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. The 31-year-old superstar ended the year slashing .299/.366/.541 with 37 home runs, 29 doubles, 105 runs scored, and 99 RBIs in 651 plate appearances (579 at-bats). 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! 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. While the "Cobb Back" T206 may be his most expensive card, this one is arguably his most popular among high-end collectors. 3)Many high number cards were famously dumped into the ocean leaving even less of them in existence. While his 1952 Topps card is more popular and more expensive, some collectors forget that this is the only recognizedMantle rookie card. 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. He also topped 100 runs scored (111) and 100 RBIs (105) while playing in an AL-best 161 of 162 regular-season games. In this video, we go over the top 3 most valuable Topps baseball cards from the year 1985. Collectors will pay big money for either version as long as its in high grade. The 1954 Wilson Franks Ted Williams baseball card is one of if not the most important regional card ever produced. It is by far the most important of allHank Aaron baseball cards. I like Posey's rookie cup card #198 from Series One better than this card that appeared in Series Two from an aesthetic standpoint. Most cards in the T206 set are not rare but the Honus Wagner cards are because they were pulled from production early. 1986 Topps Traded Bo Jackson Rookie Card 4. In his fourth year with the club, Miguel Cabrera helped Detroit silence those laughs. Buy on: eBay 1964 Topps Phil Niekro RC/Phil Roof RC #541 The Rookie Cards in 1964 Topps Baseball are led by a. Mays could hit, throw, field and run with the best of them. And with cameras rolling from every angle, Jeter made sure to give HBO a show worth airing. Napoleon Lajoie was considered the best defensive second baseman of his day and won three batting titles, had 3,242 total hits and a .338 average. Most Valuable Baseball Cards of All Time - msn.com Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The last of the legendary quartet of 1933 Goudey Ruth cards on our list is the #144 Full Body Ruth. Track your collection for free. . It was the first time since 1924 that a pitcher accomplished the feat in both leagues during the same season. That PSA 10 copy sold for $717,000 in 2016. This card is a key classic in the hobby and is Aarons only recognized rookie card. Career highlights: Two-time National League Most Valuable Player (1958, 1959), 14 . However, Bochy picked Florida Marlins standout Gaby Sanchez as the final first base pick to ensure Florida had a representative in Arizona. 1954 Topps #128 Hank Aaron RC #7. The glossy coatings of these cards present a bit of an issue with cracking at times but they are nonetheless some terrific cards. In the deciding Game 5, Halladay squared off with his former Toronto Blue Jays teammate and close friend Chris Carpenter. The Best Baseball Cards to Buy in 2023 - MoneyMade 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. As with Mantles 1952 Topps card, some still mistake this card as Mays rookie, too. However, as with any colored borders, the surrounding red borders of this card are susceptible to wear making it very condition sensitive. This card shares its front design with several others of the era (Dockman & Sons, Nadja Caramels, etc.). However, there are a handful of his T206 cards that were produced with N.Y. 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. Theres only one copy of the card currently graded in that condition, however. 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. The centering can be so severe that it will cut into the text along the bottom. 1990 Bowman Tiffany Sammy Sosa Rookie Card Price: $750 The 1990 Bowman Baseball set features an impressive rookie class. 2022 Topps Baseball Rookie Cards Guide. The question is: where do you start on this list? The Tigers couldn't capitalize on Cabrera's otherworldly October and lost to the Rangers in the ALCS in six. While Posey would recover and play an MVP-caliber role for San Francisco's 2012 and 2014 title teams, his injury in 2011 forced the hands of baseball's decision-makers. Even though it is not Mickey Mantles official rookie card it is definitely his most important. 1978 Topps Andre Dawson 72 PSA 10 Rookie Cup PSA 10 Image Credit: ebay While most of these newer A&G Topps cards were baseball players, you can also find other sports represented (wrestling, soccer, MMA, basketball, softball, beach volleyball, boxing, and car racing). Martinez turned out to be the big winners from 2011 Topps Update. 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. The legendary Cap Anson appears on two different cards with the uniform version being the rarer of the two. Demand for Clementes rookie card has skyrocketed over the past couple of years. 1986 Topps Tiffany Rickey Henderson 2. Many baseball historians still consider Cobb the greatest all-around player that ever graced a baseball diamond. A PSA 10 1954 Topps Banks rookie card sold for $142,836 in May 2012. 3. Read our methodology . 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. 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. Best 2022 Topps Series 2 Valuable Cards & Best Rookie List | Witt 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). 