The biggest and most valuable baseball cards are the ones that are considered true sports collectibles and remind us of the golden ages of the sport. With that in mind, here’s a look at what could arguably constitute the 25 most famous and valuable baseball cards of all time:

1909 T206 Honus Wagner – Without question, the most famous and valuable baseball card ever printed is the ultra-rare 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner card. Fewer than 60 are known to exist today. One in near-mint condition sold for $3.12 million in 2016.

1952 Topps Mickey Mantle – The Mick’s rookie card is arguably the most desirable in the modern era. High-grade copies have sold for over $100,000. More than 1 million were printed, but survival rates are less than 1%.

1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth – Ruth’s earliest known baseball card came out when he was still pitching for the Boston Red Sox. Only a handful are known to exist. One sold for $5.2 million in 2016.

1909 E90 Columbus Senators Nap Lajoie – Lajoie was one of the game’s first true superstars in the Deadball Era. His rare pre-T206 Ohio player card is iconic but seldom seen, with just 10-12 graded copies worldwide.

1933 Goudey Braves Babe Ruth – The Bambino’s first card with a New York Yankees uniform is one of the most visually striking from the 1930s. In near-mint condition, a 1933 Goudey Ruth sold for over $2.8 million in 2016.

1911 American Caramel E109 Ty Cobb – One of the earliest cards featuring the legendary “Georgia Peach.” Condition is everything for surviving examples of this scarce Detroit Tigers issue.

1957 Topps Sandy Koufax – The legendary lefty’s only rookie card, a true gem mint PSA 10 copy sold for $361,000 in 2021, showing his enduring star power.

1956 Topps Mickey Mantle – Another classic Mick rookie, graded high it can rival his ’52 as the most desirable and valuable post-WWII card released.

1909 E90 Zip Zabel, N4 Billy Hamilton – Two rare pre-T206 player cards, true gems from the birth of licensed baseball cards over 100 years ago. Few have survived.

1952 Topps Willie Mays – Though not technically a rookie due to two prior appearances, it kicked off the iconic Topps Run and immortalized the Say Hey Kid.

2003 Exquisite Collection LeBron James Patch Autograph Rookie Jersey – Considered one of the best modern basketball cards ever made. It features swatches of James’ iconic Cleveland Cavaliers jersey.

1998 SPX Authentic Michael Jordan Autograph /23 – One of the rarest certified autos of MJ. It comes serially numbered to only 23 copies and has sold individually for over $100,000.

2006 Exquisite Collection Patch Autograph Triple Logoman /5 – A true “triple-patch” featuring jersey swatches from Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Kevin Garnett. One of five ever made.

2001-02 Upper Deck Origins Authentic On-Card Michael Jordan Patch Rookie Patch – A rare rookie-year patch of Jordan’s that has reached over $40,000 at auction in high grade.

1996 Metal Universe Refractor Ken Griffey Jr. – One of the first refractors printed, this highly collectible RC of Jr. reached $20,000 PSA 10.

2000 Topps Chrome Refractors Derek Jeter, Chipper Jones, Albert Pujols, etc. – Iconic rookies that defined the modern refractor era in baseball. Have held high values for 20+ years.

1990 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. – Junior’s true RC and one of the most desired base cards ever made. It’s maintained huge popularity longer than nearly any other.

2007 Donruss Threads LeBron James Logo Patch /10 – Ultra-rare low-numbered patch card of the King at his Cavaliers peak. Considered one of the nicest modern patch cards ever.

1887-1890 N168 Old Judge Tobacco Jacob Ferdinand “Jake” Beckley – One of the earliest tobacco cards ever made, well-known subject, and a true grandfather of the modern baseball card collecting era.

1998 Topps Chrome Refractor Manny Ramirez Red Sox /299 – Among the most aesthetically pleasing and collectible Red Sox cards ever made, in high demand from chrome/refractor collectors and Manny fans.

2000 Playoff Contenders Tom Brady Rookie Autograph /100 – An early signed card of the GOAT QB from his early dynasty years commands big bucks. Super short prints are invaluable.

1984 Donruss Kevin Mitchell Rookie /569 – One of the scarcest major rookie cards produced in the ’80s, a true condition census piece for Mitch fans and vintage collectors.

2002 Topps Chrome Refractor Alex Rodriguez /150 Yankee debut – ARod’s Yankee card is a key iconic card, made much more rare and desirable by the short print parallel. Still very strong demand 20 years later.

1996 Ultra Michael Jordan Kobe Bryant Dual Jersey Patch 1/1 – A true “holy grail” jersey relic that unites the two best basketball players ever. No card combines such legends in so rare a way.

2004 Exquisite Collection LeBron James Logo Patch Autograph /5 – One of the earliest and finest on-card auto patches of the King, still treasured for its craftsmanship and low copy count nearly 20 years later.

The headliners on any list of the most famous and valuable baseball cards are those legendary pre-war and vintage issues that enshrine all-time greats like Wagner, Ruth, Mantle, Mays, Cobb and others. Modern standouts with legendary subjects, short prints, autographs and patches also maintain cachet for dedicated collectors. Condition and rarity always determine the ultimate prices such elite sports cards will bring.