The hobby of collecting baseball cards has been extremely popular for decades. While there is great pride in assembling full sets of cards from particular years, some collectors focus specifically on high-end, valuable individual cards. When it comes to the cream of the crop, cards that are graded Gem Mint 10 or Pristine by either Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) or Beckett Grading Services (BGS) and receive a numerical grade of 90 or above are truly elite. Let’s take a look at some of the most valuable and rarest 90+ grade baseball cards that have crossed the auction block in recent years.
The undisputed king of all 90+ graded baseball cards is the legendary 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner card. Very few high-grade examples of this iconic issue are known to exist, and they almost never become available for sale. In August 2021, a PSA AU-MT 8 Wagner shattered all-time sports collectible and trading card records by selling at auction for $6.6 million. That shows just how prized a true gem mint PSA/BGS 90+ example of the Wagner would be worth if one ever came to market.
Another early 20th century issue card that is just as difficult to find in pristine condition is the 1909 E90-1 American Caramel Mickey Welch. Considered by some the rarest non-Wagner tobacco card, a single PSA NM-MT 8.5 Welch in 2014 sold for over $233,000, demonstrating the demand for high-grade copies. A Welch attaining a numeric score above 90 could potentially enter seven-figure territory.
Jumping ahead to the modern baseball card era, the 1972 Topps Nolan Ryan rookie is one of the most recognizable issues around. With Ryan becoming arguably the greatest strikeout pitcher of all time, mint condition copies of his debut cardboard are enormously sought after. A PSA/BGS 10 Ryan sold at auction in 2018 for $44,100 while two other Gem Mint 10 examples traded hands privately for over $50,000 each a few years ago. Even a PSA/BGS 9.5 Ryan would command a significant premium over already lofty PSA 10 prices.
Another rookie card poised for 90+ greatness is the 1990 Topps Frank Thomas issue. A true superstar for the Chicago White Sox in the 1990s, high-grade examples of “The Big Hurt’s” first bowman have increased exponentially in value during recent years. A trio of PSA 10 Thomas rookies from 2020-2021 sold for between $25,600-$30,000 apiece at Goldin Auctions. A true pristine 90+ copy could realistically bring over $50,000.
MANTLE MANIA: When discussing the highest grades and most valuable baseball cards, no athlete’s cardboard is more coveted than Yankee legend Mickey Mantle. Several of Mantle’s iconic 50s and 60s issues have crossed the auction block for astronomical sums in top condition. A PSA/BGS 9.5 1952 Topps Mantle went for $376,929 back in 2015. Even more spectacular was a BGS/PSA Gem Mint 99 1952 Mantle that shattered records by selling for $2,880,000 in 2021. Clearly, a true pristine 90-grade example of any Mantle issue from his playing days could be worth millions.
Moving into the late 60s/early 70s when the modern baseball card boom began, the 1969 Topps Nolan Ryan rookie and 1973 Topps Hank Aaron memorabilia cards have reached immense prices in gem condition. In 2017, a PSA 10 Ryan rookie sold privately for $99,000 while a PSA/BGS 10 Hank Aaron /jersey card piece fetched $31,900 at auction three years prior. Imagine what a near flawless 90+ specimen of either of these all-time great cards could demand from a collector willing to spare no expense.
Perhaps the single most valuable post-war issue when found in true pristine grade is the iconic 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle. Even in high-end PSA/BGS 9’s, examples can sell for well over $100,000. But there have only been a handful that have reached the extremely stringent standards required for a true 90 grade. One such card that achieved a BGS/PSA Phenomenal 99 grade was sold by Heritage Auctions in 2021 for a world record $2.88 million, showing just how elite a 90+ Mantle truly is.
Besides the obvious superstars, conditionsensitive oddball vintage issues can explode in value with tops grades too. One example is the 1909 E90 Fatima Turkish cigarettes Billy Hamilton. In 2013, a PSA 8.5 brought $25,080 while a single PSA 9 in 2016 fetched an incredible $93,000. Finding a true pristine 90 example of this rare smoking related card could turn it into a six-figure piece. Also, 1960 Topps Brooks Robinson are routinely six figures in PSA 10 but a 90+ example might be worth over $250,000 given how seldom high grades occur.
As the hobby of collecting vintage cards has evolved into a billion-dollar industry, specimens achieving true Mint status through third-party grading have become the holy grails among advanced enthusiasts. While cards like the 1909-11 T206 Wagner will likely never again be offered in 90-grade condition regardless of price, other all-time greats could conceivably surface in true pristine form to shatter all existing value records. For a patient collector willing to spend without limits, finding a 90+ baseball card might just be the ultimate prize.
