Baseball cards have been popular collectibles since the late 19th century when companies first started including them as promotional materials with products like tobacco. Over the decades, certain cards have become extremely rare and valuable, fetching millions of dollars at auction. Some of the rarest and most expensive baseball cards ever sold include:
1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner: The crown jewel of baseball cards is the ultra-rare 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner card. Only around 60 are known to exist in various conditions. The rarity is due to Wagner allegedly pulling permission for his likeness after a single season over concerns about promoting tobacco to minors. In 2021, a PSA NM-MT 8 example sold at auction for $6.6 million, setting a new record. Other high grade examples have sold for well over $1 million.
1952 Topps Mickey Mantle: The 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie card is one of the most iconic in the hobby. It’s extremely rare to find in high grade as the card stock was low quality. In 2021, a PSA NM-MT 7 copy sold for $5.2 million, making it the highest price ever paid for a Mantle rookie at the time. Other nice examples can sell for over $1 million as well.
1909 American Caramel E80-1-2 Nap Lajoie: Another ultra-rare early issue card, only one high grade example of the Nap Lajoie rookie from 1909 American Caramel set E80-1-2 is known to exist. In 2021, it sold at auction for $3.9 million, setting a new record for highest price paid for a pre-war card. The history of this single card is fascinating as it has changed hands among elite collectors for decades.
1913 E121 T206 Joe Jackson: The 1913 E121 subset of the classic T206 set featured additional players not found in the base issues. Joe Jackson’s card from this set ranks among the most valuable, with only approximately 10 thought to exist. In 2022, a PSA Authentic example sold for $2.88 million, among the highest prices ever paid for a Jackson card.
1933 Goudey #53 Babe Ruth: Babe Ruth’s iconic 1933 Goudey card is one of his most collectible and desirable. High grades are extremely rare, with perhaps 10-15 PSA 8s and fewer PSA 9s known. In 2022, a PSA 8 example sold for an amazing $2.4 million, setting a new record for the set. PSA 9s can sell for over $3 million.
1957 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle: The 1957 Topps Mickey Mantle is his key post-rookie card and captures him in the prime of his career. High grades are very rare with perhaps 5 PSA 9s and 1 or no PSA 10s in existence. In 2022, a PSA 9 copy sold for $2.1 million, among the highest prices ever paid for a modern Mantle card.
1909 E90 Fatima Joe Jackson: The ultra-rare 1909 E90 Fatima Joe Jackson card is the only tobacco card issued of him before he became a star with the Chicago White Sox. Only 1-2 are known to exist in collectors’ hands. In 2022, an example graded PSA Authentic sold at auction for $1.84 million, among the highest prices ever paid for a Jackson card.
1933 Goudey #146 Lefty Grove: Lefty Grove’s 1933 Goudey card is one of the most iconic pitcher cards of the pre-war era. High grades are very rare and it’s considered the key card for the Hall of Famer. In 2022, a PSA 8 example sold for $1.44 million at auction, among the highest prices ever paid for this card.
1909 E121 American Caramel Honus Wagner: While not quite as rare as the legendary T206 Wagner, the 1909 American Caramel Wagner is still one of the key early issues of the baseball legend. Only a handful are known to exist. In 2022, a PSA Authentic example sold at auction for $1.32 million, reflecting its great rarity and condition.
1909-11 T206 Sherry Magee: Sherry Magee is one of the more obscure subjects of the hallowed T206 set but his card has incredible rarity. It’s believed fewer than 10 are known, with only 2-3 in collectors’ hands. In 2022, a PSA Authentic example sold at auction for $1.056 million, setting a new record for the Magee card due to its great condition and scarcity.
Those represent some of the rarest and most valuable baseball cards ever sold publicly. As the hobby continues to grow and new wealthy collectors enter the market, the prices paid for iconic vintage cards in top condition will likely only continue rising in the future as fewer perfect examples are left undiscovered. The cards listed above all have incredible stories of rarity, condition and the players depicted that make them truly unique and prized possessions for dedicated collectors.
