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Wagner, Ruth, Cobb, Mantle and Mays are just several of the baseball greats that reside on this list of cardboard rarities. The 97-win Yankees eventually fell well short of their championship aspirations with a five-game ALDS loss to the Detroit Tigers. 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. Like Jose Altuve, J.D. 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). I remember seeing one of these in abaseball card shop near where I grew up and I would just stare in awe. These are the Top 3 Most Valuable Baseball Cards Worth Money. He ultimately fell short of the incredible feat but still finished the season batting .317 with 35 home runs and 115 RBIs. 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. ThisTed Williams card features a superb black and white image of Williams following through on his classic swing. 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. Moreover, the Mathewson Portrait is one of the toughest HOF portraits in the entire set. That story is enough to make any collector cringe. Walter Johnson appears twice in the T206 set, one in a pitching pose and then again in this portrait layout. 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. Read our methodology . Some argue that this is Mickey Mantles most beautiful card. Fresh off a Rookie of the Year campaign and the first of three World Series titles in five years, young San Francisco Giants backstop Buster Posey was riding high by the Bay in early 2011. 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. Halladay was great, giving up just one run on four hits in eight innings. His .250 batting average reflected the lack of discipline and experience but his .474 slugging percentage hinted at the kind of power he could bring to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The 1952 Andy Pafko card is so expensive simply because it resided at the #1 position of the most important set of the postwar era. Centering and chipping along the red bottom border are usually obstacles to achieving a higher grade. This card is often thought to be Jacksons most attractive and popular baseball card. Was it because Wagner wanted to be paid by the tobacco company to use his image? 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. Rookie Cards. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. Error cards like Joe Doyles that make it into circulation usually end up being very popular with collectors and this one is no exception. Altuve went 1-5 that game, but little did he know then he had kicked off a piece of Houston Astros history. Prices are updated daily based upon 2005 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. This card is a key classic in the hobby and is Aarons only recognized rookie card. In high grade, this card can fetch big bucks. Read our methodology . 2005 Topps card list & price guide. And while they are keys to the set and arguably the most popularLou Gehrig baseball cards, they are still overshadowed by the Ruth quartet. 1984. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. The card shows a young Ruth in a Boston Red Sox uniform before they traded him to the rival New York Yankees. Cheapest, It's these end-year series that comprise the most valuable Topps baseball cards today. 2022 Topps Baseball Rookie Cards Guide. By Ryan Cracknell. Read our methodology. 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. This card is a prime example of an instance where neither being a star nor an error card can bring in big bucks. One of the most popular 1930s sets, the 1933 Sport Kings R333 set consists of 48 cards in total. Try finding something to not like about this card! 1978 Topps Andre Dawson 72 PSA 10 Rookie Cup PSA 10 Image Credit: ebay While most of these newer A&G Topps cards were baseball players, you can also find other sports represented (wrestling, soccer, MMA, basketball, softball, beach volleyball, boxing, and car racing). Prices are updated daily based upon 2023 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. 1909 T-206 Honus Wagner: $7.25 million 3. 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. 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. 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. And that first season with the Red Sox in 2018 has been the greatest of his career so far. Most Expensive 2020 Topps card list & price guide. There are two varieties of these cards with one version featuring a tobacco advertisement on the back and the other a checklist. If you look at the bottom, Sherry Magees last name is mistakenly spelled Magie. The T210 Old Mill set features hundreds of minor league ballplayers that most people have never heard of before. 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. The card is key for three main reasons: Shortcuts: George Close Candy cards are among the scarcer pre-WWI caramel issues and the Honus Wagner is one of the keys to the 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. It's still a very unusual-looking card but is one that many collectors dream of owning. Caramel cards are usually more scarce than tobacco cards since they were sold to children rather than adults. His career ERA of 2.13 proves just how difficult it was to hit off of him. His 3,000th hit was a solo shot in the 3rd inning that tied the game at one. The 1969 Topps baseball card set is well-loved in this hobby by many collectors for several different reasons. Ungraded & graded values for all '21 Topps Chrome Baseball Cards. 