Mathewson appears three times in the T206 set with the Portrait, White Cap and Dark Cap variations. 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 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. While the Dodgers failed to make the playoffs at 83-78, Kershaw made a second-straight playoff miss easier to stomach in Chavez Ravine. This card is a prime example of an instance where neither being a star nor an error card can bring in big bucks. After slumping to start the season, the hulking St. Louis Cardinals first baseman returned to All-Star form before suffering a fractured left wrist in mid-June. Top athletes from baseball, football, hockey, tennis, golf, boxing, swimming, horse racing and even dog sled racing are showcased in the set. Ungraded & graded values for all '06 Topps Baseball Cards. That is unless youre talking about the Red Portrait with the Ty Cobb back that was showcased earlier on this list. 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. And their continued popularity and demand prove that baseball cards still do hold great value. Theres just something about this card that makes it visually stunning. #15 1966 Topps Ferguson Jenkins (RC) #254 Sold for $8,988 1966 Topps Ferguson Jenkins rookie card on eBay Although kind of normal for Gehrig, his offensive production was extraordinary in 1934. Before I get started, I just want to clarify some of the criteria I used in creating this list. Many collectors are happy to just be able to own one of these legendary cards in the first place, though. Collectors love the eye appeal of this beautiful pre-war set. 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. Produced in 1915 by the American Caramel Company of York, Pennsylvania, the E106 set consists of 48 different cards, including two varieties of the legendary Ty Cobb. 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 . 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. Hes also the only key player in the 1914 set on a horizontal layout. Any modern flagship Topps Baseball set has a lot going on. 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. Was it because Wagner wanted to be paid by the tobacco company to use his image? While the #144 Full Body Ruth was double-printed and isnt as scarce, it is harder to find in high-grade than the #181 Green Ruth. 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. Collectors will pay big money for either version as long as its in high grade. After 60 years in the hobby, Topps helped celebrate their "Diamond Anniversary" by packing so much into their 2011 Topps baseball card set. Buy on: eBay 1964 Topps Phil Niekro RC/Phil Roof RC #541 The Rookie Cards in 1964 Topps Baseball are led by a. Another obscure and rarely seen card, the 1915 E106 American Caramel Honus Wagner Throwing variation is just as much of a classic. And while they are keys to the set and arguably the most popularLou Gehrig baseball cards, they are still overshadowed by the Ruth quartet. Ungraded & graded values for all '23 Topps Baseball Cards. 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. 1952 Topps #1 Andy Pafko #8. That is a fact not likely to end any time soon. The Yellow Ruth, #53, is considered to be the toughest, closely followed by the #149 Red Ruth that shows the legendary slugger in an identical pose. 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). Interestingly, this card was not originally part of the 1933 Goudey set. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. 1986 Topps Tiffany Ryne Sandberg Chicago Cubs Card 7. The 1932 U.S. Caramel set is one of the most desirable and challenging prewar sets in the hobby. Whether you can find one in high grade or not, though, its a superb card for any collector to own. It is one of the most difficult cards to find overall, making it one of the most important cards on this list. Error cards like Joe Doyles that make it into circulation usually end up being very popular with collectors and this one is no exception. 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. Most cards in the T206 set are not rare but the Honus Wagner cards are because they were pulled from production early. . The bright yellow background makes this card pop and the portrait of the young Big Train makes for an unforgettable baseball card. Whatever the reason, there are only approximately 50-75 or so known copies in circulation today as a result. He also topped 100 runs scored (111) and 100 RBIs (105) while playing in an AL-best 161 of 162 regular-season games. 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. 1914 Cracker Jack Joe Jackson The 1914 Cracker Jack Joe Jackson has a staggering value of $200,000. Altuve went 1-5 that game, but little did he know then he had kicked off a piece of Houston Astros history. The 48-card 1915 American Caramel E106 shows some nice artistic renderings of players of the National, American and Federal Leagues. People are spending as much on old pieces of cardboard as most people spend on a house. 2022 Topps Series 1 Wander Franco Photo Variation SP RC #215 Also, many of the known examples are found with poor centering from top to bottom. We may earn an affiliate commission if you Of all theWillie Mays baseball cards out there, this is his most important. Even in poor condition, they routinely sell for over $1 million. The centering can be so severe that it will cut into the text along the bottom. Thus, Pujols was left out in a season where he finished fifth in the NL's MVP balloting. Cobb was known as a ferocious competitor who was determined to be the best day in and day out. 