Baseball cards from 1908 are highly sought after by collectors due to the rarity of the cards from that era. Only a few companies produced baseball cards in 1908 including American Tobacco Company, Ecko Trading Card Company, and the Allen & Ginter Company. The cards from these sets over 100 years ago are now extremely scarce.
The most famous and valuable set from 1908 is the T206 tobacco card series produced by the American Tobacco Company. This set featured photographs of baseball players on the front and advertisements for Sweet Caporal Cigarettes on the reverse. Some of the most notable and expensive cards in the T206 set include:
Honus Wagner: Widely considered the holy grail of baseball cards, the Wagner card is the most rare and valuable trading card in existence. It’s estimated that only 50-200 Wagner cards were printed but most were likely destroyed. In near-mint condition, a Wagner T206 can sell for over $3 million making it literally priceless.
Eddie Plank and Joe Tinker: These two cards are nearly as rare as the Wagner with estimates of only 60-100 surviving copies each. High grade specimens have sold for over $500,000.
Sherry Magee: A true key card of the set, Magee cards are exceptionally scarce with perhaps 100-150 remaining. Near-mint examples could be worth $150,000+.
Matty McIntyre and Bill Dahlen: Often grouped together as two of the other rarest T206 cards after Wagner, Plank, and Tinker. A pristine copy of either could be valued at $100,000.
Christy Mathewson and Mordecai Brown: Two of the most iconic pitching stars of the early 1900s. Their T206 cards are also quite scarce and high grade copies may sell for $50,000-$75,000 each.
Ty Cobb and Walter Johnson: As two of the greatest players ever, their T206 cards are understandably popular as well. Even well-centered, attractive examples still command five-figure prices.
While the T206 set clearly contains the most valuable 1908 baseball cards, there are other notable rarities from that year as well. The Ecko trading card company also issued a set of baseball stars in 1908 that is exceedingly rare today. Some key cards include:
Napoleon Lajoie: A true star of the deadball era, high grade Lajoie cards are exceptionally scarce. Just a few are known to exist and they could be worth $50,000+ in mint condition.
Cy Young: As baseball’s all-time wins leader, Young cards are hugely sought after. Only a small number of his 1908 Ecko card are reported and it’s a true trophy piece for any collection.
Ed Walsh: The legendary spitballer has one of the rarest Ecko cards from 1908. Pristine specimens could reach $25,000 at auction.
Jimmy Collins: A true third base great, his Ecko is also quite rare with perhaps 10-15 survivors. Near-mint copies might sell for $15,000.
The Allen & Ginter company also issued a set of baseball cards as part of their famous cigarette and candy box inserts in 1908. While not quite as valuable as the T206 or Ecko sets, some notable rarities include:
Walter Johnson: One of the most dominant pitchers ever, his A&G card is quite scarce. High grade copies could reach $10,000.
Christy Mathewson: Another superstar hurler of the era. His 1908 A&G is also quite rare, especially in top condition where it may be worth $7,500.
Nap Lajoie: His Allen & Ginter card has a small surviving population and could sell for $5,000 in mint shape.
Ty Cobb: Arguably the greatest player of all-time, even a well-centered Cobb A&G from 1908 has value in the $3,000 range.
As you can see, baseball cards from 1908 truly represent the early dawn of the hobby. The sets from over a century ago are now legendary for their rarity and importance in any collection. While pristine examples of the most valuable cards will cost a small fortune, even lower grade copies still hold significance as rare survivors from the deadball era. With such a small surviving population, 1908 cards will always be highly coveted by dedicated collectors.