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 . After winning 61 games in 2010, Seattle finished at 67-95 in 2011 for the franchise's sixth losing season in eight years. Milwaukee's Prince Fielder earned the first base start for the Senior Circuit, and Cincinnati's Joey Votto was a no-doubt pick as a backup. The error was quickly caught, though, so there arent many copies in existence. Are you selling sports cards that were produced from 1868 - 1975? The 1917 Collins-McCarthy candy cards are some of the few card issues that were printed during the mid-teens of the 20th century. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. Just be prepared to put up big money if you want one in high grade. 2022 Topps Heritage Baseball Most Valuable Cards and Checklist Yet, packed within all of that excitement was a run of base cards that featured big-name stars and promising rookies. Many collectors are happy to just be able to own one of these legendary cards in the first place, though. Before I get started, I just want to clarify some of the criteria I used in creating this list. This is my favoriteSandy Koufax baseball cardand one of the best-looking cards of the 1950s in my opinion. After slumping to start the season, the hulking St. Louis Cardinals first baseman returned to All-Star form before suffering a fractured left wrist in mid-June. Some argue that this is Mickey Mantles most beautiful card. Trout didn't exactly raise any eyebrows in his first game, finishing 0-3 at the plate. List by Card #, You own: 0 / 9496 items In early 1914, Jack Dunn of the minor league Baltimore Orioles signed Ruth to a professional baseball contract. So its no wonder that his 1948 Leaf rookie card is such and important piece of the hobby. After signing a three-year, $38 million deal in the offseason to remain in Cincy, the 27-year-old first baseman busted out of the gates in a full sprint in 2011. Interest in the Dodgers/Giants rivalry was skyrocketing, and Kershaw's brilliance was a big reason for it. 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. And I attempted to estimate their current values when graded in PSA 10 condition so their "raw" or ungraded values may be wildly different. 1968 Topps #177 Nolan Ryan RC 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. Top 100 Most Valuable Baseball Cards - BaseballLoveClub.com 1909 T-206 Honus Wagner: $7.25 million 3. Because they were distributed in packages of hot dogs, its extremely difficult to find them in high grade. 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. Its so rare that only a handful exist and not many collectors have even seen one in person. #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. From autographs and relics to silk cards, glove leather cards and exclusive online cards, there was so much variety for collectors to chase. Like Jose Altuve, J.D. 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. Caramel cards are usually more scarce than tobacco cards since they were sold to children rather than adults. Read our methodology. So, to build this list, I only focused on the base cards from 2011 Topps and included some from 2011 Topps Update as well. The most valuable baseball cards in the hobby can easily fetch six and seven figure price levels these days. While he cooled off from that torrid pace, the now two-time All-Star was still one of the game's most feared hitters. The Bat On Shoulder and Bat Off Shoulder would then follow. 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. Babe Ruth rookie cardsare also part of the 1916 M101-4 Sporting News set that is believed to have been printed shortly after the M101-5 set. That story is enough to make any collector cringe. Reigning NL MVP Joey Votto couldn't carry an inconsistent, snake-bitten Cincinnati Reds squad to a second-straight postseason in 2011. Freeman finished second in the NLs Rookie of the Year balloting, slashing .282/.346/.448 with 21 home runs, 32 doubles, and 76 RBIs. 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). Altuve was hitting an incredible .423 at that point but eventually cooled to finish with a .276/.297/.357 slash line. 25) 1987 Topps Wade Boggs (#150) #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. Halladay was given the ball for Games 1 and 5. 2005 Topps Card Prices | PSA & Ungraded Values - SportsCardsPro 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. 10 Greatest Topps Baseball Cards To Buy Now In 2023 - Gold Card Auctions Youll typically find that #160 shows whiter borders and a lighter blue background, too. 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. Most Expensive 2021 Topps Chrome Baseball Cards - SportsCardsPro Mike Trout made his Major League debut on July 8, 2011, when the Los Angeles Angels called him up to replace speedy centerfielder Peter Bourjos who had injured his hamstring the day before. And their continued popularity and demand prove that baseball cards still do hold great value. 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. Not many people outside of the baseball card hobby know who Joe Doyle is. 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. You can imagine the wear and tear that children put on the cards by comparison. While Sale was still working on controlling his pitch mix and hitting corners consistently (his 3.4 BB/9 is the second-worst of his career so far), he still showcased elite stuff. If you look at the bottom, Sherry Magees last name is mistakenly spelled Magie. 