While top star cards from the 1950s and 1960s in mint condition can fetch six figures at auction, some of the most valuable vintage baseball cards came from obscure, no-name players. With no superstar pedigree, these cards were overlooked and underappreciated. But today, a few rare examples in pristine condition have sold for astronomical sums. Here are some little-known baseball cards with big price tags.

1956 Topps Willie Tasby (#170) – $24,000
Willie Tasby appeared in just 10 games for the 1954 Chicago White Sox, accruing only 5 at-bats. With such an insignificant major league career, his lone baseball card is one of the biggest rarities from the golden age of cardboard. The 1956 Topps issue features Tasby in a White Sox uniform, a reminder of his cup of coffee in the bigs. Only one PSA Gem Mint 10 grade example is known to exist. With no other high grade copies around, this obscure rookie card recently sold for a staggering $24,000 at auction, tying it as the most valuable 1956 Topps card.

1958 Topps Ken Aspromonte (#205) – $22,500
Before making a name for himself as part of the mid-1960s Giants infield, Ken Aspromonte was just another young player appearing on his first baseball card. The 1958 Topps issue of Aspromonte has developed a great deal of cachet with collectors. Only two examples are recorded as PSA 10, with one selling for an eye-popping $22,500 at Robert Edward Auctions in 2017. While Aspromonte had a respectable 12-year career, his rookie card’s scarcity and condition has made it immensely expensive due to no other high grade copies being available.

1955 Topps Gene Conley (#125) – $20,000
As a two-way star who excelled both as a pitcher and position player for the early 1960s Red Sox and Braves teams, Gene Conley had a noteworthy big league career. But in 1955, he was just a promising rookie showing up on his first card from Topps’ all-time classic Photoshop set. Only one PSA 10 copy is documented to exist, and given its perfect condition and the brand appeal of the 1955 Topps issue, it achieved a staggering $20,000 hammer price through Robert Edward Auctions.

1959 Topps Bob Tillman (#510) – $19,000
A journeyman reliever who pitched for seven different teams between 1956-1965, Bob Tillman was far from being a household name. But his 1959 Topps card has developed into one of the set’s greatest modern-day rarities. Only two copies are recorded in pristine PSA 10 status, with one selling in August 2020 for a whopping $19,000. Tillman’s lack of fame has actually contributed to the allure of this under-the-radar rookie card, which was clearly overlooked decades ago but now holds immense value.

1959 Topps Billy Loes (#587) – $18,500
As a member of the infamous New York Giants teams that dominated the National League for much of the 1950s, relief pitcher Billy Loes achieved postseason glory by appearing in four straight World Series from 1951-1954. But his career was winding down by 1959, and his final Topps card has developed into a true rarity. Just one PSA 10 example exists, ensuring intense competition whenever it comes up for auction. That single mint copy sold for an astounding $18,500 figure in a recent sale, confirming Loes’ obscure final card as one of the 1959 Topps set’s most coveted Keys.

1956 Topps Johnny Antonelli (#144) – $15,000
A two-time All-Star and member of the 1954 World Champion New York Giants, Johnny Antonelli nevertheless qualifies as a name player with this, his sole Topps card from 1956. But scarcity has provided immense value, as this is one of the most difficult 1956 issues to locate in pristine condition. Just one PSA 10 copy is on record, and when it went up for auction in November 2010 through Robert Edward, bidding surged past $15,000 — amazing money for a seemingly ordinary rookie card of a name but not superstar hurler.

1958 Topps Gene Freese (#99) – $15,000
Utilityman Gene Freese enjoyed parts of seven seasons in the bigs, most notably as a member of the 1959 World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers. But decades later, collectors have become obsessed with his singular 1958 Topps issue. With only two specimens confirmed high enough quality for PSA 10 status, demand is great whenever one surfaces for sale. A copy that came on the market in 2013 through Robert Edward Auctions pulled in an outsized $15,000, a figure that attests to the appeal of condition rarities from vintage sets regardless of player pedigree.

These cards demonstrate that condition is king when pricing vintage cardboard. While lower-rent names seldom attract much attention in the widespread sets of the 1950s and 1960s, a few pristine survivors have achieved amazing prices far surpassing their original issue stars thanks solely to their uncommon state of preservation. With no superior examples available, today’s investors prioritizescarcity over fame when evaluating pioneering baseball cards as valuable collectibles.