Centering is also a tough issue for this card. The Wagner soon reclaimed its title, but the 2009 Bowman Draft Trout remains a big deal in the baseball card world. Prices are updated daily based upon 2022 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. For others, it's the . We are user supported. The card features a great image of Ruth and it remains one of his most desirable cards. In this video, we go over the top 3 most valuable Topps baseball cards from the year 1985. Most Expensive 2006 Topps card list & price guide. 10 Most Valuable Sammy Sosa Baseball Cards 10. The eye appeal is top-notch, as with most 1914 Cracker Jack cards. Ortiz's 29 home runs and 96 RBIs were pretty on-brand compared to recent years. His record for most games played in a season stood for decades until 1995 when Cal Ripken, Jr. played in his 2,131st straight game. Was it because Wagner wanted to be paid by the tobacco company to use his image? 1953 Topps #82 Mickey Mantle RC #3. This is one of them. The Sox finished at 79-83, out of the playoffs for the third-straight year. 9 of the Most Valuable Baseball Cards in History - HISTORY However, as mentioned earlier, the 1914 Cracker Jack cards were packaged directly inside the boxes so theyre usually more difficult to find in good condition. 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 also is not including 1/1s. 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. 1984. And while they are keys to the set and arguably the most popularLou Gehrig baseball cards, they are still overshadowed by the Ruth quartet. It just goes to show that scarcity and condition can have just as much of an impact on the value of a card as the player who is on it. Before I get started, I just want to clarify some of the criteria I used in creating this list. 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). 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. And their continued popularity and demand prove that baseball cards still do hold great value. Who did Freeman finish runner-up to in the leagues RotY race, you ask? And like Altuve, Martinez started with the Greeneville Astros and worked his way up to the Class AA Corpus Christi Hooks. Youll typically find that #160 shows whiter borders and a lighter blue background, too. Collectors find rookie cards are some of the most valuable baseball cards to collect from any player. Theres only one single PSA 10 copy currently in circulation, however, which makes it extremely difficult to find even if you have that kind of money to spend. One of his most important, the card shows some beautiful artwork of a young Mays fielding a baseball in his New York Giants uniform. But it wouldn't take Goldschmidt much longer to mold into the incredible talent he is today. Most Expensive 2022 Topps 1st Edition Baseball Cards - SportsCardsPro The Best Baseball Cards to Buy in 2023 - MoneyMade The most valuable baseball cards in the hobby can easily fetch six and seven figure price levels these days. 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. Ten days after the Houston Astros called up Altuve from the Hooks, the team called up Martinez to make his MLB debut on July 30, 2011, replacing the recently-traded Hunter Pence. Many baseball historians still consider Cobb the greatest all-around player that ever graced a baseball diamond. Also, many of the known examples are found with poor centering from top to bottom. The Astros had seen enough and quickly called up Altuve, bypassing AAA entirely, to make his first Major League at-bat on July 20, 2011, against the Washington Nationals. And he pitched with a tenacious on-mound presence in the toughest of game situations. 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. An SGC 9.5 Example Sold in August 2022 for $12,600,000. His 3,000th hit was a solo shot in the 3rd inning that tied the game at one. Premium: 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. But the value between the two isnt affected. Overall, Topps did a great job with this set by balancing an excellent design with plenty of chase cards. Jones was able to return for Opening Day in 2011, but the 39-year-old third baseman was still dealing with plenty of aches and pains daily. Moreover, the Mathewson Portrait is one of the toughest HOF portraits in the entire set. Ungraded & graded values for all '05 Topps Baseball Cards. , Bo Bichette, Luis Robert, Yordan Alvarez [SSP] #392, Fernando Tatis Jr. [Memorial Day Camo] #168, Fernando Tatis Jr. [Mother's Day Pink] #168, Fernando Tatis Jr. [Independence Day] #168, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. [Independence Day] #182, Fernando Tatis Jr. [Father's Day Blue] #168. Prices are updated daily based upon 2020 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. Top 100 Most Valuable Baseball Cards - BaseballLoveClub.com By 2012, Chapman had it down, fine-tuning his electric pitch repertoire en route to becoming a legit Cy Young candidate. 25) 1987 Topps Wade Boggs (#150) Prices are updated daily based upon 2021 Topps Chrome listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. 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. Estimates place the number of front/back combinations around 5,500 which led to this set being nicknamed The Monster.. Halladay was great, giving up just one run on four hits in eight innings. This card has been and will likely remain the most valuable baseball card for years to come. 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. 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. Whatever the reason, there are only approximately 50-75 or so known copies in circulation today as a result. 