Baseball cards have been a popular collectible for over a century and there are certainly vintage and modern cards that can be worth a significant amount of money. While the vast majority of baseball cards have little monetary value, there are some that have appreciated greatly over the years and command high prices when they are graded and preserved in top condition. This article will explore some of the most valuable baseball cards from different eras that collectors should be on the lookout for in 2019.
One of the holy grails of baseball cards that can fetch hundreds of thousands or even millions is the 1909-1911 T206 Honus Wagner. Widely considered the rarest and most coveted card in the hobby, it is estimated that only 50-200 authentic T206 Wagners still exist in the world today in various states of preservation. The card has such mystique because Wagner demanded his card be pulled from production, likely due to an unauthorized use of his likeness. In pristine mint condition, a T206 Wagner has sold at auction for over $3 million, making it one of the most expensive collectible cards ever sold. Even well-worn lower grade examples can still sell for six figures.
Staying in the pre-war era, another iconic set with cards that hold tremendous value is the 1933 Goudey Baseball. Some key high dollar cards from this set include Babe Ruth ($100,000+ in gem mint), Lou Gehrig ($50,000+), Jimmie Foxx ($25,000+), and Mickey Cochrane ($15,000+). Condition is critical, as even slightly played lower grade Goudey Ruths can still fetch over $10,000. The design and photographic quality of these early 20th century tobacco era cards is part of what makes them so desirable among collectors today.
Moving into the post-war Golden Age of baseball cards, the 1952 Topps set features several legendary players in their prime that can be worth a small fortune in the best of condition. The flagship card is of course the Mickey Mantle rookie (graded gem mint 10 – $100,000+), but a near mint 9 Willie Mays rookie has also sold for over $50,000. Other six figure cards from ’52 Topps include a PSA 10 Duke Snider ($75,000+) and a PSA 9 Whitey Ford ($60,000+). High grade ’52 Topps complete sets in the eight to nine range can sell for $30,000 or more.
The late 1950s saw the dawn of the modern baseball card era with the introduction of photo on the front. The 1957 Topps set is particularly noteworthy, headlined by a Mickey Mantle that has reached $200,000 for a pristine PSA 10 copy. A ’57 Topps Ted Williams in the same elite grade has sold for $150,000 as well. Other cards that can reach five figures are a PSA 10 Hank Aaron rookie ($50,000+), Roberto Clemente rookie ($25,000+ PSA 9), and Warren Spahn ($15,000+ PSA 9). High grade complete ’57 Topps sets in the eight to nine range can also sell for $30,000+.
The 1960s produced several iconic rookie cards that are highly valued today. The 1964 Topps Hank Aaron is considered the most important modern rookie card and has sold for over $100,000 in PSA 10 condition. A PSA 9 copy still fetches $25,000. The 1968 Topps Nolan Ryan rookie in a PSA 10 can reach $50,000 as well. The 1969 Topps Reggie Jackson rookie in a pristine 10 has sold for over $30,000 with PSA 9s bringing $10,000+. Other valuable ’60s rookies include a ’66 Roberto Clemente ($15,000 PSA 9), ’68 Johnny Bench ($10,000 PSA 9), and ’68 Rod Carew ($7,500 PSA 9).
The 1970s saw the rise of star players like George Brett, Mike Schmidt, and Dave Winfield who all have valuable rookie cards from the decade. The 1973 Topps George Brett rookie in PSA 10 condition has sold for $50,000 while a PSA 9 goes for $15,000. The same grades for the 1974 Topps Mike Schmidt rookie fetch $35,000 and $10,000 respectively. The 1973 Topps Dave Winfield rookie in a PSA 10 has reached $25,000 with PSA 9s at $7,500. High grade ’70s complete sets can also hold value, like the 1975 Topps ($3,000 PSA 8) and 1977 Topps ($2,500 PSA 8).
The 1980s produced many star rookies as well but conditions need to be pristine to fetch big money today. The iconic 1984 Topps Mark McGwire rookie in PSA 10 condition has sold for over $20,000 with PSA 9s around $5,000. The 1987 Topps Barry Bonds rookie in a PSA 10 recently sold for $15,000 with PSA 9s at $4,000. Other valuable ’80s rookies include a 1985 Fleer Mark McGwire ($8,000 PSA 10), 1987 Topps Ken Griffey Jr. ($7,500 PSA 10), and 1988 Score Frank Thomas ($5,000 PSA 10). Complete high grade ’80s sets can also carry value like a 1986 Topps ($1,500 PSA 8) or 1987 Topps ($1,000 PSA 8).
While the junk wax era of the late 1980s and 1990s produced billions of cards that flooded the market, there are still some modern rookie gems that hold value. The ultra-rare 1992 Bowman Chrome Ken Griffey Jr. refractor PSA 10 sold for over $100,000 in recent years. The 1992 Bowman Derek Jeter rookie in a PSA 10 goes for $20,000 as well. The ultra-popular 1994 SP Derek Jeter rookie PSA 10 has reached $15,000. Even in a PSA 9 the card still fetches $4,000. The 1998 Bowman Chipper Jones refractor rookie PSA 10 sold for $12,000 in early 2019. Condition is everything for modern cards to have value though, as anything below a PSA 9 usually has little monetary worth.
The most expensive and valuable baseball cards are usually the earliest tobacco era cards featuring legendary players like Wagner, Ruth, and Gehrig. Iconic vintage rookie cards from the 1950s-1970s featuring stars like Mantle, Mays, Aaron, and Bench can also demand five or six figures. Pristine modern rookie gems of McGwire, Griffey Jr., Jeter, and Jones hold value too if preserved in mint condition. While most baseball cards have little monetary worth, savvy collectors know which vintage and modern gems to target that could grow exponentially in value with time. Properly grading and storing cards is critical to maximize their collectibility and potential future resale value.
