Nolan Ryan is considered one of the greatest pitchers of all time and his legendary career has made his baseball cards some of the most sought after and valuable in the hobby. Over the course of 27 MLB seasons from 1966-1993, Ryan dominated on the mound like few others, establishing records that may never be broken. He holds the all-time records for no-hitters with 7 and strikeouts with 5,714. With such incredible accomplishments and marvelous longevity, it’s no surprise that Nolan Ryan cards, especially from his early years, have become highly treasured by collectors and frequently sell for big money on auction sites like eBay.

Let’s take a deeper look at some of Ryan’s most noteworthy baseball cards and explore eBay sales data to understand what kind of prices these prized pieces of memorabilia fetch in today’s market. One of the holiest of grails for any baseball card collector is Ryan’s 1966 Topps rookie card, the first card issued of the future Hall of Famer. Only about 100 mint condition copies are believed to still exist according to the Sports Collectors Daily, making it extremely rare. On eBay, PSA/BGS graded mint copies in the 8-10 range often sell for well over $10,000. One BGS 9.5 gem mint copy sold for a staggering $27,850 in January 2021. Another PSA 9 copy went for $17,500 that same month.

While perhaps not as rare as the rookie, other early Ryan cards such as his 1969 Topps, 1970 Topps, and 1972 Topps are still hugely valuable banners from Nolan’s formative years pitching for the Mets and Angels organizations. Near mint to mint copies of the 1969 usually sell in the $2,000-$5,000 range. High graded versions can hit $10,000 or more, like a recent PSA 9 copy that sold for $12,050. Similarly, the 1970 regularly fetches $1,500-$3,500 and $5,000+ for gems, with one PSA 9 copy making $7,050. The 1972 is quite valuable too considering it shows Nolan winning the MLB strikeout title in 1972 with 329, setting a new single season record. Near mint copies trade hands for $750-$1,500 and graded gems go for $3,000 and up, with a recent PSA 9 copy selling for $4,050.

Moving into Ryan’s later playing days with the Angels, Astros, and Rangers, finds several other popular and sought after baseball cards from the 1970s and 80s. One is his 1973 Topps card, a very aesthetically pleasing action shot of Nolan on the mound that remains a fan favorite to this day. Near mint ’73s sell between $400-800 fairly often. Higher graded copies command more substantial prices, with PSA 9 examples reaching the $1,500-2,000 range. Another iconic Ryan card is his 1975 Topps issue, which features one of the colossal right-hander’s many no-hitters. This one highlights his July 15th no-no against the Twins. NM-MT ’75s bring $250-500 with potential to fetch over $1,000 for strong grades.

Two other noteworthy cards are Nolan’s 1981 Donruss and 1984 Fleer Update issues from his later playing days with the Astros and Rangers. The 1981 Donruss stands out for its artistic painting-like style photo versus the standard action shots. Near mint copies can be found for $100-250. Strongly graded versions climb above $500 consistently. Meanwhile, the 1984 Fleer Update was one of the first Star Cards – a premium subset highlighting MLB superstars. Considering Ryan’s legendary status and how this was one of his last active seasons, NM-MT copies trade hands for $75-150 regularly. GEM Mint 10 specimens have sold for over $600 before.

In summary, Nolan Ryan’s legendary baseball career and hurler accomplishments have made his vintage cards incredibly sought after collectibles, especially in high grades. While his ultra rare 1966 rookie remains prohibitively expensive for most, other early 70s flagship Topps issues and iconic cards from his later playing days can still be found in mint condition for thousands on the secondary market if you’re willing to spend. Regardless of the specific issue, any card featuring the immortal “Ryan Express” is a prized piece of memorabilia for collectors that should hold or gain value long term. Keeping an eye on eBay is a great way to stay on top of current Nolan Ryan card prices and possibly find a gem of your own to cherish.