Collecting vintage Reds baseball cards from the 1950s and 1960s can be very rewarding both historically and financially. Here are some of the most valuable and desirable Reds cards from those early years that collectors seek and may command big prices at auction.
One of the true holy grail cards for any Reds collectors is the 1933 Goudey #53 Edd Roush card. Roush was a star outfielder for the Reds in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Unfortunately only around 50 copies of this ultra-rare card are known to exist today in any condition. Mint condition copies have sold for well over $100,000 given the extreme scarcity and iconic status of this early baseball card issue. Even well-worn low grade copies still sell for thousands.
Moving into the modern baseball card era, the 1952 Topps #114 Joe Nuxhall rookie card is one of the most valuable Reds cards from the 1950s. Nuxhall debuted as a 15-year old pitcher for the Reds in 1944 but his rookie card was not issued until the 1952 Topps set when baseball cards really took off in popularity. The Nuxhall rookie is one of the more popular and desirable rookie cards overall from the 1950s set and high grade mint condition copies can sell for $4,000 or more. Even well-centered excellent or near mint copies still trade hands for $1,000+.
Another coveted rookie card for Reds collectors is the 1954 Topps #331 Frank Robinson card. Robinson went on to have a Hall of Fame career and was the first African American manager in the majors but this early card captures him at the start of his storied career with Cincinnati. High grade Robinson rookies can sell for over $5,000 while even worn poor condition examples still hold value around $300-500 due to the significance and popularity of the player.
The 1959 Topps #500 Johnny Temple card stands out as one of the most visually striking and thus desirable vintage Reds cards. Temple is depicted in a colorful full swing motion photo against a bright yellow background. This creative and eye-catching card design combined with Temple’s playing career makes it a card that many collectors seek out. Mint condition Temples can sell for $800-1,000 range depending on market conditions. Solid near mint copies holding value of $300-500 as well.
Another key rookie to find from the 1950s Reds subset is the 1957 Topps #575 Jim Maloney card. Maloney went on to rack up 162 career wins including a no-hitter for the Reds and this early card captures him at the dawn of his career. Top graded gem mint Maloney rookies have changed hands for $1,000-1,500 price range. Very well-centered near mint copies usually fetch $400-600. Even worn lower grade examples still maintain value in the $150-250 range relative to the historical significance of the player featured.
From the 1960 Reds cards, the rookie cards of future Hall of Famer Tony Perez consistently rank among the most sought after. His 1961 Fleer #40 and 1962 Topps #489 RC’s capture “Big Doggie” at the start of his 23 year MLB career largely spent starring for Cincinnati’s “Big Red Machine” teams. Top graded mint copies of the 1961 Perez Fleer RC have sold for over $3,000 while near mint examples trade in the $1,500 area typically. The 1962 Perez Topps RC sees similar prices ranges depending on condition. Both cards are crucial for any serious Reds or vintage baseball card collection.
Another iconic “Big Red Machine” star featured on a historically valuable Reds rookie card is catcher and outfielder Johnny Bench. His 1967 Topps #553 RC became one of the most recognized and popular cards of the 1960s set given Bench’s eventual Hall of Fame talent and career. Top graded mint Bench rookies can command $5,000+ at auction while very nicely centered near mint copies still sell for $2,000-3,000 range showing the lasting demand for this classic Reds rookie card.
Moving into the golden era of the 1970s for Reds baseball, two of the most sought after stars to find were pitcher Don Gullett and outfielder George Foster. Gullett’s 1971 Topps #32 RC captures him early in his Cy Young winning career with Cincinnati. Gem mint Gulletts have sold for over $1,000 in recent years. George Foster’s 1972 Topps #210 RC is another highly regarded Reds cardboard from the 1970s as it features “The Bossman” at the breakout of record-setting career power season. Near/mint Foster RCs consistently attain $400-600 pricing as one of the era’s most recognizable rookie cards.
While finding high grade examples of early 1930s Reds star cards like Roush present an ultra-rare challenge, discovering choice condition vintage 1950s and 1960s rookie cards of legendary Reds players like Nuxhall, Robinson, Temple, Maloney, Perez, Bench, Gullett and Foster offers fans an opportunity to obtain true historic Cincinnati baseball relics possibly worth thousands to the right collectors down the line. With the Reds rich history, there remains strong collecting demand for remembering the franchise’s earliest stars through their seminal baseball cards from when the hobby first began.
