Baseball cards have been collected by fans for over a century and some vintage cards from the early days of the sport can be extremely valuable. While most common cards from recent years have little monetary value, there are always certain cards that appreciate in value more than others. This article will explore some of the top baseball cards that are worth significant money in today’s market if graded and preserved in high condition.
One of the most expensive and iconic cards is the 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner card. Produced between 1909-1911 as part of the hugely popular T206 series, it is one of the rarest cards ever made with only 50-200 known to exist in various grades. In pristine mint condition, a T206 Wagner has sold for over $3 million at auction in recent years, making it truly one of the most valuable collectibles in the world. High grade examples from the set can also bring six figure sums, especially for stars like Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson and Christy Mathewson.
Another early 20th century gem is the 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth rookie card. Produced while Ruth was still a pitcher for the Red Sox, it captures “The Bambino” in his early playing days before his legendary home run prowess with the Yankees. Only a few high grade examples are known to exist and one sold for over $5 million in 2016. Other pre-war Ruth rookie cards to pursue include issues from 1915-1916 and his famous 1919-1920 “Play Ball” Sporting News card which has also cracked the million dollar threshold.
Moving into the post-war era, the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie is undoubtedly one of the most coveted cards for Yankees and Mantle collectors. High grade versions regularly sell for six figures, with a PSA 9 copy selling for over $275,000 in late 2017. The 1952 Bowman Color Mantle rookie is also highly sought after for its vivid color images from that pioneering set. Other 1950’s stars that can bring big money include Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Sandy Koufax among others.
The 1960 Topps set is another iconic vintage issue that is heavily collected. The flagship rookie cards of future Hall of Famers like Nolan Ryan and Tom Seaver can be worth thousands in top condition. A PSA 9 example of Ryan’s 1960 Topps rookie recently sold for over $25,000. Seaver’s is also very valuable, with a PSA 8 copy selling for $12,000 in early 2018. Other notable 1960 rookies include Ron Santo, Dick Groat and Billy Williams. High numbers and short prints from the set also have strong collector demand.
Jumping to the 1970’s, the flagship rookie cards of star pitchers like Bert Blyleven and Fernando Valenzuela from 1971 and 1981 respectively can each be worth over $1,000 in top grades. The 1975 Topps Fred Lynn rookie is another highly sought after card, with a PSA 9 copy selling for $5,000 in late 2017. The 1977 Topps Reggie Jackson and Ozzie Smith rookies are also valued at $1,000+ in high condition. For football fans, the dual sport star Deion Sanders’ 1989 Bowman rookie baseball card still fetches over $500 graded.
Moving into the modern era, rookie cards of superstars like Ken Griffey Jr. and Chipper Jones are mainstays in team sets from the late 1980’s and 1990’s that can still appreciate significantly over time. A PSA 10 Griffey Upper Deck rookie from 1989 sold for $22,000 in early 2018. The 1990 Bowman Chipper Jones rookie in a 9.5 Gem Mint grade brought $12,000 at auction last fall as well. More recent rookies that could potentially gain value include Bryce Harper, Mike Trout, Manny Machado and Kris Bryant among others once they become eligible for the Hall of Fame.
In addition to star rookies, error cards and short prints that were accidentally produced or in limited distribution can also be very collectible and worth considerable money decades later. One such card is the famed 1914 Cracker Jack Lefty Grove error card which inadvertently features a photo of future Hall of Famer Eddie Plank instead of Grove on the front. Only a handful are known to exist and a high grade example sold for over $100,000 in 2017.
Condition is also paramount when evaluating the potential value of any vintage or modern baseball card. Professionally graded gem mint examples through services like PSA and BGS are typically worth exponentially more than raw or lower graded copies. This is why careful storage in protective holders is so important long term for serious collectors. Cards that have been well cared for are always going to be the ones that bring the biggest paydays when they cross the auction block or are privately sold years down the road.
While the vast majority of common baseball cards have little monetary worth, there will always be certain scarce, error, rookie and star player cards that maintain or increase in value as the years pass. For dedicated collectors, pursuing high grade examples of the elite vintage and modern issues profiled here could potentially be a sound long term investment or produce a valuable collectible asset to enjoy for decades to come. As with any collectible however, condition, scarcity and strong ongoing demand will be the key factors that truly allow the finest examples to retain or increase their worth over time.
