1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner – $3.12 million (2013 sale) – The legendary Honus Wagner card is often called “the holy grail” of baseball cards due to its rarity and historical significance. Produced between 1909-1911 as part of the American Tobacco Company’s famous T206 series, it is believed only 50-200 examples exist today in varying conditions. The crisp example that sold for a world-record $3.12 million in 2013 is widely considered the finest known copy.

1952 Topps Mickey Mantle – $2.88 million (2021 sale) – The Mick’s legendary rookie card taken from the pioneering 1952 Topps set rocketed past all other sports cards with its record-shattering price in a private sale. Still coveted for its iconic image of an up-and-coming Mantle with the storied New York Yankees, its glossy perfect centering and state of preservation contributed to its seven-figure sum.

1957 Topps Mickey Mantle – $1.32 million (2018 sale) – From the same hallowed 1952 Topps series that introduced the modern baseball card format, Mantle’s second year card has also cracked the million-dollar barrier due to its beyond-rare pristine “gem mint” condition granted flawless centering, edges and surface. An all-time great captured in his prime powered this collectible to new heights.

1933 Goudey Babe Ruth – $996,000 (2015 sale) – One of the earliest modern mass-produced baseball cards, images from the pioneering 1933 Goudey set including this clean example of Yankee slugger Babe Ruth have become exceedingly rare survivors. As a charter member of baseball’s interwoven legends with The Mick and Honus, the Sultan of Swat commanded top dollar among connoisseurs.

1952 Topps Jackie Robinson – $657,000 (2021 sale) – A groundbreaking figure both on and off the diamond, Jackie Robinson’s rookie card held by the 1952 Topps set became immensely desirable as one of few documenting the breaking of baseball’s color barrier. High demand merged with rarity for this specimen showcasing a pristine Robinson in Dodger blue to drive its auction price into six figures.

1967 Topps Nolan Ryan – $565,000 (2013 sale) – From one of the most iconic vintage sets in the modern era came this exceptional high-graded example of fireballing Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, then in his second big league season with the Mets. Features like perfectly centered borders and a dazzling surface put this 21-year-old Ryan into an elite class befitting “The Express’s” career accomplishments.

1909-11 T206 Walter Johnson – $388,000 (2013 sale) – Alongside Wagner and Ruth, Walter Johnson stands among the most acclaimed hurlers in MLB history. Portrayed in the same legendary 1909-11 T206 tobacco issue, scarcities within the set and Johnson’s magnificence on the mound made this example among the priciest for any non-Wagner card at nearly $400,000.

1909-11 T206 Joe DiMaggio – $369,000 (2013 sale) – Years before emerging as “The Yankee Clipper” and one of the sport’s true icons, Joe DiMaggio’s rookie card came from the T206 series much like Mickey Mantle’s would decades later. Renowned for its historical significance, this neat DiMaggio rocketed past six figures at auction.

1933 Goudey Dizzy Dean – $350,000 (2013 sale) – In this case, it was condition as much as the subject that sparked impressive bidding. Renowned “Dizzy” Dean’s first card from the collectible 1933 Goudey set surged to a new record given its superior state of preservation and visual appeal worthy of one of history’s greatest hurlers.

1909-11 T206 Christy Mathewson – $332,368 (2018 sale) – Like contemporaries Wagner, Johnson and Ruth, “Big Six” Mathewson stood among the early giants of baseball when his likeness appeared in the T206 set now over a century old. Fantastic eye appeal and quality lent an outstanding example of this Hall of Fame hurler’s legendary rookie card immense value.

These 10 cards demonstrating the game’s all-time greats like Ruth, Mantle, Robinson, and Mathewson from pioneering tobacco and gum sets command prices soaring into the millions due to their rarity, condition, and representing pieces of baseball history. They illustrate how powerful collectibles connected to legendary athletes through iconic images can become.