The hobby of baseball card collecting has produced some of the most valuable collectible cards in the world. Factors such as the age of the card, the player featured, condition, and rarity all play a role in determining value. As the popularity of the hobby has grown over the decades, prices have soared for the rarest and most desirable vintage cards. Here are details on the 10 most expensive baseball cards ever sold, along with a brief overview of each card and what makes it so valuable.
1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner – $6.6 million
The undisputed most valuable baseball card ever is the ultra-rare 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner. The story behind its elusiveness and the late legenary player it features have helped drive interest and prices sky high. Produced between 1909-1911 by the American Tobacco Company, it is believed Wagner demanded his image be pulled from production as he did not want to promote tobacco to children. As a result, it is estimated fewer than 60 examples exist today in collectible condition. In August 2021, a PSA Mint 9 example sold for a record $6.6 million through Goldin Auctions, shattering the previous record of $3.12 million set in 2016. Its perfect storm of rarity, history and subject make it the undisputed king of cards.
1952 Topps Mickey Mantle – $5.2 million
The top-graded example of the famed rookie card of baseball icon Mickey Mantle set the record as the most valuable postwar card in January 2022. Considered the finest known of its kind graded PSA GEM MINT 10, it brought an astounding $5.2 million at auction through Heritage Auctions. While the 1952 Topps set has over 1,500 total cards issued, the scarcity of high-grade Mantle rookies makes this an exceptionally rare find. As one of the most prolific players of all-time featured on his first card, it exemplifies the allure of a true rookie superstar.
1909-11 T206 Mathewson – $3.12 million
Joining the 1909-11 T206 Wagner in rarity and desirability is the issue featuring legendary New York Giants hurler Christy Mathewson. Like the Wagner, it was produced during the card’s brief 2-year run before the American Tobacco Company halted production amid concerns over marketing to children. An example received a PSA Authentic grade of AS-IS, Damaged and sold for $3.12 million through Heritage Auctions in January 2016, setting the record for highest price paid for a pre-war card. Mathewson’s Hall of Fame career and the rarity of high-quality examples make this one of the most valuable early 20th century cards.
1933 Goudey Babe Ruth – $2.88 million
While not quite as rare in supply as some others on this list, Babe Ruth rookie cards from 1933 Goudey maintain their luster due to featuring “The Sultan of Swat” in the prime of his legendary career. An example received a PSA Authentic grading of Authentic, Damaged and brought $2.88 million at auction in 2016 from collector Barry Halper, showing the strong demand for cards tied to the famed Bambino. Goudey released 260 different cards in 1933 as the first modern set, making any tied to the charismatic Ruth tremendously sought after pieces of Memorabilia.
1909-11 T206 Walter Johnson – $2.56 million
Considered one of the finest pitchers in baseball history, Walter Johnson’s impressive career and Hall of Fame induction make his scarce early T206 issue highly valued. Like the Wagner and Mathewson, it was produced between 1909-1911 before the American Tobacco Company halted production. A PSA 3.5 example with impaired corners realized a whopping $2.56 million at auction in 2016 through Heritage, capitalizing on Johnson’s legendary status and the rarity of high-end T206s. Along withHonus Wagner it is considered one of the most iconic images from the lucrative T206 set.
1909-11 T206 Eddie Plank – $2.04 million
Part of the same short-printed American Tobacco era set as the Wagner and Mathewson, cards of star pitcher Eddie Plank also command top dollar due to their extreme rarity. Plank spent his entire 17-year career with the Philadelphia Athletics dynasty of the early 1900s, winning 269 games and 3 pennants. A PSA 2 example sold for $2.04 million in 2016, reflecting the demand for high-quality specimens from this seminal tobacco era issue despite flaws. Along with the above T206s, it represents one of the most valuable pre-WWI cardboard pieces.
1933 Goudey Jimmie Foxx – $1.47 million
Another 1933 Goudey standout, Jimmie Foxx’s rookie is sufficiently scarce to maintain lofty prices despite the larger print run versus earlier sets. Foxx went on to have a Hall of Fame career hitting 534 home runs and appearing in 9 All-Star Games. In 2013, a PSA NM-MT 8 specimen featuring the “Beast of the American League” shattered estimates by bringing $1.47 million at auction. Foxx’s prolific and powerful playing days have made his early card a highly collected premiere piece of his era.
1909-11 T206 Three Stooges error – $1.26 million
A true one-of-a-kind anomaly, an error card featuring a shot of baseball players Frank Schulte, Eddie Collins and Mordeci Brown was mistakenly labeled “The Three Stooges” on the reverse in the T206 American Tobacco set. Only known to exist as a PSA 2, it sold in February 2012 for a record $1.26 million given its extremely rare mistaken name misprint that references the famous comedians who did not debut until over a decade later. Its unique fluke nature set a new standard for error card prices.
1909-11 T206 Sherry Magee – $1.17 million
Filling out the top ranks is a trio of star outfielders Sherry Magee, Bid McPhee and Ed Konetchy, routinely achieving over seven figures for high-quality T206 specimens. Sherry Magee had a solid 12-year career hitting over .300 five times and was a defensive standout. His PSA 1.5 example sold for $1.17 million in August 2015 proving that condition alone is no small factor when valued against his famous peers from the classic tobacco set.
1909-11 T206 Bid McPhee – $1.07 million
Like Magee, Bid McPhee had an impressive career batting well over .300 five times and playing through 1920. His PSA 1 example became just the third T206 card to break $1 million, realizing $1.07 million in November 2014. It was considered among the highest graded of the rare player and further cemented the lasting popularity of even the lesser known names within the classic American Tobacco issue that dominated the early premium card market.
Condition, history, player merit and sheer rarity have combined to make specimens from prized early 20th century tobacco sets like T206 American, Goudey and others the most in-demand collectibles in the modern card collecting realm. Featuring nostalgic images of baseball icons in their playing heydays, specimens attaining the highest numeric designation from authorities like PSA continue rewriting price barriers. While the most recent decade has seen prices escalate to new unfathomable levels, iconic cards tied to beloved players from the formative years of the hobby maintain their appeal for their significance spanning both sports achievements and collectors interests. The ten detailed here represent the most valuable offerings among over 100 years of production.
