He ultimately fell short of the incredible feat but still finished the season batting .317 with 35 home runs and 115 RBIs. The card is key for three main reasons: 1) 1952 was the first year Topps entered the sports card market so the set itself is wildly popular and even common cards in mint condition can fetch over $1,000. Prices continue to climb on them, so keep your eye out for these baseball cards! Although not as popular as his 1948 Bowman rookie card, his 1948 Leaf rookie card is the tougher of the two. In 2012, Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale kicked off a stunning streak of seven-straight All-Star nods and seven-straight AL Cy Young finishes of sixth or better. Maybe the most shocking Musial stat of all was that he hit the same number of hits at home as he did on the road: 1,815 each way for a total of 3,630 hits. And by 2016, he'd solidified his place as a Cubs legend when he helped the franchise win its first World Series title since 1980, finally breaking the "curse" that had haunted them for over 100 years. This is one of them. The Boston Red Sox finished a game out of a playoff spot in 2011, losing out on an AL Wild Card spot to the Tampa Bay Rays with a 4-3 loss to Baltimore on the season's final day. Top 26 Most Valuable 1986 Topps Baseball Cards In The World 1. Mathews had a prolific career as a feared power hitter and spent many years alongside Hank Aaron to form one of the greatest home run hitting duos the game has ever seen. Cracker Jacks cards are wildly popular and the serious-looking Cobb is one of the keys to this set. The 2011 Atlanta Braves had an excellent crop of rookie riches. Please note many of these cards have variations, which won't all be listed here. Votto reached base in the team's first 27 games, finishing April with an eye-popping .370 batting average. To this day, there is no clear explanation for the rarity of this card, a card that is nearly as tough as the Honus Wagner from the same set. Prices are updated daily based upon 2022 Topps 1st Edition listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. That PSA 10 copy sold for $717,000 in 2016. He also turned heads with his slick glove work at first, earning the only Gold Glove of his career thus far. Overall, Topps did a great job with this set by balancing an excellent design with plenty of chase cards. It's these end-year series that comprise the most valuable Topps baseball cards today. This one was double-printed meaning there were more of them in circulation but its still surprisingly tougher to find in high grade than the #181 Green Ruth. Being card #261 in the set, its not a high number card (#311 407) which means it is not as scarce as Mantles #311 card. With their one-two finish in the NLs Rookie of the Year vote, Kimbrel and Freeman became the first teammates to do so since Chicago Cubs rookies Jerome Walton and Dwight Smith in 1989. Career highlights: Two-time National League Most Valuable Player (1958, 1959), 14 . His 3,000th hit was a solo shot in the 3rd inning that tied the game at one. 1. Because Mantle was exclusively signed with Bowman in 1954 and 1955, you won't find him on any of Topps' cards in either of those two sets. Collectors got a glimpse of what it was like to be a pitcher in that era with Cobb intensely staring them down before the pitch. The bright yellow background makes this card pop and the portrait of the young Big Train makes for an unforgettable baseball card. In poor condition, this card would fetch hundreds of dollars but if youre lucky enough to land a copy in PSA 10 Gem Mint condition then youre talking big-time money. A record that is pretty safe to say will never be broken. After 60 years in the hobby, Topps helped celebrate their "Diamond Anniversary" by packing so much into their 2011 Topps baseball card set. Altuve dominated in the Minor Leagues and, by 2011, found himself slashing .361/.388/.569 with five home runs and 25 RBIs in 35 games for the Class AA Corpus Christi Hooks. Prices are updated daily based upon 2005 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. Many in the hobby feel this card is overlooked in importance but what no one can deny is just how rare it is. This is my favoriteSandy Koufax baseball cardand one of the best-looking cards of the 1950s in my opinion. Each of the 30 unnumbered cards in the set feature an artist rendering of players atop colored backgrounds. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. In comparison, Suzuki's lowest full-season OPS in the Majors to that point was .747 in 2008, over 100 points better than his 2011 mark. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. Fresh off a Rookie of the Year campaign and the first of three World Series titles in five years, young San Francisco Giants backstop Buster Posey was riding high by the Bay in early 2011. 