The hobby of baseball card collecting has produced some incredibly valuable pieces of cardboard over the decades. As certain players’ reputations and the nostalgia associated with their cards grows, some have increased enormously in value. Here are the top 50 most valuable baseball cards based on PSA-graded examples that have sold at auction, with analysis of what makes each card so desirable.

The number 1 spot belongs to the 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner, widely considered the holy grail of sports cards. The iconic Wagner card is the rarest of the whole T206 series, with fewer than 60 believed to exist. One in near-mint condition sold for $6.6 million in 2016. Wagner was arguably the first true baseball superstar and his card is the single most iconic in the history of the hobby.

At number 2 is the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card. Like Wagner, Mantle is one of the all-time greats of the game and his rookie card is the key issue from the first Topps set. High-grade examples regularly top $1 million at auction. The Mantle occupies a special place as one of the original modern-era cards that helped launched the post-WWII boom in baseball card collecting.

The 1887 Old Judge cigarette Carter Crawford is number 3. It’s considered the first baseball card ever produced and is one of the rarest, with just a handful known to exist. It features a vertical image of Crawford and was inserted into Old Judge tobacco products. A PSA NM-MT 8 copy sold in 2016 for $504,000.

At number 4 is the 1933 Goudey #53 Jimmie Foxx. Foxx was one of the most prolific sluggers of the 1930s and ’40s and his Goudey rookie is the crown jewel of that set. Foxx’s elegant stance graces the highly collectible and attractive design. A PSA 8 sold in 2018 for $360,000.

Number 5 on our list is the 1909-11 T206 Eddie Plank. Like Wagner’s issue from the same Tobacco brand, the Plank card is exceedingly rare with an estimated survival rate of 10%. The elegant afro-haired pitcher and his solid performance for decade make him one of the most desirable T206 subjects. A PSA 8.5 made $264,000 in 2020.

At number 6 is the 1909-11 T206 Joe Jackson. “Shoeless Joe” is an all-time great whose playing career was cut short due to his role in the Black Sox Scandal. His talents and fame still make his T206 one of the set’s key chases. A PSA 8 sold for $237,500 in 2018.

The 1909-11 T206 Sherry Magee at number 7 is one of the scarcest issues of the iconic tobacco series. Fewer than 10 are believed to exist in all grades. Magee was a star for the Phillies in the early 20th century. His obscure image makes it a true prize for advanced T206 collectors.

Coming in at number 8 is the 1909-11 T206 Walter Johnson. “The Big Train” is widely considered the greatest pitcher in baseball history based on stats and eye-witness accounts. His dominance and longevity ensure the Johnson T206 remains a must-have for enthusiasts of the set. A PSA 9 sold for $218,750 in 2021.

At number 9 is the 1909-11 T206 Christy Mathewson. Like teammate Johnson, Mathewson established himself as one of the best hurlers in baseball in the early 1900s. He’s best remembered for his incredible performances in the 1905 World Series. A high-grade Mathewson routinely fetches well over $100K.

Rounding out the top 10 at number 10 is the 1909-11 T206 Jack Chesbro. Chesbro’s place here underscores just how rare and condition-sensitive the entire T206 series is. He posted one amazing 1904 season but was otherwise just a good pitcher – but his card is key to the set due to its limited survival rate. A PSA 9.5 sold for $126K in 2021.

The remaining top 50 include several more key pieces from the hallowed T206 set as well as many of the other pioneering baseball issues like Turkey Red (1911), M101-1 (1915), W514 (1915), and Play Ball (1931).Here are some highlights:

Number 11 is the 1909-11 T206 Christy Mathewson PSA NM 8 ($120,000 sale in 2021)

Number 15 is the 1911 T202 Turkey Red Cobb rookie, one of just 10 in a PSA 6.5 grade ($92,500 in 2020)

Number 17 is the 1914 Cracker Jack Josh Gibson, one of baseball’s first inserts ($88,000 PSA 8.5 in 2021)

Number 23 is the 1948 Leaf Jackie Robinson rookie, his first card in familiar Dodgers uni ($60K PSA 8.5 in 2020)

Number 24 is the 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth, a dynamic visual of The Bambino ($59,000 PSA 7 in 2020)

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That covers the highlights from the first 25 cards in the top 50. Some additional notable cards from 25-50 include:

Number 26, 1915 W514 Nap Lajoie (Estimate: $55K PSA 9)

Number 27, 1952 Topps Willie Mays rookie (Estimate: $50K PSA 8)

Number 30, 1914 Cracker Jack Walter Johnson (Estimate: $45K PSA 8)

Number 34, 1910 APBA Christy Mathewson Diamond Stars card (Estimate: $40K PSA 8)

Number 38, 1951 Bowman Color TV Scoop Willie Mays (Estimate: $35K PSA 8)

Number 41, 1909-11 T206 Christy Mathewson PSA 8 ($30K sale in 2021)

Number 44, 1939 Play Ball Hank Greenberg ($28K PSA 8 sale in 2021)

Number 48, 1948 Leaf Minnie Miñoso rookie (Estimate: $25K PSA 8)

Number 49, 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle PSA 8 (Estimate: $25K)

And rounding things out at number 50 is the 1909-11 T206 Eddie Collins with an estimate of $20,000 for a high-grade example. This helps illustrate just how the immense rarity and condition challenges associated with the early 20th century tobacco and candy issues make them consistently dominate hobby’s highest value ranks. Today’s most expensive cards continue to be those that feature the all-time great players from baseball’s early eras and the sport’s pioneering cardboard sets. With prices always fluctuating based on the economy and number of serious collectors, this top 50 list shows where the true gold standards have settled based on recent results. With care and luck, any of these iconic pieces of sports history could become a focal point of an exciting collection.