The Philadelphia Phillies have a long and storied history dating back to the late 1800s. As one of the oldest franchises in Major League Baseball, the Phillies have had some true icons and hall of famers suit up for them over the decades. With any sports collecting hobby, the cards that feature these all-time great Phillies players regularly find themselves among the most valuable and sought after on the secondary market. Let’s take a look at some of the priciest and most desirable vintage Phillies baseball cards to ever hit the auction block.

One of the clear crown jewels of any Phillies card collection would have to be the 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner card. Widely considered the holy grail of sports cards The Wagner is the pinnacle that all other cards are judged by. In the few known examples that feature future Phillies shortstop Wagner sporting his iconic smile, theCondition and centering play a major role in valuation. The highest auction price ever paid for any Wagner card was $6.6 million back in 2016. Needless to say, most collectors will never get the opportunity to own one of these.

For cards actually featuring players from their days with the Phillies franchise, one of the costliest would be the 1972 Topps Steve Carlton rookie card. Carlton, of course, went on to have a Hall of Fame career largely spent in Philadelphia winning 4 Cy Young awards. High grade versions of his flashy rookie card have shattered the $100,000 price point in recent vintage sales. Another key 1970’s Phillies star whose rookie card holds tremendous value is 1975 Topps Mike Schmidt. Often trading hands for $50,000+ in mint condition, the card depicting “The Schmitter” in his early Phillies days is an iconic piece of team history.

For newer collectors looking for big name Phillies cards that aren’t nearly as cost prohibitive, the 2007 Topps Update Mike Trout rookie is a stellar option. Though not with the Phillies at the time, Trout was famously selected by Philly with the 25th pick of the 2009 draft before being traded away. PSA Gem Mint 10 copies of his dazzling rookie pop have achieved $400,000+ at auction. One of the best modern Phillies young star cards would be the 2010 Bowman Chrome Bryce Harper rookie. Snagged by Philly with the 1st overall pick that year, BHarp was later dealt in a controversial move. High grade 10’s of this visually stunning issue exceed $10,000 today.

For vintage Philadelphia cards, one of the most historically significant would without question be the 1909-11 T206 Sherry Magee card. As one of the original “Whiz Kids” and longtime Phillies star, Magee holds numerous franchise batting records that still stand. Just 36 examples are known to exist in all conditions, making it one of the true Phillies collectibles. Values range wildly based on centering and surface quality, with PSA 4’s bringing close to six figures. Another fabled slugger who deserves mention is the normally more affordable 1933 Goudey Show Boat Jimmy Foxx. One of the game’s early power hitters who spent several years raking for Philly, high grade versions can still achieve $5,000+.

Shifting focus to the 1950’s, one of the finest Phillies cards from that golden era would certainly be the 1952 Topps Richie Ashburn. A true franchise cornerstone and five-time All-Star, “Whitey” graced Phillies outfields for over a decade. Example grades of PSA 8 have cracked $20,000 in auction. Another 1950’s Phillies legend that holds great cardboard value is 1955 Topps Robin Roberts. The Hall of Fame righty was a Phillies stalwart and Cy Young winner during their “Whiz Kids” season. Pristine PSA 9 copies can hit $12,000. For a third baseman card, fans enjoy hunting the 1959 Topps Granny Hamner issues. A sturdy veteran presence on those great late 50’s Philly teams, higher graded versions can reach $4,000.

Continuing into the 1960’s, one Phillies card coveted by many is the 1966 Topps Dick Allen rookie. A legendary slugger for the franchise in his early days, the “Dickmonster” launched many deep bombs at Connie Mack Stadium. With grades of PSA 9, these recently went for over $15,000 each. Another massive hitter whose card carries clout is the 1970 Topps Bobby (Swatter) Bonilla issue. A young starburst for Philly before moving on, pristine gems top out around $3,000. Lastly, the Philadelphia fan favorite 1968 Topps Cookie Rojas is an affordable vintage option. The scrappy second baseman dazzled crowds for several seasons, with PSA 8’s hitting $800+.

In more modern times, many eyes are on certain star rookie cards from the 1980’s Phillies glory days. One would be the 1984 Fleer Update Mike Schmidt. Displaying the all-time Phillies home run king in the prime of his powers, high grades can bring multi-thousand dollar sums. Another 80’s star popular on the vintage market is the 1986 Topps Darren Daulton rookie. A spirited catcher who led “Macho Row”, pristine copies eclipse $2,000. From the 1993 World Series championship team,finds the rookie cards of Curt Schilling and Lenny Dykstra in high demand. While not as pricey as their1980’s predecessors, mint PSA 10’s still average $300-500 a piece.

With over a century of history the Philadelphia Phillies franchise has seen no shortage of legends don Phillies uniforms. As a result, their vintage baseball cards remain a premier collectible coveted by Phillies fans worldwide. While the ultra high-end cards may be out of reach, there are still many affordable and historically significant Phils cards that can be added to any collection. With the nostalgia and memories they evoke of baseball’s past, vintage Phillies cardboard will always have a special place in the hobby.