Ted Williams is considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time. Nicknamed “Teddy Ballgame” and “The Splendid Splinter”, Williams played his entire 21-year baseball career with the Boston Red Sox from 1939 to 1960. Williams was an outstanding hitter who won two Triple Crowns and batted over .400 twice in a season, accomplishments that have not been matched since. Given his legendary status in baseball history, Ted Williams cards are extremely desirable collectibles that can be quite valuable, depending on the specific card and its condition. Let’s take a deeper look at Ted Williams baseball cards and explore some of the price ranges collectors can expect to pay.
One of the more affordable Ted Williams cards is his 1953 Topps card. Being one of his most commonly found vintage cards, graded PSA 8 copies in excellent condition recently sold between $150-$300. While not extremely pricey, this card captures Williams in a Red Sox uniform during his career and offers collectors an accessible way to add him to their collection. Moving back a few years, his 1952 Bowman card can be acquired for somewhat more. Graded PSA 8 examples changed hands for $400-$600, with higher grades moving the price upwards.
For collectors seeking Ted Williams rookie cards, the choices are more limited due to the era. His 1939 Goudey card is widely considered one of the true Ted Williams rookies since it was issued during his rookie season. Graded copies are extremely expensive owing to the set’s scarcity and demand from vintage collectors. A PSA 8 1939 Goudey Ted Williams recently brought in a winning bid of $27,500 at auction. Even lower graded copies in the PSA 5-7 range still trade in the $10,000 range. His 1940 Play Ball card also qualifies as a rookie, with PSA 8 copies entering at similar starting prices to the 1939 Goudey.
Stepping beyond Ted Williams’ true vintage rookie cards into the post-World War 2 era, some more affordable options emerge. His 1946 Leaf card can be acquired for a few thousand dollars in top grades. A PSA 8.5 example sold for $4,950 last year. From 1947-1949, Ted Williams was featured in the high-end Leaf and Bowman sets. His 1947 Leaf holds stable values with a PSA 8 bringing around $3,500. The 1948 and 1949 issues can be found for $1,500-$3,000 depending on condition. Collectors seeking Ted Williams rookie variants have turned to these late 1940s issues as more budget-friendly collectors’ pieces.
Shifting to Ted Williams’ legendary 1950s career, several iconic cards emerge. His 1955 Topps card is significant as it captures him in the midst of his batting title seasons. PSA 8 copies typically sell between $3,000-$5,000. Moving into 1951-1954, Williams was prominently featured annually in the high-end Bowman and Topps sets that drove the postwar baseball card market. All four years hold collector value with 1951 and 1952 Bowman at $2,000-3,500 in top grades. The 1951 and 1952 Topps issues fall around the $1,500 price point. Rarer parallels and variations on these classic 1950s Williams cards can significantly increase value.
Of course, the Holy Grail for any Ted Williams collector is undoubtedly his 1957 Topps card, issued after he surprisingly came out of retirement in 1956 for one final season. In gem mint PSA 10 condition, a 1957 Ted Williams recently took in an enormous $657,250 winning bid. Even in lower grades of PSA 8 or 9, examples will still fetch five figures owing to the extreme rarity and popularity of this final Ted Williams baseball card. For most collectors, it resides as the untouchable crown jewel prized by museums and wealthy private collections.
In summary, Ted Williams legendary career has resulted in some of the most valuable baseball cards that can be collected. While ultra-high graded examples of his true rookie cards or final card may remain out of reach price-wise, there are still many affordable Ted Williams collector options available across various decades that can enrich any baseball card collection. With meticulous research into condition, serial numbers, and variants, dedicated Ted Williams collectors can assemble a comprehensive cherished collection over time that captures one of the games all-time greats found in the iconic cardboard produced during his Hall of Fame baseball tenure.
