In true Jeter fashion, the Yankees shortstop went above and beyond the moment at hand. The card features a great close-up of the star pitcher surrounded by the famous T205 gold borders. The 1986 Topps Traded Bo Jackson rookie card is his most desirable and most expensive card you can find. 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. 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. 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. 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. In 2016, seven copies of this card were miraculously found in an old paper bag. Most Valuable. , Bo Bichette, Luis Robert, Yordan Alvarez [SSP] #392, Fernando Tatis Jr. [Memorial Day Camo] #168, Fernando Tatis Jr. [Mother's Day Pink] #168, Fernando Tatis Jr. [Independence Day] #168, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. [Independence Day] #182, Fernando Tatis Jr. [Father's Day Blue] #168. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. Many in the hobby feel this card is overlooked in importance but what no one can deny is just how rare it is. However, the year ended on a bitter note. As with any colored border, though, theyre susceptible to showing chipping and wear. So its no wonder that his 1948 Leaf rookie card is such and important piece of the hobby. Most Valuable Baseball Cards All the information and details has been compiled from the trusted sites including Wikipedia, New York Post, and Forbes. Anthony Rizzo made his MLB debut for the San Diego Padres on June 9, 2011, against the Washington Nationals, going 1-2 at the plate with a triple and a run scored. The 1912 Plows Candy E300 Mathewson features a large photographic image of the legendary pitcher of the Dead Ball Era framed by text reading. The 1969 Topps baseball card set is well-loved in this hobby by many collectors for several different reasons. The most valuable baseball cards in the hobby can easily fetch six and seven figure price levels these days. Although past his prime, he still achieved success in the Majors and was twice named an All-Star. An SGC 9.5 Example Sold in August 2022 for $12,600,000. In fact, with PSA 10s in such short supply for the set's top cards, we elected to go with PSA 9 prices for this list. George Close Candy cards are among the scarcer pre-WWI caramel issues and the Honus Wagner is one of the keys to the set. This is my favoriteSandy Koufax baseball cardand one of the best-looking cards of the 1950s in my opinion. Jose Altuve's relationship with the Houston Astros began in 2007 when the club evaluated him at a camp in Maracay, Venezuela, when he was just a teenager. 1986 Topps Pete Rose Card 3. Most Expensive 2022 Topps 1st Edition card list & price guide. 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. But, the Great Bambino is the number one card to own out of all of them. This is no doubt one of the most sought after cards of one of the games best pitchers of all time. 30 Most Valuable Topps Tiffany Cards - Beckett News When the infamous T206 set was being produced, Doyle was pitching for the New York Highlanders of the American League. Conditions of these cards are not very good but even a PSA 4 is expected to bring in roughly $900,000. Mathewson won 30 or more games four different times in his storied career, attributing much of his success to a specialty pitch that was comparable to a screwball. 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. Surprisingly, many dont even consider him the best pitcher ever, though. This is true whether you're looking at the base card, the premium Tiffany variant, or even the Desert Storm version which is limited in number. 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. 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. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. But its also one of the issues more difficult cards since it typically suffers from poor print quality and coloration. 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. With their one-two finish in the NLs Rookie of the Year vote, Kimbrel and Freeman became the first teammates to do so since Chicago Cubs rookies Jerome Walton and Dwight Smith in 1989. and one of the best-looking cards of the 1950s in my opinion. By his third season in 2013, Goldschmidt had developed into a perennial All-Star and MVP candidate. 2022 Topps Series 1 Baseball Box: Top 5 Cards and Review In the postseason, Cabrera was predictably excellent. There are 11 different backside variations in total each with The George Close Co. printed on them. Prices are updated daily based upon 2022 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. Bowman did not include him in their 1953 set so that makes his Topps card of that year even more sought after. A record that is pretty safe to say will never be broken,Cy Youngtotaled an incredible 511 wins over his career. Neither makes a difference when it comes to value, though. Before I get started, I just want to clarify some of the criteria I used in creating this list. 