Roger Maris is one of the most iconic baseball players of the 1960s, best known for breaking Babe Ruth’s single-season home run record in 1961 when he slugged 61 home runs. As the holder of one of baseball’s most prestigious records, Maris cards from his playing career in the late 1950s through the 1960s are highly sought after by collectors. Several of his key rookie and record-breaking cards can be quite valuable, some worth thousands of dollars or more in gem mint condition.
Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most notable and expensive Roger Maris baseball cards that collectors seek out. One of his earliest and most coveted cards comes from his rookie season of 1957 with the Kansas City Athletics. That year, Maris appeared in Topps’ flagship baseball card set in card #343. High grade 1957 Topps Roger Maris rookies in near mint to mint condition can sell for $1,000 or more due to their scarcity. Finding them in perfect gem mint 10 condition is exceedingly rare, with those examples potentially selling for $5,000 or more.
Maris was traded from the A’s to the New York Yankees after the 1957 season. His first card with the Yankees came in 1958 Topps, where he appears in card #359. High grade ’58 Topps Maris cards in mint condition usually trade hands for $400-600. Another valuable early Maris Yankee card is 1959 Topps card #249. In gem mint 10 condition, examples have sold at auction for over $1,000.
Of course, Maris’ most famous and valuable cards stem from his record-breaking 1961 season chasing Ruth’s 60 home runs. That year, Topps captured Maris’ chase in card #130 from their 1961 baseball release. Near mint to mint versions typically sell in the $300-500 range. The true holy grail, however, is a 1961 Topps Roger Maris #130 in pristine gem mint 10 condition. Only a handful are known to exist, and one brought an astounding $92,800 at auction in January 2016, setting the record as the highest price ever paid for a Maris card.
Even non-rookie or record-setting Maris cards that show him with the Yankees can carry significant values. His 1960 Topps card #402 routinely sells for $150-250 in top condition due to his sustained success and fame from breaking the home run record the following year. Another strong Mid-1960s Maris Yamkee card is his 1962 Topps issue, card #362. Higher graded gem mint 10 examples have reached $400 at auction.
Maris’ 1963 and 1964 Topps cards, #382 and #487 respectively, can also reach the $150-250 price range in top certified grades due to his Yankee pedigree despite being a few years removed from the magical ’61 season. Towards the latter part of his career with St. Louis in 1966-1967, his card values dip but mint condition examples still trade hands for $50-150 based on the set and year.
In terms of non-Topps issues, Maris’ coveted 1956 Bowman rookie card in pristine condition can be worth $1,000. His 1952-1953 Leaf cards showing him as a Kansas City A’s prospect are scarce and valuable at $500+ in top shape. 1960 and 1961 Fleer cards highlighting his major league success with the Yankees commonly sell for $150-300 graded mint or higher. Even 1970s and 1980s vintage cards featuring Maris in uniform or as a coach can carry values of $50-100 in top condition due to his legendary status.
For autograph cards, any autograph of the famously media-shy Maris is rare and valuable. In the 2000s, Maris sadly passed away from lung cancer. As a result, any autographed card signed by him prior to his 2002 death was obtained during his very limited signings in the early 1980s or earlier. Especially rare are autographed rookie cards, which can fetch over $5,000 in pristine condition. Near mint autographed cards from his Yankees era easily top $1,000 as well.
As the holder of one of the most unbreakable records in baseball history by surpassing Babe Ruth’s single season home run mark, Roger Maris maintains a huge following among collectors decades after his playing days ended. While common issues from the peak of his career in the late 1950s and early 1960s fall in the $50-250 range, truly sharp examples of his rookie cards and seminal 1961 Topps issue can sell for thousands due to their enormous historical significance. With strict population reports for high grades, investment-grade Maris cards remain a compelling part of any vintage collection.
