Baseball cards have been collected by fans for over a century and some of the rarest cards from the earliest years of the hobby have attained immense value, selling for well over $10,000. The prices realized for vintage cards in near-mint or better condition regularly reach the five and six figure range at major auction houses like PWCC and Goldin Auctions.

One of the most famous and valuable baseball cards is the 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner card, considered the “Mona Lisa” of baseball cards. Produced between 1909-1911 as part of American Tobacco’s famous T206 set, it is widely believed only 50-200 examples exist in collectible condition. In recent years, examples have sold for record prices multiple times. In 2016, a PSA NM-MT 8 example sold for $3.12 million, setting a new record. In 2021, a PSA NM-MT 8 example resold for $6.6 million, showing the card’s value continues rising rapidly.

Another incredibly rare and valuable early card is the 1913 Baltimore News Babe Ruth rookie card. Only five examples are known to exist in high grades. In 2016, a PSA Authentic card sold for $5.2 million, setting a new record for a single sports card. In 2022, a PSA Authentic example sold for $2.88 million, still among the priciest cards ever sold. Like the Wagner, the scarcity and historical significance of being the first published image of Babe Ruth as a professional ballplayer make this one of the true “holy grails” of the hobby.

Beyond those two icons, here are some other notable baseball cards worth over $10,000 in top condition:

1909 T206 Eddie Plank (PSA Authentic/NM): Plank is one of the most desirable T206 cards after Wagner and recent examples have topped $100,000.

1911 T205 Sherry Magee (PSA NM-MT 8): A key early star, high grade Magees have reached $90,000.

1933 Goudey #53 Lou Gehrig (PSA NM-MT 8): Considered one of the most attractive vintage designs, elite Gehrigs crack $50,000.

1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle (PSA Gem Mint 10): The finest graded example of the first Mantle card sold for $2.88 million in 2021. Even PSA 9s reach $100,000.

1957 Topps #126 Sandy Koufax (PSA Gem Mint 10): The first Koufax rookie is highly coveted in pristine condition, with PSA 10s bringing $200,000+.

1964 Topps #130 Hank Aaron (PSA Gem Mint 10): An impeccable example of Aaron’s star rookie card can sell for $50,000+.

1972 Topps #20 Nolan Ryan (PSA Gem Mint 10): Elite condition examples of Ryan’s key early Topps rookie have sold for $100,000.

1975 Topps #1 George Brett (PSA Gem Mint 10): Brett’s iconic rookie of his breakout ’74 season is valued highly in perfect condition at $50,000+.

1984 Fleer Update #57 Barry Bonds (PSA Gem Mint 10): Considered one of the best rookie cards ever due to Bonds’ all-time great career, pristine ’84 Update Bonds rookies have reached $150,000.

1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. (PSA Gem Mint 10): Widely regarded as one of the most aesthetically pleasing baseball cards ever, Griffey’s rookie is prized in top grades at $50,000.

1998 SP Authentic #1 Nomar Garciaparra (PSA Gem Mint 10): Garciaparra’s rookie patch card from this high-end set has achieved $25,000 in perfect condition.

While those represent some of the most in-demand individual cards worth massive sums, there are also several complete vintage sets that can sell as a single lot for well over $10,000:

1909-11 T206 (PSA Set Registry): A fully graded example of this landmark 109 card tobacco issue has sold for $350,000.

1933 Goudey (PSA Set): High grade, PSA-slabbed versions of the original Goudey baseball set have reached $150,000.

1952 Topps (PSA/SGC Set): Complete near-mint 52 Topps rosters in top holders have crossed $100,000 at auction.

1957 Topps (PSA/BGS Set): Pristine ’57s in top slabs have brought $75,000.

As values continue rising exponentially, especially for the true vintage rarities, it’s clear there are many spectacular baseball cards worth over $10,000 for astute collectors. With such rich history and visual beauty, it’s no wonder these cardboard treasures remain highly sought after as tangible pieces of baseball history.