most valuable topps baseball cards most valuable topps baseball cards

After 60 years in the hobby, Topps helped celebrate their "Diamond Anniversary" by packing so much into their 2011 Topps baseball card set. Theres only one copy of the card currently graded in that condition, however. The Iron Horseappears twice in the 1933 Goudey setwith card #s 92 and 160 to his credit. 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. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. Distracting print lines usually hold this card back from higher grades, though. An SGC 9.5 Example Sold in August 2022 for $12,600,000. 1986 Topps Pete Rose Card 3. Big names like Albert Pujols, Ichiro, David Ortiz, Derek Jeter, Miguel Cabrera and Clayton Kershaw help round out a solid checklist. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This card has been and will likely remain the most valuable baseball card for years to come. As with Mantles 1952 Topps card, some still mistake this card as Mays rookie, too. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. You can imagine the wear and tear that children put on the cards by comparison. Most Expensive 2022 Topps card list & price guide. 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). But what most usually don't realize is that many pre-War and even high grade post-War vintagebaseball card valuescan be astronomical. Mantle is easily one of the most widely collected players in the hobby. Cobb was known as a ferocious competitor who was determined to be the best day in and day out. Most Expensive 2022 Topps 1st Edition card list & price guide. , Bo Bichette, Luis Robert, Yordan Alvarez [SSP] #392, Fernando Tatis Jr. [Memorial Day Camo] #168, Fernando Tatis Jr. [Mother's Day Pink] #168, Fernando Tatis Jr. [Independence Day] #168, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. [Independence Day] #182, Fernando Tatis Jr. [Father's Day Blue] #168. Yet, packed within all of that excitement was a run of base cards that featured big-name stars and promising rookies. This incredibly important card is beautiful in design, depicting nice artwork of Mantle ready at the bat. 1990 Bowman Tiffany Sammy Sosa Rookie Card Price: $750 The 1990 Bowman Baseball set features an impressive rookie class. But whats not up for debate is whether its one of his most important. 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. #1. While collectors could pull 1914 Cracker Jack cards directly from the box, that also meant they usually had caramel stains on them. Remember, the Tiffany versions were produced in much smaller quantities and were printed on premium card stock. 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. What's wackier is that Detroit's Justin Verlander, on the AL side, also earned a pitching Triple Crown in 2011. After hitting .363 with 49 home runs and 166 RBI he would go on to win the Triple Crown. Those that have been found in high grade are thought to have never been packaged and instead left the factory by hand. Download Price List, SportsCardsPro 2019-2023 Error cards like Joe Doyles that make it into circulation usually end up being very popular with collectors and this one is no exception. 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth: $4.212 million Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. However, he still put together a worthy encore to his 2010 breakthrough. And then, his season came to a screeching halt with a play that changed the game of baseball forever. In poor condition, this card would fetch hundreds of dollars but if youre lucky enough to land a copy in PSA 10 Gem Mint condition then youre talking big-time money. The card is subtle in design and imagery but remains a truly majestic card for any serious collector to consider. After winning 61 games in 2010, Seattle finished at 67-95 in 2011 for the franchise's sixth losing season in eight years. The glossy coatings of these cards present a bit of an issue with cracking at times but they are nonetheless some terrific cards. Along with the Killebrew and Koufax rookies, theRoberto Clemente rookie card is an anchor in the 1955 Topps baseball card set and the most expensive of the three. The E300 issue is one of the scarcest prewar sets and had relatively been unknown until the 1960s. That would be his teammate, 23-year-old closer Craig Kimbrel. Was it because Wagner wanted to be paid by the tobacco company to use his image? Demand for Clementes rookie card has skyrocketed over the past couple of years. 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. 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. To this day, there is no clear explanation for the rarity of this card, a card that is nearly as tough as the Honus Wagner from the same set. While both are classics, there is no doubt that #37 is the more popular and difficult of the two. Most Expensive 2023 Topps Baseball Cards Most Expensive 2023 Topps card list & price guide. A PSA 10 1954 Topps Banks rookie card sold for $142,836 in May 2012. A record that is pretty safe to say will never be broken. 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) This is one of them. From a design standpoint, I liked how Topps kept things nice and clean without trying to go over the top in celebrating their 60th anniversary. For some reason, collectors had to send in for the card a year later in 1934 by contacting Goudey if they wanted to complete this set. 