It has been more than a century since kids and even adults started collecting baseball cards. There have been a number of iconic and valuable cards, and some have flown under the radar though they still sell for plenty of money. We have listed some of the most valuable baseball cards of all time. You might find some modern cards in your attic or basement right now. We recommend you go through the batter’s box just in case there is fortune lying in wait. Even if you are not a card collector or a big baseball fan, you will still enjoy looking at these gems!
The Most Valuable Baseball Cards
1952 Topps (Mickey Mantle)
Many consider The Commerce Comet or The Mick the greatest switch hitter in the history of baseball. One of the best players ever, American Mickey Mantle would be the quintessential baseball player for many baby boomers. To go with this, the quintessential baseball card would have to be his 1952 Topps card. Did you know that a grade 9 1952 Mantle sold for nearly $3 million? For a non-Honus Wagner T206 card, it definitely set a record! The card is so respected that even 6 or 7-graded copies could still bring in roughly $700,000.
1952 Topps (Mickey Mantle)
1993 Upper Deck SP Foil (Derek Jeter)
In his role as the New York Yankees shortstop and captain, Derek Jeter is probably the biggest icon in baseball in the last 30 years, as evidenced by the thousands of cards. The most valuable among these cards comes from the time when he was in the minor league in 1993. Just like many cards, the value of this Jeter card can vary, depending on its related number rating and condition. However, even a card that is mid-grade can pull in between $200 and $400. Cards that are in near-perfect condition can fetch close to $1,000.
1993 Upper Deck SP Foil (Derek Jeter)
1984 Fleer Update (Dwight Gooden)
Back in the early 1980s, Dwight Gooden, also known as Doctor K, arrived on the baseball scene. His blazing fastball enabled him to set rookie records and he was also named Rookie of the Year by the National League (NL). He played 16 seasons in the MLB and his career spanned 430 games, and during his rookie season alone (1984), he struck out 276 batters and won 17 games. The 1985 Fleer Update set immortalized his rookie records. He is featured in the set wearing his blue and orange Mets jersey. This card can go for $200, depending on its condition.
1984 Fleer Update (Dwight Gooden)
1955 Topps (Roberto Clemente)
Puerto Rican Roberto Clemente was an outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He became the first Caribbean and Latin American player to be elected to the Hall of Fame, and the annual MLB Commissioner’s Award has been renamed in his honor. After he notched his career’s 3,000th hit, he sadly passed away in a plane crash. His amazing career and heartbreaking death caused an increase in the interest in memorabilia. A mint 1954 Topps Roberto Clemente rookie card went for $432,690 in 2012, and another card (a 1955 Topps rookie card that is graded 9) pulled in $478,000 roughly four years later.
1955 Topps (Roberto Clemente)
1948 Bowman (Stan Musial)
The St. Louis Cardinals icon is one of the most consistent and greatest hitters of all time, but he is also sometimes considered the most overlooked or underrated athlete in the history of modern American sports. However, he has been immortalized by this set. The 1948 Bowman Stan Musial is the oldest card which is still relatively affordable. Although it is not highly likely that you will find one of these cards in your attic, it is not totally impossible. At any rate, putting effort into looking for one is worth it since this card in good condition goes for more than $1,000.
1948 Bowman (Stan Musial)
1914 Baltimore News (Babe Ruth)
Arguably the greatest baseball player of all time, Babe Ruth is also among the most endearing sports figures in history. The MVP award in the World Series is called the Babe Ruth Award and the MLB presents the top home run hitter of the year with the Babe Ruth Home Run Award. You might think this the reason why a copy of the 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth card fetched $575,000 even though the card just got a grade 2. However, it is actually the rumors claiming that only 10 of these legendary cards are in existence that are making this card so expensive.
