Baseball cards have been a popular hobby for over a century and some of the rarest cards from the earliest years of the hobby can be worth a small fortune today. Whether it’s iconic rookie cards of legends like Mickey Mantle and Babe Ruth or unique error cards, there are plenty of baseball cards out there that could pay off someone’s mortgage if they find the right collector. Here are some of the most valuable baseball cards on the market and what makes them so desirable.

1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner – The crown jewel of the hobby, a near mint condition Wagner can sell for well over $1 million. Only around 60 are known to exist from what was one of the most popular tobacco issues ever. Wagner, who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1900-1917, was a true legend of the game in his era. The rarity of his iconic tobacco card makes it the most sought after by serious collectors.

1952 Topps Mickey Mantle – As one of the earliest and most popular Topps issues after the company revived the baseball card market post-WWII, Mantle’s iconic rookie card is highly coveted in top grades. Mantle went on to have a Hall of Fame career with the New York Yankees and is considered one of the greatest switch hitters of all time. A near mint 1952 Mantle rookie can sell for $500,000 or more.

1909-11 T206 Christy Mathewson – Another legendary pitcher from the early 20th century, Mathewson had a career record of 373-188 and won 30 or more games in 5 consecutive seasons from 1903-1908 as an ace for the New York Giants. His tobacco era card is highly sought after by collectors, with a PSA 8 example selling for over $350,000 in recent years.

1949 Bowman Joe DiMaggio – Like Mantle’s 1952 Topps, DiMaggio’s 1949 Bowman is considered one of the finest post-war rookie cards. The “Yankee Clipper” was a true five-tool superstar who batted .325 for his career and had a record 56-game hitting streak in 1941. His iconic rookie card can sell for $250,000+ in top condition.

1933 Goudey Babe Ruth – One of the most recognizable names in sports history, Babe Ruth dominated baseball in the 1920s as a pitcher and slugging outfielder for the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. His 1933 Goudey card, one of the first modern baseball cards, is a true piece of memorabilia from the early days of the hobby. Near mint examples have sold at auction for over $200,000.

1975 Cal Ripken Jr. Rookie – While not nearly as old as the previous entries, Ripken’s iconic rookie card is highly sought after for good reason. “The Iron Man” broke Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games played record and was a career .276 hitter for the Baltimore Orioles. His rookie card has increased exponentially in value in recent decades, with PSA 10 examples selling for $100,000+.

1984 Donruss Wade Boggs Rookie – Known for his incredible batting average skills, Boggs won five batting titles in the 1980s as a star third baseman for the Boston Red Sox. His iconic 1984 Donruss design has become a highly valuable modern rookie card. PSA 10 examples have sold for over $50,000 in the past few years.

1909-11 T206 Sherry Magee – A true one-of-a-kind card, only a single high grade Magee is known to exist from this legendary tobacco era set. Magee played from 1903-1919 as an outfielder and had a .291 career average, making his solitary surviving card hugely important to collectors. It last sold for over $250,000 in auction.

1974 Topps Nolan Ryan – As one of the most intimidating and prolific strikeout pitchers ever, Ryan’s career no-hitter record may never be broken. His iconic 1974 Topps design shows him pitching for the California Angels and examples in high grade can sell for over $20,000.

1913 T206 Joe Jackson – Nicknamed “Shoeless Joe” for ditching his cleats, Jackson was a true five-tool star in his prime with the Philadelphia Athletics and Chicago White Sox. He was banned from baseball after allegations in the infamous “Black Sox” scandal. The rarity and historical significance of his tobacco card make PSA 8+ copies highly valuable to this day.

While there are many other valuable vintage and modern baseball cards, these provide a good overview of some truly iconic and rare cards that can be worth huge sums. For serious collectors, finding high grade examples of these all-time great players in their early years can be both highly rewarding but also extremely competitive in today’s booming market. With the growth of online auction sites, it has also never been easier to discover the true value of that old shoebox of cards in your attic. You never know – you might have a fortune sitting right in front of you.