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. It should be no surprise that this card is the key to the entire set with the Willie Mays and Jackie Robinson cards coming in second and third place, respectively. Many believe the 1887 N172 Old Judge set to be the most important 19th Century set in existence. He also amassed less than 200 hits (184) and posted an OPS+ under 100 (86) for the first time in eleven MLB seasons. Most Valuable Baseball Cards All the information and details has been compiled from the trusted sites including Wikipedia, New York Post, and Forbes. In 11 playoff contests against the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers, he slashed a blistering .314/.489/.771 with four home runs, 12 walks, four doubles, seven runs scored, ten RBIs, and two stolen bases. The Reds' fall from contention cost Votto at the ballot box, though, as he followed up his 2010 MVP triumph with a sixth-place finish in 2011. Considered to be one of the more obscure Honus Wagner type cards its value continues to remain strong. 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). Collectors will pay big money for either version as long as its in high grade. Within a year, the Mariners would press reset on the whole thing and end the Ichiro era abruptly, trading their longtime face of the franchise to the New York Yankees for a pair of relievers. 1990 Bowman Tiffany Sammy Sosa Rookie Card Price: $750 The 1990 Bowman Baseball set features an impressive rookie class. 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. So, if you're looking tosell baseball cards then you might want to check this list to see if you're sitting on something special. Mays could hit, throw, field and run with the best of them. And yes, that includes those famously priceless Mickey Mantles. While collectors could pull 1914 Cracker Jack cards directly from the box, that also meant they usually had caramel stains on them. Between the Reggie and Rollie rookie cards, Bench and Ryan's second-year cards, the variations, the variety of stars and Hall of Famers, and Mantle's last card, there is just so much to appreciate. This is true whether you're looking at the base card, the premium Tiffany variant, or even the Desert Storm version which is limited in number. 2022 Topps Baseball Rookie Cards Guide. In his fourth year with the club, Miguel Cabrera helped Detroit silence those laughs. After winning 61 games in 2010, Seattle finished at 67-95 in 2011 for the franchise's sixth losing season in eight years. 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. There are two varieties of these cards with one version featuring a tobacco advertisement on the back and the other a checklist. 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. 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. Most cards in the T206 set are not rare but the Honus Wagner cards are because they were pulled from production early. Two hits shy heading into a July 9th home game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Jeter took his spot as the 28th member of the 3,000-hit club with a 5-for-5 day now etched in Yankees lore. While a PSA 10 Gem Mint copy sold for $432,690 in 2012 a PSA 9 copy sold for an even higher amount, $478k, in 2016. Try finding something to not like about this card! Most Expensive, Without further adieu, then, here are the 25 most valuable 1987 Topps baseball cards in reverse order, and with a couple of bonus runs tagged on for good measure 35 cards in all! Reigning NL MVP Joey Votto couldn't carry an inconsistent, snake-bitten Cincinnati Reds squad to a second-straight postseason in 2011. While he cooled off from that torrid pace, the now two-time All-Star was still one of the game's most feared hitters. Most Expensive 2022 Topps 1st Edition card list & price guide. Jose Altuve's relationship with the Houston Astros began in 2007 when the club evaluated him at a camp in Maracay, Venezuela, when he was just a teenager. However, he still put together a worthy encore to his 2010 breakthrough. His massive upside in the future made his wildness in the present less worrisome. The future first-ballot Hall of Famer finished the year at 19-6 with a career-high 220 strikeouts and his best ERA since 1998 (2.35). The last of the legendary quartet of 1933 Goudey Ruth cards on our list is the #144 Full Body Ruth. Key to the 1953 Topps set is the #244 Willie Mays baseball card. 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. 30 Most Valuable Topps Tiffany Cards - Beckett News Most Valuable Rookie Card in Every Topps Baseball Set, 1952-2020 And with those five prime seasons back, he quite possibly couldve added enough home runs to his career 521 total to challenge Ruths record of 714 before Aaron did. 2005 Topps card list & price guide. Kimbrel led all NL relievers with 46 saves, pitching to a 2.10 ERA with 127 strikeouts in 77.0 innings. The Green Ruth is the last of the four Babe Ruth cards to appear in the 1933 Goudey set. 2) Being a high number card (cards 311 407 in the set) means that fewer Mickey Mantle rookie cards were printed than the average 1952 Topps baseball card in the first place. The reality was that Pujols was good to go. 20 Most Valuable 1990 Topps Baseball Cards - Old Sports Cards There are 30 cards in total and each includes seven different possible color backs. Top 26 Most Valuable 1986 Topps Baseball Cards In The World 1. Sammy Sosa, Frank Thomas, Bernie Williams, and Larry Walker all claim Class of '90. 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) 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. 