1914 Baltimore News (Babe Ruth)
1984 Fleer Update (Roger Clemens)
This is another 1984 Fleer Update card – the most valuable Roger “The Rocket” Clemens rookie card. The Rocket was among the best pitchers in the 1980s, the 1990s, and even the 2000s, and for a power pitcher, that is incredible longevity. He had an illustrious career but his reputation went downhill when he was accused of steroid use. This even stopped him from being elected to the Hall of Fame. Luckily, these things did not lessen the card’s value, and it still sells pulls in between $200 and $400 if the card is in good shape.
1984 Fleer Update (Roger Clemens)
1963 Topps (Pedro Gonzalez/Ken McMullen/Pete Rose/Al Weis)
Pete Rose is not called baseball’s all-time Hit King for nothing. He holds the record for the most career hits in the MLB. He is also the main reason that this 4-player rookie card fetched around $70,000. A copy of sold for $717,700 in 2016. What could be the reason behind it selling for this much money? The particular card got a grade of 10! Finding a perfect card, especially one that is this old, is very rare. Also, this 1963 Topps card is often found with poor centering and print defects, and its blue colored top border is highly susceptible to chipping.
1963 Topps (Pedro Gonzalez/Ken McMullen/Pete Rose/Al Weis)
2001 Bowman Autographed (Albert Pujols)
By the early 2000s, baseball cards had become really ubiquitous, so none was considered rare unless there was a gimmick that came with the card. We are talking about low-numbered parallel cards, autographs, and memorabilia ones. One of the most valuable is the Albert Pujols autograph card that is part of the 2001 Bowman set. You can get a four-figure amount for it if it is in good condition. Albert Pujols played 11 seasons in the National League and was named Player of the Decade by The Sporting News.
2001 Bowman Autographed (Albert Pujols)
1982 Topps Traded (Cal Ripken Jr.)
A number of the 1982 rookie cards are valuable, but the most valuable one is the Cal Ripken Jr. card that is part of the Topps Traded expansion set. Baseball’s Iron Man had a lot of accomplishments but he consistently showed class. He played harder than everyone else and took as much time pleasing the fans. If the Iron Man’s card is in good condition, it can fetch about $200. You have to be careful, though, as the back can easily chip and flake. This explains why there is such a wide range of prices and grades for the card.
1982 Topps Traded (Cal Ripken Jr.)
1968 Topps Rookie (Jerry Koosman/Nolan Ryan)
There are four versions of the Nolan Ryan rookie cards. A copy of this version, the 1968 Topps Jerry Koosman and Nolan Ryan card, with a grade 10 was auctioned off and went for $612,359. If you are wondering what caused this card to sell for so much money, it is because it is really rare. Almost 8,000 copies of this Topps Rookie card were submitted for professional appraisal but only one received this score. You can sell a grade 9 copy of this card for $20,000 to $30,000.
1968 Topps Rookie (Jerry Koosman/Nolan Ryan)
1990 Topps Error (Frank Thomas)
A multi-talented hitter, Frank Thomas is a National Baseball Hall of Famer and was one of the greatest stars of the MLB in the 1990s. During the decade, the Frank Thomas Topps card was the most valuable. However, this card is not a regular one since it has a specific error – the card does not come with Thomas’ name on the front. Actually, this error is the reason the card is worth so much money. The card can pull in an amount that is four or five figures.
1990 Topps Error (Frank Thomas)
T206 (Honus Wagner)
The most famous and valuable baseball card in history has to be the T206 Honus Wagner. Like other cards made during that period, the 1911 card was produced by a tobacco company to increase the sales of their cigarettes, but the slugger himself actually wanted to cancel the card for reasons that are unknown. Some people thought Wagner did not want children to purchase cigarettes just to get his card, but research revealed that the dispute was actually because of the royalties. Nevertheless, only a number of these cards are on the market, so it is considered the baseball cards’ “Holy Grail”! In 2016, a copy of the card went for $3.3 million.