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. Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, and Cy Young were also featured in the set but Cobbs issue is undoubtedly the most desired. The Bat On Shoulder and Bat Off Shoulder would then follow. Although past his prime, he still achieved success in the Majors and was twice named an All-Star. inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971. Career highlights: Two-time National League Most Valuable Player (1958, 1959), 14 . 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. 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. At the tender age of 22, Sale made his full-season debut with the Sox as a high-leverage reliever. And come the postseason, he was on another level, leading St. Louis from a 90-win Wild Card berth to a second World Series title in six years. By the way check out the best Wander Franco Rookie Cards #2. Premium: 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. 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. Those that have been found in high grade are thought to have never been packaged and instead left the factory by hand. 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. Two decades of pro ball were catching up to Ichiro. Honus. Because of his alleged participation in the Black Sox Scandal during the 1919 World Series, Jackson was banned from baseball during his prime. 1956 Topps Mickey Mantle #135 #6. We are user supported. 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. Interest in the Dodgers/Giants rivalry was skyrocketing, and Kershaw's brilliance was a big reason for it. For others, it's the . That would be his teammate, 23-year-old closer Craig Kimbrel. 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. Remarkably, he still only finished fifth in the MVP race! It was clear that Topps wanted to do something special for their 60th anniversary and they certainly delivered. As with Mantles 1952 Topps card, some still mistake this card as Mays rookie, too. 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. From autographs and relics to silk cards, glove leather cards and exclusive online cards, there was so much variety for collectors to chase. The Sox finished at 79-83, out of the playoffs for the third-straight year. The Say Hey Kidwas arguably the greatest all-around player to step on the field. Baseball Cards. The card is key for three main reasons: 25) 1987 Topps Wade Boggs (#150) Exact prices are available to subscribers. For example, one easy way to tell if youve got an M101-4 Ruth rookie is if the Sporting News ad is on the back of the card as no M101-5 Ruths featured that ad. On the plus side, Chapman struck out 71 batters and gave up just 24 hits in a variety of high-leverage situations. 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. (Note: The following sections contain affiliate links to current eBay and Amazon listings for the cards being discussed.) His aggressive play on the field and his generous ways off the field made him a special individual. Both are not cheap but it is this version that is the more desirable and expensive of the two. 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. Wagner, Ruth, Cobb, Mantle and Mays are just several of the baseball greats that reside on this list of cardboard rarities. But, Joe Jackson is instantly recognizable on this card depicting him as a member of the Cleveland Naps minor league team, the New Orleans Pelicans. In PSA 4.5 grade, it is estimated this card would reel in over $1 million. Cracker Jacks cards are wildly popular and the serious-looking Cobb is one of the keys to this set. Read our methodology . 1. 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. Some collectors go for the base set. Prices are updated daily based upon 2022 Topps 1st Edition listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. 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. 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. Read our methodology . Martinez turned out to be the big winners from 2011 Topps Update. The Green Ruth is the last of the four Babe Ruth cards to appear in the 1933 Goudey set. This also is not including 1/1s. The E106 American Caramel cards are some of the scarcest Honus Wagner cards in the hobby (but obviously not his most expensive if you look at the top of this list). Either 10 Turkey Red Cigarette coupons or 25 Old Mill or Fez Cigarette coupons would earn you one card. 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. Financial problems would cause Dunn to sell Ruths contract to the Boston Red Sox later that year, however. 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. 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. There are only a handful of known copies of this card in the hobby making it a rare and highly demanded issue. 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. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. 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. Most Expensive 2022 Topps 1st Edition card list & price guide. One of the most popular 1930s sets, the 1933 Sport Kings R333 set consists of 48 cards in total. 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. Track your collection for free. So why would one of his cards be so expensive? But, that doesnt necessarily mean its his most expensive. And its extremely rareone of the rarest in the hobby. 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. In the deciding Game 5, Halladay squared off with his former Toronto Blue Jays teammate and close friend Chris Carpenter. