The hobby of collecting vintage and modern baseball cards has skyrocketed in popularity in recent years, with prices reaching record highs. With the influx of new collectors, certain cards have become the most sought after on the market in 2022. Demand and prices for these elite pieces of sports memorabilia show no signs of slowing down.

One of the undisputed kings of the hobby is the legendary 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner card. The iconic Wagner card is widely considered the Mona Lisa of baseball cards and has achieved legendary status over the past century. Only around 60 authentic T206 Wagners are known to exist today in various grades of condition. The card is the pinnacle of collectibles for any serious card collector. In January 2022, the most expensive Wagner card ever sold fetched a record $6.6 million through PWCC Marketplace. The sky-high price shows just how coveted and rare good examples of this card remain. Even lower graded Wagners in the PSA 2-3 range sell for well over $1 million, putting it out of reach of most collectors.

Another pre-war gem generating huge buzz is the 1916 Sporting Life Babe Ruth rookie card. Only a small handful are believed to exist in high grades. Like the Wagner, the Ruth rookie has iconic imagery of a player who would go on to become one of the most recognizable athletes ever. A PSA 8 copy sold for $2.88 million in June 2022, setting a new record for any Babe Ruth card. Even low-grade examples with flaws crack the six-figure threshold consistently. To many, owning any Ruth card would be the pinnacle, but his early Sporting Life rookie is the Holy Grail card at the top.

For modern cards, one of the most desired from the past decade is the 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Blue Refractor auto of Mike Trout. Trout had all the tools as a prospect but eclipsed all expectations by becoming one of the greatest players of all time. His amazing career only adds to the allure and value of his ultra-short printed rookie. Mint PSA 10 Trout blue refractors have sold as high as $9.3 million, like the record-setting copy that sold in August 2022. But even well-centered PSA 9s routinely fetch over $1 million in today’s market. Finding an ungraded Trout blue auto that can grade high remains a white whale for collectors.

Another modern-day multi-million dollar card is the 1998 Bowman’s Best Refractor 1/1 Miguel Cabrera. Like Trout, Cabrera has proved to be a lifetime .300 hitter and MVP winner still producing at an elite level in his late 30s. Only one 1998 Bowman’s Best Refractor parallel was inserted per case of the set, making the Cabrera the only one in existence. In pristine PSA 10 condition, it sold for $3.84 million in January 2022, marking a record at the time for any modern-era card. Finding the true 1/1 unique parallel of a future Hall of Famer in a premier rookie set adds to its greatness. Even wear shows how rare and desirable it is for team set collectors.

One of the most iconic and popular modern rookies is the 1991 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. The “kid” had incredible raw skills and smile that captured the hearts of fans from the start. High grade Griffey Jr. rookies remain some of the most visually appealing cards to collectors. A PSA 10 recently surpassed $500,000 in a milestone sale. But condition is everything, as mid-grade copies still sell in the low five-figures. Being able to find one of the cleanest surviving examples of such an historic rookie is a achievement for any collector.

The 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie is another staple at the top for its incredible photogenic style showing Mantle in Yankees pinstripes and its supreme historical significance. The Mick would go on to have one of the greatest careers of all time. Finding high-grade examples in this incredibly fragile 52 Topps design is extremely tough. A PSA 8.5 recently sold for $2.88 million, the second highest price paid for any 1952 Mantle Rookie card. Even with centering flaws or small creases, copies sell well into the six figures. Owning any Mantle rookie is worthy of praise.

Staying in the 50s, the iconic 1957 Topps Hank Aaron is up there among the most coveted cards for collectors today. Aaron shattered Babe Ruth’s hallowed home run record and was one of the most feared sluggers of his generation before becoming one of history’s greatest ambassadors off the field. His simple yet aesthetically perfect 1957 Topps design encapsulates that era perfectly and have stood the test of time. Examples in PSA 8-9 condition have started cracking the $1 million mark regularly in today’s market. Even well-worn low-grade copies still sell for over six figures. Locating a presentable example is always a prized find considering the age.

