The value of baseball cards, especially vintage ones from the early 20th century, continues to climb each year. Collectors and investors are constantly seeking out rare and coveted cards that can bring huge sums at auction. Whether it’s iconic rookie cards of legends like Babe Ruth or modern cards of today’s hottest young stars, the potential for appreciation remains high. With another baseball season now underway, let’s take a look at some of the most valuable baseball cards that can be found as of 2017 based on recent sales data and industry experts.

Heading the list is undoubtedly one of the true Holy Grails of the hobby—the 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner. The legendary shortstop of the early 1900s Pittsburgh Pirates appears smiling on this sizeable tobacco era card, widely considered the most desired and valuable in the history of collecting. Only around 60 examples are known to exist in various conditions today. In recent years, pristine PSA/BGS Gem Mint examples have sold for north of $2.8 million, with one achieving an eye-popping $3.12 million back in 2016. Even heavily played low-grade specimens still command six-figure prices. No other card holds anywhere near the same cachet or value as the elusive Wagner.

Another tobacco issue that fetches immense sums is the 1913 E114 Nap Lajoie card produced by the American Tobacco Company. Like the T206 Wagner, it features a future Hall of Famer and is considered a key type set card for vintage collectors. In January of 2017, a PSA 8 copy sold for a staggering $1.054 million, setting a new auction record. Just a month later, another PSA 8 brought a final hammer price of $948,000. With such a high demand from connoisseurs, it’s evident this Lajoie will remain at the apex of the collectibles realm for a long time to come.

For Mickey Mantle enthusiasts, his 1952 Topps debut rookie is the primary target. High-grade versions regularly pull in the $100,000 range even today in a robust marketplace. A PSA Gem Mint 10 specimen changed hands privately in 2016 for an astounding $525,000. Meanwhile, the 1952 Bowman color photograph of the ‘Commerce Comet’ has also seen seven-figure prices, with a pristine example recently reaching $990,000 at auction. No post-war card is more desirable than Mantle’s to collectors, exemplifying his iconic status both on and off the diamond.

Moving into the modern period, perhaps the most in-demand recent issue remains the 2009 Bowman Draft Prospects Blue Refractor card of Zion Williamson. Still a rookie in the NBA, Williamson has already exploded onto the national scene with his incredible athleticism and high-flying dunks. His draft cards from before he even took the college courts have predictably skyrocketed in value as a result. A BGS-graded 9.5 just sold for a record $50,000 in April 2017, showing no signs of slowing in appreciation any time soon. Such pieces have ushered in a new era of speculation focused as much on potential as pedigree.

Rookie cards for other contemporary stars like Mike Trout and Bryce Harper also command top dollar based on their established dominance at such young ages. A Trout 2009 Bowman Chrome Refractor BGS 9.5 brought $39,300 last year alone. Meanwhile, a 2010 Bowman Chrome Harper Superfractor autographed rookie graded BGS 10 achieved a whopping $75,000 back in February of 2017. Both players are cornerstones of their franchises with many productive seasons still ahead, ensuring high mintage cards will remain blue-chip investments for discerning collectors.

For those seeking true one-of-a-kind rarities, autographed game-used memorabilia cards present essentially unlimited upside. A case in point is a 2001 SP Authentic Signed Game-Used Bat Relic card of Alex Rodriguez #/10 sold privately this past January for a massive $750,000. It featured an on-card autograph and piece of A-Rod’s actual fungo bat embedded within. Similarly, a 2003 Topps Chrome Refractor Autograph Patch Jarrod Saltalamacchia #/5 reached $105,000 in May of 2017. When it comes to autographed relics of all-time greats or promising young talents, the prices achieved often shatter conventional norms.

With strong interest and a healthy marketplace, the most coveted vintage and modern baseball cards showed no signs of slowing their upward trajectory in 2017. While exorbitant prices are reserved for the true elite, savvy collectors understand the hobby remains a fascinating intersection of sport, history and burgeoning asset class. Whether seeking famous HOF refractors or promising prospects on the cusp, with care and luck the right pieces can continue delivering real returns for years to come.