The Los Angeles Angels franchise has a long and storied history dating back to the early 1960s when they were known as the California Angels and played their home games in Anaheim Stadium. Over the decades, many legendary players have donned the Angels uniform including Nolan Ryan, Rod Carew, Reggie Jackson, and Mike Trout. With any professional sports franchise, collectors have sought after memorable baseball cards featuring Angels players from different eras. While most common Angels cards hold little monetary value, there are certain rare and unique cards that can be worth significant money depending on condition and demand. Let’s take an in-depth look at some Angels baseball cards that have proven to be quite valuable for savvy collectors.
One of the most expensive and iconic Angels cards is the 1962 Topps Nolan Ryan rookie card. As one of the greatest pitchers of all time and a longtime Angels star early in his career, the Ryan rookie is hugely significant. In near-mint to mint condition, graded examples of this card in a PSA 10 or BGS/SGC 9.5+ can fetch $25,000-$50,000. Even well-centered raw copies in excellent shape sell for $5,000-$15,000 depending on attributes. The 1962 Topps set had a small print run and the Ryan card in particular is quite scarce in high grades due to the fragility of the cardboard stock used in the early 1960s. This makes it one of the most coveted and valuable rookie cards in the hobby.
Another Angels rookie card worth a considerable premium is the 1987 Fleer Update Mike Trout card. Trout went on to become arguably the greatest all-around player of his generation and is still in his prime playing for the Angels today. In pristine PSA 10 or BGS/SGC 9.5+ condition, examples of his rookie card sell for $3,000-$5,000. Even raw near-mint to mint copies in the 8.5-9 range will sell for $1,000-$2,000. The 1987 Fleer Update set had an extremely small print run and the Trout is one of the key cards collectors search for from that year. With Trout’s career still unfolding, the value of this rookie is likely to continue appreciating for years to come.
For collectors seeking valuable Angels cards from the 1970s, the 1973 Topps Nolan Ryan card stands out. This was Ryan’s first season with the Angels after being acquired in a trade and also the year he threw his first no-hitter. High-grade copies have sold for over $1,000. The 1972 and 1973 Topps Rod Carew Angels cards can also hold value, with the 1972 in a PSA 10 recently selling for $525. Carew was an all-time great who spent 1971-1977 with the Angels franchise. Other 1970s Angels cards that can be worth $100+ depending on condition include the 1975 Topps Frank Tanana and the 1979 Topps Don Baylor. Both were impact players on successful Angels teams in the late 1970s.
Moving into the 1980s, the 1982 Topps Rod Carew Angels card has proven valuable in pristine condition. This was Carew’s final season with the Angels before being traded. A PSA 10 recently sold for just under $500. The 1982 Topps Donnie Moore rookie card can also reach $100+ in top grades. Moore was an All-Star closer for the Angels in the early 1980s before his tragic death by suicide in 1989. The 1984 Donruss Darrell Evans card has value as Evans hit a career-high 40 home runs that season for the Angels. High-grade examples have sold for $150-$200. Other noteworthy 1980s Angels cards include the 1985 Fleer Update Wally Joyner rookie and the 1987 Topps Mark Langston Angels card, which saw Langston throw his only career no-hitter that season.
When it comes to 1990s Angels cards, the 1991 Upper Deck Ben McDonald rookie is highly sought after by collectors. McDonald was the #1 overall pick in the 1989 draft and had promise as a frontline starter for the Angels before injuries derailed his career. Pristine PSA 10 copies of this card have sold for over $400. The 1992 Bowman’s Best Tim Salmon rookie is another valuable 1990s Angels card. Salmon spent his entire 16-year career with the Angels franchise and was a 5-time All-Star. Graded PSA 10 examples have reached $300. Other 1990s Angels cards that can be worth $50+ include the 1992 Bowman’s Best J.T. Snow rookie, the 1993 Leaf Chuck Finley, and any rare insert or parallel variations from the ultra-popular 1992 Upper Deck and 1993 Finest sets featuring Angels players like Garret Anderson.
In more recent years, collectors have started to take notice of valuable Angels cards from the 2000s and 2010s as well. The 2001 Bowman Chrome Ervin Santana rookie has sold for over $100 in high grades. Santana was a key part of the Angels’ 2002 World Series championship team. The 2005 Bowman Chrome Howie Kendrick rookie has also topped $100 in pristine condition. Kendrick spent 12 seasons with the Angels franchise. Modern parallels and short prints of Mike Trout rookie and star cards from 2009-2012 Topps sets hold premium value already. With Trout’s career still in progress, these cards could appreciate significantly as the years pass. Other Angels with valuable modern rookie cards include Jared Weaver, Joe Saunders, and Nick Adenhart, whose career and life were tragically cut short in 2009 at age 22.
While most Angels team and player cards hold little value outside of dedicated team collectors, there are certainly some standout rare and unique cards featuring franchise stars of the past and present that can be worth serious money, especially in top grades. Savvy sports card investors would do well to keep an eye out for pristine examples of cards featuring legends like Nolan Ryan, Rod Carew, and Mike Trout to hold long-term. With the Angels’ rich history and future success hopefully on the horizon, their valuable baseball cards from different eras are sure to retain and potentially increase in value amongst collectors for years to come.
