The 1912 Plows Candy E300 Mathewson features a large photographic image of the legendary pitcher of the Dead Ball Era framed by text reading. Or, as most believe, was it because he didnt want to be involved in promoting tobacco use to children? Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. The Bat On Shoulder and Bat Off Shoulder would then follow. Identical in imagery to the 1933 Goudey #160 Lou Gehrig that you saw earlier on this list, this card does usually present whiter borders and lighter blue backgrounds than its #92 counterpart. Cobb was known as a ferocious competitor who was determined to be the best day in and day out. The 1915 version was part of a redemption program, however, thus better preserving their condition. This card is often thought to be Jacksons most attractive and popular baseball card. Remarkably, he still only finished fifth in the MVP race! Or, feel free to call/text me at 305-684-6680! Many collectors prefer the portrait versions of Cobbs T206 card and specifically the Green Portrait. 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. Ungraded & graded values for all '21 Topps Chrome Baseball Cards. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Natl along the bottom before the error was corrected. 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). In 2016, seven copies of this card were miraculously found in an old paper bag. List by Card #, You own: 0 / 9496 items Whenever manager Ozzie Guillen needed him to get a few outs, Sale performed. And while they are keys to the set and arguably the most popularLou Gehrig baseball cards, they are still overshadowed by the Ruth quartet. The Big Train is a true legend of the game and this card is a great tribute to him. 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. Try finding something to not like about this card! Prices are updated daily based upon 2020 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. If you remember, during Game 3 of the 1932 World Series against the Chicago Cubs, Babe Ruth made his famous Called Shot. It would fetch much more than that today. All of them are on this list of most valuable baseball cards so that speaks to their importance and desirability. And with cameras rolling from every angle, Jeter made sure to give HBO a show worth airing. The 1954 Wilson Franks Ted Williams baseball card is one of if not the most important regional card ever produced. 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. The Braves had an 8.5-game lead in the NL Wild Card race at the beginning of September. And in this guide, we'll take a look at the 15 most valuable. Over his remarkable career, Aaron made 24 All-Star appearances, a record shared with Mays and Musial and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982. The cards design is beautiful and easily distinguished from others of the 1950s. Just be prepared to put up big money if you want one in high grade. 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. 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. It should come as no surprise that the rookie card of the greatest player who ever lived would be on this list. During the offseason, the Padres traded Rizzo to the Chicago Cubs in a multi-player deal orchestrated by Jed Hoyer, the Cubs' general manager. Those that have been found in high grade are thought to have never been packaged and instead left the factory by hand. The glossy coatings of these cards present a bit of an issue with cracking at times but they are nonetheless some terrific cards. So its no wonder that his 1948 Leaf rookie card is such and important piece of the hobby. The find has since been dubbed The Lucky 7 find. 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. 1952 Topps #1 Andy Pafko #8. Especially for high condition copies of the card. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. These 5 by 8 cards were part of a redemption program where collectors sent in coupons in exchange for them. Hoyer had originally drafted Rizzo in the sixth round of the 2007 MLB Draft while he was an assistant general manager for the Boston Red Sox and knew that Rizzo's performance in San Diego didn't reflect his true talent and abilities. His massive upside in the future made his wildness in the present less worrisome. 2022 Topps Baseball Rookie Cards Guide. 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. The young Florida native made 58 appearances out of the bullpen, finishing 17 games and saving eight. An SGC 2 Example Sold in August 2022 for $7,250,000. Read our methodology. 1990 Bowman Tiffany Sammy Sosa Rookie Card Price: $750 The 1990 Bowman Baseball set features an impressive rookie class. However, Carpenter was better, tossing a complete-game three-hit shutout to oust the two-time defending NL champs, 1-0. Jackie Robinson, Mike Piazza, Hideo Nomo and, you guessed it, Fernando Valenzuela each took the league by storm as soon as they stepped on the field. Seldom seen at auction, the 48 card set distributed by the American Caramel Co. of York, Pa. released some of the rarest type cards in existence. Mathewson is the only player in both the 1914 and 1915 sets whose poses are entirely different. The card shows a young Ruth in a Boston Red Sox uniform before they traded him to the rival New York Yankees. 