Baseball cards have been collected by fans for over a century and some rare vintage cards have skyrocketed in value over the years. Whether it’s due to the player featured, the year it was printed, or other factors, certain baseball cards now command prices in the thousands, tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. Here are 21 baseball cards that could be worth a fortune:
1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner – This is considered the holy grail of baseball cards and the most valuable card in existence. In near-mint condition, examples have sold for over $3 million. Wagner, a superstar of the early 20th century, demanded that his likeness be removed from the T206 set issued by American Tobacco, so only around 60 examples are known to exist today.
1952 Topps Mickey Mantle – Mantle is one of the most popular Yankees of all time and his rookie card from Topps’ first set is among the most coveted. High-grade versions regularly sell for six figures, with a PSA 9 copy recently selling for $275,000. Fewer than 100 PSA 10 Gems are known.
1933 Goudey Babe Ruth – One of the earliest modern baseball cards, Goudey issued cards of Ruth near the end of his career in 1933. High-grade versions change hands for $50,000-$100,000 depending on condition. An SGC 8.5 copy sold for $81,750 in 2021.
1909-11 T206 Walter Johnson – Along with Wagner and Mathewson, Walter Johnson is one of the three most valuable pitchers from the classic T206 set. High-end copies consistently sell for $30,000 and up.
1975 SSPC George Brett – Brett’s rookie card was issued as part of Topps’ 1975 Mini format, making high-grades quite scarce. PSA 10 examples have sold for over $20,000 in recent years.
1909-11 T206 Christy Mathewson – Like Wagner and Johnson, Mathewson is one of the most sought-after and valuable cards from the pioneer T206 set. Near-mint copies trade hands for $15,000-$30,000.
1909-11 T206 Ty Cobb – Considered one of the greatest hitters ever, Cobb’s T206 rookie is highly collectible. High-end PSA/SGC graded copies bring $10,000-$20,000.
1952 Topps Willie Mays – Like Mantle, Mays’ rookie card is iconic and among the most valuable from the 1952 set. PSA 10 Gems have sold for over $15,000.
1909-11 T206 Ed Walsh – The dominant Chicago White Sox pitcher of the early 1900s, Walsh has one of the key rare and valuable rookie cards from the T206 set. High-grade copies sell for $5,000-$10,000.
1909-11 T206 Three Stooges – This ultra-rare error card features a mismatched trio of faces from the T206 set. Only three are known to exist. One recently sold for $72,000.
1933 Goudey Dizzy Dean – Dean’s Goudey rookie card is highly sought after by fans of 1930s cards and St. Louis Cardinals history. High grades bring $2,000-$5,000.
1952 Topps Jackie Robinson – Robinson’s barrier-breaking rookie card remains an important piece of sports and cultural history. PSA 10 Gems have reached $15,000.
1975 SSPC Nolan Ryan – Ryan’s early career was with the Angels and his 1975 mini rookie is a key piece for Angels and Ryan collectors. PSA 10s sell for $2,000-$3,000.
1909-11 T206 Joe Jackson – Jackson was one of the game’s first true superstars before being banned from baseball in the Black Sox Scandal. His rare T206 rookie is valued around $3,000-$5,000.
1957 Topps Hank Aaron – Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record and his 1957 Topps rookie remains one of the most significant cards from that classic set. High grades reach $2,000.
1957 Topps Willie Mays – Like Mantle and Aaron, Mays’ rookie card from the beloved 1957 Topps set is widely collected. PSA 10s sell in the $1,500 range.
1933 Goudey Lefty Grove – Grove was one of baseball’s first pitching superstars in the 1930s. His Goudey rookie remains a key piece for A’s and vintage collectors, valued around $1,000-$2,000.
1909-11 T206 Nap Lajoie – A true hitting star of the Deadball Era, Lajoie’s T206 rookie remains an important and valuable piece of early 20th century baseball history. Graded copies sell for $1,000-$2,000.
1971 Topps Thurman Munson – The Yankee captain’s early career was defined by his 1971 Topps rookie card. High grades remain scarce and valuable at $1,000-$1,500.
1909-11 T206 Sherry Magee – An overlooked but talented hitter of the early 1900s, Magee’s T206 rookie is a more affordable way to own a piece of that hallowed set. Expect to pay $500-$1,000.
1957 Topps Bob Gibson – The Hall of Fame Cardinals flamethrower first appeared in the classic 1957 Topps set. His rookie remains obtainable for Gibson/Cards collectors at $300-$500.
Vintage cards from the T206 and early Goudey sets will almost always command top dollar due to their immense historical significance. There are also plenty of valuable and collectible cards from the post-war era as well that feature the games’ all-time greats and could gain even more value over time. With prices ranging from a few hundred to millions, any of these 21 cards could prove to be a worthwhile investment or prized piece of any collection.
