Cobb turned in an absolute monster of a season in 1911 as he set career highs in batting (.420), hits (248), doubles (47), triples (24), RBI (127), runs (147) and slugging percentage (.621). 5. So, there you have it: the most expensivebaseball cardsthat youre ever likely to encounter. Most Expensive 2020 Topps card list & price guide. 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. 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. 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. The card is one of Ruths most desired of all. The sale smashed the record for most valuable baseball card at the time, beating the then-highest sale of a Honus Wagner T206 White Border card at $3.1 million. Interest in the Dodgers/Giants rivalry was skyrocketing, and Kershaw's brilliance was a big reason for it. Prices continue to climb on them, so keep your eye out for these baseball cards! Read our methodology . 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. 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. The cream of the crop. 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). When these cards come up for auction, really take note. 1990 Bowman Tiffany Sammy Sosa Rookie Card Price: $750 The 1990 Bowman Baseball set features an impressive rookie class. One of the most popular 1930s sets, the 1933 Sport Kings R333 set consists of 48 cards in total. Most Expensive 2006 Topps card list & price guide. It would fetch much more than that today. 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. 1. Honus. The Best Baseball Cards to Buy in 2023 - MoneyMade One of his most important, the card shows some beautiful artwork of a young Mays fielding a baseball in his New York Giants uniform. While the "Cobb Back" T206 may be his most expensive card, this one is arguably his most popular among high-end collectors. The 1954 Wilson Franks Ted Williams baseball card is one of if not the most important regional card ever produced. His aggressive play on the field and his generous ways off the field made him a special individual. By his third season in 2013, Goldschmidt had developed into a perennial All-Star and MVP candidate. The card features a great image of Ruth and it remains one of his most desirable cards. Six hits away from 3,000 in mid-June, New York Yankees captain Derek Jeter suffered a calf strain that sidelined him for 18 games. 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. Try finding something to not like about this card! The 1932 U.S. Caramel set is one of the most desirable and challenging prewar sets in the hobby. Altuve was hitting an incredible .423 at that point but eventually cooled to finish with a .276/.297/.357 slash line. Prices are updated daily based upon 2020 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. Sammy Sosa, Frank Thomas, Bernie Williams, and Larry Walker all claim Class of '90. The card is subtle in design and imagery but remains a truly majestic card for any serious collector to consider. That was the most any Houston Astros rookie had ever driven in during one month as a rookie. Was it because Wagner wanted to be paid by the tobacco company to use his image? Late into the 2022 season, Paul Goldschmidt had a legitimate chance at winning the Triple Crown. 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. Read our methodology . In high grade, this card can fetch big bucks. Remarkably, he still only finished fifth in the MVP race! And that first season with the Red Sox in 2018 has been the greatest of his career so far. A year away from taking over the Cincinnati Reds closer role and simultaneously becoming a perennial All-Star, Aroldis Chapman showed flashes of his forthcoming game-breaking dominance in 2011. 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). 2022 Topps Baseball Rookie Cards Guide. 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. Many baseball historians still consider Cobb the greatest all-around player that ever graced a baseball diamond. The Tigers couldn't capitalize on Cabrera's otherworldly October and lost to the Rangers in the ALCS in six. 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. In the postseason, Cabrera was predictably excellent. Premium: 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. Not many people outside of the baseball card hobby know who Joe Doyle is. Most Expensive 2022 Topps 1st Edition Baseball Cards - SportsCardsPro 1954 Topps #128 Hank Aaron RC #7. Estimated PSA 4.5 VG-EX+ Value: $1,100,000. It was clear that Topps wanted to do something special for their 60th anniversary and they certainly delivered. The E300 issue is one of the scarcest prewar sets and had relatively been unknown until the 1960s. With Mays, the opposite is true: his Bowman rookie card is worth more than his 1952 Topps card. Most cards in the T206 set are not rare but the Honus Wagner cards are because they were pulled from production early. Babe Ruths card is the key and most valuable of the 32 card set. But the value between the two isnt affected. That is a fact not likely to end any time soon. 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. 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. When the infamous T206 set was being produced, Doyle was pitching for the New York Highlanders of the American League. Whenever manager Ozzie Guillen needed him to get a few outs, Sale performed. In the deciding Game 5, Halladay squared off with his former Toronto Blue Jays teammate and close friend Chris Carpenter. 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. 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle: $12.6 million 2. That card was later sold for $250,000 in 2007. In 11 playoff contests against the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers, he slashed a blistering .314/.489/.771 with four home runs, 12 walks, four doubles, seven runs scored, ten RBIs, and two stolen bases. Download Price List, SportsCardsPro 2019-2023 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. The eye appeal is top-notch, as with most 1914 Cracker Jack cards. 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. Poor print quality and focus plague this short print card making high-grade copies nearly unachievable. Some collectors go for the base set. So, although not as desirable as the others, the fact that it exists in such great condition brings a steep price tag. Like all Bowman cards, the eye appeal of this card is amazing as a the artwork of the young Mick is simply stunning. 