The New York Mets have a rich baseball history since becoming an official franchise in 1962. Some of the most iconic players in baseball history have worn the bright orange and blue uniforms of the Mets over the decades. With legendary players comes legendary collectible baseball cards featuring these stars. Several vintage Mets cards have sold at auction for astronomical prices, making them some of the most expensive and sought after cards in the world.
Heeding the advice of seasoned collectors, it’s important to note that the values of vintage cards fluctuate constantly based on a variety of factors like the current collectible market, the player featured, and especially the card’s state of preservation. A mint condition vintage card could easily fetch 10x the price of one that is well-worn. The articles focuses on documented auction prices for gem mint and near-mint quality examples to highlight the true ceiling prices some are willing to pay for the best preserved copies of these iconic pieces of sports memorabilia.
The most expensive Mets card ever sold is arguably the legendary 1968 Topps rookie card of hall of fame pitcher Tom Seaver, nicknamed “The Franchise” for his dominant play anchoring the Mets rotation for over a decade. In excellent condition, this card has sold for as much as $58,000 at auction. A true near-mint to mint copy in a PSA/BGS grade of 8 or higher would undoubtedly sell for well over $100,000 today. In the volatile collectibles market, there is no telling how high the price may climb for a flawless example in the coming years. Seaver’s dominance on the field and iconic status as a player forever endeared to Mets fans elevates this card above all others in team history.
Following closely behind is another PSA 9 graded 1968 Topps rookie card, but this time featuring a young Nolan Ryan in his second big league season after getting Called up to the majors with the Mets late in 1967. Ryan would go on to have one of the most decorated pitching careers in MLB history, but his time with the Mets was brief. Still, his rookie Card commands top dollar from collectors seeking an elite piece of his early career. In January 2022, a PSA 9 copy sold for $47,936, showing little signs of slowing despite decades of hands being put on the Card. With Ryan not throwing for the Mets long, this remains a truly rare Card highlighting a pre-superstar season.
Taking the third spot is perhaps a less obvious choice – the 1973 Topps card of Hall of Fame closer and New York native Tug McGraw. Known best for coining the famous “Ya Gotta Believe!” mantra and pitching the Mets to a World Series title in 1969, McGraw enjoyed his best statistical seasons in the 1970s. His sharp mustache and intense on-mound focus made him immediately recognizable. In January 2022, a pristine PSA 9 graded copy of this McGraw card went for $23,040. Amazingly high for a relatively obscure player card, it shows the desire collectors have for meaningful Mets memorabilia, especially of local heroes that helped capture championships.
Three of the most prolific Mets position players also boast cards that could crack the all-time most valuable list given the right examples change hands. Prime specimens of Tom Seaver, Nolan Ryan and Tug McGraw rookie cards may be tough to surpass, but David Wright, Darryl Strawberry and Keith Hernandez deserve mention.
Wright spent his entire 15-year MLB career patrolling third base in Queens and became the face of the franchise, holding nearly every significant Mets career offensive record before retiring after the 2018 season. His acclaimed 2000 Bowman Chrome rookie Refractor parallel insert card has crossed the $15,000 mark in gem mint condition. On the other end of the rookie card spectrum, an ultra-rare 1977 Topps Traded Darryl Strawberry card in pristine condition achieved $13,440 – a staggering sum considering it wasn’t even his “true” rookie. Hernandez’s lone season with the Mets in 1984 was arguably his greatest, capturing the batting title, MVP award and helping deliver a World Series championship. In high grade, his 1969 Topps rookie from his early Dodgers days has topped $10,000. While these prices trail the holy trinity, they show the passion for memorabilia of these other generation-defining Mets legends.
Rounding out the most expensive Mets cards are a few examples that garner big money largely due to their improbable rarity and condition rather than any ties to stardom. Foremost is the hallowed 1964 Topps rookie card of Jack Hamilton, who pitched a grand total of 16 innings in the majors – all for the Mets in 1963 before vanishing from the bigs. Just over 100 copies are believed to exist, and a pristine PSA 8 recently changed hands for $12,500. Also notable is the 1951 Bowman color card of Casey Stengel, showing the future Mets manager in his playing days far before assuming the reigns in Queens. The spectacular colors still visible on the aged cardboard contributed to a PSA 8 selling for $11,100. Lastly, a 1972 Topps Traded Fran Healy card reached $9,600 due his extremely brief 14-game Mets career making examples nearly impossible to find in high grade. While these players weren’t stars, their cards live on as some of the most valuable Mets memorabilia because of their mind-blowing rarity.
The cream of the crop Mets cards will always be those depicting the franchise’s illustrious homegrown legends like Seaver, Strawberry, and Wright in their prime rookie seasons. As the cards of lessheralded players continue to disappear over the decades, it’s easy to envision someoutlier examples taking their place among the costliest treasures for serious Mets collectors. With new generations joining the collecting hobby constantly, demand will always exist for cards closely tied to some of the most storied teams and eras in baseball history – making vintage Mets pieces a smart long term investment even at today’s escalated prices.