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. The 1932 U.S. Caramel set is one of the most desirable and challenging prewar sets in the hobby. The cream of the crop. Collectors love the eye appeal of this beautiful pre-war set. When the infamous T206 set was being produced, Doyle was pitching for the New York Highlanders of the American League. It would fetch much more than that today. (Note: The following sections contain affiliate links to current eBay and Amazon listings for the cards being discussed.) While the Dodgers failed to make the playoffs at 83-78, Kershaw made a second-straight playoff miss easier to stomach in Chavez Ravine. Over the first seven games of his MLB career, Altuve had at least one hit, tying him with Russ Johnson for the club record for most consecutive games with a hit to begin a career. 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 . 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. 2022 Topps Series 1 Wander Franco Photo Variation SP RC #215 1955 Topps Sandy Koufax #123 #9. Most Expensive 2021 Topps Chrome card list & price guide. Its pretty much identical to his 1915 Cracker Jack issue except for the fact that the back of the 1915 version is turned upside down and was printed on thicker paper stock. 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. Ungraded & graded values for all '05 Topps Baseball Cards. 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. 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. While not as pricey as the Yellow or Red Ruths of the same set, its still a very expensive card and a key member of the Ruth quartet. 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. Centering issues, as well as dark print blotches in the yellow background, are usually the two key issues of this card. Ungraded & graded values for all '20 Topps His incredible career makesStan Musial baseball cards extremely popular with collectors. 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. 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 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. Jose Altuve's relationship with the Houston Astros began in 2007 when the club evaluated him at a camp in Maracay, Venezuela, when he was just a teenager. And its extremely rareone of the rarest in the hobby. Mathewson is the only player in both the 1914 and 1915 sets whose poses are entirely different. There arent manySatchel Paige baseball cards in the hobby but this is a great looking card of the legendary pitcher. The error was quickly caught, though, so there arent many copies in existence. Collectors who take on the challenge of completing this set are no doubt in for an extremely tough challenge. 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. 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. Like many 1952 Topps cards, this Mays issue is prone to tilt and centering problems. Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, and Cy Young were also featured in the set but Cobbs issue is undoubtedly the most desired. Estimates place the number of front/back combinations around 5,500 which led to this set being nicknamed The Monster.. Whenever manager Ozzie Guillen needed him to get a few outs, Sale performed. 1968 Topps #177 Nolan Ryan RC This is my favoriteSandy Koufax baseball cardand one of the best-looking cards of the 1950s in my opinion. The 1915 version was part of a redemption program, however, thus better preserving their condition. The base set from Bowman holds little value. Greatest Topps Baseball Cards of All-Time Most Expensive of All-Time #10. Not many baseball cards possess as much elaborate and ornate decoration as those of the 1909 Ramly Cigarette T204 set. Collectors will pay big money for either version as long as its in high grade. He ultimately fell short of the incredible feat but still finished the season batting .317 with 35 home runs and 115 RBIs. 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. Centering and chipping along the red bottom border are usually obstacles to achieving a higher grade. PriceIt Game | The Bat On Shoulder and Bat Off Shoulder would then follow. 2005 Topps card list & price guide. Trout exploded during his official rookie campaign the following season, earning AL Rookie of the Year honors and finishing second in the MVP race. Gehrig again appeared on two different cards, #37 and #61, in the 1934 Goudey set. And because it features a close-up of Mantle, print defects on his face can also sometimes turn off collectors. He also turned heads with his slick glove work at first, earning the only Gold Glove of his career thus far. 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 Say Hey Kidwas arguably the greatest all-around player to step on the field. With five Silver Sluggers and three batting titles to his name in twelve MLB seasons, Altuve continues to be one of the best hitters in the game. PSA 10s in the card have commanded more than $40,000, but since '78 Topps has a notorious history of off-centered printing, there are so few gem mints out there. That means there are also many fakes out there, so considerPSA grading services or other reputable third party graders before buying or selling one of these. 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. That story is enough to make any collector cringe. 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. This is no doubt one of the most sought after cards of one of the games best pitchers of all time. If you asked collectors, most would probably say they prefer the portrait poses with the green portrait more preferred to the red due to its scarcity. Key to the 1953 Topps set is the #244 Willie Mays baseball card. Not many people outside of the baseball card hobby know who Joe Doyle is. 