Perhaps the single most iconic baseball card ever made is the 1909-11 T206 Johnny Evers card due to its famous “Tinker to Evers to Chance” poem on the back. As an indispensable member of the great Chicago Cubs double-play combination, not only does he have a spot in Cooperstown, he’s forever etched in sports history through the poem. Incredibly few remain in collectors hands today. A gem mint PSA 8 recently sold for an astonishing $763,000, a testament to its storied lore. Even mid-graded copies with flaws command premium five-figure prices. Evers cards pack a mighty punch for vintage collectors no matter the condition.

While prices and demand seem to grow crazier by the day, the above select group represent cards that any serious collector dreams of owning. They are true markers of achievement in this billion-dollar hobby and proof of a lifetime commitment to chasing the most prized vintage and modern rookies, inserts and parallels on the market for the foreseeable future. With their awesome historical and iconic significance tied to unforgettable players and moments in the game’s illustrious past, they are truly the most sought after baseball cards you can collect today.

The baseball card collecting hobby has seen a resurgence in recent years, fueled by nostalgia, appreciation of the history of the game, and the investment potential of rare vintage cards. As the 2023 season approaches, certain legendary cards from years past remain highly sought after by collectors looking to add trophy pieces to their collections or flip valuable assets. While the prices for many vintage rookies and stars have skyrocketed in recent times, some notable cards still top want lists as collectors pursue condition-graded gems to round out their sets. Here are some of the most sought after baseball cards collectors have their eyes on as the new year approaches.

The Holy Grail of baseball cards, the 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner, remains the most coveted and expensive trading card in the world, with only approximately 60 high-grade examples known to exist. In pristine condition, Wagner cards have sold for over $6 million. While the average collector will never realistically own one of these century-old beauties, the T206 Wagner still captivates the imagination as the rare find of a lifetime. Other legendary pre-war cards like the 1914 Cracker Jack Lajoie and Joe Jackson also fetch hundreds of thousands at auction when presented in stellar condition.

From the post-war era, the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie card is undoubtedly one of the most iconic in the sport’s history. High-grade versions recently sold for north of $2 million as Mantle mania grips the collecting world. The 1952 Bowman Color TV commercial set, which features early cards of Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, and Dykes/Slaughter, also demands top dollar, with a near-mint example selling for over $1 million in 2021. The 1959 Topps Willie Mays and 1953 Topps Sandy Koufax rookie also rank among the most valuable from the 1950s-60s period. Condition is everything, as even moderately played vintage rookies can be worth thousands in the right players.

The late 1960s-1970s produced several legendary rookie cards that keep appreciating rapidly. The 1968 Topps Nolan Ryan, one of the most identifiable in the set, was selling in the $30,000 range for top conditioned copies at the start of 2022 but has likely surpassed $50,000 average today. Also highly sought is the 1975 Topps Reggie Jackson, which has doubled in the past year to over $15,000 in mint shape. The 1970 Topps Johnny Bench, 1980 Topps Joe Charboneau, and 1981 Tony Gwynn rookies are additional seventies and eighties favorites attracting strong bids. And no list would be complete without mentioning the crown jewel of the sport’s modern era – mint condition copies of the 1987 Topps Ken Griffey Jr. routinely bring six-figure sums at auction.

In more recent times, collectors clamor over rare parallels and autograph versions of notable rookie cards from the 1990s to today. High-grade copies of the 1992 Bowman Derek Jeter still pull in the thousands. Autographed versions of the 1994 SP Alex Rodriguez rookie or 1999 Bowman Pujols fetch over $50,000. Rarest of all are 1/1 parallel cards featuring current stars like the 2018 Topps Update Acuna Blue Refractor 1/1 or 2019 Topps Update Juan Soto Red Refractor 1/1 – true singular works of art that could realistically earn over $100,000 at auction.

This overview only scraped the surface when it comes to the enormous universe of vintage and valuable baseball cards out there. As long as the hobby thrives, collectors will continue scouring attics, card shops, and auction dockets in hopes of discovering their own ticket to financial or personal glory in the cardboard marketplace. Whether defined by rarity, star power, or historical significance in the game – the cards highlighted here remain firmly at the top of want lists heading into the 2023 season and beyond, their prices driven ever skyward by a devoted community that finds just as much joy in chasing these iconic pieces of sports memorabilia as owning them.

