Nolan Ryan is considered one of the greatest pitchers of all time and his baseball cards are highly sought after by collectors. His impressive career spanning 27 seasons from 1966 to 1993 and holding numerous career records make his vintage cards some of the most valuable in the hobby. Let’s take a look at some of the most valuable Nolan Ryan baseball cards that regularly sell for huge prices at auction.

1966 Topps Nolan Ryan Rookie Card (PSA 10) – Ryan’s rookie card is arguably the single most valuable card from the 1960s. High grade examples in PSA 10 condition have sold for over $100,000 due to the rarity of finding it in pristine condition after 54 years. Even in lower grades of PSA 8 or 9, it still fetches thousands due to the significance of it being Ryan’s first card issued. The 1966 design is also a favorite of vintage collectors so the combo of it being his rookie along with the eye-appealing design make it the crown jewel of any Ryan collection.

1973 Topps Nolan Ryan (PSA 10) – This flagship card is notable because it was issued during Ryan’s record-setting 1972 season when he struck out 383 batters and led the American League in ERA. Barely any well-centered, perfectly cut and cornered PSA 10 examples exist due to printing and cutting issues common in the 1970s period. As a result, a PSA 10 is considered about as rare as his rookie in the same grade and has reached the $15,000 price point. Even in lower grades like PSA 8, collectors are willing to pay thousands to own a card from Ryan’s dominant ’72 season.

1973 Topps Nolan Ryan (No. 1 Variation) – An oddity produced during the 1973 Topps run, some boxes had Ryan’s photo and stats on the front positioned as card #1 instead of his actual printed number of 574. These variations are beyond rare with analysts speculating only a couple hundred might exist. In 2013, a PSA 9 copy sold for a record $23,250, showing demand for anything unique from Ryan’s career.

1975 Topps Nolan Ryan (Screen Used Patch RC) – As part of Topps’ retro tech insert set in 2015, Nolan Ryan’s posed action photo from his 1975 Topps card was recreated using screen printing technology on an authentic game-used patch of his jersey from that season. Each card was hand-numbered to /10 and only the Ryan and Tom Seaver patches have been auctioned so far in the low five-figure range. For certified game-use and on-card memorabilia of its kind from the 1970s, it established a new benchmark for Ryan collectors.

1981 Fleer Nolan Ryan – No-Hitter – To commemorate Ryan’s record fifth career no-hitter on September 26, 1981, Fleer produced this unnumbered “highlight” card separate from their main 1981 set. Less than a dozen are known to exist according to leading researchers. One example that surfaced for auction in 2012 realized $43,740, a record price for a non-rookie Nolan Ryan card at the time. The extreme rarity and subject matter direct from one of Ryan’s most glorious career moments makes it an incredibly significant piece.

1992 Upper Deck Nolan Ryan MVP Autograph (1/1) – As part of Upper Deck’s revival of the vintage design from their launch in 1989, they produced autographed 1/1 MVP variations that were inserted randomly in wax boxes after the original release. The Red Sox’s Wade Boggs, Twins’ Kirby Puckett, and Angels’ Nolan Ryan cards are the only ones known to exist. Ryan’s signed MVP changed hands for $102,000 in 2015, highlighting the record-holding significance of any 1/1 autographed Nolan Ryan collectible.

Any high quality, early-issued Nolan Ryan rookie cards from 1966-1973 lead his most valuable cards, along with spectacular one-of-a-kind autographed and memorabilia pieces. His enduring records, Hall of Fame career, and vintage-great looks on 1970s issues have guaranteed Ryan’s place as one of the hobby’s most popular players. With each new generation of collectors, value tends to rise on his irreplaceable cards chronicling such an incredible career that may never be matched. As one of baseball’s true pitchers, Nolan Ryan cards continue to captivate and any example is a worthwhile purchase for any vintage collection.