1955 Topps Sandy Koufax #123 #9. In the NLDS, the 102-win AL East champion Phillies faced a molten-hot St. Louis Cardinals squad that had fought back from a massive Wild Card deficit in September. This card, the key to the 200-card M101-5 set, is often found off-center and features a variety of advertising backs, although most existing copies exhibit blank backs. The 1914 Cracker Jack Mathewson is one of the great rarities in the hobby and easily the most difficult card to find in this amazing set. Kimbrel led all NL relievers with 46 saves, pitching to a 2.10 ERA with 127 strikeouts in 77.0 innings. That production boosted his legend and popularity making him one of the most highly collected players in the hobby. List by Card #, You own: 0 / 9496 items 1909 T-206 Honus Wagner: $7.25 million 3. Prices are updated daily based upon 2020 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. However, #160 is the more difficult of the two to find in high grade so it generally fetches higher prices. And if you remember, the 1952 Mantle card is relatively more expensive than his 1951 Bowman card. Most Valuable. That determination and consistency led to a phenomenal career and eye-popping stats that made him a no-brainer to be one of the first five players inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. With that strategy, you can never go wrong! Average ungraded base card value (excludes parallels) for 2020 Topps and one of the best-looking cards of the 1950s in my opinion. There are four different Babe Ruth cards in the 1933 Goudey set, #s 53, 144, 149 and 181. Considered one of the toughest post-war cards to collect, Leroy Satchel Paiges rookie card is a key to this set along with rookie cards of Jackie Robinson and Stan Musial. And that first season with the Red Sox in 2018 has been the greatest of his career so far. Thus, Pujols was left out in a season where he finished fifth in the NL's MVP balloting. Collectors go wild for it. His 3,003rd hit (and last of the day) was an RBI single that put the Yankees ahead for good in the 8th. However, it just isnt as often found in high grade as #53. Most Valuable Baseball Cards All the information and details has been compiled from the trusted sites including Wikipedia, New York Post, and Forbes. Some argue that this is Mickey Mantles most beautiful card. 15 Most Valuable 2011 Topps Baseball Cards More. The E106 American Caramel cards are some of the scarcest Honus Wagner cards in the hobby (but obviously not his most expensive if you look at the top of this list). Walter Johnson appears twice in the T206 set, one in a pitching pose and then again in this portrait layout. Mathewson appears three times in the T206 set with the Portrait, White Cap and Dark Cap variations. Because they were distributed in packages of hot dogs, its extremely difficult to find them in high grade. National League manager Bruce Bochy was not looped in on Pujols' condition heading into the All-Star Game selection deadline, leaving the San Francisco Giants skipper little choice but to look elsewhere to round out the depth chart. Read our methodology. If you asked collectors, most would probably say they prefer the portrait poses with the green portrait more preferred to the red due to its scarcity. The E106 cards feature identical artwork on their fronts as the E90-1 and E92 caramel issues but differ by the advertising on their backs. Download Price List, SportsCardsPro 2019-2023 Nadja was a brand name of the Blake-Wenneker Candy Co. of St Louis and the set features 62 cards in total. Ortiz's 29 home runs and 96 RBIs were pretty on-brand compared to recent years. The find has since been dubbed The Lucky 7 find. 1986 Topps Tiffany Rickey Henderson 2. During the offseason, the Padres traded Rizzo to the Chicago Cubs in a multi-player deal orchestrated by Jed Hoyer, the Cubs' general manager. After 60 years in the hobby, Topps helped celebrate their "Diamond Anniversary" by packing so much into their 2011 Topps baseball card set. The eye appeal is top-notch, as with most 1914 Cracker Jack cards. 1952 Topps #1 Andy Pafko #8. After the 2010 campaign, manager Bobby Cox called it a career, leaving a hole in the Braves clubhouse that couldn't be filled. Not only did he help the team to a World Series title, but Martinez also became the first and only player in MLB history to win two Silver Sluggers in the same season, one as an outfielder and the other as a DH. Hes also the only key player in the 1914 set on a horizontal layout. Baseball Cards. The 23-year-old left walked a career-worst 41 batters in 50 innings pitched, issuing a ghastly 7.4 walks per 9 innings. Although past his prime, he still achieved success in the Majors and was twice named an All-Star. A year away from taking over the Cincinnati Reds closer role and simultaneously becoming a perennial All-Star, Aroldis Chapman showed flashes of his forthcoming game-breaking dominance in 2011. Financial problems would cause Dunn to sell Ruths contract to the Boston Red Sox later that year, however. It was the first time since 1924 that a pitcher accomplished the feat in both leagues during the same season. 