T206 (Honus Wagner)
1991 Desert Shield (Chipper Jones)
Best known as the Atlanta Braves third baseman, Chipper Jones was one of the most well-known MLB players in the 1990s. The Hall of Famer’s most valuable card is linked to one of the iconic moments of that decade. Back in 1991, Topps released a special version of the season’s base set, and there were “Desert Sheild” holograms that came with it. It was only available to Operation Desert Storm soldiers and included a Chipper Jones rookie card! You can expect to get hundreds of dollars for a copy of the card that has the hologram.
1991 Desert Shield (Chipper Jones)
1916 Sporting News (Babe Ruth)
Babe Ruth was not only one of the most well-known sluggers at the height of his career. He was also one of the most well-known men in America at that time. These days, people are still willing to spend a lot of money to own his 1916 Sporting News card, a testament to his legacy. This Babe Ruth rookie card is part of the M101-5 baseball series which consists of 200 cards. In 2016, a copy pulled in an incredible $717,000 and a year after that, a different copy that received a grade of 7 went for $550,000.
1916 Sporting News (Babe Ruth)
1989 Upper Deck Rookie (Ken Griffey Jr.)
This is the most important and probably the most recognizable rookie card of Ken Griffey Jr., one of the greatest all-around baseball players in history. Across the 1990s, many people believed that this 1989 Upper Deck rookie card would become one of the priciest baseball cards of all time. This may not have come true, but the card is among the most iconic in the past three decades. You can expect to get $400 for one that has a good grade. However, like many Griffey rookie Cards, it is subject to a hidden flaw – the reverse side has a factory wrinkle.
1989 Upper Deck Rookie (Ken Griffey Jr.)
1952 Topps (Willie Mays)
In addition to the famous Mantle card, another valuable card that is part of the 1952 Topps set is the one featuring New York center fielder Willie Mays. The Hall of Famer is arguably the best centerfielder the MLB has ever seen. He is usually best remembered for “The Catch”, an incredible play that he made during the World Series in 1954. The card of the Yankees slugger may be more valuable than the 1952 Topps Willie Mays, but the card of the Say Hey Kid fetched $478,000 at an auction in 2016.
1952 Topps (Willie Mays)
1984 Fleer Update (Kirby Puckett)
Another 1984 Fleer Update card and this time, it is of Kirby Puckett, who has become one of the most beloved and best baseball players of his generation. His accomplishments include being elected to American League All-Star teams ten times and winning the Gold Glove six times. This is the Hall of Famer’s first mainstream MLB card and it is one of two rookie cards that dominate the 1984 Fleer Update Baseball set. Its price depends on the grade but for a mint one, you can expect to get around $200 to $500.
1984 Fleer Update (Kirby Puckett)
1909 American Caramel (Shoeless Joe Jackson)
Like the Honus Wagner card, this was produced by American Caramel to improve their cigarette sales. Many hobbyists consider this card to be the official rookie card of Joe Jackson and it is one of just a handful of his cards available. The slugger may have been banned from the sport for life because he was supposedly involved in the 1919 Chicago Black Sox gambling controversy, but card collectors still covet this piece. This card is one of the slugger’s best and most valuable. In 2016, someone paid over $660,000 for a mint copy of the 1909 Joe Jackson card.
1909 American Caramel (Shoeless Joe Jackson)
1911 ATC T206 (Joe Doyle)
A lot of players on this list have been elected to the Hall of Fame, but not Joe Doyle. He was quite a mediocre player who most people have already forgotten. You might be wondering how the tobacco company baseball card pulled in as much as $414,750. It is due to an error – the first version of the card says he plays for New York’s National League instead of the Yankees. This card is among the key rarities of the T206 set and is the hardest to find. Although Joe Doyle is not the most recognizable player in baseball history, this rarity is one of the hobby’s most valuable cards.