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. On the plus side, Chapman struck out 71 batters and gave up just 24 hits in a variety of high-leverage situations. After 60 years in the hobby, Topps helped celebrate their "Diamond Anniversary" by packing so much into their 2011 Topps baseball card set. Its arguably the most visually pleasing and desirable of all the Ted Williams baseball cards in the hobby. Premium: Are you selling sports cards that were produced from 1868 - 1975? Ungraded & graded values for all '22 Topps 1st Edition Baseball Cards. Prices continue to climb on them, so keep your eye out for these baseball cards! Neither makes a difference when it comes to value, though. Freeman finished second in the NLs Rookie of the Year balloting, slashing .282/.346/.448 with 21 home runs, 32 doubles, and 76 RBIs. At the tender age of 22, Sale made his full-season debut with the Sox as a high-leverage reliever. 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. The 23-year-old left walked a career-worst 41 batters in 50 innings pitched, issuing a ghastly 7.4 walks per 9 innings. Theyre undoubtedly very condition sensitive. #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. 2011 was the year that Ichiro finally looked mortal at the plate. Considered by most to be the greatest lefty of all-time, Sandy Koufax has one rookie card to his name and this is it. Read our methodology . 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. He ended the year with a 2.79 ERA, striking out 79 batters in 71.0 innings pitched. 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. 30 Most Valuable Topps Tiffany Cards Rankings are based on the online Beckett Price Guide and Database. And like Altuve had done by hitting safely in the first seven games of his career to set a club record, Martinez established his own team record in August by driving in 28 runs. Although kind of normal for Gehrig, his offensive production was extraordinary in 1934. 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth: $4.212 million But the value between the two isnt affected. 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. It was clear that Topps wanted to do something special for their 60th anniversary and they certainly delivered. 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. There are 11 different backside variations in total each with The George Close Co. printed on them. That tells you how much the prices of Clementes rookie card have increased. The Say Hey Kidwas arguably the greatest all-around player to step on the field. One of the most popular 1930s sets, the 1933 Sport Kings R333 set consists of 48 cards in total. However, there are a handful of his T206 cards that were produced with N.Y. Though he may not have been MLB's hottest rookie in 1990, he certainly turned into one of the biggest superstars of his era. 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. Estimated PSA 4.5 VG-EX+ Value: $1,100,000. Jackson dominated the minors that year and the Naps called him up late in the 1910 season. M101-5 cards are more difficult to find than the M101-4 cards but pricing of the M101-4 version is also expected to realize around $1 million in PSA 8 condition. In fact, with PSA 10s in such short supply for the set's top cards, we elected to go with PSA 9 prices for this list. #15 1966 Topps Ferguson Jenkins (RC) #254 Sold for $8,988 1966 Topps Ferguson Jenkins rookie card on eBay document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 by Old Sports Cards, LLC. 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. Prices are updated daily based upon 2023 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. Given all of the variations, parallels, inserts, autograph, and memorabilia cards included in the set, developing a definitive "most valuable" list can be quite difficult. Track your collection for free. 2022 Topps Series 1 Wander Franco RC #215 VIEW ON EBAY Winner, winner chicken dinner. 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. Any collector lucky enough to get his hands on Mathewsons card is sure to be ecstatic. In 2014, MLB instituted rules that prevented a runner from initiating "an avoidable collision" at home plate. Also, many of the known examples are found with poor centering from top to bottom. 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. 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. Read our methodology. While not his most expensive baseball card, its arguably the most visually pleasing of them all. With so many greats, how do you choose between them? So, there you have it: the most expensivebaseball cardsthat youre ever likely to encounter. He also posted what many believe to be the greatest single season for a pitcher in 1913 after going 36-7 with a 1.14 ERA. And he pitched with a tenacious on-mound presence in the toughest of game situations. Walter Johnson appears twice in the T206 set, one in a pitching pose and then again in this portrait layout. Top 26 Most Valuable 1986 Topps Baseball Cards In The World 1. 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. 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. There arent manySatchel Paige baseball cards in the hobby but this is a great looking card of the legendary pitcher. Not many people outside of the baseball card hobby know who Joe Doyle is. That card was later sold for $250,000 in 2007. 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. 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. 