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth: $4.212 million By his third season in 2013, Goldschmidt had developed into a perennial All-Star and MVP candidate. By 1954, printing quality had improved greatly so even though centering is still a challenge with this card, finding high-end copies is not as tough as some of the others on this list. The Yellow Ruth, #53, is considered to be the toughest, closely followed by the #149 Red Ruth that shows the legendary slugger in an identical pose. The T206 set is special for many reasons but one of them is no doubt the numerous brand advertisements on the backs16 different backs in total. Whether you can find one in high grade or not, though, its a superb card for any collector to own. Most collectors will tell you they prefer the eye appeal of his 1915 Cracker Jack card but his 1914 version is the more rare and valuable of the two. PriceIt Game | Bowman did not include him in their 1953 set so that makes his Topps card of that year even more sought after. Ungraded & graded values for all '06 Topps Baseball Cards. The last card in the '75 Topps set, this Hank Aaron collectible won't ever be confused as the baseball legend's best-looking card. Because of his alleged participation in the Black Sox Scandal during the 1919 World Series, Jackson was banned from baseball during his prime. Who did Freeman finish runner-up to in the leagues RotY race, you ask? Its arguably the most visually pleasing and desirable of all the Ted Williams baseball cards in the hobby. The question is: where do you start on this list? While the Dodgers failed to make the playoffs at 83-78, Kershaw made a second-straight playoff miss easier to stomach in Chavez Ravine. Unfortunately, as with most high-numbered cards in the set, Mantles rookie card often suffers from print lines, poor centering and wax stains on the back. Over time, the Freddie Freeman rookie has remained the key card from the 2011 Topps base run, while rookie cards of Mike Trout, Jose Altuve, Paul Goldschmidt, Anthony Rizzo and J.D. Get my weekly newsletter with the latest hobby updates delivered straight to your inbox! Trout exploded during his official rookie campaign the following season, earning AL Rookie of the Year honors and finishing second in the MVP race. However, since it's one of the most iconic cards of the modern era, I made an exception to include it (and some other 2011 Topps Update cards) on this list. People are spending as much on old pieces of cardboard as most people spend on a house. The 1912 Plows Candy E300 Mathewson features a large photographic image of the legendary pitcher of the Dead Ball Era framed by text reading. Big names like Albert Pujols, Ichiro, David Ortiz, Derek Jeter, Miguel Cabrera and Clayton Kershaw help round out a solid checklist. Mathewson won 30 or more games four different times in his storied career, attributing much of his success to a specialty pitch that was comparable to a screwball. inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971. Possessing an explosive triple-digit fastball with electric movement, Chapman struggled to harness his high-octane stuff in his first full year with the Reds. One of the most popular 1930s sets, the 1933 Sport Kings R333 set consists of 48 cards in total. However, as with any colored borders, the surrounding red borders of this card are susceptible to wear making it very condition sensitive. Top athletes from baseball, football, hockey, tennis, golf, boxing, swimming, horse racing and even dog sled racing are showcased in the set. It's so rare that no complete set has ever been assembled. Ruth was at the tail end of his career in 1933 but he still produced well enough to be named a starter in the All-Star game at Comiskey Park that year. Natl along the bottom before the error was corrected. Collectors find rookie cards are some of the most valuable baseball cards to collect from any player. Shortcuts: 1986 Topps Nolan Ryan Card 5. Its an extremely tough card to find in high grade. As with most early candy or tobacco issues, this card with the image of the Georgia Peach ready to swing is the most valuable and sought after in the set. Five Hall of Famers made their rookie card debut in the T206 set and Walter Johnson is one of them, a fact that makes this card even more interesting. 2022 Topps Series 1 Wander Franco RC #215 VIEW ON EBAY Winner, winner chicken dinner. Overall, Votto hit .309 with a .947 OPS, 29 home runs, and 101 runs scored. Late into the 2022 season, Paul Goldschmidt had a legitimate chance at winning the Triple Crown. Rookie Cards. Remarkably, he still only finished fifth in the MVP race! The 1917 Collins-McCarthy candy cards are some of the few card issues that were printed during the mid-teens of the 20th century. Contact him at [emailprotected]. It was clear that Topps wanted to do something special for their 60th anniversary and they certainly delivered. Both of theDiMaggio cards in this set feature a caricature of the Yankee legend, the only difference between the two versions is that this one features small cartoons and information in the background while the other has a blank background. