2022 Topps Series 1 Wander Franco Photo Variation SP RC #215 Votto reached base in the team's first 27 games, finishing April with an eye-popping .370 batting average. 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. But, that doesnt necessarily mean its his most expensive. Most Valuable Baseball Cards [2023 Update] - Genius Celebs Prices are updated daily based upon 2005 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. The 10 Most Valuable 1975 Topps Baseball Cards Financial problems would cause Dunn to sell Ruths contract to the Boston Red Sox later that year, however. The bright yellow background makes this card pop and the portrait of the young Big Train makes for an unforgettable baseball card. 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. The card is one of Ruths most desired of all. Whatever the reason, there are only approximately 50-75 or so known copies in circulation today as a result. 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. And that first season with the Red Sox in 2018 has been the greatest of his career so far. He ultimately fell short of the incredible feat but still finished the season batting .317 with 35 home runs and 115 RBIs. You can imagine the wear and tear that children put on the cards by comparison. 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. However, the gold borders of the T205 cards leave them vulnerable to chipping and wear. Mathewson appears three times in the T206 set with the Portrait, White Cap and Dark Cap variations. But in 2011, the 37-year-old superstar hit just .272 with an uncharacteristic .645 OPS. As with any colored border, though, theyre susceptible to showing chipping and wear. Yet, packed within all of that excitement was a run of base cards that featured big-name stars and promising rookies. Many collectors prefer the portrait versions of Cobbs T206 card and specifically the Green Portrait. After hitting .363 with 49 home runs and 166 RBI he would go on to win the Triple Crown. In Game 1, the Phillies picked Doc up after he gave up a three-run shot to Lance Berkman in the 1st inning, scoring 11 unanswered runs as Halladay settled in to retire 21 straight in a convincing Philly win. Babe Ruths card is the key and most valuable of the 32 card set. This instantly recognizable card is easily one of Mathewsons most popular. As one of the most clutch players in Yankees history, Derek Jeter seized the moment perfectly with a dramatic introduction to baseball's 3,000-hit club. The 1952 Andy Pafko card is so expensive simply because it resided at the #1 position of the most important set of the postwar era. 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. He also loves to write about the hobby and has written for Beckett, Topps, SABR and of course, this website. Because of its position on the print sheet and the fact that many kids wrapped rubber bands around their stacks of cards (this one on the top), finding Pafko centered and in good shape is very tough. Ungraded & graded values for all '20 Topps Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? However, Cabrera's top-five finish in the AL MVP race and sixth All-Star campaign was a warning shot of epic proportions, followed by back-to-back MVP years (2012-13). 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. 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. Ungraded & graded values for all '06 Topps Baseball Cards. 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). Youll typically find that #160 shows whiter borders and a lighter blue background, too. This is the first Topps card to feature Willie Mays, putting it high on Mays collectors wish lists and making it a key card in the hobby overall. And yes, that includes those famously priceless Mickey Mantles. We believe the following 10 cards will be tops in short-term return on investment over the next 1 to 2 years. 1955 Topps Sandy Koufax #123 #9. Nothing against Bourjos, but many Angels fans had been eagerly awaiting a chance to see Trout since many considered him the number-one prospect heading into the 2011 season. This card is as visually stunning as it is rare. Along with the Killebrew and Koufax rookies, theRoberto Clemente rookie card is an anchor in the 1955 Topps baseball card set and the most expensive of the three. 1987 Topps Baseball Cards - 25 Most Valuable - Wax Pack Gods However, he still put together a worthy encore to his 2010 breakthrough. By Ryan Cracknell. Not many baseball cards possess as much elaborate and ornate decoration as those of the 1909 Ramly Cigarette T204 set. Top 100 Most Valuable Baseball Cards - BaseballLoveClub.com During the year, Jones passed Yankees legend Mickey Mantle with his 1,510th RBI, placing him second only to Eddie Murray for the most runs batted in by a switch hitter in MLB history. There arent manySatchel Paige baseball cards in the hobby but this is a great looking card of the legendary pitcher. 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. Greatest Topps Baseball Cards of All-Time Most Expensive of All-Time #10. Although it features identical imagery as his 1914 Cracker Jack issue, most high-end examples of these two issues are of the 1915. Interestingly, this card was not originally part of the 1933 Goudey set. Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, and Cy Young were also featured in the set but Cobbs issue is undoubtedly the most desired. The most valuable baseball cards in the hobby can easily fetch six and seven figure price levels these days. 10 Most Valuable Sammy Sosa Baseball Cards 10. Together with the Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb (Ty Cobb back), and Eddie Plank the T206 Sherry Magie error card is one of the rarest of the entire set. However, Bochy picked Florida Marlins standout Gaby Sanchez as the final first base pick to ensure Florida had a representative in Arizona. I remember seeing one of these in abaseball card shop near where I grew up and I would just stare in awe. Caramel cards are usually more scarce than tobacco cards since they were sold to children rather than adults. Things changed dramatically in the second game of a three-game Marlins sweep when Florida outfielder Scott Cousins barreled into Posey at home plate after tagging up on a sacrifice fly. And like Altuve, Martinez started with the Greeneville Astros and worked his way up to the Class AA Corpus Christi Hooks. That would be his teammate, 23-year-old closer Craig Kimbrel. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. 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. By 2012, Chapman had it down, fine-tuning his electric pitch repertoire en route to becoming a legit Cy Young candidate. He was also clutch, maintaining a sub-1.00 World Series ERA and twice being named series MVP in 1963 and 1965. However, #160 is the more difficult of the two to find in high grade so it generally fetches higher prices. Kimbrel led all NL relievers with 46 saves, pitching to a 2.10 ERA with 127 strikeouts in 77.0 innings. Centering can also be a challenge as with most cards of the era. Theres just something about this card that makes it visually stunning. There is no doubt that this is one of Ty Cobbs most demanded and popular baseball cards. 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. That means there are also many fakes out there, so considerPSA grading services or other reputable third party graders before buying or selling one of these. While the #144 Full Body Ruth was double-printed and isnt as scarce, it is harder to find in high-grade than the #181 Green Ruth. 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. 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. Thus, Pujols was left out in a season where he finished fifth in the NL's MVP balloting. Although kind of normal for Gehrig, his offensive production was extraordinary in 1934. 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. The 1986 Topps Traded Bo Jackson rookie card is his most desirable and most expensive card you can find. 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. 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. 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! Identical in imagery as its 1915 Cracker Jack counterpart, the 1914 version is equally as visually pleasing. 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. 1984. One of the bright spots for Boston was the re-emergence of designated hitter David Ortiz as an elite hitting threat. The Giants were 27-19 heading into a home series with the Florida Marlins, looking every bit the contender for a repeat World Series engagement. But there was plenty to like about their accomplishments before the season's heartbreaking finale. However, the year ended on a bitter note. He received 20 first place votes in the NL Rookie of the Year vote and his 129 vote points outpaced Atlanta's Jason Heyward who 107 vote points for his impressive debut performance. Especially his American Caramel E90-1 rookie card on which he is shown leaning on his bat against a purple backdrop. This card shares its front design with several others of the era (Dockman & Sons, Nadja Caramels, etc.). And come the postseason, he was on another level, leading St. Louis from a 90-win Wild Card berth to a second World Series title in six years. But, there are two major glaring differences overall between Mathewsons cards. Those that have been found in high grade are thought to have never been packaged and instead left the factory by hand. 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. Most Expensive [2023 Topps] Baseball Cards Most Expensive [2022 Topps] Baseball Cards - SportsCardsPro Each of the 30 unnumbered cards in the set feature an artist rendering of players atop colored backgrounds. 1968 Topps #177 Nolan Ryan RC That is a fact not likely to end any time soon. 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. Only 7 of the Ty Cobb cards have ever been submitted to PSA for grading which speaks to the rarity of them. To commemorate Posey's 2010 Rookie of the Year honor, Topps released this card in Series One packs and you can see the "2010 Rookie of the Year" along the bottom just above his name. All of them are on this list of most valuable baseball cards so that speaks to their importance and desirability. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. George Close Candy cards are among the scarcer pre-WWI caramel issues and the Honus Wagner is one of the keys to the set. Mantle is easily one of the most widely collected players in the hobby. The Wagner soon reclaimed its title, but the 2009 Bowman Draft Trout remains a big deal in the baseball card world. 25 Most Valuable 1986 Topps Baseball Cards - Old Sports Cards The find has since been dubbed The Lucky 7 find. Collectors love the eye appeal of this beautiful pre-war set. In four starts against Lincecum, Kershaw went 4-0 with a minuscule 0.30 ERA in 30.1 innings pitched. The Angels recalled him for a home stand against the Baltimore Orioles on August 19, 2011, and he would finish the remainder of the season in the Majors. Surprisingly, many dont even consider him the best pitcher ever, though. Best 2022 Topps Series 2 Valuable Cards & Best Rookie List | Witt 100 Most Valuable Baseball Cards: The All-Time Dream List Collectors will pay big money for either version as long as its in high grade. This card is a prime example of an instance where neither being a star nor an error card can bring in big bucks. Freeman finished second in the NLs Rookie of the Year balloting, slashing .282/.346/.448 with 21 home runs, 32 doubles, and 76 RBIs. 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. Or, as most believe, was it because he didnt want to be involved in promoting tobacco use to children? In the deciding Game 5, Halladay squared off with his former Toronto Blue Jays teammate and close friend Chris Carpenter. 2005 Topps card list & price guide. This card can be quite challenging and is the key to the set. (Note: The following sections contain affiliate links to current eBay and Amazon listings for the cards being discussed.) Big names like Albert Pujols, Ichiro, David Ortiz, Derek Jeter, Miguel Cabrera and Clayton Kershaw help round out a solid checklist. 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth: $4.212 million 1952 Topps Willie Mays RC #261 #5. So those that remain are some of the most sought after in the hobby. 1989 Bowman Tiffany Ken Griffey Jr. 2. So, to build this list, I only focused on the base cards from 2011 Topps and included some from 2011 Topps Update as well. Another obscure and rarely seen card, the 1915 E106 American Caramel Honus Wagner Throwing variation is just as much of a classic. 