1911 ATC T206 (Joe Doyle)
1954 Topps (Hank Aaron)
Once called the home run king, Hank Aaron is one of the best power hitters in baseball history. It should come as no surprise that the Hall of Famer has a card which will pull in the big bucks. He only has one rookie card – the 1954 Topps Hank Aaron card. These cards are in quite good condition because the printing techniques saw a big improvement that year. In 2012, a pristine copy of this card sold for more than $357,000, and we are pretty sure it would be worth more today. This card is actually one of the most important symbols in the baseball card world.
1954 Topps (Hank Aaron)
1909 T206 ‘Bat Off Shoulder’ (Ty Cobb)
The 1909-1911 T206 set is arguably the ultimate issue in the hobby and any card from it is bound to be really valuable. The Ty Cobb cards have four variants which differ in appearance, scarcity and popularity. The “Bat on the Shoulder” card is a bit less valuable compared to the “Bat Off Shoulder” variant because the latter has more high-quality copies that have surfaced. Although the price range of these cards is quite wide, a copy can be expected to fetch six figures.
1909 T206 ‘Bat Off Shoulder’ (Ty Cobb)
1951 Bowman (Mickey Mantle)
Mickey Mantle is the hobby’s most widely collected figure, and here we have another one of his cards, the 1951 Bowman. It may not be as famous or expensive as his Topps but this is Mick’s only official rookie card. A mint copy will pull in more than $500,000 owing to his popularity among baby boomers, who watched him play, and younger people who admire his legacy! However, this really important card can have numerous condition obstacles that are common among the set’s high-numbered cards, such as poor centering, print lines and wax stains along the reverse.
1951 Bowman (Mickey Mantle)
1909 T206 (Eddie Plank)
Another card from the amazing T206 set! This version of Eddie Plank is believed to be the second most valuable and rarest card in the deck. Only Honus Wagner himself is ahead of the pitcher! There are a few reasons why this card is really valuable and rare. According to PSAcard.com, “The most prevalent theory is that the card suffered from a poor printing plate, resulting in many of the cards being destroyed since they could not pass quality control. Besides, many of the known examples are found with poor centering from top to bottom. The centering can be so severe that it will cut into the text along the bottom.”
1909 T206 (Eddie Plank)
1887 Old Judge (Cap Anson)
The 1887 Old Judge card of Cap Anson is the oldest on this list! Many collectors and experts think this is the most important set of 19th century cards because of the large variety of players and the number of variants in the series. These cards were packed in Gypsy Queen and Old Judge Cigarette packs and had to survive traveling more than a hundred years to reach collections today. Of all the cards in the set, the Cap Anson one, specifically the In Uniform variation, is the most valuable. It is super rare and there are only a few copies in existence.
1887 Old Judge (Cap Anson)
1948 Leaf (Jackie Robinson)
The most important American athlete during the 20th century has to be Jackie Robinson. He broke the Baseball Color Line in the MLB, and this made a lasting impact on the history of sports. He has been immortalized in this 1948 Leaf card, the only real rookie card of the first African-American representative of baseball and hero to all. The item is coveted in collector circles as it is scarcer than his other 1950s cards. Needless to say, the price changes depending on the grade of the card, but a grade 8 one sold for nearly $75,000 in the spring of 2019.
1948 Leaf (Jackie Robinson)
1938 Goudey (Joe DiMaggio)
Joe DiMaggio’s 1938 Goudey card does not look like the regular baseball card as it shows a caricature body of the player and it has background cartoon illustrations. However, the reason it is so different is the fact that it is one of the Yankee Clipper player’s earliest cards. This card was released only two years into the pro career of Joltin’ Joe. You can expect it to pull in thousands of dollars! There is another card of Joe DiMaggio in the series but it has no background illustrations and is worth a bit less.
1938 Goudey (Joe DiMaggio)
1949 Bowman (Duke Snider)
Rookie cards for Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle have already been mentioned on this list, so it is now time for the Duke of Flatbush! Edwin “Duke” Snider was the popular center fielder of the Brooklyn Dodgers and a member of the “Boys of Summer” team of the late 1940s and 1950s. When it comes to acclaim and popularity, he was just second to Jackie Robinson. This Duke Snider card debuted in the 1949 series and was made by Bowman, like Mantle’s rookie card. In 2016, a copy of the 1949 Bowman Edwin Snider with a good grade fetched $232,750.