1955 Topps #164 Roberto Clemente RC #4. Prices are updated daily based upon 2020 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971. The young Florida native made 58 appearances out of the bullpen, finishing 17 games and saving eight. In high grade, this card can fetch big bucks. Martinez's career began with the Houston Astros when they drafted him in the 20th round of the 2009 MLB Draft out of Nova Southeastern University. 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. Distracting print lines usually hold this card back from higher grades, though. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Like many 1952 Topps cards, this Mays issue is prone to tilt and centering problems. Altuve was hitting an incredible .423 at that point but eventually cooled to finish with a .276/.297/.357 slash line. His .250 batting average reflected the lack of discipline and experience but his .474 slugging percentage hinted at the kind of power he could bring to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Rookie Cards. He ultimately fell short of the incredible feat but still finished the season batting .317 with 35 home runs and 115 RBIs. That is unless youre talking about the Red Portrait with the Ty Cobb back that was showcased earlier on this list. When the infamous T206 set was being produced, Doyle was pitching for the New York Highlanders of the American League. Most Expensive 2021 Topps Chrome card list & price guide. Posey suffered torn ligaments in his left ankle and a fractured fibula in a violent collision that reverberated for years. Votto reached base in the team's first 27 games, finishing April with an eye-popping .370 batting average. Surprisingly, many dont even consider him the best pitcher ever, though. #4 Most Valuable Baseball Cards 2000s - Topps Finest For The Record #3B Ken Griffey Jr. Price for PSA 9 featured with Alex Rodriguez: $100 Price for PSA 10 Gem: $1,500 Player's History 13 times All-Star Ken is the son of Ken Griffey Sr, a famous baseball player and coach during his era. By his third season in 2013, Goldschmidt had developed into a perennial All-Star and MVP candidate. 1986 Topps Tiffany Rickey Henderson 2. By the way check out the best Wander Franco Rookie Cards #2. As the reigning NL Central champs sputtered to a 79-83 record and failed to make the playoffs, Chapman worked out the kinks in his delivery in 53 relief appearances. The 1912 Plows Candy E300 Mathewson features a large photographic image of the legendary pitcher of the Dead Ball Era framed by text readingPlows Candy CollectionandMathewson, New York Nationals.. 15 Most Valuable 2011 Topps Baseball Cards - Old Sports Cards 1986 Topps Traded Bo Jackson Rookie Card 4. If youre a collector, just stick to what you love and collect only what you love. These 5 by 8 cards were part of a redemption program where collectors sent in coupons in exchange for them. He ended the year with a 2.79 ERA, striking out 79 batters in 71.0 innings pitched. His 3.60 ERA and not-so-great 1.300 WHIP only told part of the story because when Chapman was locked in, he was virtually unhittable. Issued by the Mayo and Brother Tobacco Works of Richmond, VA, the set contains 48 different cards overall but Anson's is undoubtedly the most coveted. Though he may not have been MLB's hottest rookie in 1990, he certainly turned into one of the biggest superstars of his era. It is by far the most important of allHank Aaron baseball cards. 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. From a design standpoint, I liked how Topps kept things nice and clean without trying to go over the top in celebrating their 60th anniversary. Shortcuts: Most Expensive , Cheapest , List by Card # 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. Financial problems would cause Dunn to sell Ruths contract to the Boston Red Sox later that year, however. Although kind of normal for Gehrig, his offensive production was extraordinary in 1934. His 3,003rd hit (and last of the day) was an RBI single that put the Yankees ahead for good in the 8th. Most Valuable Baseball Cards [2023 Update] - Genius Celebs In 2016, seven copies of this card were miraculously found in an old paper bag. Its so rare that only a handful exist and not many collectors have even seen one in person. Babe Ruths card is the key and most valuable of the 32 card set. 2011 was the year that Ichiro finally looked mortal at the plate. 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. This card is a prime example of an instance where neither being a star nor an error card can bring in big bucks. Since its not his rookie card or his most scarce, the1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #53 isnt his most expensive card but it is arguably one of his most beautiful cards. The Iron Horseappears twice in the 1933 Goudey setwith card #s 92 and 160 to his credit. There are only a handful of known copies of this card in the hobby making it a rare and highly demanded issue. A fantastic portrait of the Sultan of Swat wearing a tilted Yankees cap is shown atop a bold, red background. One of the most popular 1930s sets, the 1933 Sport Kings R333 set consists of 48 cards in total. The price would certainly be astronomical. His legendary career and life were cut short on December 31, 1972, when he died in a plane crash while en route to deliver aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. 