Cy Young is widely considered one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history. From 1890 to 1911, Young played professionally for five different teams and racked up an incredible 511 wins, which is still the all-time record for career wins by a pitcher. Unsurprisingly, Young’s legendary status and historic accomplishments have made his baseball cards extremely popular collectibles. Let’s take a deeper look at Cy Young baseball cards, their rarity, condition factors, and estimated values.

One of the earliest and most valuable Cy Young cards is from the 1909-11 T206 set. Produced between 1909-1911 by the American Tobacco Company, the mammoth 511-card T206 set is one of the most iconic in the early 20th century. The Cy Young card stands out with a beautiful portrait image of the Hall of Famer in a Boston Red Sox uniform. In gem mint condition, a T206 Cy Young has sold for over $100,000 at auction. Most surviving examples show some level of wear and will sell for $15,000-$50,000 depending on condition. The rarer “red portrait” variation is even more coveted by collectors and can fetch well over $100,000 in top grades.

Another highly valuable early Cy Young card comes from the much smaller and scarcer 1912 Brick Bronko set. Only issued in Philadelphia and containing just 12 cards total, the Cy Young is one of the key rarities from this set. Fewer than 10 are known to exist today. In pristine mint condition, a 1912 Bronko Cy Young recently broke records when it sold at auction for $96,000. Most grade somewhere between good and very good condition, with values ranging from $25,000 to $60,000. The card’s vibrant color image and rarity make it a true prize for vintage baseball collectors.

Moving into the modern era, the 1952 Topps baseball card set is one of the most famous post-war issues. Featuring a total of 382 players and managers, the ’52 Topps included a Cy Young card showing him as manager of the Cleveland Indians late in his career. High grade examples in near mint to mint condition will sell in the $1,000-$3,000 range. Heavily played copies can be acquired for $200-500. While not in the same league as his earliest cards, the ’52 remains a key issue for any Cy Young collection.

Another 1950s Topps release that featured Young was the much larger and more common 1957 set. Showing a similar image to the ’52 but in lower overall quality, 1957 Topps Cy Young cards can be found with relative ease. Heavily played copies are quite affordable at $20-50, while near mint examples will sell between $75-$150 depending on exact condition. For collectors looking to add a nice vintage Cy Young card on a budget, the ’57 is a great choice.

Moving into the modern era of the 1970s and beyond, Cy Young cards become much more plentiful in the higher production sets of that period. They remain popular for collectors looking to represent different stages of his career. One example is the 1975 Topps card, which shows Young in a vintage Red Sox uniform and commemorates his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. High grade copies can be found for $10-25. Even his late career managerial cards from 1970s and 1980s sets like Topps, Donruss and Fleer are widely available raw for under $5.

While not as valuable monetarily, Cy Young cards from the 1990s and 2000s hold nostalgia for collectors who grew up during those decades of the sport. Insert cards like 1997 Fleer Greats and 2005 Topps Heritage Parallel Performers provide fun retro treatments of Young’s playing days. And modern parallels or autographs have appeal for collectors seeking a unique Young piece. With such a legendary career spanning baseball’s earliest eras, Cy Young cards remain a popular area of vintage baseball collecting regardless of set, condition or price point. Whether a key T206 rarity or a modern parallel, Cy Young cards continue to captivate collectors over 100 years after his final major league appearance.

The rarity and condition of any given Cy Young baseball card will have a huge influence on its estimated value. His earliest 1900s tobacco and candy cards from sets like T206 and 1912 Bronko are true prizes that can sell for five or even six figures in top condition. Modern issues are far more abundant, with examples from the 1950s onward available with values ranging from under $5 into the low thousands depending on specific issue and grade. But regardless of price, Cy Young’s iconic status and record-setting career ensure his trading cards remain a focal point for dedicated baseball collectors.