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. Especially for high condition copies of the card. Although not as popular as his 1948 Bowman rookie card, his 1948 Leaf rookie card is the tougher of the two. In his fourth year with the club, Miguel Cabrera helped Detroit silence those laughs. The 97-win Yankees eventually fell well short of their championship aspirations with a five-game ALDS loss to the Detroit Tigers. 1985. 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. 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. 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. Shortcuts: Most Expensive , Cheapest , List by Card # But there was plenty to like about their accomplishments before the season's heartbreaking finale. That card was later sold for $250,000 in 2007. 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. It was a brutal way for the season to end for the 90-win Red Sox. Just a year prior, Sale wasn't even a starter yet. Buy on: eBay 1964 Topps Phil Niekro RC/Phil Roof RC #541 The Rookie Cards in 1964 Topps Baseball are led by a. There is no doubt that this is one of Ty Cobbs most demanded and popular baseball cards. So, if you're looking tosell baseball cards then you might want to check this list to see if you're sitting on something special. The black borders are susceptible to showing wear and chipping but finding any card from the 19th century in high grade will undoubtedly be difficult anyways. Top athletes from baseball, football, hockey, tennis, golf, boxing, swimming, horse racing and even dog sled racing are showcased in the set. Either 10 Turkey Red Cigarette coupons or 25 Old Mill or Fez Cigarette coupons would earn you one card. 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. In PSA 8 condition, this card would likely sell for $1 million or more. Prices are updated daily based upon 2022 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. Most cards in the T206 set are not rare but the Honus Wagner cards are because they were pulled from production early. Late into the 2022 season, Paul Goldschmidt had a legitimate chance at winning the Triple Crown. Some collectors go for the base set. Financial problems would cause Dunn to sell Ruths contract to the Boston Red Sox later that year, however. There are 30 cards in total and each includes seven different possible color backs. Each of the 30 unnumbered cards in the set feature an artist rendering of players atop colored backgrounds. 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. 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. 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. The famous Pittsburg Pirate shortstop is shown ready at the bat with his name Hans along the bottom border of the card. Ungraded & graded values for all '22 Topps 1st Edition Baseball Cards. So, although not as desirable as the others, the fact that it exists in such great condition brings a steep price tag. 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, unfortunately, Goudey mailed the card with a paper clip on it that left indentations on the card. But in 2011, the 37-year-old superstar hit just .272 with an uncharacteristic .645 OPS. I remember seeing one of these in abaseball card shop near where I grew up and I would just stare in awe. We are user supported. George Close Candy cards are among the scarcer pre-WWI caramel issues and the Honus Wagner is one of the keys to the set. Any collector lucky enough to get his hands on Mathewsons card is sure to be ecstatic. Because of his alleged participation in the Black Sox Scandal during the 1919 World Series, Jackson was banned from baseball during his prime. The young Florida native made 58 appearances out of the bullpen, finishing 17 games and saving eight. One of the most popular 1930s sets, the 1933 Sport Kings R333 set consists of 48 cards in total. That was the most any Houston Astros rookie had ever driven in during one month as a rookie. People are spending as much on old pieces of cardboard as most people spend on a house. Most collectors will tell you they prefer the eye appeal of his 1915 Cracker Jack card but his 1914 version is the more rare and valuable of the two. The T210 Old Mill set features hundreds of minor league ballplayers that most people have never heard of before. 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. Considered to be one of the more obscure Honus Wagner type cards its value continues to remain strong. The 31-year-old superstar ended the year slashing .299/.366/.541 with 37 home runs, 29 doubles, 105 runs scored, and 99 RBIs in 651 plate appearances (579 at-bats). So why would one of his cards be so expensive? 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. A mixture of bad timing, poor communication, and an always-controversial roster rule kept Albert Pujols out of the 2011 MLB All-Star Game, ending his streak of consecutive Midsummer Classics at eight. 1986 Topps Tiffany Rickey Henderson 2. The card features a great image of Ruth and it remains one of his most desirable cards. Not surprisingly, Cobbs card is the cornerstone and to the set. 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. 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. Most Valuable Baseball Cards All the information and details has been compiled from the trusted sites including Wikipedia, New York Post, and Forbes. 