The most valuable baseball cards worth money in the hobby can easily fetch six and seven-figure price levels these days.
Think about that for a second:
People spend as much on old pieces of cardboard as most people spend on a house.
And adorable houses at that.
So, whoever says that baseball cards are no longer valuable doesn’t know what they are talking about.
The huge print runs during the late ’80s and early ’90s killed the value of most post-1980s cards.
What most people don’t realize is that a lot of pre-War and even high-grade post-War vintage baseball cards can command astronomical values.
So, if you’re looking to sell baseball cards, then you might want to check this list to see if you’re sitting on something special.
Table of Contents
TOP 15 BASEBALL CARDS WORTH MONEY EVER
#1: 1909-11 T206 White Border Honus Wagner
SGC 3 Example Sold for $6,606,296 in August 2021
Dimensions: 1-7/16″ x 2-5/8″
Considered the Holy Grail of all trading cards, the 1909 American Tobacco Company T206 Honus Wagner card remains the symbol of trading card collecting today.
They routinely sell for over $1 million, even in poor condition. There are few rare cards in the T206 set, but the cards of Honus Wagner are because they were pulled from production early.
And no one is quite sure why.
Did Wagner want to be paid by the tobacco company to use his image?
Perhaps it was because he did not want to promote tobacco use to children, as most believe?
Whatever the reason, there are only approximately 50-75 known copies in circulation today as a result.
For years to come, this card will likely remain the most valuable baseball card.
There are also many fakes out there, so consider PSA grading services or other reputable third-party graders before you buy or sell.
#2: 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle
PSA 9 Example sold for $5,200,000 in January 2021
Dimensions: 2-5/8″ x 3-3/4″
As one of the most important post-war cards in the hobby, the 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle baseball card is often regarded as a barometer of the health of the sports card market. The card is important for three reasons:
1) Topps entered the sports card market in 1952, so the set itself is extremely popular, and even common cards in mint condition sell for over $1,000.
1) Being a “high number” card (cards 311 – 407 in the set) means fewer Mickey Mantle rookie cards were printed than the average 1952 Topps baseball card.
3) Many high number cards were dumped into the ocean, leaving even less of them to be found today.
Even though it is not Mickey Mantle’s official rookie card, it is his most significant.
#3: 1916 (M101-5) Sporting News Babe Ruth Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Value: $1,350,000
Dimensions: 1-5/8″ x 3″
It should come as no surprise that the rookie card of the most outstanding player who ever lived would be on this list.
The card shows a young Ruth in a Boston Red Sox uniform before trading him to the rival New York Yankees.
This card, the key to the 200-card M101-5 set, is often found off-center and has a variety of advertising backs, although most existing copies have blank backs.
It is one of the most challenging cards to find overall, making it one of the essential cards on this list.
This card would likely sell for at least $1 million in PSA 8 condition.
#4: 1916 (M101-4) Sporting News #151 Babe Ruth Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Value: $1,350,000
Dimensions: 1-5/8″ x 3″
There are also Babe Ruth rookie cards in the 1916 M101-4 Sporting News set, which was published shortly after the M101-5 set.
M101-5 cards are more difficult to find than M101-4 cards, but the M101-4 version is also expected to sell for around $1 million in PSA 8 condition.
They are both card #151 in their respective sets, so it is impossible to tell which set the card belongs to. As a result, the back of the card features an advertisement unique to each set.
An easy way to tell whether you’ve got a M101-4 Ruth rookie is if the Sporting News advertisement is on the back, as no M101-5 Ruths featured that advertisement.
#5: 1909-11 T206 Ty Cobb Tobacco (Ty Cobb Back)
Estimated PSA 4.5 VG-EX+ Value: $1,100,000
Dimensions: 1-7/16″ x 2-5/8″
Among the many reasons that make the T206 set unique is the number of brand advertisements on the backs. There are 16 different backs in all.
Estimates place the number of front/back combinations at around 5,500, leading to the nickname “The Monster.”
The Ty Cobb back is the rarest of them all, known to exist in only 22 or fewer copies, all in low grades.
Seven copies of this card were discovered in an old paper bag in 2016.
The find has since been dubbed “The Lucky 7”.
This card is estimated to fetch over $1 million in PSA 4.5 grade.
Of all the Ty Cobb baseball cards, this is his most expensive.
#6: 1914 Baltimore News #9 Babe Ruth
Estimated PSA 4 VG-EX Value: $925,000
Dimensions: 4-1/2″ x 6″
This “pre-rookie” card of Ruth is one of the rarest cards in the hobby, with ten copies known to exist and can be found with either blue or red borders.
Ruth was signed to a professional baseball contract by Jack Dunn of the minor league Baltimore Orioles in early 1914.
Later that year, Dunn would sell Ruth’s contract to the Boston Red Sox because of financial difficulties.
The conditions of these cards are not very favourable, but even a PSA 4 is expected to bring in roughly $900,000.
Who knows what a high-grade example of this card would sell for?
The price would undoubtedly be astronomical.
#7: 1909-11 T206 White Border Eddie Plank
Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Value: $850,000
Dimensions: 1-7/16″ x 2-5/8″
The card is the second most valuable in the famed T206 set and is the only one of the HOF pitcher.
To this day, no explanation has been found for the rarity of this card, a card that is nearly as rare as the Honus Wagner from the same set.
The most prevalent theory is that the cards had a poor printing plate, which resulted in many of them being destroyed when they failed to pass quality control.
