old superstar hit just .272 with an uncharacteristic .645 OPS. In the postseason, Cabrera was predictably excellent. There are only a handful of known copies of this card in the hobby making it a rare and highly demanded issue. But, that doesnt necessarily mean its his most expensive. Distracting print lines usually hold this card back from higher grades, though. The 2011 Atlanta Braves had an excellent crop of rookie riches. Babe Ruths card is the key and most valuable of the 32 card set. 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. Track your collection for free. While both are classics, there is no doubt that #37 is the more popular and difficult of the two. Either 10 Turkey Red Cigarette coupons or 25 Old Mill or Fez Cigarette coupons would earn you one card. 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. Their glossy obverse surface usually results in creasing and cracking issues making it tough to find these in high grade. On it, Gehrig is shown with a huge bright smile atop a yellow background giving the card tremendous eye appeal. However, the gold borders of the T205 cards leave them vulnerable to chipping and wear. Two decades of pro ball were catching up to Ichiro. A record that is pretty safe to say will never be broken,Cy Youngtotaled an incredible 511 wins over his career. 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. The bright yellow background makes this card pop and the portrait of the young Big Train makes for an unforgettable baseball card. Theres only one single PSA 10 copy currently in circulation, however, which makes it extremely difficult to find even if you have that kind of money to spend. 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. Prices are updated daily based upon 2023 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. This card is often thought to be Jacksons most attractive and popular baseball card. And while they are keys to the set and arguably the most popularLou Gehrig baseball cards, they are still overshadowed by the Ruth quartet. Estimates place the number of front/back combinations around 5,500 which led to this set being nicknamed The Monster.. That story is enough to make any collector cringe. This is the other, less expensive, version of this card in the 1938 Goudey set. Whenever manager Ozzie Guillen needed him to get a few outs, Sale performed. The potential for caramel stains doesnt bode well for collectors of this card. | Compare vs. 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. But what puts the Bat Off Shoulder relatively much higher on this list than the others is that you can find this card in PSA 9 Mint condition, unlike the others. And he continued to struggle from there, finishing with a .163/.213/.279 slash line with one home run and six RBI before the team demoted him back to Double-A after twelve games. Big names like Albert Pujols, Ichiro, David Ortiz, Derek Jeter, Miguel Cabrera and Clayton Kershaw help round out a solid checklist. When the infamous T206 set was being produced, Doyle was pitching for the New York Highlanders of the American League. 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. 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. Its arguably the most visually pleasing and desirable of all the Ted Williams baseball cards in the hobby. However, Cabrera's top-five finish in the AL MVP race and sixth All-Star campaign was a warning shot of epic proportions, followed by back-to-back MVP years (2012-13). 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). The cards design is beautiful and easily distinguished from others of the 1950s. DiMaggio appeared twice in the 1938 Goudey set but this is the more valuable of the two. 0% 1986 Barry Bonds Topps Traded Rookie Card 6. He ultimately fell short of the incredible feat but still finished the season batting .317 with 35 home runs and 115 RBIs. The T206 set is special for many reasons but one of them is no doubt the numerous brand advertisements on the backs16 different backs in total. His 1951 Bowman issue is his only recognized rookie card and along with the Mantle rookie is the key to the entire set. He also turned heads with his slick glove work at first, earning the only Gold Glove of his career thus far. 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. However, there are a handful of his T206 cards that were produced with N.Y. 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. Neither makes a difference when it comes to value, though. 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. Yet, packed within all of that excitement was a run of base cards that featured big-name stars and promising rookies. While the Dodgers failed to make the playoffs at 83-78, Kershaw made a second-straight playoff miss easier to stomach in Chavez Ravine. The card is key for three main reasons: As with Mantles 1952 Topps card, some still mistake this card as Mays rookie, too. 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. 25) 1987 Topps Wade Boggs (#150) #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. Centering is also a tough issue for this card. However, the year ended on a bitter note. Buy on: eBay 1964 Topps Phil Niekro RC/Phil Roof RC #541 The Rookie Cards in 1964 Topps Baseball are led by a. While his 1952 Topps card is more popular and more expensive, some collectors forget that this is the only recognizedMantle rookie card. A PSA 10 1954 Topps Banks rookie card sold for $142,836 in May 2012. Please note many of these cards have variations, which won't all be listed here. 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. Rookie Cards. 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. And that first season with the Red Sox in 2018 has been the greatest of his career so far. In PSA 8 condition, this card would likely sell for $1 million or more. Theres only one copy of the card currently graded in that condition, however. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 by Old Sports Cards, LLC. 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. The cream of the crop. Another obscure and rarely seen card, the 1915 E106 American Caramel Honus Wagner Throwing variation is just as much of a classic. Like many 1952 Topps cards, this Mays issue is prone to tilt and centering problems. Overall, Topps did a great job with this set by balancing an excellent design with plenty of chase cards. 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 Green Ruth is the last of the four Babe Ruth cards to appear in the 1933 Goudey set. During his rookie campaign, Posey slashed .305/.357/.505 with 18 home runs, 67 RBIs and 58 runs scored in 108 games (406 at-bats). Collectors love the eye appeal of this beautiful pre-war set. Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? 