The hobby of baseball card collecting saw incredible growth throughout the 1980s, and interest remained high as the 1990s began. The 1990 baseball card season featured several young star rookies as well as legendary veterans that continue to be widely collected today. Below are some of the most valuable and sought after 1990 baseball cards that regularly fetch high prices at auction.

Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card (Upper Deck #1) – Widely considered one of the most iconic rookie cards of all-time, the Ken Griffey Jr. Upper Deck card is the undisputed king of the 1990 set. Griffey had just begun to emerge as a superstar for the Seattle Mariners in 1989, and collectors knew they had a future Hall of Famer on their hands. While production numbers for the Griffey rookie were high relative to modern cards at around 1.8 million copies, demand has always far outweighed supply. Near mint copies easily sell for over $1000 today, with gem mint 10 graded versions fetching upwards of $10,000. The Griffey rookie is a must-have for any serious collector from the 1990s.

Frank Thomas Rookie Card (Bowman #64) – Like Griffey, Frank Thomas started making a name for himself in 1989 before breaking out in 1990 as arguably the best pure hitter in baseball. Despite being overshadowed a bit by Griffey’s megastar status, the “Big Hurt” rookie from Bowman has proven to be an extremely strong card in its own right. PSA 10 copies have sold for over $3000, with more average near mint copies bringing $400-500. While not in Griffey territory, the Frank Thomas rookie remains one of the crown jewels of the 1990 season.

Roberto Alomar Rookie Card (Donruss #319) – Another star-studded rookie class, Roberto Alomar had his breakout season with the Baltimore Orioles in 1990 after being called up late in 1988. The smooth fielding second baseman would go on to a Hall of Fame career, making his Donruss RC a key item for team and player collectors alike. PSA 10s have reached $1800, with most near mint copies selling in the $150-300 range depending on year. Along with the Thomas and Griffey rookies, the Alomar is part of the holy trinity for flagship 1990 rookies.

Nolan Ryan Expressionist Painting Card (Upper Deck #350) – While not technically a “rookie” card, the artwork card featuring Nolan Ryan paid tribute to the all-time strikeout king who was winding down his career with the Texas Rangers. The beautifully rendered Expressionist style painting became a hugely popular chase card in the 1990 Upper Deck set. In gem mint condition a PSA 10 grade brings over $1000, but even well-centered near mint copies in the PSA 8-9 range can sell for $250-500 based on demand. The rare artistic cards became a signature part of the Upper Deck brand.

Cal Ripken Jr. All-Star MVP Card (Bowman #B88) – By 1990, Cal Ripken Jr. had emerged as one of baseball’s best all-around players as evidenced by his 1989 AL MVP and being named an All-Star starter every season of the late 80s. This card featured Ripken from the 1989 All-Star Game where he won MVP honors. The eye-catching image coupled with Ripken’s icon status makes it a coveted piece for Oriole fans and collectors. Near mint PSA 8 copies typically sell between $150-250.

Sandy Koufax Patch Card (Fleer #203) – Fleer tried something new with their 1990 set by including jersey/ memorabilia cards of retired legends. This iconic Sandy Koufax patch card, one of the early examples of such “relic” cards features a small swatch of the legendary lefty’s jersey. In top PSA/BGS grades these extremely rare Koufax patch cards have reached the $4000-$6000 range. Even well-centered examples still command $1000-1500 price tags due to the nostalgia and history behind the Hall of Famer.

While Griffey, Thomas and Alomar rightfully top most want lists, there are several gems to be found across the subset of 1990 that made stars and captured moments from that season. Sets like Upper Deck, Bowman, Donruss and Fleer all contributed memorable cards. Three decades later, the 1990 vintage remains a popular and historically significant year for the rich rookies and talent featured. With the continued growth of the hobby, key cards will likely keep appreciating for dedicated collectors and investors.