The 1968 Topps baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic issues in the history of the hobby. While it may not be the most valuable set on average, it features several highly valuable rookie and star player cards that continue to attract interest from collectors decades later. Some of the most notable expensive cards from the 1968 Topps set include:

Nolan Ryan Rookie Card #546
Nolan Ryan’s rookie card is arguably the crown jewel of the 1968 set and one of the most coveted baseball cards of all time. Often ranked as a top-3 rookie card in the industry, an ungraded example in excellent to mint condition can fetch $20,000-30,000. High-grade PSA/BGS Gem Mint examples have broken the $100,000 price point in recent years, with a PSA 10 recently hitting a record $240,500 in a Goldin Auctions sale. Ryan went on to enjoy a Hall of Fame career spanning 27 seasons from 1966 to 1993, establishing himself as perhaps the greatest power pitcher in MLB history with over 5,000 career strikeouts.

Reggie Jackson Rookie Card #497
Reggie Jackson’s rookie card is another highly sought after 1968 issue, with ungraded near mint to mint copies trading hands in the $6,000-10,000 range. Higher graded PSA/BGS examples in the 8.5-9.5 range can reach $15,000-35,000 or more for a true flawless gem. “Mr. October” established himself as a bonafide superstar slugger and five-time World Series Champion over a 21-year career spent primarily with the Athletics and Yankees. His iconic October heroics have cemented his rookie card as a must-have for any serious baseball collection.

Tom Seaver Rookie Card #574
The 1968 Topps Tom Seaver rookie is considered right alongside the Ryan as one of the holiest grails from the set. High-quality examples in PSA/BGS 8.5-9 gem condition are valued at $8,000-15,000 but can surpass $25,000 for true pristine “black label” 10 grades. Seaver went on to win 311 career games and claim three Cy Young Awards, cementing his Hall of Fame credentials as one of the greatest right-handed pitchers in history for the “Miracle” Mets and Reds. His rookie card remains a cornerstone in the portfolios of even the most elite vintage card investors.

Orlando Cepeda #138
A true batting champion and MVP, Orlando Cepeda boasted impressive power from the left side during his career. His 1968 Topps issue can be acquired for $3,000-5,000 in top-graded PSA/BGS 9-9.5 condition but has approached the $10,000 plateau for rare pristine “black label” 10 grades. Cepeda was a career .297 hitter with 379 home runs and four All-Star appearances over 15 seasons primarily with the Giants and Cardinals in the 1950s-60s. Like Seaver and Ryan, he currently stands enshrined in Cooperstown.

Hank Aaron #140
Hank Aaron came so close to breaking Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record in 1968, ending the season just behind the Bambino with 713 lifetime dingers. Considered one of the cleanest and most attractive cards from that vintage, high-end PSA/BGS 9’s can be found in the $6,000-10,000 range but true flawless gems at the PSA 10 level have crossed $20,000 at auction. Hammerin’ Hank authored one of the greatest offensive careers in baseball history while dealing with intense racism throughout the 1960s-70s. His rookie cards remain treasured holdings for collectors.

Johnny Bench #593
Johnny Bench wouldn’t debut in the majors until 1967, but his rookie card is still sought after for the 1968 Topps set due to his Hall of Fame credentials established across 19 seasons behind the dish for the Big Red Machine. PSA/BGS 8.5-9 examples can be found in the $2,000-4,000 range, while true pristine PSA/BGS 10 grades have cracked five-figures amid Bench’s iconic status as perhaps the greatest catcher in baseball annals. The 14-time All-Star and 2-time NL MVP was the heart and soul of Cincinnati’s golden era dynasty teams.

Besides the above headliners, other notable high-dollar cards from 1968 Topps include a Mickey Mantle #258 ($2,000-5,000 PSA 9), Willie Mays #282 ($3,000-6,000 PSA 9), Sandy Koufax #310 ($1,500-3,000 PSA 9), and Roberto Clemente #479 ($1,000-2,500 PSA 9) among others. The set as a whole maintains strong collector interest given its perfect storm of star players, Hall of Famers, and truly iconic rookie cards that went on to define their entire eras. While conditions and grades will always be determining valuation factors, certain 1968 issues now qualify as genuine rarities and can cross well into the five-figure territory with top certification – cementing their legacy as among the most prized and valuable baseball cards of the 20th century.