1949 Bowman (Duke Snider)
1952 Topps (Andy Pafko)
Brooklyn Dodgers player Andy Pafko is not a member of the Hall of Fame. Also, there is no error or abnormality on his 1952 Topps card. However, what was the reason a copy of it with a grade of 10 sold for over $250,000 in 2016? It is in the number of the card. It was designated #1 in such an iconic set , the 1952 Topps. This is why the card is so famous among collectors and completists.
1952 Topps (Andy Pafko)
1909 T206 *Error (Sherry Magee)
Sherry Magee was an RBI leader in the National League four times, but that is not the reason a PSA 8 copy of his 1909 T206 card fetched $660,000 in September 2018. It was an error – his name was spelled “Magie” in the first version of the card. A corrected version was later released and printed in higher quantities, though. Along with the Eddie Plank and Honus Wagner ones, Magee’s card is one of the big rarities from the T206 set and perhaps the most famous card with an error in the entire hobby. Despite the debate, most hobbyists feel you can only truly complete the T206 series if you have this card.
1909 T206 *Error (Sherry Magee)
1910 T210 Old Mill (Joe Jackson)
There are only a handful of Joe Jackson cards that were made during his playing days, and this card is one of them. The Black Sox scandal happened 100 years ago and it has been three decades since “Field of Dreams”, but “Shoeless Joe” continues to fascinate people. In fact, a PSA 3.5 copy of the T210 Old Mill Joe Jackson sold for a whopping $600,000 in 2019. Even though this card features Jackson as a minor leaguer, many collectors still prefer this to the E90-1 American Caramel because the player is more recognizable here and the pose is more striking.
1910 T210 Old Mill (Joe Jackson)
1915 Cracker Jack (Ty Cobb)
More or less, the caramel-coated, molasses-flavored snack has existed for as long as the sport of baseball has. As a matter of fact, the 1902 track “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” had immortalized Cracker Jack in baseball lore. To this day, “Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack!” is still being sung at baseball games. For more than 30 years, pitchers went crazy because of Ty Cobb and 90 years after he retired, his .366 career batting average remains the highest in MLB history. A copy of the 1915 Cracker Jack Cobb card with a PSA 9 fetched $432,000 in 2016.
1915 Cracker Jack (Ty Cobb)
1948 Leaf (Leroy ‘Satchel’ Paige)
Even though it is not common for a 42-year-old pitcher’s rookie card to be so in demand and rare, Leroy “Satchel” Paige was not just another common pitcher. He might have been the sport’s most dominant hurler. It was not until 1948 when he got the chance to show what he got in the majors. The legend had no problem stepping into the game, and went 6-1 for the Cleveland Indians. In terms of market value or desirability, his card tops all the others from the1948/1949 Leaf set. In 2018, a copy of this card that received a PSA 8 sold for $432,000.
1948 Leaf (Leroy ‘Satchel’ Paige)
1932 U.S. Caramel (George ‘Babe’ Ruth)
In addition to the obvious fame of Babe Ruth, this card is not easy to find in good condition. A copy of this card that received a PSA 9 fetched $432,000 in April 2019. You have to remember that these cards came with caramel back in the day, so they were quite susceptible to staining. If the caramel didn’t stain the cards, there was a good chance these cards found their way to sticky-fingered kids. Not only is this card the last one in a really challenging set, it is also the most valuable one.
1932 U.S. Caramel (George ‘Babe’ Ruth)
1909-1911 T206 Ty Cobb (Ty Cobb Back)
The landmark T206 set has four Cobb cards, but only one variation is rarer than the Wagner card. Ty Cobb’s red portrait advertises his own tobacco brand. The back of the card reads, “Ty Cobb, King of the Smoking Tobacco World.” The card is so rare that only 19 “Cobb-Cobb” variations have been graded by PSA, as opposed to 34 Wagner cards. In 2018, a copy of the T206 “Cobb-Cobb” that received a PSA 3.5 sold for $408,000.
