Baseball cards have long been beloved collectibles that tell the story of America’s pastime. From the earliest tobacco cards of the late 1800s to modern inserts and parallels, cards allow fans to own a piece of history. Here are details on 24 noteworthy baseball cards that help chronicle the game:

1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner: The elusive T206 Wagner is universally considered the holy grail of cards. Produced between 1909-11 by the American Tobacco Company, it’s estimated fewer than 60 examples exist in circulation. The rarity stems from Wagner refusing inclusion in the set due to his opposition to tobacco marketing to children. When one last graded PSA Genuine 5.5 sold in 2016 for $3.12 million, it set a new record for most expensive card ever.

1914 Cracker Jack Wiltse: The 1914 box top Cracker Jack issued by Milton Bradley is one of the earliest “true” baseball cards not associated with tobacco. It features Giants pitcher Fred Toney on one side and Fred Snodgrass on the reverse. Extremely rare, it’s considered the key card to the entire Cracker Jack issue and an important early precursor to modern cards.

1948 Leaf Jackie Robinson: Debuting a year after Robinson broke MLB’s color barrier with the Dodgers, this card captured his milestone season and significance as the first African American in the bigs since the 1880s. Widely collected as an icon of social progress, high grade examples in the $10,000 range remain quite affordable given Robinson’s historical influence.

1952 Topps Mickey Mantle: The Mick’s rookie is universally prized not just as an early Topps issue but for chronicling the start of one of baseball’s true legends. Known for its off-center printing, the ’52 Mantle has reached over $100,000 when high graded. It remains the most valuable post-war rookie card.

1954 Topps Hank Aaron: Much like the Mantle two years earlier, Aaron’s rookie captures the Atlanta icon at the dawn of his storied career. Highly sought for its documentation of a titan who would surpass Babe Ruth for the all-time home run record, a PSA 10 example sold for over $100,000 in early 2022.

1955 Topps Sandy Koufax: The legendary Dodgers lefty’s rookie card is especially desirable for its prescient photo showing Koufax’s patented windup. A PSA 8 brought nearly $50,000 at auction in 2021, underscoring its allure decades onward. Copies in pristine condition regularly top six figures.

1957 Topps Willie Mays: Like the legends before him, the “Say Hey Kid’s” rookie card endures as a must-have for any collection. boasting one of the game’s most photographed swings. Graded gems in the $150,000-plus range aren’t unheard of considering Mays’s indelible place in history.

1961 Topps Roger Maris: Issued after his legendary 61 home run season broke Babe Ruth’s long-standing single season record, this Maris is a must for any collection devoted to chronicling iconic MLB feats. Even well-worn examples often sell for thousands.

1962 Topps Bobby Doyle: Often called the “Mona Lisa” of cards due to its presumed uniqueness, this 1962 issue is the only Topps baseball card featuring Doyle from his single season with the expansion New York Mets. Upon its 2013 discovery, a PSA-certified example broke records with its $2.88 million auction price.

1964 Topps Reggie Jackson: Mr. October’s rookie card is defined by the towering Yankees outfielder’s signature bat waggle. Extremely scarce in high grades, a near-mint copy surpassed $250,000 at auction a few years ago, underscoring its worth to completionists.

1969 Topps Nolan Ryan: Capturing the Express in the prime of his early career with the Mets, this is easily one of the most valuable ’60s-era cards around. A flawless PSA 10 specimen topped $400,000 recently. Any copy remains an excellent choice for those chasing a true icon.

1973 Topps O-Pee-Chee:#1 Nolan Ryan: Far more scarce north of the border than its U.S. counterpart, this landmark card featuring Ryan’s lone season with the Angels is widely hunted. High grades of $100,000 and more to serious Nolan devotees.

1975 Topps Joe Morgan: Mr. October’s all-around MVP excellence is represented in this key ’70s issue. Its mix of star power and era represents considerable interest, with choice copies surpassing $30,000 in graded auctions. Remains strong value for dollar.

1977 Topps George Brett: Arguably the defining issue for the Royals’ Hall of Fame third baseman, this iconic card shows Brett at the height of his powers in the late ’70s. Strong grades command five figures even now, a testament to Brett’s enduring popularity.

1980 Topps Ozzie Smith: The Wizard’s first Cardinals card set the standard for capturing his acrobatic glovesmanship. Rare in PSA 10, but gems still attainable given Smith’s affectionately “cultish” fanbase. An iconic card for any collector of ’80s stars.

1984 Donruss Dean Palmer: One of the rarest “true” rookie cards produced, with likely fewer than a dozen copies known to exist. Upon discovery, high grades sell for well into six figures, captivating imaginations about what other lost treasures remain hidden away.

1987 Fleer Barry Bonds: Considered a “what if” rookie given Bonds’ future eminence, this Fleer captures the Pirates star before steroid suspicions obscured his accomplishments. Graded PSA 10 copies sell briskly around the $2,000-4,000 range given its historical lens.

1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr.: UD’s premiere effort launched the modern sports card boom, and Griffey’s iconic card spearheaded a new generation of collecting. Graded mint 10s stay in the $4,000-8,000 range, underscoring its special status among fans young and old.

1990 Black Gold Ryne Sandberg: An exceptionally rare parallel issue inserted at an extremely low rate into Black Gold packs, fewer than a dozen census PSA 10s are known. In the rarefied air of six-figure prices when offered publicly.

1991 Ultra Ken Griffey Jr.: Capturing the talent before injuries limited his ceiling, this parallel added visual POP to Griffey mania on the heels of his rookie success. Low pop NM-MT copies command over $1,000 as a definitive ’90s star souvenir.

1992 Topps Finest Frank Thomas: Early Topps Finest parallels heightened interest in chase cards with extended production runs. “The Big Hurt’s” regal printing in this parallel makes strong apples-to-apples value against Griffey and Bonds above.

1998 Ultra Derek Jeter: Capturing Jeets in his veritable prime with the dynasty Yankees. Short prints like this retain strong fascination given the logo’s enduring vintage feel alongside a ballplayer many consider the smoothest of his generation.

2000 SP Authentic Vladimir Guerrero: Rays star VT’s one-of-one printing for this insert set brought frenzied bidding above $12,000 upon recent reemergence. Remains a veritable holy grail among Angels fans still astounded by his peak dominance.

These 24 baseball cards offer a glimpse into the game’s history and transcendent icons across decades of the hobby’s evolution. Whether chronicling milestones, unprecedented scarcity, or exemplifying a modern legend’s promise, each issue leaves an indelible mark on collectors worldwide. Though values fluctuate like the stock market, the allure of baseball cards remains timeless.