There are many baseball cards from years past that can be extremely valuable depending on the player, the year, the card condition, and other factors. One of the most important things that determines a card’s value is its condition and grade. The condition of a card is assessed on things like centering, corners, edges and surfaces using independent grading services like PSA or BGS. The higher the grade, the rarer the card is in that condition and the more valuable it becomes. Generally, only mint condition cards from the very best years are worth significant money. Here are some of the most valuable baseball cards to look out for:

1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner – This is widely considered the holy grail of baseball cards as it’s the rarest card ever printed. In gem mint condition it has sold for over $3 million. Even well-worn low graded examples can bring $100K+.

1952 Topps Mickey Mantle – Mantle rookie cards are some of the most iconic and sought after in the hobby. High graded ’52 Mantle rookies have sold for well over $1 million. This was Topps’ first full color design and set the standard for the modern baseball card era.

1933 Goudey Babe Ruth – Ruth rookie and early career cards hold elite status. A pristine ’33 Goudey in a PSA 9 could sell for $500K+. They are exceptionally rare to find in high grades 70+ years later.

1968 Topps Nolan Ryan – Ryan’s rookie was a late addition to the ’68 Topps set which makes high graded copies even rarer. Pristine PSA 10 cards have sold for $80K+. This was Ryan’s first Topps issue before his Hall of Fame career took off.

1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. – Considered one of the most aesthetically pleasing rookie cards of all time. Iconic photo and design. PSA 10 examples have surpassed $10K with one even achieving $22K in a recent sale.

1957 Topps Hank Aaron – Aaron’s sophomore Topps issue is far scarcer than his 1954 Bowman rookie. High graded copies in PSA 8-10 condition sell for $20K+. He was already a star at this point embarking on a historic career.

1963 Topps Sandy Koufax – Koufax’s lone regular season MVP year immortalized on this classic card. In PSA 9-10 condition it consistently sells in the $15K+ range. One of the most visually appealing 60s Topps designs.

1997 Bowman Chrome Derek Jeter – Ultra desirable rookie card debuting Jeter’s iconic stance. Pristine PSA 10 examples sell for $5-10K each. Considered the pinnacle card for completion of full Jeter rainbow sets.

1952 Bowman Mickey Mantle – The Holy Grail of Mantle rookie cards. Only a small numbers were pulled from packs in the early 50s making it exponentially rarer than the ’52 Topps issue. One PSA 8.5 specimen sold at auction for $2.88 million in 2018.

1909-11 White Border Nap Lajoie – One of the top pre-WW1 tobacco era cards alongside the Wagner. High grade specimens frequently trade in the 6 figure range. Legendary player on an equally storied cardboard issue.

1954 Topps Mickey Mantle – Iconic photo catching Mantle in stride. Near perfect PSA 10 copies consistently achieve $50K+ at auction. Considered the apex Mantle card for condition and aesthetics from the golden era of 1950s Topps.

The rarest and most valuable baseball cards are typically early 20th century tobacco cards like the famed T206 Honus Wagner, legendary player rookie cards from the 1930s-1950s in the highest possible grades, and specific star rookie cards from the late 1980s-1990s era in pristine mint condition. Beyond raw value, the best cards also boast strong historical and sentimental significance within the hobby. With care and research, it’s possible to uncover valuable baseball card sleepers in attics or hidden away collections.