The Boston Red Sox are one of the most storied franchises in Major League Baseball, having won 9 World Series championships since joining the American League in 1901. With over a century of history and some of the game’s all-time greatest players suiting up in the iconic red socks, there is no shortage of amazing baseball cards featuring Red Sox players through the decades. Here are some of the best and most valuable Red Sox cards collectors should keep an eye out for:
1912 Nap Lajoie T206 – One of the earliest and most iconic baseball card sets ever produced was the legendary 1909-1911 T206 set. Highlighting the game’s biggest stars of the early 20th century, the T206 set included future Hall of Famer Nap Lajoie during his time with the Red Sox from 1910-1912. Graded mint condition examples of Lajoie’s Red Sox T206 card in a PSA 8 or higher can fetch over $50,000 at auction.
1915 Babe Ruth – Before becoming the home run king of the Yankees, Babe Ruth spent his first few seasons in the majors pitching for the Red Sox from 1914-1919. His 1915 Cracker Jack card is one of the more sought after early 20th century Red Sox cards. High grade copies in a PSA 8 or above can sell for well over $100,000.
1954 Ted Williams – Arguably the greatest hitter of all time, Ted Williams had one of the most decorated careers in Red Sox history. His 1954 Topps card is widely considered one of the finest in the entire Topps archives. High grade PSA 8 or 9 examples can sell for $30,000+.
1967 Carl Yastrzemski – Yaz put together one of the greatest individual seasons in 1967, capturing the AL Triple Crown while leading the Red Sox to the pennant. His ’67 Topps card commemorating that MVP campaign is a staple in any serious Red Sox collection. PSA 8 copies sell for $2,000-3,000.
1975-76 Jim Rice – Big Jim Rice had back-to-back monster seasons in 1975-76 that saw him named AL MVP in ’78. His rookie cards from 1975 Topps and 1976 Topps are highly sought after by Red Sox collectors. PSA 10 examples can fetch $1,000-2,000 each.
1978 Jim Rice – Rice followed up his MVP 1977 season with another All-Star campaign in 1978. Highlighting that season is his iconic 1978 Topps card, which perfectly captures his aggressive home run swing. PSA 10 copies can sell for over $1,000.
1986 Bill Buckner – Infamously known for his World Series-ending error in 1986, Buckner’s regular season performance with the Red Sox earned him cards like his 1986 Fleer Update issue. Considered one of the tougher Red Sox cards to find in high grade, a PSA 10 Buckner ’86 Fleer Update sold at auction for over $4,000.
1998 Nomar Garciaparra – Nomar emerged as one of baseball’s brightest young stars in the late 90s for the Red Sox. His 1998 Topps Traded rookie card, which featured him on the cover, is a must-have for Red Sox PC builders. PSA 10 copies sell for $500-800.
2004 Curt Schilling – Bloody Sock Game hero Schilling’s legendary postseason performance helped end the “Curse of the Bambino” in 2004. Highlighting that championship run is his 2004 Topps Authentic card, which captured the image of his bloody sock. PSA 10 copies sell for over $1,000.
2007 Jonathan Papelbon – Before establishing himself as one of the best closers of his generation, Papelbon’s rookie season saw him dominate out of the Red Sox bullpen. His 2007 Bowman Chrome Prospects Autograph RC is highly coveted by collectors. PSA 10 copies have sold for over $2,000.
2013 Koji Uehara – Koji was virtually unhittable during Boston’s 2013 championship run, recording 21 saves with a minuscule 1.09 ERA. His 2013 Topps Authentic Refractors parallel captures that dominance. A PSA 10 sold at auction for over $600.
2016 Mookie Betts – Mookie emerged as a budding superstar during Boston’s 2016 AL East title run. His 2016 Topps Update Silver Pack RC parallel perfectly highlights that breakout season. High grade PSA 10 copies sell for $300-500.
As one of the most storied franchises in sports, the Red Sox have produced countless baseball card gems over the decades. Whether it’s early 20th century legends, MVP greats of the 60s, or modern day stars, Red Sox cards never seem to lose value with collectors. With such a rich history to pull from, building an impressive Red Sox collection is certainly achievable for any dedicated fan.