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. Greatest Topps Baseball Cards of All-Time Most Expensive of All-Time #10. 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. 1985. If so, then please fill out the form below and I'll be in touch right away. In PSA 8 condition, this card would likely sell for $1 million or more. 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. Its so rare that only a handful exist and not many collectors have even seen one in person. Not many baseball cards possess as much elaborate and ornate decoration as those of the 1909 Ramly Cigarette T204 set. 1986 Topps Nolan Ryan Card 5. However, Carpenter was better, tossing a complete-game three-hit shutout to oust the two-time defending NL champs, 1-0. 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. 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. Like all Bowman cards, the eye appeal of this card is amazing as a the artwork of the young Mick is simply stunning. This is no doubt one of the most sought after cards of one of the games best pitchers of all time. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. Caramel cards are usually more scarce than tobacco cards since they were sold to children rather than adults. Two great images of Banks are show atop a white border than can be notorious for showing print defects. His incredible career makesStan Musial baseball cards extremely popular with collectors. While Sale was still working on controlling his pitch mix and hitting corners consistently (his 3.4 BB/9 is the second-worst of his career so far), he still showcased elite stuff. Its arguably the most visually pleasing and desirable of all the Ted Williams baseball cards in the hobby. Read our methodology . As with pretty much any pre-war set that features Cobb, his card is the heart and soul of this legendary set. 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. 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. Reigning NL MVP Joey Votto couldn't carry an inconsistent, snake-bitten Cincinnati Reds squad to a second-straight postseason in 2011. Are you selling sports cards that were produced from 1868 - 1975? Key to the 1953 Topps set is the #244 Willie Mays baseball card. 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. It's still a very unusual-looking card but is one that many collectors dream of owning. Most Expensive 2022 Topps card list & price guide. The 1963 ToppsPete Rose rookie cardshows the all-time hit king along with Pedro Gonzalez, Ken McMullen, and Al Weis as one of 1963s most promising youngsters. 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). 2020 Topps card list & price guide. Late into the 2022 season, Paul Goldschmidt had a legitimate chance at winning the Triple Crown. 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. We believe the following 10 cards will be tops in short-term return on investment over the next 1 to 2 years. The postseason drought would only get longer, but Sale's transition to a starting role in 2012 was the dawning of a new ace on the Southside. But, the Great Bambino is the number one card to own out of all of 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. Many in the hobby feel this card is overlooked in importance but what no one can deny is just how rare it is. Although it features identical imagery as his 1914 Cracker Jack issue, most high-end examples of these two issues are of the 1915. And because it features a close-up of Mantle, print defects on his face can also sometimes turn off collectors. 5. This is the other, less expensive, version of this card in the 1938 Goudey set. Though he may not have been MLB's hottest rookie in 1990, he certainly turned into one of the biggest superstars of his era. Halladay was given the ball for Games 1 and 5. Part of the great quartet of T206 Cobb cards, the Green Portrait version is the toughest of all of them to collect. 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. Read our methodology . Read our methodology. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. He also amassed less than 200 hits (184) and posted an OPS+ under 100 (86) for the first time in eleven MLB seasons. The most expensive 2022 Topps Heritage baseball cards feature the likes of Wander Franco, Shohei Ohtani, Julio Rodriguez, and even Nolan Ryan making an appearance. Altuve was hitting an incredible .423 at that point but eventually cooled to finish with a .276/.297/.357 slash line. So its no wonder that his 1948 Leaf rookie card is such and important piece of the hobby. Most Expensive 2023 Topps Baseball Cards Most Expensive 2023 Topps card list & price guide. In addition to the Satchel Paige and Stan Musial rookie cards, Robinsons rookie is key to the set. 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. 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. Natl along the bottom before the error was corrected. While the "Cobb Back" T206 may be his most expensive card, this one is arguably his most popular among high-end collectors. But the value between the two isnt affected. When the infamous T206 set was being produced, Doyle was pitching for the New York Highlanders of the American League. The base set from Bowman holds little value. Larry Doyle, a second baseman, played for the New York Giants of the NL at the time so most likely that is the reason for the mix-up. He was also clutch, maintaining a sub-1.00 World Series ERA and twice being named series MVP in 1963 and 1965. And with a 20-game hit streak late in the year, Freeman joined Dan Uggla as the first Braves teammates in modern history to have simultaneous hitting streaks of twenty or more.