1986 Topps Nolan Ryan Card 5. Centering and chipping along the red bottom border are usually obstacles to achieving a higher grade. No matter where Eddie Mathews appeared in the 1952 Topps set, his only recognized rookie card would be worth a lot. It is by far the most important of allHank Aaron baseball cards. Especially for high condition copies of the card. The last of the legendary quartet of 1933 Goudey Ruth cards on our list is the #144 Full Body Ruth. This still ranks among the most popular baseball cards of all-time. In true Jeter fashion, the Yankees shortstop went above and beyond the moment at hand. If so, then please fill out the form below and I'll be in touch right away. A record that is pretty safe to say will never be broken. Then they went 9-18 in the campaign's final month, losing out on a playoff spot by a game to St. Louis with a season-ending five-game losing streak. 1956 Topps Mickey Mantle #135 #6. Or, feel free to call/text me at 305-684-6680! Cheapest, Kershaw was more than up to the task, bringing home the Dodgers' first Cy Young trophy since Eric Gagne in 2003 with a banner year. 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 early 1914, Jack Dunn of the minor league Baltimore Orioles signed Ruth to a professional baseball contract. 2022 Topps Heritage Baseball Most Valuable Cards and Checklist Both are not cheap but it is this version that is the more desirable and expensive of the two. 15 Most Valuable 2011 Topps Baseball Cards - Old Sports Cards And he pitched with a tenacious on-mound presence in the toughest of game situations. Over the first seven games of his MLB career, Altuve had at least one hit, tying him with Russ Johnson for the club record for most consecutive games with a hit to begin a career. Cobb was known as a ferocious competitor who was determined to be the best day in and day out. 1954 Topps #128 Hank Aaron RC #7. 1. 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. The card is subtle in design and imagery but remains a truly majestic card for any serious collector to consider. #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. 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. Its nearly impossible to describe the importance of Jackie Robinson to baseball and American history after breakingbaseballs color barrier in 1947. The most expensive 2022 Topps Heritage baseball cards feature the likes of Wander Franco, Shohei Ohtani, Julio Rodriguez, and even Nolan Ryan making an appearance. 30 Most Valuable Topps Tiffany Cards Rankings are based on the online Beckett Price Guide and Database. And then, his season came to a screeching halt with a play that changed the game of baseball forever. While both are classics, there is no doubt that #37 is the more popular and difficult of the two. Before I get started, I just want to clarify some of the criteria I used in creating this list. That PSA 10 copy sold for $717,000 in 2016. 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. #15 1966 Topps Ferguson Jenkins (RC) #254 Sold for $8,988 1966 Topps Ferguson Jenkins rookie card on eBay The Tigers couldn't capitalize on Cabrera's otherworldly October and lost to the Rangers in the ALCS in six. 10 Most Valuable 1978 Topps Baseball Cards - Sports Card Investor 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle: $12.6 million 2. For others, it's the . The legendary Cap Anson appears on two different cards with the uniform version being the rarer of the two. 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. And after striking out 145 times in 518 at-bats the year before, Ortiz K'd just 83 times in 525 at-bats in 2011. 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. #1. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. The potential for caramel stains doesnt bode well for collectors of this card. The 23-year-old left walked a career-worst 41 batters in 50 innings pitched, issuing a ghastly 7.4 walks per 9 innings. Most Expensive 2022 Topps 1st Edition Baseball Cards - SportsCardsPro While his 1952 Topps card gets all the limelight, the 1951 Bowman card is Mickey Mantle's true rookie card and a fine one to behold. Neither makes a difference when it comes to value, though. Unlike the other example that features cartoons in the background, DiMaggio is shown all by himself atop a blank background. Prices are updated daily based upon 2022 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. Track your collection for free. The T210 Old Mill set features hundreds of minor league ballplayers that most people have never heard of before. In 2016, seven copies of this card were miraculously found in an old paper bag. From autographs and relics to silk cards, glove leather cards and exclusive online cards, there was so much variety for collectors to chase. 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. But since we are talking about "The Home Run King" in the year after he passed Babe Ruth on the all-time list, the odd, side-view photo cannot take away from the card's historical . The card features a great image of Ruth and it remains one of his most desirable cards. Ungraded & graded values for all '05 Topps Baseball Cards. You could argue the imagery isn't the nicest in the hobby but it makes for an unforgettable card design. 1986 Barry Bonds Topps Traded Rookie Card 6. In the postseason, Cabrera was predictably excellent. Many collectors are happy to just be able to own one of these legendary cards in the first place, though. Just a year prior, Sale wasn't even a starter yet. #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. 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. buy stuff after clicking links on our site 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. 20 Most Valuable 1990 Topps Baseball Cards - Old Sports Cards 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. 2005 Topps Card Prices | PSA & Ungraded Values - SportsCardsPro The cream of the crop. 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. He also amassed less than 200 hits (184) and posted an OPS+ under 100 (86) for the first time in eleven MLB seasons. Its so rare that only a handful exist and not many collectors have even seen one in person.