Baseball cards have been around since the late 19th century and early 20th century, with companies like Allen & Ginter, Old Judge, and Topps producing the earliest sets of cards. Over the decades since, some baseball cards have appreciated greatly in value based on the players featured, their rarity, and their condition. Here is an overview of some of the most valuable baseball cards that can fetch large sums at auction.

1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner – This is widely considered the most valuable baseball card of all time. Produced between 1909-1911 by the American Tobacco Company, the Wagner card has been known to sell for over $1 million in mint condition. What makes it so rare is that Wagner demanded his card be pulled from production due to his opposition to promoting tobacco. It’s estimated there are only 50-200 remaining in existence today.

1952 Topps Mickey Mantle – The Mick’s rookie card is one of the most coveted in the hobby. High grade versions with a PSA/BGS score over 8 can sell for $100,000+. As one of the game’s true icons who led the Yankees to many World Series wins, Mantle’s rookie enjoys tremendous nostalgia and demand.

1988 Score Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie – Griffey was hailed as the next Willie Mays and his basketball-like skills dazzled fans of the era. PSA 10 examples of his rookie card have reached $50,000 due to his elite talent and status as a fan favorite during his prime.

1917 Sporting News Babe Ruth – One of the more obscure early Ruth cardspredating his legendary Red Sox-Yankees days. Graded PSA 4 copies have topped $200,000. Very few from this obscure set remain.

1952 Bowman Mickey Mantle – Considered the finest of the Mantle rookie cards due to its beautiful color photo. High-grade copies still fetch five figures Slabs with a BGS/PSA grade of 9.5 could demand $100,000.

1987 Fleer Barry Bonds – A pre-rookie card showing Bonds as a Pittsburgh Pirate farmhand. PSA 10 versions have gone north of $25,000. His emergence as arguably the best all-around player ever added to this card’s appeal.

1916 M101-8 Eddie Plank – From the ultra-rare 1916 Miller Huggins Cracker Jack set. Only 10-15 of the Plank card are known to exist. One graded PSA 2.5 sold for $68,000 at auction.

1914 Cracker Jack Joe Jackson – Joe Jackson, better known as “Shoeless Joe” from the Black Sox Scandal, has an extremely rare rookie that has sold for over $50,000 in top condition. Very few of the 1914 Cracker Jacks remain.

1909-11 T206 Sherry Magee – Sherry Magee was a star of the Deadball Era but his T206 card is exceptionally tough to come by. A PSA 2.5 gem brought $92,000 at auction in 2007 testifying to its scarcity in high grade.

1969 Topps Nolan Ryan Rookie Card – Considered one of the most dominant pitchers ever, Nolan Ryan’s rookie card has sold for over $30,000. While not quite as acclaimed as the Mantle and Bonds rookies, Ryan’s sheer dominance and staying power increased his card’s appeal.

1948 Leaf Ted Williams – An early Ted Williams card showing him as a Boston Red Sox player during his prime years. PSA 8 or BGS 8.5 versions have sold for over $20,000 on the strength of Williams’ reputation as one of baseball’s best hitters ever.

2000 Bowman Chrome Miguel Cabrera RC /bgs 9.5 – 2000 Bowman Chrome is one of the most desirable modern baseball card sets and Miguel Cabrera’s raw talent was apparent from an early age. A BGS 9.5 gem sold for almost $17,000 reflecting Cabrera’s Hall of Fame career.

1975 Sandy Koufax – A stunning portrait of the legendary Dodger southpaw, known for his blazing fastball and dominance in his abbreviated but brilliant career. Graded, high-grade versions have sold upwards of $15,000.

1987 Donruss Ken Griffey Jr Rookie – Not quite as valuable as the Score RC but still considered a premier Griffey rookie card and one that has brought $10,000+ in mint condition. The smooth-swinging Griffey was a fan favorite rookie player.

2009 Topps Update Mike Trout Rookie Card /psa 10 – Trout burst onto the scene as a rookie phenom and has become one of the game’s biggest stars. Mint PSA 10 versions of his blockbuster Topps Update RC have hit $10,000 showing how Trout’s card value has increased over time.

1969 Topps Nolan Ryan RC / psa 8 – While the Mantle, Bonds, and Griffey rookies command higher sums, a sharp looking PSA 8 version of Ryan’s classic 1969 Topps rookie would still sell in the $3,000-$5,000 range for serious Ryan collectors.

1995 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. Ultra /psa 10 – Considered one of Griffey’s best card designs from his Seattle Mariners primes. Ultra-refractors like this one that achieve perfect 10 grades easily trade in the $2,000-$3,000 range.

Those represent some of the most in-demand and cherished vintage and modern baseball cards that can be worth thousands, tens of thousands, or over $100,000 for true gem copies in pristine condition. The era, player, rarity and grade all factor into a card’s valuation potential. Serious collectors are always on the hunt for higher grade examples of these type of key hobby pieces to add to their collections.