The vintage baseball card market showed no signs of slowing down in 2023, as collectors continued pouring money into some of the most iconic and valuable cards from the sport’s early years. Modern issues also saw increased enthusiasm, thanks to newly emerging stars and a robust secondary market. Here are some of the most in-demand baseball cards collectors were chasing in 2023:
Honus Wagner (1909-1911 T206): As is usually the case, the legendary Wagner reigned supreme in 2023. Only around 60 examples are known to exist of what is widely considered the most valuable sports card ever printed. Just finding a low-grade Wagner to add to a collection was an enormous accomplishment. The chance to land even a mediocre example would set a collector back multiple millions. Any card earning a grade above a 2 would shatter records. A PSA 2.5 example crossed the auction block in October 2023 for a staggering $6.6 million.
Babe Ruth (1914 Baltimore News): Not quite as rare as the Wagner, but still prestigious, any vintage Ruth card was a huge prize. The 1914 Baltimore News Standing Babe Ruth remained incredibly tough to track down in high grades. Some estimate fewer than 10 PSA 4 examples are known. A PSA 3.5 of this iconic pre-rookie card went for $2.4 million in a June auction, showing Babe Ruth mania was alive and well heading into the third decade of the 2000s.
Mickey Mantle (1951 Bowman, 1952 Topps, etc.): Mantle’s entire rookie card run from 1951-1952 Bowman and Topps issues were hugely popular. Condition was still everything when it came to Mantle’s earliest cardboard, but more mid-grade examples filtered back to the population from attics and basements in 2023. A PSA 5 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle sold for $660,000 in December, while a 1951 Bowman PSA 2.5 exceeded estimates at $432,000 earlier that fall.
Shoeless Joe Jackson (1909-1911 T206): Jackson’s cards saw increased attention as well thanks to his legendary performance in the 1919 World Series and the intriguing circumstances surrounding his alleged involvement in the “Black Sox” scandal. Scarcity challenges remained similar to the Wagner, but collectors found new ways to celebrate Shoeless Joe through high-dollar slabbed examples. A low-grade T206 in PSA 2.5 condition went for nearly $400,000 in late 2022.
Mike Trout (2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Picks and Prospects Refractor): Now a decade into an all-time great career, Trout’s rookie cards maintained incredible market strength. The 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Picks and Prospects Refractor parallel was the true rarity, with only 99 copies produced. PSA 10 examples routinely brought over $1 million at auction. Even raw Trout rookies in strong condition could fetch six figures based simply on the player’s proven dominance. Trout mania did not appear to be fading any time soon.
Sandy Koufax (1956 Topps): Thanks in large part to his legendary dominance in the mid-1960s, Koufax remained one of the most iconic pitchers in baseball history. His rookie season was chronicled in the 1956 Topps set, though high-grade survivors were exceedingly rare. An example earning a PSA 8 grade crossed the auction block in September for $481,600. Anything above a 5 usually attracted bidding north of $100,000 on strong days.
1948 Leaf Ted Williams: Widely considered one of the rarest and most visually striking vintage cards around, Leaf produced Williams’ first true cardboard appearance in 1948. Fewer than 20 are believed to exist today in any condition. Rumors swirled throughout 2023 of an ungraded example surfacing and potentially coming to market, creating buzz that lingered for months. How much it might achieve untested will remain unknown, but the premium for rarity would assuredly break records.
Juan Soto (2018 Bowman Chrome Autograph Refractor): Soto’s talent has been on full display since debuting as a teenager in 2018. Fueled by back-to-back NL batting titles and MVP consideration, his rookie paraphernalia was in high demand. The 2018 Bowman Chrome Auto Refractor parallel numbered to 99 copies stood out as the true seven-figure card. A PSA 10 example sold in Q3 2023 for an eye-popping $2.89 million, cementing Soto among the modern greats.
Fernando Tatis Jr. (2019 Topps Series 1): A breakout superstar with prodigious power and athleticism, Tatis seemed poised to take San Diego to new heights. A wrist injury in 2023 slowed his progress temporarily, but belief in his abilities remained sky high. The first Tatis Jr. card from Topps’ flagship base set had become one of the most iconic moderns. PSA 10s routinely cleared six figures all year long. As Tatis returned to action and proved his health, the outlook for his cards was still excellent heading into 2024.
Shohei Ohtani (2021 Topps Series 1 & 2021 Bowman Chrome Autographs): As a truly two-way force like no other in today’s game, Ohtani became must-own for collectors of both Japanese stars and MLB’s latest phenoms. Both his 2021 flagship Topps rookie and Bowman Chrome autograph parallels were in high demand across the hobby. An Ultra Rare Ohtani auto refractor from Bowman numbered to /5 sold for $924,000 in July 2023, underlining his rare dual threat skills and growing popularity internationally. PSA 10 copies of his Topps rookie also cleared six figures regularly.
This covers some of the most coveted and expensive baseball cards that generated serious collector buzz throughout 2023. While the vintage market icons will likely always reign, modern stars are also achieving legendary status surprisingly quickly. With huge accomplishments on the field driving hobby fervor, the potential for new record-setting cards grows each season. Condition, scarcity, and the performances of players like Trout, Tatis Jr., Soto and Ohtani will be major storylines to watch that could shape values into the next decade.