1909-1911 T206 Ty Cobb (Ty Cobb Back)
1956 Topps (Mickey Mantle)
To put it simply, this is one of the most popular Mickey Mantle cards. Here we see the player smiling from ear to ear – for good reason because that year (1956), his 52 home runs and .353 batting average enabled him to capture the elusive Triple Crown. That year, Mantle became a true baseball superstar. This card has two variations, one with a grey back and one with a white back. The white backs may be tougher to find and worth more, but the grey backs have superior eye-appeal. A copy of the 1956 Topps Mantle with PSA 10 sold for $382,400 in August 2016.
1956 Topps (Mickey Mantle)
1948 Leaf (Stan Musial)
The legendary hitter has two rookie cards that are the most recognized, but 1948 Leaf Stan Musial is the tougher card to find. Its use of color makes it more visually attractive compared to the other one, which features the black and white normally used during that time. Stan Musial is among a few players whoe exemplified consistency. He was an NL champion seven times and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame back in 1969. A PSA 9 copy of his 1948 Leaf card fetched $312,000 in February of 2018.
1948 Leaf (Stan Musial)
1933 Goudey (Lou Gehrig)
Gehrig’s popularity turned out to be as durable as his playing was on the field. The Iron Horse retired In 1939 holding the baseball record for the most consecutive games played. Since then, Cal Ripken Jr. had broken that record but all the same, a copy of the 1933 Goudey Gehrig with a PSA 10, the only one that received the Gem Mint grade, was estimated to be worth $33,000. However, when it was auctioned off in 2007, it went for for $274,950. More than 10 years later, it remains the only 1933 Goudey Gehrig card that has received a PSA 10.
1933 Goudey (Lou Gehrig)
1911-14 General Baking Co. (Ty Cobb)
Baseball cards were apparently sold with all kinds of things, including cigarettes, gum, candy…and bread. This PSA 8 1911 General Baking Ty Cobb is one example of cards which came with loaves of bread. In September 2008, it fetched an incredible $272,980. As a matter of fact, this copy of the Ty Cobb card is the highest PSA-graded. As of August 2018, a PSA 6 is the closest. There is no doubt that if this card were sold today, it would pull in a lot of money.
1911-14 General Baking Co. (Ty Cobb)
1910 E98 (Ty Cobb)
Another Ty Cobb card on the list. There were several talented athletes in the early twentieth century but the most gifted was probably Ty Cobb, who was not only an incredible hitter but was also great defensively and the best base stealer. Without a doubt, he dominated the American League in the Deadball Era, but he did have a competitive and aggressive style of play which caused controversy throughout his career. Nevertheless, you can expect this century-old card to always sell, especially if it is in great condition. In May 2019, a PSA 10 E98 Cobb pulled in $270,600.
1910 E98 (Ty Cobb)
1909-1911 T206 (Christy Mathewson)
Enjoying a great reputation, Christy Mathewson used a specialty pitch which was comparable to a screwball. He was truly amazing and was one of the first inductees of the Baseball Hall of Fame, along with Walter Johnson, Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb, and Babe Ruth. This is written on the Pitcher’s plaque at the Hall: “Matty was master of them all.” There are three Christy Mathewson cards in the T206 set. Of the three cards, the most difficult is the White Cap variation while the most popular is the Portrait. A PSA 9 copy of the 1909 T206 Mathewson sold for a whopping $264,000 in September 2018.
1909-1911 T206 (Christy Mathewson)
1939 Play Ball (Ted Williams)
Like Babe Ruth or Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams has a lot of iconic, rare, and valuable cards to choose from, but the mainstream rookie cards are the most popular. This 1939 Play Ball is the true rookie card of the star. It was made in the 1930s, so it is not that hard to find the card. However, high-grade copies are hard to come by all the same. In November 2016, a 1939 Play Ball Williams with PSA 9 sold for $239,000.
