BASEBALL CARDS THAT’s WORTH MONEY

Baseball cards have been collected by fans for over 130 years and some vintage cards from the early days of the sport can be extremely valuable. While most common baseball cards from recent decades have little monetary value, there are always exceptions. Certain rare cards, especially from the late 19th century and the pre-World War 2 era up until the 1950s, often sell for thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Some of the most coveted and expensive baseball cards ever printed include rare early rookie cards of legendary players like Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, and Mickey Mantle. A T206 Honus Wagner tobacco card sold for $3.12 million in 2016, making it the most valuable trading card in existence. Other highly sought after vintage cards include the 1909-11 T206 set, the 1915 Cracker Jack set, and early 1930s Goudey cards. Condition is extremely important when determining the value of old cards. Near mint or better preserved examples can be worth 10-100 times more than heavily played or damaged cards.

The post-WW2 era also produced some cards that have retained significant collector value today. The 1952 Topps set introduced the modern cardboard trading card and featured the debut Topps cards of future Hall of Famers like Willie Mays and Hank Aaron. High grade 1952 Topps cards in excellent condition can sell for thousands. The 1954 Topps set is another desirable vintage release during baseball’s golden age. Top rookie cards, especially for all-time great players who went on to have Hall of Fame careers, often maintain strong collector demand decades later.

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In the late 1950s and 1960s, many consider the 1959 Topps and 1968 Topps sets to be the most iconic of that time period. Complete sets in top condition can sell for over $10,000. Notable rookie cards from this vintage era include a 1959 Topps #311 Willie McCovey (Hall of Famer), 1959 Topps #500 Nolan Ryan (Hall of Famer), and 1968 Topps #500 Johnny Bench (Hall of Famer). High grade examples of these seminal rookie cards in a PSA/BGS Gem Mint 10 grade have sold at auction for over $100,000 each.

The 1970s produced many valuable rookie cards as well, especially for superstar players who dominated that decade. The most famous is arguably the 1973 Topps #144 Mike Schmidt (Hall of Famer) rookie card. In pristine condition it has sold for over $50,000. Other highly sought rookie cards include the 1975 Topps #158 Fred Lynn, 1976 Topps #130 George Brett (Hall of Famer), 1977 Topps #130 Cal Ripken Jr. (Hall of Famer), and 1979 Topps #146 Dave Parker (Hall of Famer). Complete sets like the iconic 1975 Topps are also worth thousands to serious collectors today.

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The late 1980s is when the modern baseball card boom took off. More people were collecting cards than ever before which led to mass production and a subsequent crash in the early 1990s as supply far exceeded demand. There are still some valuable gems to be found from this era, especially rookie cards for all-time great players. The 1987 Topps Traded #1 Ken Griffey Jr. rookie is a true star of the set. High grade copies have sold at auction for over $10,000. Other coveted 1980s rookie cards include the 1984 Fleer #156 Roger Clemens, 1985 Fleer #1 Dwight Gooden, and 1988 Score #1 Gregg Maddux. Complete sets like the iconic 1987 Topps are also worth over $1,000 today.

The 1990s produced many Hall of Fame talents as well as some iconic rookie cards that hold value today. The most notable is arguably the 1992 Bowman #1 Chipper Jones rookie card. Pristine PSA/BGS Gem Mint 10 examples have sold for over $20,000. Other valuable 1990s rookie cards include the 1992 Bowman #368 Derek Jeter, 1993 SP #1 Derek Jeter, 1993 SP Authentic #1 Jim Thome, and 1998 SP Authentic #91 Sammy Sosa. The ultra-rare 1993 SP Derek Jeter autograph rookie is considered the “Holy Grail” of 1990s cards and has sold for over $250,000 in the highest grades. Complete sets are worth less from this era due to large print runs but the 1993 SP Authentic Baseball set can sell for $2,000-$3,000 in top condition.

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The most lucrative baseball cards to look out for are pre-war T206 cards, iconic vintage rookie cards from the 1950s-1980s golden era, and exceptionally rare pulled autographs from the modern era. Always research population reports and sale prices for certain cards so you understand the true value of your collection. With some digging, you may discover a hidden gem that could pay off your collector dreams someday. Condition is absolutely critical, so have valuable cards professionally graded by PSA or BGS to maximize their worth on the secondary market.

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