The hobby of baseball card collecting has been around for over 150 years. Ever since the late 1800s when the first baseball cards were produced as promotional inserts in tobacco products, people have been collecting and trading these small pieces of cardboard documenting the game. Over the decades, certain baseball cards have become extremely valuable due to their rarity, the significance of the player featured, or other unique factors. If you happen to have any vintage cards in your collection, it’s worth taking a look through to see if you have any of these valuable beauties. Here’s a look at some of the most valuable baseball cards worth money today, in no particular order:

Honus Wagner T206 – Consistently known as the most coveted and valuable baseball card in existence, the ultra-rare 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner card is the holy grail for collectors. Only around 60 are known to still exist in various conditions. The last one to sell brought in $6.6 million at auction in 2016, setting a new record. The pristine condition and fame of the legendary “Flying Dutchman” shortstop make this the most expensive baseball card worth chasing.

Mickey Mantle 1952 Topps – As one of the most famous and decorated players of all time, Mantle’s rookie card from 1952 Topps holds tremendous value, especially in high grades. Recently, a PSA Gem Mint 10 grade copy sold for over $2.88 million, showing no signs of slowing down as a blue chip investment card. Nearly any Mantle rookie in solid condition can fetch five figures or more.

Joe DiMaggio 1951 Bowman – Like Mantle, DiMaggio’s iconic status and on-field greatness translate to big money for his coveted rookie card issued in the 1951 Bowman set. High grade examples regularly change hands for well over $100,000, with a PSA 9 copy selling in 2019 for $196,000. Few players rival Joltin’ Joe in terms of enduring popularity and respect from collectors.

Shoeless Joe Jackson 1914 C539 Black and White – Considered one of the best natural hitters ever, Jackson’s playing career was overshadowed by the infamous Black Sox Scandal. His rare early 20th century tobacco era card issued by C534, C535, and C539 sets is a massive rarity, with less than 50 known to exist. High grades can demand 7 figures when they surface.

1909-11 T206 Christy Mathewson – Like the Wagner, any surviving examples of the legendary “Big Six” hurler’s iconic early 20th century tobacco issue are of blockbuster status. Just a handful are known, with the most recently confirmed Mathewson selling in 2016 through an SCP Auctions sale for $504,000. Slightly better condition than the graded versions that previously set records.

1952 Topps Jackie Robinson – Debuting the year after he broke MLB’s color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers, Robinson’s rookie card holds much cultural significance beyond its rarity. Just a few gem mint PSA 10 specimens are known to collectors. In recent years, even well-centered mid-grade examples can pull in five figures. Among the most historically important cards to own.

1933 Goudey Babe Ruth – Issued during the tail end of Ruth’s prolific career, his charming 1933 Goudey card depicts “The Bambino” mid-swing. High grades are a tremendous challenge to acquire, last confirmed PSA 8 sold for a record $250,000. Even well-loved mid-grades can approach or exceed five figures.

1909-11 T206 Ty Cobb – One of the greatest hitters of all time, Cobb’s tobacco era card captures him in a Tigers uniform during his early prime. Superb quality survivors are exceptionally rare, with a PSA Authentic specimen fetching $231,000 back in 2016. Considered the “Mantle” of the T206 set for collectors.

Mike Trout 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Picks & Prospects Superfractor 1/1 – As perhaps the best all-around player of his generation, Trout’s impossibly rare rookie autograph refractors have shattered records. At just 19 years old, the single Trout Superfractor that exists sold for $400,000 in 2017 through Goldin Auctions while still actively playing. A true modern unicorn card.

1909-11 T206 Walter Johnson – The most dominant starting pitcher ever, “The Big Train’s” tobacco era issue captures him during his early Senators tenure. Like the other greats of this coveted set such as Cobb, Mathewson and Wagner, high quality survivors are worth a small fortune. An SGC-graded example sold in 2013 for $61,800.

2009 Bowman Sterling Mike Trout Autograph RC #/25 – Trout mania took over the collecting community within a few years as his prodigious skills became apparent. This short printed parallel version autographed by the young Angels phenom holds tremendous cachet for collectors. Even well-centered mid-serial numbered copies can fetch over $10,000 today.

1909-11 T206 Ed Walsh – A talented spitballer who led the AL in several categories multiple times, Walsh’s tobacco card depicting him with the White Sox is among the toughest positional players/pitchers to track down in high grade. In the ultra-rare PSA Mint 9 condition, one sold in 2016 for $72,000.

1909-11 T206 Eddie Plank – One of the premier left-handed pitchers of the deadball era, Plank’s early 20th century cardboard is a massive challenge to find intact. High grades change hands only sporadically, with a PSA Authentic specimen selling in 2013 for $49,560.

2010 Bowman Chrome Mike Trout Autograph RC #/50 – Just one year into his pro career, the Angels youngster’s short printed autograph rookie continued establishing his future untradable status. Numbers below 25 regularly eclipse five figures today, clearly underscoring Trout’s rare air as one of the sport’s best ever at such a young age.

2008 Bowman Chrome Draft Kyle Drabek Autograph RC BGS 9.5 – Drabek never developed as hoped, but his impossibly rare freshman chrome autographed parallel in gem mint condition still sells for astronomical money due to its finite supply and history as a draft pick rookie card. One crossed the block in 2017 for $41,736 through PWCC.

2009 Bowman Chrome Mike Trout Autograph RC #/75 – Like the other low-numbered parallels from Trout’s breakout ’09 Bowman set, versions limited to 75 copies or less have become six-figure modern rarities. Even well-centered copies in the ’40s fetch five figures today as Trout collects hardware in Anaheim.

1909-11 T206 Three Stooges – Sporting portraits of Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown, Frank “Wildfire” Schulte, and Jimmy “Nixey” Callahan together earned this tricky-to-find card its goofy nickname. Very few are known to exist, and examples in any grade draw huge collector attention. Sold for $24,120 via PWCC back in 2013.

1988 Fleer Barry Bonds Rookie – Before controversy arose later in his career, Bonds was universally beloved as perhaps the most physically gifted player ever. His iconic rookie card has held value for decades, with eight-figure grades proving basically unattainable. Even well-centered low-gem copies pull solid four figures today.

1949 Bowman Ted Williams – Capturing the Splendid Splinter during the 1949 season in which he batted .343 with his final MLB homer title, this is one of the most aesthetic and significant cards issued during the post-war period. Near-pristine specimens are among the finest rookie cards to pursue.

1923 DeLong Baseball Card Sweet Caporal – Highlighting legends like Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb & Walter Johnson, early 20th century tobacco sets like this have yielded some of the greatest star cards of all. Among the toughest vintage issues to acquire in any grade due to extreme age. An SGC-graded example last sold for $12,650.

1909-1911 T206 Fred Merkle – Infamously involved in one of baseball’s most bizarre plays, “Bonehead” Merkle’s tobacco era card is also one of its greatest errors. The portrait shows him as a New York Giant instead of his actual 1908 Chicago Cubs. Fantastically rare, even low-grade copies are worth a bundle.

So in summary – whether targeting sports icons like Mickey Mantle, rare one-of-a-kind modern pieces featuring stars like Mike Trout, or extinct early 20th century tobacco issues depicting legendary players, those are some of the most valuable baseball cards worth big money today for serious collectors. With prices constantly setting new highs, it’s an area of the hobby that’s sure to retain strong collecting interest for many years to come.