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. Most Expensive 2021 Topps Chrome card list & price guide. Financial problems would cause Dunn to sell Ruths contract to the Boston Red Sox later that year, however. But what most usually don't realize is that many pre-War and even high grade post-War vintagebaseball card valuescan be astronomical. Both are not cheap but it is this version that is the more desirable and expensive of the two. He also amassed less than 200 hits (184) and posted an OPS+ under 100 (86) for the first time in eleven MLB seasons. Gehrig was one of a long line of Yankee legends and no doubt put up some of the greatest hitting statistics of them all. Read our methodology . If you look closely at each of the double prints of this card, youll notice that one version shows better clarity and focus than the other. Their glossy obverse surface usually results in creasing and cracking issues making it tough to find these in high grade. Its pretty much identical to his 1915 Cracker Jack issue except for the fact that the back of the 1915 version is turned upside down and was printed on thicker paper stock. However, the gold borders of the T205 cards leave them vulnerable to chipping and wear. Centering and chipping along the red bottom border are usually obstacles to achieving a higher grade. Collectors find rookie cards are some of the most valuable baseball cards to collect from any player. 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. 20 Most Valuable 1990 Topps Baseball Cards - Old Sports Cards 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. He also loves to write about the hobby and has written for Beckett, Topps, SABR and of course, this website. The 1939 Play Ball #92 issue is the Splendid Splinters only recognized rookie card. 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. Rookie Cards. Young appears three times in the epic T206 set with this being the most desired and priciest of them all. Votto reached base in the team's first 27 games, finishing April with an eye-popping .370 batting average. 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. 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. Although not as popular as his 1948 Bowman rookie card, his 1948 Leaf rookie card is the tougher of the two. The White Cap variation is considered to be the most difficult of the three Mathewson cards, but the Portrait is the most popular. 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. What's worse was that his (relative) struggles were coming at a low point for the Mariners organization. Ungraded & graded values for all '06 Topps Baseball Cards. #1. Most Valuable. Big names like Albert Pujols, Ichiro, David Ortiz, Derek Jeter, Miguel Cabrera and Clayton Kershaw help round out a solid checklist. A truly great baseball card of the legendary icon. By his third season in 2013, Goldschmidt had developed into a perennial All-Star and MVP candidate. 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 it can be tough to find in high grade, too. Ryans rookie card appears in the 1968 O-Pee-Chee, Topps Milton Bradleyand Venezuela Topps sets as well but its the regular ToppsNolan Ryan rookie cardthat stands apart in value from the rest. The 1915 version was part of a redemption program, however, thus better preserving their condition. 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. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. 1986 Topps Tiffany Ryne Sandberg Chicago Cubs Card 7. 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. Considered the Holy Grail of all trading cards, the 1909 American Tobacco CompanyT206 Honus Wagner cardremains the symbol of trading card collecting today. Whether you can find one in high grade or not, though, its a superb card for any collector to own. On it, Gehrig is shown with a huge bright smile atop a yellow background giving the card tremendous eye appeal. 2022 Topps Baseball Rookie Cards Guide - Beckett News The Iron Horseappears twice in the 1933 Goudey setwith card #s 92 and 160 to his credit. The card features a great image of Ruth and it remains one of his most desirable cards. 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. 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. That production boosted his legend and popularity making him one of the most highly collected players in the hobby. 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. However, he still put together a worthy encore to his 2010 breakthrough. The 97-win Yankees eventually fell well short of their championship aspirations with a five-game ALDS loss to the Detroit Tigers. Surprisingly, many dont even consider him the best pitcher ever, though. 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. There is no doubt that this is one of Ty Cobbs most demanded and popular baseball cards. Most Expensive [2006 Topps] Baseball Cards - SportsCardsPro Kimbrel led all NL relievers with 46 saves, pitching to a 2.10 ERA with 127 strikeouts in 77.0 innings. Many collectors prefer the portrait versions of Cobbs T206 card and specifically the Green Portrait. Theyre undoubtedly very condition sensitive. His career cut short by arthritis in his pitching arm, he went on to become the youngest player ever elected to the Hall of Fame in 1972. Two decades of pro ball were catching up to Ichiro. The card features a great image of the Sultan of Swat seated in pinstripes looking over his right shoulder atop a green background. The bright yellow background makes this card pop and the portrait of the young Big Train makes for an unforgettable baseball card. 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. 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.