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. It would fetch much more than that today. 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. Just be prepared to put up big money if you want one in high grade. The 48-card 1915 American Caramel E106 shows some nice artistic renderings of players of the National, American and Federal Leagues. Young appears three times in the epic T206 set with this being the most desired and priciest of them all. 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. 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. The centering can be so severe that it will cut into the text along the bottom. The card is subtle in design and imagery but remains a truly majestic card for any serious collector to consider. Especially his American Caramel E90-1 rookie card on which he is shown leaning on his bat against a purple backdrop. 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. Both are not cheap but it is this version that is the more desirable and expensive of the two. The Iron Horseappears twice in the 1933 Goudey setwith card #s 92 and 160 to his credit. Posey suffered torn ligaments in his left ankle and a fractured fibula in a violent collision that reverberated for years. In comparison, Suzuki's lowest full-season OPS in the Majors to that point was .747 in 2008, over 100 points better than his 2011 mark. 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. His 1951 Bowman issue is his only recognized rookie card and along with the Mantle rookie is the key to the entire set. Because they were distributed in packages of hot dogs, its extremely difficult to find them in high grade. 1. There arent manySatchel Paige baseball cards in the hobby but this is a great looking card of the legendary pitcher. Big names like Albert Pujols, Ichiro, David Ortiz, Derek Jeter, Miguel Cabrera and Clayton Kershaw help round out a solid checklist. 3)Many high number cards were famously dumped into the ocean leaving even less of them in existence. Bowman did not include him in their 1953 set so that makes his Topps card of that year even more sought after. Together with the Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb (Ty Cobb back), and Eddie Plank the T206 Sherry Magie error card is one of the rarest of the entire set. Distracting print lines usually hold this card back from higher grades, though. Mathewson appears three times in the T206 set with the Portrait, White Cap and Dark Cap variations. The card is one of Ruths most desired of all. Centering issues, as well as dark print blotches in the yellow background, are usually the two key issues of this card. This is the second most desirable card in the famed T206 set and the only pose of the HOF pitcher. But, the Great Bambino is the number one card to own out of all of them. I like Posey's rookie cup card #198 from Series One better than this card that appeared in Series Two from an aesthetic standpoint. Get my weekly newsletter with the latest hobby updates delivered straight to your inbox! Then they went 9-18 in the campaign's final month, losing out on a playoff spot by a game to St. Louis with a season-ending five-game losing streak. 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. Most Expensive 2022 Topps 1st Edition card list & price guide. 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. The 1954 Wilson Franks Ted Williams baseball card is one of if not the most important regional card ever produced. The 23-year-old left walked a career-worst 41 batters in 50 innings pitched, issuing a ghastly 7.4 walks per 9 innings. 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). Like many 1952 Topps cards, this Mays issue is prone to tilt and centering problems. In his fourth year with the club, Miguel Cabrera helped Detroit silence those laughs. Ruth was at the tail end of his career in 1933 but he still produced well enough to be named a starter in the All-Star game at Comiskey Park that year. 1981 Topps #302 Dodgers Future Stars Estimated PSA 9 Mint Value: $225 When it comes to rookie season debuts, the Dodgers have developed a reputation for some of the finest on record. Thus, Pujols was left out in a season where he finished fifth in the NL's MVP balloting. The Braves had an 8.5-game lead in the NL Wild Card race at the beginning of September. Just a year prior, Sale wasn't even a starter yet. 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. The question is: where do you start on this list? 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. Each of the 30 unnumbered cards in the set feature an artist rendering of players atop colored backgrounds. 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) Ungraded & graded values for all '20 Topps Baseball Cards. Estimated PSA 4.5 VG-EX+ Value: $1,100,000. The Big Train is a true legend of the game and this card is a great tribute to him. 0% Shortcuts: Most Expensive , Cheapest , List by Card # So, there you have it: the most expensivebaseball cardsthat youre ever likely to encounter. Being card #261 in the set, its not a high number card (#311 407) which means it is not as scarce as Mantles #311 card. Two decades of pro ball were catching up to Ichiro. Gehrig again appeared on two different cards, #37 and #61, in the 1934 Goudey set. Prices are updated daily based upon 2022 Topps 1st Edition listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. Because of his alleged participation in the Black Sox Scandal during the 1919 World Series, Jackson was banned from baseball during his prime. 