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. His 1951 Bowman issue is his only recognized rookie card and along with the Mantle rookie is the key to the entire set. Babe Ruths card is the key and most valuable of the 32 card set. 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. 2010 and 2011 were two of the most emotionally draining years of Chipper Jones' Hall of Fame career. His five complete games and epic, generation-defining showdowns with San Francisco's Tim Lincecum were jolts of electricity for a Dodgers fan base desperate for a winner. Read our methodology . Most Expensive However, at the beginning of his career, things didn't go so smoothly for Goldschmidt after he made his MLB debut on August 1, 2011, against the San Francisco Giants. Contact him at [emailprotected]. Posey was one of the biggest young names in the game at that point so seeing Topps issue multiple cards for him in this set should be no surprise. 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. 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. The set is one of if not the most condition sensitive of the early E class era. Collectors love the eye appeal of this beautiful pre-war set. 1990 Topps #414 Frank Thomas Rookie Card Estimated PSA 10 Value: $175 Check prices on: Amazon Now, this is what Thomas's rookie card is supposed to look like when his full name appears at the bottom of the card. 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. Of all theWillie Mays baseball cards out there, this is his most important. Centering that favors the bottom and slight angular cuts are usually the factors that prevent these cards from reaching higher grades. While the "Cobb Back" T206 may be his most expensive card, this one is arguably his most popular among high-end collectors. 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. Anthony Rizzo made his MLB debut for the San Diego Padres on June 9, 2011, against the Washington Nationals, going 1-2 at the plate with a triple and a run scored. 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. His aggressive play on the field and his generous ways off the field made him a special individual. Rookie Cards. 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. Although past his prime, he still achieved success in the Majors and was twice named an All-Star. A true baseball legend who spent most of his career in the Negro Leagues, Paige finally got his shot in the majors at the age of 42 with the Cleveland Indians. 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. While collectors could pull 1914 Cracker Jack cards directly from the box, that also meant they usually had caramel stains on them. 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. It should be no surprise that Ty Cobb's 1915 Cracker Jack card carries an enormous price tag with it, given his iconic status in baseball history. 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. 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. But, that doesnt necessarily mean its his most expensive. 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. But, the Great Bambino is the number one card to own out of all of them. He was also clutch, maintaining a sub-1.00 World Series ERA and twice being named series MVP in 1963 and 1965. 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. The Left Arm of God as he was known, Koufax possessed raw power that helped him once strikeout an astounding 382 batters in a season. Kimbrel led all NL relievers with 46 saves, pitching to a 2.10 ERA with 127 strikeouts in 77.0 innings. It is one of the most difficult cards to find overall, making it one of the most important cards on this list. Because of his alleged participation in the Black Sox Scandal during the 1919 World Series, Jackson was banned from baseball during his prime. 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. People are spending as much on old pieces of cardboard as most people spend on a house. The centering can be so severe that it will cut into the text along the bottom. And their continued popularity and demand prove that baseball cards still do hold great value. By the way check out the best Wander Franco Rookie Cards #2. 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 what puts the Bat Off Shoulder relatively much higher on this list than the others is that you can find this card in PSA 9 Mint condition, unlike the others. And I attempted to estimate their current values when graded in PSA 10 condition so their "raw" or ungraded values may be wildly different. This is my favoriteSandy Koufax baseball cardand one of the best-looking cards of the 1950s in my opinion. This card can be quite challenging and is the key to the set. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. 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). The 1932 U.S. Caramel set is one of the most desirable and challenging prewar sets in the hobby. The card features a great image of Ruth and it remains one of his most desirable cards. 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. Another obscure and rarely seen card, the 1915 E106 American Caramel Honus Wagner Throwing variation is just as much of a classic. 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. 1984. Its an extremely tough card to find in high grade. The base set from Bowman holds little value. Gehrig was one of a long line of Yankee legends and no doubt put up some of the greatest hitting statistics of them all.