In addition, many of the known examples are found with poor centering from top to bottom.
The centering can be so severe that it will cut the text along the bottom.
#8: 1951 Bowman #253 Mickey Mantle Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 9 Mint Value: $700,000
Dimensions: 2-1/16″ x 3-1/8″
Although Mantle’s 1952 Topps card is more popular and expensive, some collectors forget that this is the only recognized rookie card of Mantle.
Mantle is one of the most widely collected players in the hobby.
This essential card is eloquent in design, depicting lovely artwork of Mantle ready at the bat.
As with most high-numbered cards in the set, Mantle’s rookie card often has print lines, poor centering, and wax stains on the back.
So, if you can get your hands on one of these cards in high grade, then you are looking at some big bucks.
#9: 1909-11 T206 White Border Sherry Magie Error Card
Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Value: $660,000
Dimensions: 1-7/16″ x 2-5/8″
Together with the Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb (Ty Cobb back), and Eddie Plank, the T206 Sherry Magie error card is the rarest of the entire set.
It’s also one of the most famous error cards in the entire hobby.
So what makes this an error card?
At the bottom, Sherry Magee’s last name is incorrectly spelled “Magie.”
Although the error was caught quickly, there aren’t many copies remaining.
#10: 1909-11 American Caramel E90-1 Joe Jackson Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Value: $600,000
Dimensions: 1-1/2″ x 2-3/4″
Jackson was banned from baseball during his prime because of his alleged participation in the Black Sox Scandal during the 1919 World Series.
As a result, few Joe Jackson baseball cards were produced.
As a result, those that remain are some of the most sought after in the hobby.
On his American Caramel E90-1 rookie card, he is shown leaning on his bat against a purple backdrop.
Ty Cobb and Honus Wagner also appear in this set, but Jackson’s card is easily the most essential and most valuable.
#11: 1910 T210 Old Mill Joe Jackson
Estimated PSA 3.5 VG+ Value: $600,000
Dimensions: 1-1/2″ x 2-5/8″
The T210 Old Mill set contains hundreds of minor league ballplayers that most people have never heard of before.
Joe Jackson is instantly recognizable on this card depicting him as a member of the Cleveland Naps’ minor league team, the New Orleans Pelicans.
Having spent 1908 and 1909 with the Philadelphia Athletics, they quickly gave up on him and traded him to the Cleveland Naps for the 1910 season.
What a mistake that was!
Jackson dominated the minors that year, and the Naps called him up late in the season.
The rest is history.
There are only a handful of known copies of this card in the hobby, making it a rare and highly demanded issue.
As with any colored border, the surrounding red border of this card is highly susceptible to wear, making it very condition sensitive.
#12: 1933 Goudey #53 Babe Ruth
Estimated PSA 9 Mint Value: $600,000
Dimensions: 2-3/8″ x 2-7/8″
Babe Ruth appears on four different cards in the 1933 Goudey set, cards 53, 144, 149, and 181.
All of them are on this list of most valuable baseball cards, which is indicative of their importance and desirability.
The “Yellow Ruth,” #53, is considered the toughest, closely followed by the #149 “Red Ruth,” which shows the legendary slugger in an identical pose.
While the #144 “Full Body Ruth” was double-printed and isn’t as scarce, it is more difficult to find in high-grade than the #181 “Green Ruth.”
The 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #53 isn’t his most expensive card since it isn’t his rookie or most scarce. Despite this, it is arguably one of his most striking cards.
#13: 1909-11 T206 White Border Joe Doyle (N.Y. Natl.)
Estimated PSA 3 VG Value: $550,000
Dimensions: 1-7/16″ x 2-5/8″
Joe Doyle is not well known outside of the baseball card hobby.
Why would one of his cards be so expensive?
During the production of the infamous T206 set, Doyle pitched for the New York Highlanders of the American League.
However, a few of his T206 cards were printed with “N.Y. National” along the bottom before the error was corrected.
Larry Doyle, a second baseman, played for the New York Giants of the NL at the time, so most likely, that is the reason for the mix-up.
Error cards like Joe Doyle’s that make it into circulation usually become very popular with collectors, and this one is no exception.
#14: 1951 Bowman #305 Willie Mays Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 9 Mint Value: $500,000
Dimensions: 2-1/16″ x 3-1/8″
“Say Hey Kid” was arguably the greatest all-around player of all time.
Mays could hit, throw, field and run with the greatest of them.
It is his only recognized rookie card and, along with the Mantle rookie, is the key to the complete set.
With Hank Aaron and Stan Musial, Mays holds the record for most All-Star Game appearances (24) during his career.
That production boosted his legend and popularity, making him one of the most highly collected players in the hobby.
This is his most important of all the Willie Mays baseball cards out there.
#15: 1948 Leaf #8 Satchel Paige Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Value: $400,000
Dimensions: 2-3/8″ x 2-7/8″
Leroy “Satchel” Paige’s rookie card is a key to this set, as is Jackie Robinson’s and Stan Musial’s.
After spending most of his career in the Negro Leagues, Paige finally got his shot at the majors with the Cleveland Indians at the age of 42.
Despite being past his prime, he still had success in the Majors and was twice named an All-Star.
There are issues with the print quality and focus on this short print card, making high-quality copies difficult. In 1971, she was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
There aren’t many baseball cards of Satchel Paige in the hobby, but this is a nice-looking card.