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. #15 1966 Topps Ferguson Jenkins (RC) #254 Sold for $8,988 1966 Topps Ferguson Jenkins rookie card on eBay As you already know, there wasnt much difference between the 1914 and 1915 Cracker Jack sets except that 1915 Cracker Jack cards are usually found in better shape since they were a redemption 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. While the Dodgers failed to make the playoffs at 83-78, Kershaw made a second-straight playoff miss easier to stomach in Chavez Ravine. 2010 and 2011 were two of the most emotionally draining years of Chipper Jones' Hall of Fame career. The E106 cards feature identical artwork on their fronts as the E90-1 and E92 caramel issues but differ by the advertising on their backs. 1955 Topps Sandy Koufax #123 #9. Trout didn't exactly raise any eyebrows in his first game, finishing 0-3 at the plate. This card has been and will likely remain the most valuable baseball card for years to come. He ended the year with a 2.79 ERA, striking out 79 batters in 71.0 innings pitched. Over 40 MLB games in 2011, Trout slashed .220/.281/.390 with five home runs, 16 RBIs and 20 runs scored. That story is enough to make any collector cringe. DiMaggio appeared twice in the 1938 Goudey set but this is the more valuable of the two. 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. 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. During the offseason, the Padres traded Rizzo to the Chicago Cubs in a multi-player deal orchestrated by Jed Hoyer, the Cubs' general manager. Most Expensive [2022 Topps] Baseball Cards - SportsCardsPro Nevertheless, the annual award for the best pitcher in the Majors does bear his name. 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. This is the keyJackie Robinson baseball card you should add to your collection. Arguably the greatest hitter of all time, Williams posted some truly jaw-dropping numbers over his career: a .344 batting average, a .483 on-base average and a .634 slugging average. If youre a collector, just stick to what you love and collect only what you love. This instantly recognizable card is easily one of Mathewsons most popular. The centering can be so severe that it will cut into the text along the bottom. While his 1952 Topps card is more popular and more expensive, some collectors forget that this is the only recognizedMantle rookie card. 5. But, there are two major glaring differences overall between Mathewsons cards. Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? 1986 Topps Tiffany Ryne Sandberg Chicago Cubs Card 7. The 23-year-old left walked a career-worst 41 batters in 50 innings pitched, issuing a ghastly 7.4 walks per 9 innings. However, Bochy picked Florida Marlins standout Gaby Sanchez as the final first base pick to ensure Florida had a representative in Arizona. Exact prices are available to subscribers. 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. The glossy coatings of these cards present a bit of an issue with cracking at times but they are nonetheless some terrific cards. Most cards in the T206 set are not rare but the Honus Wagner cards are because they were pulled from production early. 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. Moreover, the Mathewson Portrait is one of the toughest HOF portraits in the entire set. He also amassed less than 200 hits (184) and posted an OPS+ under 100 (86) for the first time in eleven MLB seasons. Mays could hit, throw, field and run with the best of them. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 by Old Sports Cards, LLC. Napoleon Lajoie was considered the best defensive second baseman of his day and won three batting titles, had 3,242 total hits and a .338 average. Who did Freeman finish runner-up to in the leagues RotY race, you ask? This is one of them. In addition to the Satchel Paige and Stan Musial rookie cards, Robinsons rookie is key to the set. Unfortunately, as with most high-numbered cards in the set, Mantles rookie card often suffers from print lines, poor centering and wax stains on the back. With so many greats, how do you choose between them? I think it's safe to say that Topps did a great job of commemorating an incredible 60 years in the business with this set. But since we are talking about "The Home Run King" in the year after he passed Babe Ruth on the all-time list, the odd, side-view photo cannot take away from the card's historical . The Iron Horseappears twice in the 1933 Goudey setwith card #s 92 and 160 to his credit. Identical in imagery as its 1915 Cracker Jack counterpart, the 1914 version is equally as visually pleasing. There is no doubt that this is one of Ty Cobbs most demanded and popular baseball cards. 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. . 1952 Topps Willie Mays RC #261 #5. The 1954 Wilson Franks Ted Williams baseball card is one of if not the most important regional card ever produced. What's wackier is that Detroit's Justin Verlander, on the AL side, also earned a pitching Triple Crown in 2011. Because they were distributed in packages of hot dogs, its extremely difficult to find them in high grade. