The year 2020 was an unprecedented one with the COVID-19 pandemic greatly impacting many industries, including sports card collecting and the historical hobby of baseball card investing and collecting. Some highly coveted classic baseball cards from years past still attracted enormous sums at auction as nostalgia for America’s favorite pastime continued. Let’s take a look at some of the highest selling and most valuable baseball cards that changed hands in 2020.
The top card of 2020 in terms of final sale price was a 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner card that was auctioned off by Goldin Auctions for $3.912 million in December. This towering price makes it one of the most expensive baseball or sports cards ever sold. What makes the Wagner so desirable is that it was part of the very first notable set of modern baseball cards ever produced over 100 years ago by the American Tobacco Company. Only around 60 examples are known to exist today in varying states of preservation, making each one extremely rare. This particular copy sold was in Good 2 condition on the standard 1-10 grading scale used by certification companies like PSA and SGC.
In second place for 2020 was another iconic Wagner card, this one graded PSA NM-MT 8, which hammered down at a Robert Edward Auctions sale for $1.32 million in September. Just a couple months prior, a different PSA NM-MT 8 Wagner went for $1.110 million at Heritage Auctions. The Wagner routinely ranks as the most valuable baseball card in existence due to its rarity, historical significance, and association with one of the earliest baseball superstars who tragically opted to forbid tobacco companies from using his likeness.
Other pre-war tobacco cards that moved for major money in 2020 auctions included a 1909-11 T206 Sherry Magee which brought in $555,000 at Robert Edward and a PSA 4 T206 Ed Walsh that went for over a half million at Goldin. Vintage cards tend to hold their strong collector demand due to their scarcity and the fact they were produced prior to the mass production era. Even later 20th century star rookies had breakout years.
A standout in this category was a 1957 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie card graded PSA NM-MT 8 that sold for $412,000 through Heritage in August. From the first large set issued by Topps after acquiring the baseball card license, Mantle’s iconic rookie is always in high demand due to his legendary playing career and status as perhaps the greatest switch hitter ever. Elsewhere, a Tom Seaver rookie from 1967 graded PSA 8.5 made $277,500 at Robert Edward Auctions, while a 1972 Nolan Ryan rookie PSA 8 realized $234,375 through Heritage.
Modern star cards were not immune from big sales either in 2020. A generational talent like Mike Trout always maintains strong collector interest and a 2012 Bowman Chrome Draft Mike Trout auto /99 graded BGS 9.5 encapsulated that by selling for $900,000 through Goldin Auctions. Elsewhere, a 1998 Bowman’s Best Refractor Ken Griffey Jr. PSA 10 changed hands privately for over $350,000. Griffey was a fan favorite known for his smiling demeanor and prodigious home run power in the 1990s. Trout and Griffey’s cards proved their enduring popularity long after their playing days.
Low-numbered parallel printings from modern sets were also in high demand. A 1998 Bowman Chrome Refractors Superfractor Luis Robert /5 landed at $224,000 through Goldin, with Robert one of baseball’s brightest young stars. Meanwhile, a 1995 SP Authentic Triple Threads Jersey Card Ichiro Suzuki /10 went for $112,500 via Robert Edward Auctions. Suzuki was a trailblazing star from Japan who broke records after coming to Major League Baseball in 2001 for the Seattle Mariners.
By diving deeper into auction results from leading houses like Goldin, Heritage, and Robert Edward, it’s clear that classic vintage cards still reign supreme due to their amazing rarity. Modern star rookies and low-numbered parallels reflecting today’s brightest talents are clearly finding many wealthy collectors as well. No matter the player, condition or era, certain rare baseball cards will seemingly always hold tremendous value as prized collectibles and investments within the robust multi-billion dollar market. Looking ahead to 2021 and beyond, it will be fascinating to see what other landmark prices hit the headlines.