15 Most Valuable 2011 Topps Baseball Cards - Old Sports Cards That would be his teammate, 23-year-old closer Craig Kimbrel. With so many greats, how do you choose between them? While Posey would recover and play an MVP-caliber role for San Francisco's 2012 and 2014 title teams, his injury in 2011 forced the hands of baseball's decision-makers. Most Expensive 2022 Topps 1st Edition card list & price guide. The 1912 Plows Candy E300 Mathewson features a large photographic image of the legendary pitcher of the Dead Ball Era framed by text readingPlows Candy CollectionandMathewson, New York Nationals.. 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. But whats not up for debate is whether its one of his most important. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. Theres only one copy of the card currently graded in that condition, however. 2022 Topps Series 1 Wander Franco Photo Variation SP RC #215 Any collector lucky enough to get his hands on Mathewsons card is sure to be ecstatic. 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. 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. Contact him at [emailprotected]. 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. 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. Halladay was great, giving up just one run on four hits in eight innings. 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. Thus, Pujols was left out in a season where he finished fifth in the NL's MVP balloting. 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. Trout didn't exactly raise any eyebrows in his first game, finishing 0-3 at the plate. 1991 Topps Baseball Card Checklist, Errors, Values - Gold Card Auctions Whether you can find one in high grade or not, though, its a superb card for any collector to own. Many believe the 1887 N172 Old Judge set to be the most important 19th Century set in existence. Interestingly, this card was not originally part of the 1933 Goudey set. Collectors go wild for it. It was a brutal way for the season to end for the 90-win Red Sox. 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. Cobb was known as a ferocious competitor who was determined to be the best day in and day out. After the 2010 campaign, manager Bobby Cox called it a career, leaving a hole in the Braves clubhouse that couldn't be filled. His 1951 Bowman issue is his only recognized rookie card and along with the Mantle rookie is the key to the entire set. 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. Key to the 1953 Topps set is the #244 Willie Mays baseball card. And with those five prime seasons back, he quite possibly couldve added enough home runs to his career 521 total to challenge Ruths record of 714 before Aaron did. In true Jeter fashion, the Yankees shortstop went above and beyond the moment at hand. Its so rare that only a handful exist and not many collectors have even seen one in person. The Green Ruth is the last of the four Babe Ruth cards to appear in the 1933 Goudey set. Most Valuable Rookie Card in Every Topps Baseball Set, 1952-2020 With approximately 22 or less known to exist, all in low grades, the Ty Cobb back is the rarest of them all. And he pitched with a tenacious on-mound presence in the toughest of game situations. In PSA 4.5 grade, it is estimated this card would reel in over $1 million. 9 of the Most Valuable Baseball Cards in History - HISTORY However, it just isnt as often found in high grade as #53. 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. Over time, the Freddie Freeman rookie has remained the key card from the 2011 Topps base run, while rookie cards of Mike Trout, Jose Altuve, Paul Goldschmidt, Anthony Rizzo and J.D. 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. Who did Freeman finish runner-up to in the leagues RotY race, you ask? Demand for Clementes rookie card has skyrocketed over the past couple of years. Even in poor condition, they routinely sell for over $1 million. Even though it is not Mickey Mantles official rookie card it is definitely his most important. Natl along the bottom before the error was corrected. But, that doesnt necessarily mean its his most expensive. Who knows what a high grade example of this card would go for? 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. 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. But, the Great Bambino is the number one card to own out of all of them. 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. Whatever the reason, there are only approximately 50-75 or so known copies in circulation today as a result. The cards design is beautiful and easily distinguished from others of the 1950s. This still ranks among the most popular baseball cards of all-time. That tells you how much the prices of Clementes rookie card have increased. The 1912 Plows Candy E300 Mathewson features a large photographic image of the legendary pitcher of the Dead Ball Era framed by text reading. 2011 was the year that Ichiro finally looked mortal at the plate. On the surface, the 1948 Leaf card with its use of color appears to be more attractive than the 1948 Bowman card. Altuve went 1-5 that game, but little did he know then he had kicked off a piece of Houston Astros history. So why would one of his cards be so expensive? 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. 1990 Topps #414 Frank Thomas Rookie Card Estimated PSA 10 Value: $175 Check prices on: Amazon Now, this is what Thomas's rookie card is supposed to look like when his full name appears at the bottom of the card. While collectors could pull 1914 Cracker Jack cards directly from the box, that also meant they usually had caramel stains on them. Milwaukee's Prince Fielder earned the first base start for the Senior Circuit, and Cincinnati's Joey Votto was a no-doubt pick as a backup. His legendary career and life were cut short on December 31, 1972, when he died in a plane crash while en route to deliver aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The White Cap variation is considered to be the most difficult of the three Mathewson cards, but the Portrait is the most popular. Ortiz's 29 home runs and 96 RBIs were pretty on-brand compared to recent years. If so, then please fill out the form below and I'll be in touch right away. 30. Centering is also a tough issue for this card. Ungraded & graded values for all '23 Topps Baseball Cards. But, the fact that his is the last card in the iconic 407 card set gives it an extra bump due to the inherent difficulty in collecting the card. One of the bright spots for Boston was the re-emergence of designated hitter David Ortiz as an elite hitting threat. 