The baseball card collecting hobby continues to surge in popularity. While digital forms of collecting like cryptocurrency receive more mainstream attention, physical baseball cards remain beloved by enthusiasts for their historic significance and ability to appreciate dramatically in value over time. As we near the conclusion of 2023, it’s clear some cardboard remains significantly more coveted than others on the secondary market. Let’s examine the top selling baseball cards of the year based on auction prices, newly-graded gem results, and marketplace demand.
Leading the way is undoubtedly the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle in pristine gem mint condition. Often referred to as the “Mantle PSA 10,” merely a handful are known to exist in this state of preservation. One such example sold for an astounding $12.6 million through Heritage Auctions in January, setting a new record as the most valuable baseball card or any trading card ever publicly sold. The card has added millions to its value in just the past couple years alone. With its subject being one of the game’s enduring icons and the rarity of high-grade ’52 Topps, the Mantle is cemented as the undisputed blue-chip investment of the hobby.
Another perennial favorite generating tremendous sums is the 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner. Considered the rareist and most important collectible in all of sports, finding one in any graded level is cause for celebration. In 2023, a PSA EX-MT 5 sold for a staggering $6.6 million through Goldin, once again reaffirming the Wagner as a dependable store of value. For collectors of more modest means, high-grade examples around the PSA 8-9 range still traded hands above $1 million regularly. No other pre-war issue commands the following or six-figure price tags that this elusive tobacco card does.
The 1957 Topps Mike Trout rookie was a breakout star, more than holding its own against the vintage greats. Fresh off another AL MVP award and on pace to join the 500 home run club early in 2024, Trout mania is as strong as ever. Two PSA 10 specimens topped $900,000 at Golden Auctions in September and October respectively. Meanwhile, raw copies in near-mint to mint condition routinely fetch five-figures on eBay as the demand pipeline shows no signs of weakening for the current face of MLB. While no modern card achieves the value appreciation potential of centurions like Wagner and Mantle long term, the Trout RC satisfies enthusiasts’ desire for an elite modern investment at a comparatively “affordable” price point.
Several impressive auctions of vintage Mickey Mantle cards rounded out the top performers. A 1956 Topps Mantle PSA 8 achieved $396,000 through Goldin in April. Two months later, another ‘56 in similar condition traded at $312,000. These results solidified the ‘56 as the most expensive non-rookie Mantle issue available in top pop report status. They demonstrate how desirability has graduated from his classic rookie to encompass iconic representations throughout his Hall of Fame career. No other ballplayer evokes as much collector passion as the “Commerce Comet,” whose legacy ensures a marketplace will persist for his enduring on-card likenesses far into the future.
A rookie card triple header of Ryne Sandberg, Cal Ripken Jr. and Don Mattingly also impressed throughout 2023. Sandberg’s 1982 Topps had 16 PSA 10 copies change hands for an average price of ~$80,000 on eBay between April and October. Ripken’s iconic 1981 Fleer had comparably graded gems sell in the same ballpark, while a couple Mattingly 1984 Topps mint specimens topped $70,000 in July and August auctions. All three short printed and visually striking issues established new norms for their respected athletes as interest in the golden era of ’80s cardboard flourishes.
Another modern star who had a banner year was Juan Soto. Following his blockbuster August trade to the Padres, the sought-after 2020 Topps Soto rookie skyrocketed. Two PSA 10s achieved $51,000 and $53,000 respectively at Goldin’s September auction. The hyper-popular 23-year-old’s ascension to superstardom and relocation to Southern California’s largest market thrust his cardboard to new heights, signaling his collectibles have only scratched the surface of their long term potential.
Rounding out the biggest movers of 2023 were a smattering of sealed and complete sets that underscored the enduring popularity of vintage issues. In October, a 1986 Fleer box in PRistine unopened condition sold for a record-setting $396,000 through Heritage. Around the same time, a sealed 1948/49 Leaf Baseball Gum went for $240,000 via Goldin. A few months prior, a pristine 1964 Topps wax box changed hands privately for a rumored $350,000 as interest in unmolested vintage products shows no signs of slowing. Whether raw, graded or factory sealed, cards from baseball’s golden age 60s-80s era clearly resonate strongest as blue-chip collectibles decades after their original release.
In summary, 2023 highlighted the enduring value of specimens featuring baseball’s immortals like Mantle, Wagner and more recently, Trout. Icons from eras past continue appreciating at high rates, while modern stars like Soto are cementing their own cardboard legacies. Condition sensitive vintage releases maintain an ardent following, as do unopened wax products offering a temporal experience. With interest in the card collecting industry growing exponentially, 2024 is primed to set even loftier standards in the sports card secondary market. So long as the game itself endures, so too will the timeless cardboard cutouts that chronicle its history.