Baseball cards have been a beloved hobby for over a century. While millions of cards exist, some are much more valuable and desirable than others. Whether you’re a collector looking to find treasure or a fan wanting to own iconic pieces of history, here are some of the top baseball cards people want to buy.

One of the holy grails of the hobby is the 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner card. Produced between 1909-1911 as part of the American Tobacco Company’s famous T206 series, it’s widely considered the most valuable trading card in existence. Fewer than 60 are known to exist today in varying conditions. In 2021, a PSA NM-MT 8 example sold at auction for $6.6 million, setting a new record. The story of how this card gained such mystique involves the reluctance of Wagner, a superstar at the time, to endorse tobacco products, resulting in a very small print run.

Another exceedingly rare pre-war gem is the 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth rookie card. Only five copies are confirmed to exist according to the PSA population report. In January 2022, a PSA NM-MT 8 copy sold for $2.88 million, making it one of the highest selling Babe Ruth cards ever. Like Wagner, Ruth was one of the first true superstars of the game in the 1910s and 1920s. His rookie card is a seminal piece of sports collectibles history.

For many, the most aesthetically pleasing and historically significant modern rookie card is the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle. As one of the first mainstream color cards produced, it features a bright yellow border and photo of the Yankees legend from his breakout 1951 season. High quality PSA Gem Mint 10 examples in today’s market pull in over $2 million. There are only a handful of PSA 10s known compared to the thousands that exist in lower grades.

Another hugely important post-war rookie is the 1956 Topps Sandy Koufax. Like Mantle, it was among the early Topps issues to feature color photography. Koufax went on to become one of the greatest pitchers ever, winning three Cy Young awards and a record four ERA titles. PSA 10s trade for $300,000-500,000 depending on market conditions. Only about a dozen true pristine copies are known to exist.

For many collectors, the definitive vintage rookie card is the 1957 Topps Hank Aaron. As one of the first mainstream issues to feature future Hall of Famers as rookies, it captures Aaron in the early stages of his record-breaking 23-year career. High grades bring six figure sums, with a PSA Gem Mint 10 recently selling for $360,000. The 1957 Topps set overall is highly coveted by collectors, with other key rookies including Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente.

One of the most visually striking vintage cards is the 1969 Topps Nolan Ryan rookie card. It features a bold blue and yellow color scheme and close-up photo of the Hall of Famer as a member of the New York Mets. Ryan went on to rack up a record 5,714 strikeouts and seven no-hitters over 27 seasons. PSA 10 examples command over $20,000 in today’s market. The 1969 Topps set overall is considered one of the most aesthetically pleasing issues ever produced.

For modern era cards, the 1991 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. rookie is among the most sought after by collectors. It was the first Griffey card produced by the pioneering Upper Deck company and captured “The Kid” at the beginning of his 22-year career. PSA 10 copies trade hands for $10,000-15,000 depending on the market. The card is especially iconic for collectors who grew up in the 1990s during Griffey’s heyday as a Seattle Mariners star.

Another modern standout is the 1994 SP Derek Jeter rookie card. Issued shortly before his legendary 20-year career with the New York Yankees began, it features a crisp photo of the future captain on the front and career stats on the back. High grades are scarce, with PSA 10s selling for $7,000-10,000. The 1994 SP set overall is considered one of the most aesthetically pleasing and collectible issues from the modern era.

For the ultra-premium modern market, cards like the 2009 Bowman Chrome Mike Trout rookie auto refractor and 2001 Bowman Chrome Jordan rookie refractor fetch over $100,000 in PSA 10. Both players went on to have Hall of Fame caliber careers and their early Prospect era cards are among the most investment-grade in the hobby. Trout in particular has become the new standard bearer for modern star power.

While millions of baseball cards exist, certain iconic rookie cards and early issues of all-time greats will always be in high demand. Whether you seek famous T206 stars, defining postwar rookies, or prospects of current elite talent, top condition examples of cards from players with legendary careers and stories will remain blue-chip collectibles for dedicated fans and investors alike. With care and research, you can uncover treasures that will appreciate for decades to come.