Baseball cards have been collected by fans for over a century and some of the early and rare cards can be worth thousands, or even tens of thousands, of dollars. While it’s unlikely the average collector will find a card in their collection worth more than $100, there are certain cards that command huge prices in the collectibles marketplace. Here are some of the most valuable baseball cards worth over $100 according to auction prices and industry experts.
1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner – The Holy Grail of baseball cards is the ultra-rare 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner card. Only around 60 are known to exist in varying conditions. The card has become the most expensive trading card in the world with some examples selling for over $3 million. In recent years, PSA-graded examples in lower grades have still sold for $200,000-500,000.
1952 Topps Mickey Mantle – The rookie card of baseball legend Mickey Mantle from Topps’ first baseball card set is arguably the most desirable post-war card. High-grade PSA 10 examples have sold for over $2 million, with most PSA 8 or 9 copies still fetching $100,000-500,000 depending on condition. Even lower graded copies in the $50,000 range show this classic card retains great value.
1933 Goudey Babe Ruth – Considered the best and most iconic pre-war Babe Ruth card, high-grade examples command big money. A PSA 8 sold for $657,250 in a recent auction, with most PSA 5-7 copies in the $100,000-300,000 range. Even well-worn low-grade copies still sell for over $10,000 due to the card’s historical significance.
1909-11 T206 Joe Jackson – “Shoeless Joe” Jackson’s rookie card from the classic T206 set is highly sought after by collectors. PSA 8 copies have sold for over $250,000, with most PSA 5-7 grades in the $100,000-200,000 range depending on eye appeal and centering quality. Even low-grade examples still fetch several thousand due to the player’s notoriety from the Black Sox Scandal.
1954 Topps Roberto Clemente – Considered one of the most attractive and desirable post-war rookie cards. High-grade PSA 9-10 copies have sold for over $100,000, with most PSA 8 copies in the $50,000-100,000 range. The Hall of Famer’s popularity and tragic death at a young age have kept values high for this classic issue.
1909-11 T206 Ed Walsh – The Chicago White Sox pitcher has one of the most visually striking and rarely seen cards from the iconic T206 set. High-grade PSA 8 copies have sold for over $100,000, with most PSA 5-7 versions in the $50,000-100,000 range depending on centering and eye appeal qualities. Even low-grade copies still sell for thousands.
1909-11 T206 Sherry Magee – The Philadelphia Phillies star outfielder’s card is one of the true key cards from the hallowed T206 set. PSA 8 copies have sold for over $150,000, with most PSA 5-7 versions in the $50,000-100,000 range. The card’s scarcity and Magee’s solid career stats make it a highly sought trophy piece.
1933 Goudey Dizzy Dean – One of the most visually striking Goudey cards features Hall of Fame pitcher Jay “Dizzy” Dean of the St. Louis Cardinals. PSA 8 copies have sold for over $100,000, with most PSA 5-7 grades in the $50,000-100,000 range. Even low-grade copies still attract bids in the thousands due to the iconic player image.
1933 Goudey Lefty Gomez – The New York Yankees ace lefty’s card is another highly collectible key card from the historic 1933 Goudey set. PSA 8 copies have sold for over $100,000, with most PSA 5-7 versions in the $50,000-100,000 range depending on centering and eye appeal. The card remains a highly sought piece for any vintage collection.
1909-11 T206 Christy Mathewson – One of the true “ace” cards from the T206 set is the New York Giants’ legendary Hall of Fame hurler. PSA 8 copies have sold for over $150,000, with most PSA 5-7 grades in the $50,000-100,000 range. Even low-grade copies still attract bids in the thousands due to the player’s significance.
1933 Goudey Lou Gehrig – The New York Yankees’ Iron Horse’s rookie card is considered one of the most iconic pre-war issues. PSA 8 copies have sold for over $100,000, with most PSA 5-7 grades in the $50,000-100,000 range depending on centering and eye appeal. Low-grade copies still sell for thousands due to the Hall of Famer’s enduring popularity and career.
1909-11 T206 Ed Delahanty – The Philadelphia Phillies star’s scarce T206 card is highly sought after by vintage collectors. PSA 8 copies have sold for over $100,000, with most PSA 5-7 grades in the $50,000-100,000 range depending on centering and eye appeal qualities. Even low-grade copies still attract bids in the thousands.
1933 Goudey Mel Ott – The New York Giants slugger’s iconic rookie card is considered among the most visually appealing Goudey issues. PSA 8 copies have sold for over $100,000, with most PSA 5-7 grades in the $50,000-100,000 range. Low-grade copies still attract bids in the thousands due to the Hall of Famer’s popularity and the card’s classic design.
1909-11 T206 Eddie Plank – The star pitcher’s card from the Philadelphia Athletics is one of the true key cards from the T206 set. PSA 8 copies have sold for over $100,000, with most PSA 5-7 grades in the $50,000-100,000 range depending on centering and eye appeal. The card remains a highly sought piece for any vintage collection.
While most baseball cards are worth only a few dollars, there are certain rare and iconic early 20th century cards that can be worth tens or even hundreds of thousands due to their historical significance, the caliber of the players featured, and their extremely limited surviving populations in high grades. Top names like Honus Wagner, Babe Ruth, and Mickey Mantle consistently appear among the most valuable due to their universal appeal and status as true legends of the national pastime.