1939 Play Ball (Ted Williams)
1933 Goudey (Napoleon Lajoie)
Aside from being a three-time batting champion, Napoleon Lajoie was also considered the era’s best defensive second baseman. His 1933 Goudey card is truly rare and there are only about 100 in existence. It is because the card did not come with the original set. To complete their set, collectors in 1934 needed to get the card from the manufacturer. Many cards were mailed with a paper clip attached to them, so there are impressions on their surface. Nevertheless, a PSA 9 copy of the 1933 Goudey Lajoie fetched $228,000 in November 2016.
1933 Goudey (Napoleon Lajoie)
1910 Standard Caramel E93 (Honus Wagner)
Cobb may be the best hitter in his time, but Wagner was part of the “First Five” and got elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936, along with Cobb, Ruth, Christy Mathewson, and Walter Johnson. “The Flying Dutchman” is sure to be included in any list of the ten greatest baseball players of all time. Aside from being considered the best shortstop featured in the Cracker Jack Collection, Honus Wagner is also probably the greatest shortstop in history. In September 2018, a PSA 9 copy of the 1910 Standard Caramel Wagner pulled in a whopping $218,550.
1910 Standard Caramel E93 (Honus Wagner)
1941 Play Ball (Joe DiMaggio)
This card is a “true classic” and it is the most popular card of Joe DiMaggio. The image is striking and shows Joltin’ Joe finishing a great swing. In 1941, DiMaggio couldn’t stop hitting, setting a still-standing hit streak of 56 straight games. As it turns out, this card is as big hit not only in April of 2019 but also in the summer of 1941. A copy of the 1941 Play Ball Joe Dimaggio with PSA 9 fetched $216,000 at an auction. The key to the Play Ball set of 1941, this card is a symbolic treasure.
1941 Play Ball (Joe DiMaggio)
1955 Topps (Sandy Koufax)
His career may have been cut short by injuries, but Koufax was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame back in 1972 at the age of 36. He is the youngest player to become a Hall of Famer. That shows how dominant he was at his peak. A copy of the left-handed pitcher’s Koufax card that received a PSA 9 was sold for $215,100 at an auction in August of 2018. From that time, only three copies of the 1955 Topps Koufax card have been graded PSA 10.
1955 Topps (Sandy Koufax)
1914 Boston Garter (Joe Jackson)
This card was meant for a window display of a clothing store, and it is thought that there are only six copies of the 1914 Boston Garter Jackson cards right now. A copy of the card with a Sportscard Guaranty 70 (the equivalent of a PSA 5.5) sold for $204,000 in August 2007. We can only imagine the value of this rare card these days. The 1914 Boston Garter Jackson is still among the most handsome baseball cards ever produced.
1914 Boston Garter (Joe Jackson)
1954 Bowman (Mickey Mantle)
Mickey Mantle is among the most popular sports figures in history, so it should not come as a surprise that his baseball cards are extremely valuable. In 1998, Mantle was included in the list of “Baseball’s 100 Greatest Players”. That is why vintage Mantle cards with a high grade always fetch such high amounts. To prove this point, a 1954 Bowman Mantle (PSA 9) – a fourth-year Mantle – pulled in $204,000 in May 2017.
1954 Bowman (Mickey Mantle)
1914 Boston Garter (Ty Cobb)
Almost impossible to find, the 1914 Boston Garter Ty Cobb card only has one copy that has been graded by the PSA or SGC. This card is part of the window display series that is all too rare. In August 2018, a copy of the 1914 Boston Garter Cobb which received Sportscard Guaranty 50 (equivalent to PSA 4) sold for an impressive $204,000. Ty Cobb is the first winner of a Baseball Hall of Fame bronze plaque.
1914 Boston Garter (Ty Cobb)