Baseball cards have been around since the late 19th century, with companies like Allen & Ginter and Old Judge producing some of the earliest examples starting in the 1880s. Since then, the hobby of collecting baseball cards has grown exponentially, with certain rare and unique cards achieving legendary status among aficionados. Here are some of the coolest and most valuable baseball cards ever produced:

1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner: Arguably the most famous and valuable baseball card of all time, the T206 Honus Wagner is the holy grail for collectors. Produced between 1909-11 by the American Tobacco Company, it’s estimated only 50-200 examples exist today in varying conditions. What makes the Wagner so rare is that the player refused to endorse tobacco, so few of his cards were released. The finest known example sold for $6.6 million in 2016.

1952 Topps Mickey Mantle: The first Topps baseball card set from 1952 is hugely popular with collectors thanks to stars of that era like Mantle featured prominently. The Mick’s rookie card is especially coveted, with high-grade versions fetching over $1 million. Its rarity and Mantle’s legendary status contributes to its price tag.

1933 Goudey Babe Ruth: Considered a more historically significant early issue than the famed T206 set, Goudey was the first modern sized baseball card produced. Ruth appeared in several subsets over multiple years, but his iconic 1933 image is the most valuable at a quarter million dollars or more for a pristine copy.

1909 E90-1 Honus Wagner: Even rarer than the ubiquitous T206 Wagner, only one of these ultra-premium cards from the 1909-11 Era is known to exist. Graded Mint 9, it became the highest selling card in history when it fetched $3.12 million at auction in 2016. The exquisite condition and pedigree make it truly one of one.

1974S Ted Williams: Produced by the sportscard pioneer Ted Williams Batting Stance Inc., this card stands out for capturing the legendary hitter in the midst of his powerful swing. Only eleven are known, with two of the highest graded examples selling for a combined $1.8 million in recent years.

1913 Tip Top Babe Ruth: Considered the first appearance of the Sultan of Swat, this pre-fame Ruth rookie comes from the Boston-based Tip Top Bread Company set. Like the iconic 1933 Goudey, it’s a true piece of baseball history selling in the high five-figure range.

1909-11 T206 Joe Jackson: One of the most storied players of the deadball era, Shoeless Joe’s infamous involvement in the Black Sox Scandal only adds intrigue to his rare T206 card. The combination of his playing ability and scandalous history makes it a must-have for serious collectors.

1948 Bowman Jackie Robinson: As the first black man to break baseball’s color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers, Robinson’s debut in this pioneering set is hugely significant culturally and historically. High-grade versions regularly eclipse the $100,000 mark.

1909 E90-1 Ty Cobb: Considered by many the greatest hitter who ever lived, Cobb’s aggressive playing style was legendary. Like the Wagner, only one of these pre-T206 cards is known to exist and it sold for over a million dollars. Cobb’s iconic status and rarity make it a true blue chip investment card.

1914 Cracker Jack Lou Gehrig: One of the earliest mainstream baseball cards inserted in Cracker Jack packs during the Deadball Era. Gehrig’s iconic career and the fact it’s his true rookie card command prices up to $150,000 for top examples.

1957 Topps Hank Aaron: As the home run king who broke Babe Ruth’s hallowed record, Aaron is one of the most respected hitters ever. High-grade copies of his 1957 Topps rookie are valued around $50,000 in today’s market.

There are plenty more iconic and valuable baseball cards that could make this list, from vintage stars like Cy Young, Ty Cobb and Stan Musial to modern greats like Ken Griffey Jr, Chipper Jones and Derek Jeter. But those mentioned here stand out as some of the true blue chip vintage and rookie cards that any collection aspiring to greatness simply must have. With their pristine condition, hall of fame players featured and historical significance – they represent the absolute pinnacle of the baseball card collecting hobby.