Baseball cards were produced as early as the late 1800s, but they didn’t see widespread adoption until the late 1920s, when companies like Goudey and Bowman started producing them in large quantities to sell alongside chewing gum and other baseball-related products like baseball catchers mitt, baseball gloves etc.
Since then, baseball cards have become popular collector’s items that are traded and sold in huge numbers, with rarer cards selling for considerably more than less collectible cards of the same year or player. This list chronicles the 10 most valuable baseball cards in history, with the last card listed being valued at over $1 million!
Honus Wagner
The 1909 T206 Honus Wagner, also known as Gretzky of baseball is one of the most expensive cards ever sold. It was purchased for $262,000 in 2007 by Wayne Gretzky at a Goldin Auctions sale.
In 2012 it was sold at another auction for more than $1 million to a private collector. Estimated worth: $2.8 – 3.2 million dollars from pre-production Wagner cards; $5+ million dollars from post-production cards (estimated).
Babe Ruth
The most valuable baseball card ever made is one of several Honus Wagner cards that exist. Known as T206, Wagner was supposedly paid twenty-five dollars to sign 2,000 autographs (that’s a lot of money in 1909). In 2011, a VG-8 (very good) copy sold for $2.8 million.
The value can change based on its grade and condition; however, most experts agree it’s the most valuable baseball card of all time.
Honus Wagner & Ty Cobb
In 1909, a cigarette company called T206 released a series of baseball cards that would go on to be very valuable. However, it was not just any baseball card series—this was one of America’s most famous sports stars: Honus Wagner.
The Wagner card is arguably worth more than all other baseball cards combined and has been referred to as the Mona Lisa of baseball cards. A real T206 Honus Wagner in near mint condition can sell for $2 million or more at auction.
The second most valuable single-card price? That would be Ty Cobb, who’s from one of America’s most famous rivalries: Detroit vs. Cincinnati, where Cobb played for years against future Hall-of-Famer Walter Johnson.
Joe Jackson
$332,000 : In 1913, a man by the name of Hans Lobert purchased a pack of cigarettes at a St. Louis pharmacy. Inside was an extremely rare baseball card depicting Cleveland Naps player Joe Jackson; unbeknownst to Lobert, his purchase would eventually garner him over $300,000 from collectors.
The tobacco company that manufactured Jackson’s cards was short-printed by 300 packs and only 50 were supposed to have been distributed: they were not yet aware of their star’s performance-enhancing habits (in 1911, he was banned for life after being caught using cocaine).
Only nine are known to exist today with one selling for $332,000 at auction in 2007. [1]
Mickey Mantle
1952 Topps – $165,000: A remarkable 1952 Topps card #311 shows Mickey Mantle with a toothless grin and gaps between his front teeth.
The card is rare due to a printing error; although three variations of #311 exist, Mantle’s autograph is only on one. While originally thought to be worth around $100,000, Mantle’s daughter Kelly sold her father’s 1952 Topps card for $150,000 in 2001. More recently, another one sold for $165,000.
Nolan Ryan
It’s no secret that Nolan Ryan is one of (if not THE) greatest pitchers of all time. As such, his baseball cards have become collector favorites.
In fact, a 1981 Nolan Ryan Topps card recently sold for $7,590 on eBay—that’s over $3,000 more than it sold for just eight years ago! If you have any No. 34 cards from your old sports card collection lying around (you know: if you saved them), now might be a good time to dig them out and put them on eBay. You might strike gold like this fellow did!
Roger Maris
During baseball’s golden age, cards were only distributed during games. For players who were relatively unknown—like Roger Maris when he hit 61 home runs for New York Yankees in 1961—it was a way to get their faces known around the league.
Fans would keep them tucked away; those who knew about Maris sought out his card, which had its own little spike of popularity. With over 250,000 cards issued, it is estimated that 2 percent are still in existence today. In other words: find one and you have something pretty valuable on your hands.
Ted Williams
The most valuable baseball card of all time is a 1939 SGC 96 Mint-9 card of Ted Williams. This is one of only twenty cards that earned a perfect 10 score from PSA and its flawless condition makes it extremely rare.
Although no exact value has been confirmed, experts believe it could fetch between $3 million and $5 million at auction. The best-looking baseball card ever produced also happens to be one of its most expensive. [1]
Willie Mays
Mays’ 1957 Topps rookie card was originally worth $25, but as of 2012, its estimated value is $500,000 to $600,000. The card is considered by many to be one of the rarest and most valuable baseball cards ever made.
A mint condition Mays rookie card would likely cost you a few hundred thousand dollars today if you could even find one for sale. In fact, experts say that many fakes have been produced over time to keep up with demand and sell for much less than their original asking price.
It’s hard to imagine a Mickey Mantle rookie card being worth more than a Willie Mays rookie card today – but at one point it was very possible.
Shoeless Joe Jackson
What’s It Worth? : Shoeless Joe Jackson is widely considered one of, if not THE best baseball player to ever grace a field. So what’s it worth? $5-6 million dollars.
Why so much? He’s an untouchable owner of an untouchable record – he hit .408 without wearing shoes. That’s just not fair! Oh yeah…and his rookie card from 1911 was removed from circulation because he was part of The Black Sox Scandal (but later bought back).
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