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. Theres just something about this card that makes it visually stunning. This instantly recognizable card is easily one of Mathewsons most popular. The cards design is beautiful and easily distinguished from others of the 1950s. 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). This card can be quite challenging and is the key to the set. 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. In 2016, seven copies of this card were miraculously found in an old paper bag. Get my weekly newsletter with the latest hobby updates delivered straight to your inbox! Altuve went 1-5 that game, but little did he know then he had kicked off a piece of Houston Astros history. A PSA Gem Mint 10 #128 Aaron sold for $357,594 in 2012, a price that would easily be overcome in todays market. This is the keyJackie Robinson baseball card you should add to your collection. Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? It's so rare that no complete set has ever been assembled. 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. The Giants were 27-19 heading into a home series with the Florida Marlins, looking every bit the contender for a repeat World Series engagement. No More Secrets Puzzle Game, Ungraded 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). The number of chase cards available to collectors may have seemed overwhelming at the time but, in retrospect, it was great to see Topps offer so much variety. 2011 was the year that Ichiro finally looked mortal at the plate. And yes, that includes those famously priceless Mickey Mantles. Whatever the reason, there are only approximately 50-75 or so known copies in circulation today as a result. 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. Many collectors are happy to just be able to own one of these legendary cards in the first place, though. The price would certainly be astronomical. 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. Two decades of pro ball were catching up to Ichiro. The card features a great close-up of the star pitcher surrounded by the famous T205 gold borders. Bowman did not include him in their 1953 set so that makes his Topps card of that year even more sought after. 1. Heritage Auctions sold a copy of this card graded in PSA 10 Gem Mint condition for a jaw-dropping $612,359 in August of 2016. 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. 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. Its arguably the most visually pleasing and desirable of all the Ted Williams baseball cards in the hobby. 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. Interestingly, this card was not originally part of the 1933 Goudey set. While he cooled off from that torrid pace, the now two-time All-Star was still one of the game's most feared hitters. With Mays, the opposite is true: his Bowman rookie card is worth more than his 1952 Topps card. That is a fact not likely to end any time soon. 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. 1909 T-206 Honus Wagner: $7.25 million 3. If you remember, during Game 3 of the 1932 World Series against the Chicago Cubs, Babe Ruth made his famous Called Shot. If you look at the bottom, Sherry Magees last name is mistakenly spelled Magie. However, it just isnt as often found in high grade as #53. The Braves had an 8.5-game lead in the NL Wild Card race at the beginning of September. Centering that favors the bottom and slight angular cuts are usually the factors that prevent these cards from reaching higher grades. 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. While not his most expensive baseball card, its arguably the most visually pleasing of them all. The 1969 Topps baseball card set is well-loved in this hobby by many collectors for several different reasons. Theyre undoubtedly very condition sensitive. If youre a collector, just stick to what you love and collect only what you love. This is the other, less expensive, version of this card in the 1938 Goudey set. The find has since been dubbed The Lucky 7 find. 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. The 1917 Collins-McCarthy candy cards are some of the few card issues that were printed during the mid-teens of the 20th century. 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. Many in the hobby feel this card is overlooked in importance but what no one can deny is just how rare it is. 1952 Topps Willie Mays RC #261 #5. Although past his prime, he still achieved success in the Majors and was twice named an All-Star. 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. Walter Johnson appears twice in the T206 set, one in a pitching pose and then again in this portrait layout. 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle: $12.6 million 2. One of the bright spots for Boston was the re-emergence of designated hitter David Ortiz as an elite hitting threat. His career ERA of 2.13 proves just how difficult it was to hit off of him. 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. It should come as no surprise that the rookie card of the greatest player who ever lived would be on this list. ThisTed Williams card features a superb black and white image of Williams following through on his classic swing. totaled an incredible 511 wins over his career. and one of the best-looking cards of the 1950s in my opinion. The 1939 Play Ball #92 issue is the Splendid Splinters only recognized rookie card. 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. 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.