The Atlanta Braves are one of the most storied franchises in Major League Baseball with a rich history dating back to their beginnings in Boston in the late 1800s. As one of the oldest teams in MLB, the Braves have produced many legendary players over the decades that have been immortalized on some truly iconic and valuable baseball cards. For collectors looking to build the ultimate Braves collection or simply learn about some of the best players to suit up for the team, here’s a breakdown of some of the most coveted and expensive Braves cards on the hobby.
Perhaps the holy grail of all Braves cards is the legendary 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner card, one of the rarest and most valuable trading cards ever produced. While Wagner spent just one season playing for the Boston Doves in 1914 near the end of his Hall of Fame career, his inclusion in the famed T206 set as a member of the Pirates makes this one of the most sought-after Braves cards. In pristine condition, examples have sold for well over $1 million at auction.
Another incredibly rare early Braves card is the 1915 Cracker Jack Eddie Plank card. Plank pitched just two seasons for the Braves late in his career but his inclusion in the popular Cracker Jack set makes this one of the key cards for collectors looking to build a complete Braves vintage set. Graded examples in top condition have reached over $100,000 at auction in recent years.
Moving into the modern era, one of the most iconic Braves cards remains the 1955 Topps Hank Aaron rookie card. As arguably the greatest Brave of all-time and one of baseball’s true legends, Aaron’s rookie card is a staple of any collection. High-grade Aaron rookies in a PSA/BGS 10 gem mint condition have reached upwards of $100,000 at auction. Another Aaron card that fetches big money is his 1974 Topps card, the year he broke Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record. Pristine ’74 Aaron’s can approach $10,000.
Chipper Jones’ rookie card from 1991 Fleer is also a highly sought-after Braves card. As one of the franchise’s most beloved players who spent his entire Hall of Fame career in Atlanta, Jones’ rookie is a key piece of any Braves PC. PSA/BGS 10 graded examples have reached over $5,000 at auction. His 1999 Topps Finest Refractor parallel /150 is also an incredibly rare and valuable parallel card, regularly commanding over $1,000 for high-end examples.
From the pitching side, one of the best Braves cards remains Greg Maddux’s dominant run with the team in the 1990s. His 1992 Bowman rookie card as well as his dominant 1994 season where he won the first of his 4 straight Cy Young Awards are highly valuable. PSA/BGS 10 graded versions of Maddux’s ’92 rookie have reached $3,000+, while pristine ’94 Topps and Finest parallels can approach $1,000.
Tom Glavine, Maddux’s longtime battery mate, also has some incredibly valuable Braves cards from his Hall of Fame career. His 1984 Topps Traded rookie card as well as his dominant seasons of 1991, 1998 (20 wins) and 2000 (NLCS MVP) produce cards that can reach $500-1000 in top grades. Glavine’s rare 1998 Stadium Club Chrome Refractor parallel /299 is truly one of the crown jewels for Braves collectors, valued well over $1,000 in high-end condition.
From the post-millennium Braves dynasty, some valuable cards include Javy Lopez’s 1997 Bowman’s Best Chrome Refractor rookie, which has reached $500+ in top grades. Andrelton Simmons’ 2012 Bowman Chrome Refractor rookie is also highly sought after by Braves collectors, valued near $300 for pristine examples. Freddie Freeman’s rookie cards from 2010 Topps and Bowman Sterling have also held strong value near $100 for top-graded versions.
For the ultimate Braves collection, vintage cards like Wagner, Plank and early Aaron are true holy grails that will cost collectors thousands or even hundreds of thousands. But there are also plenty of affordable modern options like Maddux, Glavine, Jones, Freeman and others that can be found for under $100 to build an impressive collection paying tribute to some of the franchise’s greatest players. With over a century of history, the Braves have produced countless iconic cards that any serious collector would be proud to showcase.