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. Big names like Albert Pujols, Ichiro, David Ortiz, Derek Jeter, Miguel Cabrera and Clayton Kershaw help round out a solid checklist. #1: 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle An SGC 9.5 Example Sold in August 2022 for $12,600,000 Dimensions: 2-5/8" x 3-3/4" The most important post-war card in the hobby, price movements of the 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle baseball card are often seen as an indicator of the health of the sports card market overall. Considered by most to be the greatest lefty of all-time, Sandy Koufax has one rookie card to his name and this is it. Once the owner of the career mark for home runs (755), Aaron possessed some of the strongest hands and wrists that produced some of the quickest bat speed the game has ever seen. But there was plenty to like about their accomplishments before the season's heartbreaking finale. I like Posey's rookie cup card #198 from Series One better than this card that appeared in Series Two from an aesthetic standpoint. 1986 Topps Reggie Jackson Card 8. And this is one of the few Ruth cards overall that show him in a Boston Red Sox uniform. The White Cap variation is considered to be the most difficult of the three Mathewson cards, but the Portrait is the most popular. 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. Although not as popular as his 1948 Bowman rookie card, his 1948 Leaf rookie card is the tougher of the two. Download Price List, SportsCardsPro 2019-2023 You could argue the imagery isn't the nicest in the hobby but it makes for an unforgettable card design. Read our methodology . Overall, Votto hit .309 with a .947 OPS, 29 home runs, and 101 runs scored. This incredibly important card is beautiful in design, depicting nice artwork of Mantle ready at the bat. This card shares its front design with several others of the era (Dockman & Sons, Nadja Caramels, etc.). And he continued to struggle from there, finishing with a .163/.213/.279 slash line with one home run and six RBI before the team demoted him back to Double-A after twelve games. Read our methodology . The Big Train is a true legend of the game and this card is a great tribute to him. 1981 Topps #302 Dodgers Future Stars Estimated PSA 9 Mint Value: $225 When it comes to rookie season debuts, the Dodgers have developed a reputation for some of the finest on record. There is no doubt that this is one of Ty Cobbs most demanded and popular baseball cards. And with 103 RBIs on the year, he became the first Reds player since Dave Parker to post back-to-back 100-RBI seasons (1985-86). Any modern flagship Topps Baseball set has a lot going on. What's worse was that his (relative) struggles were coming at a low point for the Mariners organization. The black borders are susceptible to showing wear and chipping but finding any card from the 19th century in high grade will undoubtedly be difficult anyways. Card: Willie Mays Team: New York Mets Value: $1,675 In 1950 and 1951, Topps and Bowman were both releasing baseball trading cards with their candy. Centering that favors the bottom and slight angular cuts are usually the factors that prevent these cards from reaching higher grades. The second toughest of the four 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth cards, the #149 Red Ruth is every bit as appealing as the #53 Yellow Ruth. 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. Neither makes a difference when it comes to value, though. 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. But, there are two major glaring differences overall between Mathewsons cards. Of all theWillie Mays baseball cards out there, this is his most important. In true Jeter fashion, the Yankees shortstop went above and beyond the moment at hand. It should come as no surprise that the rookie card of the greatest player who ever lived would be on this list. 30. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. Prices are updated daily based upon 2005 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. However, Bochy picked Florida Marlins standout Gaby Sanchez as the final first base pick to ensure Florida had a representative in Arizona. This pre-rookie card of Ruth is one of rarest cards in the hobby with 10 copies known to exist and can be found with either blue or red borders. He also turned heads with his slick glove work at first, earning the only Gold Glove of his career thus far. The Tigers couldn't capitalize on Cabrera's otherworldly October and lost to the Rangers in the ALCS in six. 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. This card is often thought to be Jacksons most attractive and popular baseball card. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. After winning the NL Cy Young Award in 2010 and leading the Philadelphia Phillies to within two games of a third-straight World Series appearance, Roy Halladay was a man on a mission in 2011. Theres only one copy of the card currently graded in that condition, however. Followed by HBO documentary cameras during his rehab process, Jeter opened up about himself and his pursuit of baseball immortality in a way he'd never done before. At the tender age of 22, Sale made his full-season debut with the Sox as a high-leverage reliever. 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. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. It was the first time since 1924 that a pitcher accomplished the feat in both leagues during the same season. 1. However, Carpenter was better, tossing a complete-game three-hit shutout to oust the two-time defending NL champs, 1-0. buy stuff after clicking links on our site 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. However, as with any colored borders, the surrounding red borders of this card are susceptible to wear making it very condition sensitive. 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. Anson was arguably the biggest star of his era but unfortunately, there are very few cards from those days that show him as a player.