Score baseball cards were produced from 1957 to 1967 by the American sealing company of Chicago. These cardboard trading cards featured players, managers, coaches and umpires from Major League Baseball teams. While Score cards from the 1950s and 1960s no longer carry the same cachet as iconic brands like Topps, they still hold value for collectors due to their historical significance and the stars they featured. Whether individual Score cards are worth money depends on several factors such as the player, year, condition and more.
The earliest and rarest Score sets from the late 1950s tend to be the most valuable as these captured baseball legends like Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron in their prime. Sets from the early 1960s that feature rookie cards of future Hall of Famers also command higher prices. For example, a 1964 Score card of Pete Rose in his rookie season in excellent condition could be worth $100-200 due to his status as one of baseball’s all-time hit leaders. Individual cards depicting superstars in outstanding condition from Years deep into the 1960s can still sell for $20-50.
The further you get from the 1950s-early 1960s golden era of Score, the less valuable most basic common cards become unless they feature a true icon of the game. Sets from the mid-1960s on included more players who were not future Hall of Famers, so their cards only appeal to dedicated completionists or fans of obscure players. Still, even common 1960s Score cards in pristine condition can sell for $5-15 due to their scarcity relative to other brands from that era.
Naturally, the condition and grade of the card is extremely important to its value. While lower grade cards may only be worth $1-5 regardless of the player, anything receiving an EX-MT grade or above from respected graders like PSA could sell for much more. Scarce inserts like league leaders, All-Star cards, umpires and managers may carry higher values than basic player cards. Errors, oddball variations, autographed or game-used memorabilia cards from the Score line are also quite valuable for dedicated collectors.
Completing a full year’s original Score set is a challenge that gives the individual cards within more inherent worth than loose commons. Owners can commonly sell entire 1957-1964 sets in used but complete form for $100-300 depending on the year. Near complete sets with only a few tough cards missing may go for $75-150. Sets beyond the mid-1960s drop off significantly due to larger printing runs and lesser rosters, but devoted collectors still pay $20-50 for common full ’60s sets. The rarest and most valuable Score set is 1957, regarded as the brand’s true “flagship” rookie year release that could sell for over $1000 complete.
In summation, while Score cards never reached quite the same iconic heights as their Topps competitor, their historical significance and representations of baseball legends ensures they retain value for collectors even decades later. Whether an individual card is worth money depends on the year, player quality, condition and other attributes, but dedicated fans continue to seek out and complete Score sets to this day. With patience and a bit of luck, digging through older collections could unearth a hidden Score gem worth well beyond its original retail price in the 1950s or ’60s. Overall, Score cards are certainly worth consideration by value-seeking baseball card collectors and investors.