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. By the way check out the best Wander Franco Rookie Cards #2. The find has since been dubbed The Lucky 7 find. Only 7 of the Ty Cobb cards have ever been submitted to PSA for grading which speaks to the rarity of them. There arent manySatchel Paige baseball cards in the hobby but this is a great looking card of the legendary pitcher. But there was plenty to like about their accomplishments before the season's heartbreaking finale. Considered to be one of the more obscure Honus Wagner type cards its value continues to remain strong. Since they are both card #151 in their respective sets, it is nearly impossible to tell which set the card belongs to unless the back of the card features an ad unique to either of the sets. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Read our methodology . 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. 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. Many baseball historians still consider Cobb the greatest all-around player that ever graced a baseball diamond. #1. 2010 and 2011 were two of the most emotionally draining years of Chipper Jones' Hall of Fame career. His 3,000th hit was a solo shot in the 3rd inning that tied the game at one. On the surface, the 1948 Leaf card with its use of color appears to be more attractive than the 1948 Bowman card. 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. 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 legendary Cap Anson appears on two different cards with the uniform version being the rarer of the two. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. Ungraded & graded values for all '20 Topps Halladay was given the ball for Games 1 and 5. Trout exploded during his official rookie campaign the following season, earning AL Rookie of the Year honors and finishing second in the MVP race. 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. Ungraded & graded values for all '05 Topps Baseball Cards. Nevertheless, the annual award for the best pitcher in the Majors does bear his name. In 2010, Jones blew out his left knee in mid-August and could not help his Braves teammates in a tense five-game NLDS loss to the eventual World Series champion Giants. It should come as no surprise that the rookie card of the greatest player who ever lived would be on this list. There are four different Babe Ruth cards in the 1933 Goudey set, #s 53, 144, 149 and 181. 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. With that strategy, you can never go wrong! It's so rare that no complete set has ever been assembled. 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. This card is a prime example of an instance where neither being a star nor an error card can bring in big bucks. So, whoever says that baseball cards are no longer valuable simply doesn't know what he or she is talking about Sure, the massive print runs during the late 80's and early 90's killed the value of most post-1980's cards. 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. The card features a great image of Ruth and it remains one of his most desirable cards. No matter where Eddie Mathews appeared in the 1952 Topps set, his only recognized rookie card would be worth a lot. The error was quickly caught, though, so there arent many copies in existence. Honus. When these cards come up for auction, really take note. After hitting .363 with 49 home runs and 166 RBI he would go on to win the Triple Crown. 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) 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. In 2012, Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale kicked off a stunning streak of seven-straight All-Star nods and seven-straight AL Cy Young finishes of sixth or better. Read our methodology . 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. 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. There are 11 different backside variations in total each with The George Close Co. printed on them. Despite singling to right field off San Francisco's Matt Cain in his first at-bat, Goldschmidt stuck out nearly one in every three at-bats in 48 games that season. Its nearly impossible to describe the importance of Jackie Robinson to baseball and American history after breakingbaseballs color barrier in 1947. Shortcuts: Most Expensive , Cheapest , List by Card # 10 Most Valuable Sammy Sosa Baseball Cards 10. Although not as popular as his 1948 Bowman rookie card, his 1948 Leaf rookie card is the tougher of the two. Arguably the greatest hitter of all time, Williams posted some truly jaw-dropping numbers over his career: a .344 batting average, a .483 on-base average and a .634 slugging average. His massive upside in the future made his wildness in the present less worrisome. 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. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. Those that have been found in high grade are thought to have never been packaged and instead left the factory by hand. The Iron Horseappears twice in the 1933 Goudey setwith card #s 92 and 160 to his credit. In true Jeter fashion, the Yankees shortstop went above and beyond the moment at hand. Error cards like Joe Doyles that make it into circulation usually end up being very popular with collectors and this one is no exception. However, as with any colored borders, the surrounding red borders of this card are susceptible to wear making it very condition sensitive. The Tigers couldn't capitalize on Cabrera's otherworldly October and lost to the Rangers in the ALCS in six. Collectors who take on the challenge of completing this set are no doubt in for an extremely tough challenge. Trout didn't exactly raise any eyebrows in his first game, finishing 0-3 at the plate. 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. 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! Or, as most believe, was it because he didnt want to be involved in promoting tobacco use to children? So, if you can get your hands on one of these cards in high grade then you are looking at some big bucks. 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. Moreover, the Mathewson Portrait is one of the toughest HOF portraits in the entire set. Yet, it was the patient way Big Papi produced in 2011 that kicked off his late-career renaissance in style. Of all theWillie Mays baseball cards out there, this is his most important. 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). But the value between the two isnt affected. While not his most expensive baseball card, its arguably the most visually pleasing of them all. 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 . 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. Especially for high condition copies of the card. Most Expensive 2022 Topps card list & price guide. The card is one of Ruths most desired of all. 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle: $12.6 million 2. Read our methodology . The 1969 Topps baseball card set is well-loved in this hobby by many collectors for several different reasons. Jackson dominated the minors that year and the Naps called him up late in the 1910 season. 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. His aggressive play on the field and his generous ways off the field made him a special individual. Young appears three times in the epic T206 set with this being the most desired and priciest of them all.