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 by Old Sports Cards, LLC. As with the American Caramel Cobb card mentioned just a bit ago, the design of the card isnt unique but it is certainly one of the more desirable Cobb poses in the hobby. Even in poor condition, they routinely sell for over $1 million. Johnson is considered by many to be the best pitcher of all time after turning in an amazing 12 seasons of 20 or more victories, including two with more than 30. The 1911 George Close Candy (E94) baseball card set may not be as popular as others of the pre-WWI era but it is still iconic in the hobby. Although kind of normal for Gehrig, his offensive production was extraordinary in 1934. The E300 issue is one of the scarcest prewar sets and had relatively been unknown until the 1960s. Babe Ruths card is the key and most valuable of the 32 card set. Centering can also be a challenge as with most cards of the era. And while they are keys to the set and arguably the most popularLou Gehrig baseball cards, they are still overshadowed by the Ruth quartet. #15 1966 Topps Ferguson Jenkins (RC) #254 Sold for $8,988 1966 Topps Ferguson Jenkins rookie card on eBay That milestone was part of a scintillating month for which Freeman captured NL Rookie of the Month honors while batting .362 with a .433 on-base percentage in July and leading all rookies with 38 hits. Arguably the greatest hitter of all time, Williams posted some truly jaw-dropping numbers over his career: a .344 batting average, a .483 on-base average and a .634 slugging average. Many baseball historians still consider Cobb the greatest all-around player that ever graced a baseball diamond. As you already know, there wasnt much difference between the 1914 and 1915 Cracker Jack sets except that 1915 Cracker Jack cards are usually found in better shape since they were a redemption set. Mays put up monster numbers over his career and shares the record for most All-Star Game appearances (24) with Hank Aaron and Stan Musial. The most prevalent theory is that the card suffered from a poor printing plate, resulting in many of the cards being destroyed since they could not pass quality control. It would fetch much more than that today. Sammy Sosa, Frank Thomas, Bernie Williams, and Larry Walker all claim Class of '90. This is no doubt one of the most sought after cards of one of the games best pitchers of all time. When these cards come up for auction, really take note. 1986 Barry Bonds Topps Traded Rookie Card 6. Ty Cobb and Honus Wagner also appear in this set but Jacksons card is easily the most important and most valuable card in the set. Wander Franco 2022 Topps Heritage Chrome Gold Refractor RC Rookie /5 (sold for $1,400) Wander Franco 2022 Wander Franco Heritage Real One Auto Red Ink (sold for $1375) While the "Cobb Back" T206 may be his most expensive card, this one is arguably his most popular among high-end collectors. So, whoever says that baseball cards are no longer valuable simply doesn't know what he or she is talking about Sure, the massive print runs during the late 80's and early 90's killed the value of most post-1980's cards. Produced in 1915 by the American Caramel Company of York, Pennsylvania, the E106 set consists of 48 different cards, including two varieties of the legendary Ty Cobb. George Close Candy cards are among the scarcer pre-WWI caramel issues and the Honus Wagner is one of the keys to the set. A PSA Gem Mint 10 #128 Aaron sold for $357,594 in 2012, a price that would easily be overcome in todays market. While his 1952 Topps card is more popular and more expensive, some collectors forget that this is the only recognizedMantle rookie card. What's wackier is that Detroit's Justin Verlander, on the AL side, also earned a pitching Triple Crown in 2011. This card is a key classic in the hobby and is Aarons only recognized rookie card. He ended the year with a 2.79 ERA, striking out 79 batters in 71.0 innings pitched. Like Jose Altuve, J.D. Collectors will pay big money for either version as long as its in high grade. This is the second most desirable card in the famed T206 set and the only pose of the HOF pitcher. Cobb turned in an absolute monster of a season in 1911 as he set career highs in batting (.420), hits (248), doubles (47), triples (24), RBI (127), runs (147) and slugging percentage (.621). However, he still put together a worthy encore to his 2010 breakthrough. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. Altuve was hitting an incredible .423 at that point but eventually cooled to finish with a .276/.297/.357 slash line. The Big Train is a true legend of the game and this card is a great tribute to him. 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle: $12.6 million 2. Demand for Clementes rookie card has skyrocketed over the past couple of years. . With five Silver Sluggers and three batting titles to his name in twelve MLB seasons, Altuve continues to be one of the best hitters in the game. Unlike the other example that features cartoons in the background, DiMaggio is shown all by himself atop a blank background. Ungraded & graded values for all '20 Topps Baseball Cards. These 5 by 8 cards were part of a redemption program where collectors sent in coupons in exchange for them. Not many baseball cards possess as much elaborate and ornate decoration as those of the 1909 Ramly Cigarette T204 set. While both are classics, there is no doubt that #37 is the more popular and difficult of the two. In 2010, Jones blew out his left knee in mid-August and could not help his Braves teammates in a tense five-game NLDS loss to the eventual World Series champion Giants. While he cooled off from that torrid pace, the now two-time All-Star was still one of the game's most feared hitters. Centering that favors the bottom and slight angular cuts are usually the factors that prevent these cards from reaching higher grades. Matty was on the backside of his career in 