Baseball Cards Price Guide 2005
Baseball cards have been a popular collectible for over a century. Even in the modern era of smartphones and streaming services, people still enjoy collecting and trading baseball cards. With so many cards printed over the decades, it can be difficult to know the value of different cards. This comprehensive baseball cards price guide from 2005 aims to provide collectors with pricing information on many of the most desirable vintage and modern issues.
Rookie Cards – Some of the most valuable baseball cards are rookie cards, which feature players in their first season in Major League Baseball. In 2005, some of the top rookie cards that were highly sought after included Mariano Rivera (1993 Donruss), Chipper Jones (1993 Bowman), Derek Jeter (1993 Bowman), and Pedro Martinez (1992 Bowman). In near mint condition, the Rivera fetched around $150, the Jones $100, the Jeter $75, and the Pedro Martinez $50. Other notable 90s rookie cards included those of Nomar Garciaparra, Todd Helton, and Jason Giambi.
Honus Wagner – The legendary 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner is arguably the most coveted card in the world. In 2005, the highest price ever paid for one was $1.26 million for a PSA MINT 9 copy. Most Wagner cards in that same grade would sell in the $500,000 range. Even in poor condition, a low-grade Wagner still commanded $50,000+. No other pre-war card came close to matching the Wagner’s value.
Mickey Mantle Cards – Many of Mickey Mantle’s vintage cards from the 1950s were extremely expensive. His 1952 Topps card in top condition could sell for $15,000-$20,000. Other 1950s Mantle cards like his 1953 Topps, 1955 Topps, and 1956 Topps in high grade also brought thousands. His rookie cards like the 1951 Bowman and 1952 Topps in good condition still fetched $3,000-$5,000 each. Mantle remained one of the most collectible players.
Babe Ruth Cards – Babe Ruth’s early 1920s cards produced by American Caramel, Baltimore News, and Sweet Caporal Cigarettes were true rarities. In 2005, his rarest 1916 Baltimore News card sold for $264,000 when graded PSA NM-MT 8. Even his common 1923 Goudey card brought $700+ in high grade. Most other pre-war Ruths went for hundreds to low thousands depending on condition.
Jackie Robinson Rookie – Jackie Robinson’s iconic 1947 Leaf card was a true icon. In 2005, high grade PSA/SGC NM-MT 8 copies sold in the $15,000 range while a flawless PSA 10 could bring $40,000+. Even well-worn copies still found buyers around the $2,000 mark showing Robinson’s enduring influence and importance.
Mike Trout Rookie Card – By 2005, Mike Trout had yet to make his MLB debut but collectors were already taking notice of his prospect status. His 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Picks & Prospects rookie card started to gain value with PSA 10 copies selling for around $150. Little did anyone know he would become one of the game’s greatest ever players.
Vintage Sets – Complete sets from the early 20th century were museum-quality rarities. In 2005, high-grade examples of the 1909-11 T206 set could sell for $250,000+. The 1912 and 1914 Cracker Jack sets also brought over $100,000 each. Common vintage sets like the 1933 Goudey and 1938 Play Ball sets in top condition still fetched $10,000-$15,000.
Modern Stars – Cards of active superstars were always hot commodities. In 2005, rare refractors and parallels of Chipper Jones, Derek Jeter, Nomar Garciaparra, and Pedro Martinez from the late 90s sold for hundreds. Autograph cards gained value quickly too, with “on-card” autos of the games biggest names routinely bringing $500-$1,000+ each.
Upper Deck – The advent of Upper Deck in 1989 transformed the card industry. In 2005, rare UD rookie cards like the Griffey Jr. and Frank Thomas fetched $300-$500 in top shape. Complete 1989 UD baseball sets sold for $2,000-3,000. The brand also produced some of the most coveted inserts like Ken Griffey Jr. Upper Deck The Rookies. High-grade copies sold that year for $400-$600 each.
Baseball Memorabilia – In addition to cards, related baseball collectibles were popular in 2005. Game-used bats, jerseys, balls, and other autographed memorabilia pieces starring star players regularly sold for hundreds to thousands depending on the item and player pedigree. Rare game-used items could bring five figures or more.
This baseball cards price guide from 2005 provided a snapshot of the collectibles market during that year. While some prices have certainly increased or decreased in the ensuing years, it illustrates the types of vintage and modern issues that collectors eagerly sought out and shows how certain players like Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, and Jackie Robinson remained icons with tremendous cachet even decades after their playing days. With new stars emerging all the time, the hobby of baseball memorabilia collecting remains as popular as ever.
