Brock Wilken is considered one of the top collectors of vintage baseball cards in the world. His collection is renowned for its completeness, rarity, and condition of the cards. Now in his late 50s, Wilken has been amassing baseball cards since he was a young boy in the 1970s. Over the past 40+ years, he has meticulously sought out and acquired some of the most coveted cards in the hobby.
Wilken’s collection is truly a sight to behold. Housed in a temperature-controlled vault in his home, the collection is sorted and organized with precision. In total, it contains over 10,000 individual cards spanning from the late 1800s to the 1970s. Some of the most notable gems in Wilken’s collection include:
1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner – Graded PSA 8 – One of the crown jewels of Wilken’s collection is this ultra-rare Honus Wagner card. Considered the most valuable trading card in existence, Wilken’s example is in remarkable condition for its age. The centering is strong and the colors are bright. Estimated value is over $3 million.
1933 Goudey #53 Babe Ruth – Graded PSA 8 – This iconic Ruth rookie card is the key to the entire 1933 Goudey set. Wilken’s copy shows impressive eye appeal with sharp corners and vivid images. At the last public auction, a PSA 8 brought over $500,000.
1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle – Graded PSA 8 – Mantle’s iconic rookie card is a must-have for any serious collector. Wilken’s PSA 8 example has great color and centering. Top-graded 1952 Mantle rookies have sold for north of $2 million.
1964 Topps #130 Hank Aaron – Graded PSA 9 – Wilken’s pristine Hank Aaron rookie is one of the finest known. The centering is dead-on and the surfaces are flawless. A PSA 9 Aaron rookie would be a strong candidate for the highest price ever paid for a modern-era card.
1971 Topps #20 Nolan Ryan – Graded PSA 10 – This Ryan rookie is the crown jewel of Wilken’s entire 1971 Topps set, which is complete and all PSA 10. Wilken’s Ryan rookie is flawless – the ultimate trophy card for any collector.
Beyond his all-time great vintage cards, Wilken’s collection also contains complete or near-complete sets from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. He has several Goudey, Topps, and Post sets in high-grade condition, many of which are missing only a handful of keys to be pristine. Wilken’s 1956 Topps complete set, for example, contains over 50 cards graded PSA 9 or PSA 10.
In addition to his vintage cards, Wilken has also amassed an impressive modern collection. He owns 1-of-1 printing plates and sketch cards from the late 80s and 90s that are valued well into the six figures. Wilken also possesses a complete run of rare parallel and short-print sets from the late 90s and 2000s.
To house and display his vast collection, Wilken had a custom vault and display cases constructed in his home. The vault features state-of-the-art security including biometric locks, motion sensors, and cameras. Inside are rows of climate-controlled cases displaying his cards in magnetic holders sorted by year and set. The cases are positioned under specialized lighting to best show off each card’s surfaces and colors.
Beyond just collecting and preserving history, Wilken is also an advocate and philanthropist for the hobby. He has donated some of his duplicate cards to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and frequently lends prized pieces to museums for exhibits. Wilken also supports youth programs that introduce children to the joy of collecting through donations of common vintage cards.
Though he will never sell his entire collection, Wilken has consigned some of his finest individual cards to auction over the years. The proceeds from record-setting sales have gone towards charities that promote baseball. He also enjoys sharing his passion by giving private tours of his collection vault to fellow enthusiasts.
At this stage in his life, Wilken’s sole focus remains caring for and growing what is considered the finest private baseball card collection in existence. Through decades of dedication, he has amassed true pop culture treasures chronicling over a century of America’s pastime. Wilken’s collection will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the greatest assemblages in the history of sports memorabilia.