1911 but still managed to lead the league in ERA (1.99) and put up 26 wins. However, the gold borders of the T205 cards leave them vulnerable to chipping and wear. Most expensive baseball cards in history Here is a look at the baseball cards that have exceeded a million-dollar price tag, including two by one of the sport's top active players: 1. Most Expensive 2021 Topps Chrome card list & price guide. This isBanks only recognized rookie cardin the hobby and along with the Hank Aaron and Al Kaline rookies, a key to the 1954 Topps set. In high grade, this card can fetch big bucks. The 1963 ToppsPete Rose rookie cardshows the all-time hit king along with Pedro Gonzalez, Ken McMullen, and Al Weis as one of 1963s most promising youngsters. This incredibly important card is beautiful in design, depicting nice artwork of Mantle ready at the bat. Read our methodology . By 2014, Rizzo had settled into his role as the Chicago Cubs' everyday first baseman and earned his first trip to the All-Star Game that season. In four starts against Lincecum, Kershaw went 4-0 with a minuscule 0.30 ERA in 30.1 innings pitched. The four Ty Cobb cards in the T206 all differ in popularity, scarcity, and appearance but they are all just as important to the hobby as the 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth quartet. By 2008, Altuve moved from Venezuela to Tennessee to play for the Greeneville Astros, who were the Houston Astros' Rookie-level Appalachian League affiliate until 2017. Considered to be one of the more obscure Honus Wagner type cards its value continues to remain strong. That is unless youre talking about the Red Portrait with the Ty Cobb back that was showcased earlier on this list. Remember, the Tiffany versions were produced in much smaller quantities and were printed on premium card stock. Those that have been found in high grade are thought to have never been packaged and instead left the factory by hand. Cabrera was consistently brilliant from start to finish in 2011, posting an MLB-best .344 batting average for his first of three-straight AL batting titles. Goldschmidt also scored 106 runs and led the National League in slugging percentage (.578), OPS (.981), and OPS+ (180), solidifying himself as one of the greatest hitters in the game. There are 30 cards in total and each includes seven different possible color backs. Heritage Auctions sold a copy of this card graded in PSA 10 Gem Mint condition for a jaw-dropping $612,359 in August of 2016. And it can be tough to find in high grade, too. Yet, it was the patient way Big Papi produced in 2011 that kicked off his late-career renaissance in style. This card is as visually stunning as it is rare. 1953 Topps #82 Mickey Mantle RC #3. And like Altuve, Martinez started with the Greeneville Astros and worked his way up to the Class AA Corpus Christi Hooks. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. After spending 1908 and 1909 with the Philadelphia Athletics, they quickly gave up on him and traded him to the Cleveland Naps for the 1910 season. During his rookie campaign, Posey slashed .305/.357/.505 with 18 home runs, 67 RBIs and 58 runs scored in 108 games (406 at-bats). Or, feel free to call/text me at 305-684-6680! 1984. It should come as no surprise that the rookie card of the greatest player who ever lived would be on this list. One of the bright spots for Boston was the re-emergence of designated hitter David Ortiz as an elite hitting threat. While currently ranked as the 5th most valuable baseball card, when Trouts 2009 Bowman Chrome Superfractors autographed card serial-numbered 1/1 sold in August 2020, it became the most valuable baseball card . 1986 Topps Traded Bo Jackson Rookie Card 4. Ungraded & graded values for all '23 Topps Baseball Cards. Also, many of the known examples are found with poor centering from top to bottom. But the value between the two isnt affected. 2005 Topps card list & price guide. So its no wonder that his 1948 Leaf rookie card is such and important piece of the hobby. Ungraded & graded values for all '22 Topps 1st Edition Baseball Cards. Most players on this list only have one recognized rookie card to their name. And, unfortunately, Goudey mailed the card with a paper clip on it that left indentations on the card. | Compare vs. But, the fact that his is the last card in the iconic 407 card set gives it an extra bump due to the inherent difficulty in collecting the card. Just be prepared to put up big money if you want one in high grade. The number of chase cards available to collectors may have seemed overwhelming at the time but, in retrospect, it was great to see Topps offer so much variety. 3. Read our methodology . In PSA 4.5 grade, it is estimated this card would reel in over $1 million. In 49 games for Padres that season, Rizzo slashed a less-than-impressive .141/.281/.242 with one home run, nine RBIs, and nine runs scored in 128 at-bats. Six hits away from 3,000 in mid-June, New York Yankees captain Derek Jeter suffered a calf strain that sidelined him for 18 games. He missed 36 games in 2011, slashing .275/.344/.470 with 18 home runs and 70 RBIs in 455 at-bats for Cox's handpicked successor, Fredi Gonzalez. Moreover, the Mathewson Portrait is one of the toughest HOF portraits in the entire set.