The sports card collecting hobby has been around for over 130 years and few collections are as iconic or valuable as vintage baseball cards. Documents of the early years of professional baseball, cards from the 1800s and early 1900s captured images of the game’s biggest stars and have since taken on legendary status of their own. With rarity, condition, and player performance all factors in their valuation, some of these antique pieces of cardboard have sold at auction for millions. Here’s a look at what could qualify as the 100 most iconic baseball cards of all time.
1909-11 T206 Honduras Tyler Couch – The crown jewel of the baseball card world with only one known PSA Authentic example in existence. Last sold for $3.12 million, making it the most valuable trading card ever sold. Features legendary pitcher Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown.
1909-11 T206 Walter Johnson RC – Widely considered the second most iconic baseball card after the T206 Brown. High grades in impeccable condition can fetch over $1 million. Honors Hall of Fame pitcher and 5-time AL ERA leader Walter Johnson.
1909-11 T206 Nap Lajoie – Lajoie was one of the game’s first true stars in the early 20th century. His playing career overlapped with baseball’s earliest card sets like the iconic “white border” T206 series.
1933 Goudey #53 Babe Ruth – The Bambino has long been the most famous baseball player of all time. High quality examples of his scarce 1933 Goudey card can sell for a half million dollars or more.
1909-11 T206 Christie Mathewson – Hall of Fame “Big Six” Mathewson won 373 games despite retiring at age 38. His iconic T206 is one of the most visually stunning and widely recognized cards from the set.
1909-11 T206 Eddie Plank – The “Gettysburg Growler” Ed Plank won 326 games over 21 seasons and was a key pitcher for Connie Mack’s early century A’s dynasty.
1911 T205 Gold Border Cy Young – 511 career wins made Cy Young MLB’s all-time leader. His sole season issues card is one of the earliest featuring a baseball legend.
1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner – The most legendary card that nobody has ever seen. Estimated 100 or fewer survive of the superstar shortstop. Worth potentially 7 figures in monster condition.
1909-11 T206 Tyrus Cobb – Considered by many the greatest hitter of all time, “The Georgia Peach” Ty Cobb pioneered aggressive style of play. His T206 is highly iconic of baseball’s deadball era.
1933 Goudey #177 Lou Gehrig – One of the most famous cards featuring the legacy of “The Iron Horse”. Gehrig’s tragic life and record streak of 2,130 consecutive games played captured the imagination of the nation.
1909-11 T206 Ed Walsh – Has one of the set’s most visually stunning photographs. Hall of Famer Walsh won 195 games as a workhorse for the early White Sox dynasty.
1909-11 T206 School Days Doc Powers RC – Powers never made the majors but the prospect of his card being the only known example makes it endlessly fascinating.
1909 E90-1 Joe Jackson with cap variation – “Shoeless Joe” Jackson was one of the game’s first superstar hitters before the Black Sox scandal. Jackson’s E90-1 is among the earliest known generic baseball cards.
1910 AG345 Billy Sullivan – The AG345 was the first modern style baseball card set of the 20th century. Though Sullivan was a light-hitting infielder, his card could fetch $150k+ due to its unprecedented rarity.
1909 E90-1 Nap Lajoie RC variation – Before mega contracts and national stardom, baseball heroes were just names on pieces of cardboard. Lajoie’s rookie issues E90-1 portrays a game still in its infancy.
1909 E90-1 Ty Cobb RC variation – Arguably the most talented player of the Deadball Era, Ty Cobb’s emergence as the sport’s first true superstar coincided with the earliest documented baseball cards.
1934 Goudey #107 Dizzy Dean – A symbol of baseball’s first modern superstars. Dizzy Dean won 30 games in 1934 capturing the imagination of Depression-era America.
1933 Goudey #40 Jimmie Foxx RC – Before the Ruthian home run outburst, 1B Jimmie Foxx set records that stood for decades. His rookie Goudey is among the most significant 20th century baseball cards.
1910 T207 WS Chase Wiltse RC – As the first recognized “rookie card” the Chase Wiltse from the 1910 Play Ball set holds iconic status. Wiltse never panned out but the card still shines.
1911 T207 Gold Border Johnny Evers – A key member of the legendary Tinker-Evers-Chance double play combo. Evers’ playing days coincided with baseball’s earliest documented card sets including his iconic 1911 single-season issue.
1910 AG345 Ty Cobb – In 1910, Cobb was emerging as the game’s consensus best player right as the modern baseball card was being born. His AG345 is a key document of those transitional times.
1909-11 T206 Sherry Magee – Hall of Famer Magee spent two decades crashing towering home runs for the Phillies dynasty prior to World War I. His T206 remains one of the set’s most sought varieties.
1911 T207 WS Eddie Plank – A workhorse 300-game winning lefty, Plank was a core member of the A’s early century dynasty. His 1911 Plank rookie adds to his already iconic stature from the T206 set.
1933 Goudey #205 Lefty Grove RC – “Southpaw” Grove won 300 games and struck out nearly 3,000. His Goudey rookie captures an anchor of baseball’s Golden Age.
1933 Goudey #3 Lou Gehrig – There are few historic sports documents more recognizable than the gentle smiling face on this Depression-era classic. Gehrig framed the dignity of athletic greatness.
1909 E90 Mickey Doolin RC – One of the true “holy grails” for vintage card collectors, Doolin’s rookie appears in very few early 20th century star sets from the deadball era.
1909 E90 Napoleon Lajoie RC – As baseball transitioned to the modern era, Native Son and 2nd baseman Lajoie was among the games brightest emerging stars. His rookie capture that early star power.
1933 Goudey #65 Al Simmons RC – “Bucketfoot Al” was one of the era’s most feared sluggers. His Goudey rookie holds special status as one of the scarcest modern-style cards from baseball’s Golden Age.
1933 Goudey #122 Jimmie Foxx- During his prime Murderers Row seasons with Connie Mack’s A’s, 1B Jimmie Foxx was arguably baseball’s premier power hitter. His 1933 Goudey captures that peak.
1915 Cracker Jack Lave Cross- Issued during a simpler time when athletes smiles adorned gum and candy packages, Cross’ football-style Cracker Jack card retains folksy charm.
1933 Goudey #92 Dizzy Dean – Before injuries robbed him of fame, Dizzy Dean won 30 games in 1934 in a Tour de force season. His rookie capture the promise and flair of his early stars.
1953 Topps #79 Mickey Mantle RC – The commerce of the modern sports card was born with Topps’ 1953 set. Mantle’s iconic rookie introduced “The Commerce Kid” to a generation of youth.
1933 Goudey #99 Mel Ott RC – “The Gotham Giant” Mel Ott swatted 511 home runs for the Giants dynasty during baseball’s Golden Age. His first card shines.
1952 Topps #311 Willie Mays RC – Arguably the most gifted all-around player ever, Mays’ rookie launched the all-time iconic 1952 Topps set. Even in poor condition, it brings $50k.
1955 Topps #549 Sandy Koufax RC – The greatest lefty of all-time, Koufax’s rookie is a scarce but seminal issue from a landmark Topps set of the 1950s.
1909 E90 Napoleon Lajoie- As a star 2nd baseman of the Deadball era, Lajoie brought dazzling skills and an exciting style of play. His E90 captures the magic of those early days.
1954 Topps #84 Willie Mays – During the 1950s, Mays blossomed into “The Say Hey Kid” emerging superstar. His ’54 Topps introduced his all-time greatness to a new generation of collectors.
1914 Cracker Jack Chief Bender – As a player/manager for Connie Mack’s dynasty A’s teams, Bender epitomized the Deadball Era. His early 20th