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. Whos the most desired player in the set? The question is: where do you start on this list? This card is a prime example of an instance where neither being a star nor an error card can bring in big bucks. We believe the following 10 cards will be tops in short-term return on investment over the next 1 to 2 years. Sammy Sosa, Frank Thomas, Bernie Williams, and Larry Walker all claim Class of '90. Matty was on the backside of his career in 1911 but still managed to lead the league in ERA (1.99) and put up 26 wins. Most Valuable Baseball Cards of All Time - msn.com 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. It's these end-year series that comprise the most valuable Topps baseball cards today. Or, feel free to call/text me at 305-684-6680! The 48-card 1915 American Caramel E106 shows some nice artistic renderings of players of the National, American and Federal Leagues. Career highlights: Two-time National League Most Valuable Player (1958, 1959), 14 . Most Valuable Baseball Cards [2023 Update] - Genius Celebs Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. The Left Arm of God as he was known, Koufax possessed raw power that helped him once strikeout an astounding 382 batters in a season. 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. The card is key for three main reasons: 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. 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. Many baseball historians still consider Cobb the greatest all-around player that ever graced a baseball diamond. The card features a great image of the Sultan of Swat seated in pinstripes looking over his right shoulder atop a green background. These are the Top 3 Most Valuable Baseball Cards Worth Money. Babe Ruths card is the key and most valuable of the 32 card set. 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. 15 Most Valuable 2011 Topps Baseball Cards More. 1953 Topps #82 Mickey Mantle RC #3. In his fourth year with the club, Miguel Cabrera helped Detroit silence those laughs. 9 of the Most Valuable Baseball Cards in History - HISTORY 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. This card is a key classic in the hobby and is Aarons only recognized rookie card. 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). 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. 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. Ungraded & graded values for all '21 Topps Chrome Baseball Cards. Mike Trout made his Major League debut on July 8, 2011, when the Los Angeles Angels called him up to replace speedy centerfielder Peter Bourjos who had injured his hamstring the day before. There are only a handful of known copies of this card in the hobby making it a rare and highly demanded issue. Its arguably the most visually pleasing and desirable of all the Ted Williams baseball cards in the hobby. Halladay was great, giving up just one run on four hits in eight innings. 1987 Topps Baseball Cards - 25 Most Valuable - Wax Pack Gods Reigning NL MVP Joey Votto couldn't carry an inconsistent, snake-bitten Cincinnati Reds squad to a second-straight postseason in 2011. Ryans rookie card appears in the 1968 O-Pee-Chee, Topps Milton Bradleyand Venezuela Topps sets as well but its the regular ToppsNolan Ryan rookie cardthat stands apart in value from the rest. Let's be clear: most of the cards from this set do not have any value these days. Like many 1952 Topps cards, this Mays issue is prone to tilt and centering problems. 2005 Topps Card Prices | PSA & Ungraded Values - SportsCardsPro 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. It's still a very unusual-looking card but is one that many collectors dream of owning. Cracker Jacks cards are wildly popular and the serious-looking Cobb is one of the keys to this set. This card, the key to the 200-card M101-5 set, is often found off-center and features a variety of advertising backs, although most existing copies exhibit blank backs. Just be prepared to put up big money if you want one in high grade. 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) It was the first time since 1924 that a pitcher accomplished the feat in both leagues during the same season. So, although not as desirable as the others, the fact that it exists in such great condition brings a steep price tag. 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle: $12.6 million 2. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. 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. 2022 Topps Baseball Rookie Cards Guide. Read our methodology . 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. 