2020 Topps card list & price guide. The 1986 Topps Traded Bo Jackson rookie card is his most desirable and most expensive card you can find. (Note: The following sections contain affiliate links to current eBay and Amazon listings for the cards being discussed.) The Tigers couldn't capitalize on Cabrera's otherworldly October and lost to the Rangers in the ALCS in six. | Compare vs. It should come as no surprise that the rookie card of the greatest player who ever lived would be on this list. Who did Freeman finish runner-up to in the leagues RotY race, you ask? 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. 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. And, unfortunately, Goudey mailed the card with a paper clip on it that left indentations on the card. Read our methodology . 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. Whether you can find one in high grade or not, though, its a superb card for any collector to own. And if you remember, the 1952 Mantle card is relatively more expensive than his 1951 Bowman card. This still ranks among the most popular baseball cards of all-time. So, although not as desirable as the others, the fact that it exists in such great condition brings a steep price tag. 1955 Topps #164 Roberto Clemente RC #4. 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. Also, many of the known examples are found with poor centering from top to bottom. The eye appeal is top-notch, as with most 1914 Cracker Jack cards. 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 E300 issue is one of the scarcest prewar sets and had relatively been unknown until the 1960s. 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. Although past his prime, he still achieved success in the Majors and was twice named an All-Star. Centering that favors the bottom and slight angular cuts are usually the factors that prevent these cards from reaching higher grades. 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. In fact, his 1986 Topps Traded Tiffany card can be worth over $2,000 in PSA condition. 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. 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. This card can be quite challenging and is the key to the set. Prices are updated daily based upon 2020 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. 1956 Topps Mickey Mantle #135 #6. 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. Overall, Votto hit .309 with a .947 OPS, 29 home runs, and 101 runs scored. Poor print quality and focus plague this short print card making high-grade copies nearly unachievable. Votto led the National League in doubles (40), on-base percentage (.416), and walks (110). 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. Buy on: eBay 1964 Topps Phil Niekro RC/Phil Roof RC #541 The Rookie Cards in 1964 Topps Baseball are led by a. Jackson dominated the minors that year and the Naps called him up late in the 1910 season. After 60 years in the hobby, Topps helped celebrate their "Diamond Anniversary" by packing so much into their 2011 Topps baseball card set. So, to build this list, I only focused on the base cards from 2011 Topps and included some from 2011 Topps Update as well. Premium: But there was plenty to like about their accomplishments before the season's heartbreaking finale. That production boosted his legend and popularity making him one of the most highly collected players in the hobby. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Prices continue to climb on them, so keep your eye out for these baseball cards! The cream of the crop. 1968 Topps #177 Nolan Ryan RC After 60 years in the hobby, Topps helped celebrate their "Diamond Anniversary" by packing so much into their 2011 Topps baseball card set. A record that is pretty safe to say will never be broken. 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). Collectors will pay big money for either version as long as its in high grade. 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. #1. He also loves to write about the hobby and has written for Beckett, Topps, SABR and of course, this website. The potential for caramel stains doesnt bode well for collectors of this card. 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. 3. You could argue the imagery isn't the nicest in the hobby but it makes for an unforgettable card design. The four Ty Cobb cards in the T206 all differ in popularity, scarcity, and appearance but they are all just as important to the hobby as the 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth quartet. 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. 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. He ended the year with a 2.79 ERA, striking out 79 batters in 71.0 innings pitched. 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. Nadja was a brand name of the Blake-Wenneker Candy Co. of St Louis and the set features 62 cards in total. Trout exploded during his official rookie campaign the following season, earning AL Rookie of the Year honors and finishing second in the MVP race.
