The hobby of collecting vintage baseball cards is one that continues to gain popularity around the world. As many collectors get further involved, their interests turn towards obtaining the true gem cards from the early years of the hobby. These highly coveted cards often fetch astronomical prices when they surface for sale. For those looking to invest in or simply admire the most valuable cards ever produced, here is a overview of some of the highest dollar basketball cards that have crossed the auction block in recent years.
Perhaps the most famous and highly valued baseball card of all-time is the 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner card. Produced by the American Tobacco Company between 1909-1911 as part of their very popular T206 set, it is estimated only 50-200 examples of the Wagner card were printed due to the player’s displeasure with his likeness being used to promote tobacco. The scarcity, coupled with Wagner’s status as one of the early game’s greatest stars, have made this one of the true “holy grails” for collectors since the middle of the 20th century. In recent years, as interest and prices in the hobby have skyrocketed, so too have values of the rare Wagner cards that come up for public sale.
In 2007, one of the finest known examples ever to appear, grading PSA NM-MT 8, sold for $2.8 million through SCP Auctions, shattering all previous records. It remained the most expensive trading card ever sold at public auction for many years. Then in 2016, another elite example, this one grading PSA GEM MT 10, the highest attainable grade, crossed the block at Heritage Auctions and achieved $3.12 million with the hammer price. This stood as a new pinnacle in baseball card values. Just a few years later in 2019, a PSA 8.5 Wagner came up for bid and rocketed all the way to $6.6 million, showing no signs of slowing down for the legendary issue. With no other graded examples higher than these two perfect 10s known to exist, each new find of a quality Wagner captures global attention from the collection community.
While the Wagner maintains its position as the card with the highest public sales, there are other notable cards that have achieved seven-figure prices in recent memory as well. One of those is the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle, the first mass-produced baseball card of the famed Yankee slugger. In January 2018, a PSA NM-MT 8 of the iconic Mantle sold for $2.88 million through Heritage, setting a new standard for postwar cards. Just months later a PSA PR-MT 8.5 example broke the previous record when it hammered for an astounding $5.2 million. With Mantle’s status as perhaps the finest all-around player of his generation and one of the most acclaimed in baseball history, it’s no wonder his rookie card has gained appeal amongst the ultra-wealthy looking to add a true trophy piece to their holdings. Few other 20th century athletes can match the on-field resume and fame of “the Mick”, ensuring his 1952 Topps maintains heavyweight status.
While the Wagner and Mantle continue achieving new heights, there are other nineteenth century tobacco era cards that have proven their vast worth over the years as well. One of the standouts is the 1909 Erie Caramel E80 Honus Wagner, which resembles the more common T206 issue but was instead produced promotionally by the Erie Caramel Company in smaller quantities. Examples are extremely rare, with only around 10 thought to exist today. In January 2013, a PSA NM-MT 8 sold through SCP Auctions for an even $1 million, thought to be a record price at the time for any pre-war card other than the T206 Wagner. Then in October 2016, another incredibly well-preserved PSA 8 example achieved $2.1 million through Goldin Auctions. With condition census quality E80 Wagners continuing to surface only sporadically, each new discovery is sure to capture major bids when offered to eager collectors and investors.
While the Wagner and Mantle dominate the highest end, there are a few other notable cards that have recently entered the million-dollar range as well. One is the 1909-11 T206 Joe Jackson card depicting “Shoeless Joe” of the famed Black Sox Scandal fame. Only about 60 are known to exist according to the population report issued by PSA. In May 2016, a PSA NM-MT 8 example crossed the block at Heritage and achieved an impressive $657,250 figure. Then just two years later in August 2018, another elite PSA 8 sold for an astonishing $1,265,000 through Hunt Auctions, showing strong sustained interest in one of the most infamous players from baseball’s early era.
A similar pattern emerged with the 1909-11 T206 Christy Mathewson card as well. “Big Six” was one of the premier hurlers and winningest pitchers in history during his playing career with the New York Giants. Fewer than 100 are believed accounted for by grading services. The first million dollar sale was realized in August 2015 when a PSA 8 brought $803,000 at auction. Next in April 2018, another PSA NM-MT 8 example achieved $1,056,000 through Hunt, entering rarified air alongside the select tier of seven-figure early tobacco cards. With each new find of high grade examples of Jackson, Mathewson and others from this pioneering cardboard period likely to be the last in pristine condition, their values will continue to be influenced by escalating prices in the overall market.
While the cards profiled were all produced over 100 years ago, there are even contemporary collectibles that have shown potential to achieve comparable worth down the road as the industry expands. Perhaps the leading example is the 1994 SP Authentic Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card, depicting the electrifying outfielder at the start of his illustrious career. Like the Mantle, Griffey went on to cement himself as perhaps the finest all-around player of the 1990s and one of the game’s greats. In the modern market where thousands of rookie cards are inserted per year across various brands, Griffey’s stood out for its rarity, iconic photo, and subject’s legendary career arc.
In June 2016, a PSA GEM-MT 10 example realized $99,360 through Goldin Auctions, one of the highest prices at the time for any card issued after the 1950s. Less than a year later, another perfect 10example achieved a new record when it sold for $220,500. With few higher than PSA 9s believed to even exist, each pristine Griffey rookie that surfaces is sure to demand major bids. As 1990s nostalgia continues to boom among aging millennial collectors, cards like this one depicting defining stars have a chance to appreciate similarly to their early 20th century predecessors over the next generation. Condition sensitive cards from the 1970s era have also started to show potential, led by rookies of the era’s brightest talents like a PSA 9 1975 Gary Carter which achieved $65,625 in 2016.
While the vintage tobacco issues will likely always be out of reach except by the deepest pocketed investors, there is evidence that especially select modern and post-war cards may achieve comparably high values down the road. With today’s market supporting individual cards well into the six-figure range and beyond, it is conceivable a Griffey, Carter, or Mantles could someday realize millions as the sport’s most historically significant. Regardless of issue date, condition remains the ultimate driver of extreme worth. For avid collectors excited to chase trophies at the pinnacle, this provides insight into some of the rarest and most expensive baseball cards to ever appear in the hobby whether from over a century ago or more recently. Collecting’s blue chip rarities from Honus Wagner to Ken Griffey Jr. are certain to captivate fans, investors and historians for generations to come.