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). There are four different Babe Ruth cards in the 1933 Goudey set, #s 53, 144, 149 and 181. Prices are updated daily based upon 2006 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. Ungraded & graded values for all '20 Topps Because of its position on the print sheet and the fact that many kids wrapped rubber bands around their stacks of cards (this one on the top), finding Pafko centered and in good shape is very tough. I remember seeing one of these in abaseball card shop near where I grew up and I would just stare in awe. It should be no surprise that this card is the key to the entire set with the Willie Mays and Jackie Robinson cards coming in second and third place, respectively. Prices are updated daily based upon 2021 Topps Chrome listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. Many believe the 1887 N172 Old Judge set to be the most important 19th Century set in existence. It is one of the most difficult cards to find overall, making it one of the most important cards on this list. These 5 by 8 cards were part of a redemption program where collectors sent in coupons in exchange for them. 2022 Topps Series 1 Wander Franco Photo Variation SP RC #215 The potential for caramel stains doesnt bode well for collectors of this card. Most players on this list only have one recognized rookie card to their name. The Wagner soon reclaimed its title, but the 2009 Bowman Draft Trout remains a big deal in the baseball card world. Any modern flagship Topps Baseball set has a lot going on. The legendary Cap Anson appears on two different cards with the uniform version being the rarer of the two. Centering issues, as well as dark print blotches in the yellow background, are usually the two key issues of this card. Hes also the only key player in the 1914 set on a horizontal layout. Centering is also a tough issue for this card. Youll typically find that #160 shows whiter borders and a lighter blue background, too. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Collectors go wild for it. 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. 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. His 3.60 ERA and not-so-great 1.300 WHIP only told part of the story because when Chapman was locked in, he was virtually unhittable. 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. As with Mantles 1952 Topps card, some still mistake this card as Mays rookie, too. #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. Those that have been found in high grade are thought to have never been packaged and instead left the factory by hand. So, if you can get your hands on one of these cards in high grade then you are looking at some big bucks. Centering and chipping along the red bottom border are usually obstacles to achieving a higher grade. Considered one of the toughest post-war cards to collect, Leroy Satchel Paiges rookie card is a key to this set along with rookie cards of Jackie Robinson and Stan Musial. 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. #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. Estimates place the number of front/back combinations around 5,500 which led to this set being nicknamed The Monster.. As with pretty much any pre-war set that features Cobb, his card is the heart and soul of this legendary set. He received 20 first place votes in the NL Rookie of the Year vote and his 129 vote points outpaced Atlanta's Jason Heyward who 107 vote points for his impressive debut performance. And its extremely rareone of the rarest in the hobby. He also led the Majors in on-base percentage (.448) and doubles (48) while logging a career-best 7.6 bWAR for Detroit's first division championship squad since 1987. Mantle is easily one of the most widely collected players in the hobby. The bright yellow background makes this card pop and the portrait of the young Big Train makes for an unforgettable baseball card. From Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Famer Honus Wagner to Los Angeles Angels standout Mike Trout, here are nine iconic cards of star players that were sold or auctioned for significant sums: 1. Theres just something about this card that makes it visually stunning. This still ranks among the most popular baseball cards of all-time. 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. With just one playoff appearance from 1988-2010 (2006), the Detroit Tigers' comedy of errors was a running punchline for two-plus decades. 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. Collectors love the eye appeal of this beautiful pre-war set. Another obscure and rarely seen card, the 1915 E106 American Caramel Honus Wagner Throwing variation is just as much of a classic. Or, as most believe, was it because he didnt want to be involved in promoting tobacco use to children? Remember, the Tiffany versions were produced in much smaller quantities and were printed on premium card stock. The Sox finished at 79-83, out of the playoffs for the third-straight year. Demand for Clementes rookie card has skyrocketed over the past couple of years. Read our methodology. 2022 Topps Baseball Rookie Cards Guide - Beckett News The 2011 Atlanta Braves had an excellent crop of rookie riches. totaled an incredible 511 wins over his career. 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. In fact, his 1986 Topps Traded Tiffany card can be worth over $2,000 in PSA condition. 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. Whatever the reason, there are only approximately 50-75 or so known copies in circulation today as a result. 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. 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. That would be his teammate, 23-year-old closer Craig Kimbrel. Votto reached base in the team's first 27 games, finishing April with an eye-popping .370 batting average.