1986 Topps Nolan Ryan Card 5. Just be prepared to put up big money if you want one in high grade. There are 30 cards in total and each includes seven different possible color backs. Although not as popular as his 1948 Bowman rookie card, his 1948 Leaf rookie card is the tougher of the two. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. But, there are two major glaring differences overall between Mathewsons cards. 3. 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). 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. As with the American Caramel Cobb card mentioned just a bit ago, the design of the card isnt unique but it is certainly one of the more desirable Cobb poses in the hobby. 1914 Cracker Jack Joe Jackson The 1914 Cracker Jack Joe Jackson has a staggering value of $200,000. This card is a key classic in the hobby and is Aarons only recognized rookie card. DiMaggio appeared twice in the 1938 Goudey set but this is the more valuable of the two. 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. You can imagine the wear and tear that children put on the cards by comparison. There is no doubt that this is one of Ty Cobbs most demanded and popular baseball cards. #4 Most Valuable Baseball Cards 2000s - Topps Finest For The Record #3B Ken Griffey Jr. Price for PSA 9 featured with Alex Rodriguez: $100 Price for PSA 10 Gem: $1,500 Player's History 13 times All-Star Ken is the son of Ken Griffey Sr, a famous baseball player and coach during his era. 0% 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. Gehrig was one of a long line of Yankee legends and no doubt put up some of the greatest hitting statistics of them all. His 3,000th hit was a solo shot in the 3rd inning that tied the game at one. Conditions of these cards are not very good but even a PSA 4 is expected to bring in roughly $900,000. The error was quickly caught, though, so there arent many copies in existence. 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. 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). 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. 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. Get my weekly newsletter with the latest hobby updates delivered straight to your inbox! This also is not including 1/1s. It is one of the most difficult cards to find overall, making it one of the most important cards on this list. 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. That production boosted his legend and popularity making him one of the most highly collected players in the hobby. These 5 by 8 cards were part of a redemption program where collectors sent in coupons in exchange for them. The 2011 Atlanta Braves had an excellent crop of rookie riches. And like Altuve, Martinez started with the Greeneville Astros and worked his way up to the Class AA Corpus Christi Hooks. However, there are a handful of his T206 cards that were produced with N.Y. And like Altuve had done by hitting safely in the first seven games of his career to set a club record, Martinez established his own team record in August by driving in 28 runs. Most Expensive 2021 Topps Chrome Baseball Cards - SportsCardsPro Here are the most expensive baseball cards right now Cheapest, Most Expensive And while they are keys to the set and arguably the most popularLou Gehrig baseball cards, they are still overshadowed by the Ruth quartet. After signing a three-year, $38 million deal in the offseason to remain in Cincy, the 27-year-old first baseman busted out of the gates in a full sprint in 2011. 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. The legendary Cap Anson appears on two different cards with the uniform version being the rarer of the two. 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. It is by far the most important of allHank Aaron baseball cards. The last of the legendary quartet of 1933 Goudey Ruth cards on our list is the #144 Full Body Ruth. However, #160 is the more difficult of the two to find in high grade so it generally fetches higher prices. So, whoever says that baseball cards are no longer valuable simply doesn't know what he or she is talking about Sure, the massive print runs during the late 80's and early 90's killed the value of most post-1980's cards. 1955 Topps #164 Roberto Clemente RC #4. However, Bochy picked Florida Marlins standout Gaby Sanchez as the final first base pick to ensure Florida had a representative in Arizona. 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. Because of his alleged participation in the Black Sox Scandal during the 1919 World Series, Jackson was banned from baseball during his prime. The Bat On Shoulder and Bat Off Shoulder would then follow. So those that remain are some of the most sought after in the hobby. By the way check out the best Wander Franco Rookie Cards #2. #1: 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle An SGC 9.5 Example Sold in August 2022 for $12,600,000 Dimensions: 2-5/8" x 3-3/4" The most important post-war card in the hobby, price movements of the 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle baseball card are often seen as an indicator of the health of the sports card market overall. However, as with any colored borders, the surrounding red borders of this card are susceptible to wear making it very condition sensitive. and one of the best-looking cards of the 1950s in my opinion. The fancy gold borders that surround Walter Johnsons black and white portrait are a thing of beauty. For others, it's the . 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. 2005 Topps Card Prices | PSA & Ungraded Values - SportsCardsPro This is the second most desirable card in the famed T206 set and the only pose of the HOF pitcher.