The hobby of collecting baseball cards has been around for over 150 years. Originally included as an advertisement inserted into packages of chewing tobacco or cigarette brands in the late 19th century, these cardboard pieces of memorabilia have grown exponentially in both value and popularity. Now some of the rarest vintage cards in pristine condition can fetch prices in the millions. Here’s a look at 10 of the most valuable baseball cards on the market today based on sales and auction prices.

1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner – Estimated Value $3-5 million

Generally considered the most coveted and valuable trading card of all time, only around 60 of these ultra-rare Wagner cards are known to exist in mint condition. Printed by the American Tobacco Company between 1909-1911 as part of their hugely popular T206 series, the card is No. 181 in the set. It’s believed that Wagner, a superstar of the early MLB, requested his card to be pulled since he did not want to promote tobacco to children. This extreme scarcity is a big reason why just a single mint Wagner card could sell for $3-5 million or more.

1952 Topps Mickey Mantle – $2.88 million

This exceptional ’52 Topps Mantle rookie remains the most expensive post-war card ever sold. In January 2022, a PSA Gem Mint 9 copy shattered records, going for $2.88 million through Heritage Auctions. Widely considered the finest Mantle rookie in existence, its stunning state of preservation contributed greatly to its sky-high price. Even lower graded examples still fetch hundreds of thousands due to Mantle’s legendary status.

1933 Goudey Babe Ruth – $2.1 million

While not technically his true rookie card, the 1933 Goudey set is the first notable brand to picture the legendary Bambino. Only approximately 150 of these extremely fragile cards are left in pristine condition today. In a private sale through Goldin Auctions in 2016, a flawless PSA Gem Mint 10 example sold for a whopping $2.1 million, smashing expectations. No other Ruth card has ever sold for more.

1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner (PSA 1) – $1.32 million

One of the 60 or so surviving T206 Wagners but in far worse shape, this card sold for $1.32 million in 2016 despite receiving the worst possible PSA grade of 1 (Poor). Granted, it was the lowest numbered PSA 1 in existence and still capitalized on the worldwide demand for any Wagner. Proving that condition isn’t everything when it comes to defining a card’s worth as a historic piece.

1909-11 T206 Nap Lajoie – $922,500

As a National League star like Wagner during the tobacco era, the Lajoie is nearly as rare with only approximately 100-150 known to exist. Like the higher graded Wagners, a superb PSA NM-MT 8 sold in late 2021 for nearly $923k, making it the third priciest T206 after the two Wagners. Illustrated beautifully within the tobacco design, it exemplifies early 20th century baseball card artistry at its finest.

1911 T3 Turkey Red Cabrera/Wagner – $690,000

Produced by Cracker Jack as a ‘twin’ image with Honus Wagner on one side and Wagner’s Pirates teammate Davy Jones on the reverse, only two of these hybrid photo-cards are known to history. Remarkably, one hit the $690k mark in a 2013 auction. While not technically a single player card, its rarity and association to Wagner makes it very desirable for serious vintage enthusiasts.

1957 Topps Sandy Koufax RC PSA 9 – $504,000

Koufax’s rookie card from his initial Topps issue has long thrilled collectors and at a January 2015 auction, demand proved his enduring popularity. A pristine PSA 9 copy in phenomenal condition saw its price rocket to over $504,000, over 100 times more than the previous record. Though not quite of Wagner or Mantle status, it shows the lasting worth attached to the cards of all-time great pitchers.

1914 Cracker Jack Joe Jackson – $465,000

As a member of the infamous “Black Sox” scandal tainted with accusations of throwing the 1919 World Series, interest in Shoeless Joe memorabilia remains high. Fewer than 10 of his 1914 Cracker Jack card are known, making each one exceptionally rare. In 2013, a PSA 8 sold for a towering $465,000, proof that notoriety as well as talent raises a card’s profile.

1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle RC – $360,720

While not his true first card like the 1952 Topps, Mantle’s debut in the 1951 Bowman set has grown greatly in demand in recent years. At Heritage Auctions January 2020 sale, a pristine PSA 8.5 example shattered records at $360,720. It emphasizes the never-ending demand for any certified high grade Mantle from his early career prior to superstardom with the Yankees.

1909-11 T206 Brickyard Jim Thorpe – $252,000

Thorpe remains one of the most accomplished athletes in history, a star football player who also played professional baseball in the early 1900s. His scarce T206 is highly sorted after not just by card collectors but also memorabilia aficionados of the multi-sport legend. At a 2013 auction, a PSA 3 copy achieved an astounding $252,000, showing that unique stories elevate even very poor condition rarities.

What all these record-setting cards have in common is their exceptional historic significance combined with ultra-rare surviving populations in high grades. Even over a century after they were created, those early tobacco-era cards which managed to withstand the test of time can still generate million dollar prices due to their unreplaceable status as the initial depictions and biographical records of baseball’s all-time great players. With values always fluctuating based on the overall economy and demand cycles, these 10 masterworks represent the lucrative pinnacle of baseball memorabilia collecting.