Baseball trading cards are almost as old as the sport itself, and they’re some of the most highly collected items in the world. But while the average baseball card might only be worth a few cents or dollars, some are worth millions. Still, which of these collectible sports trading cards are the most expensive?
The most expensive baseball card ever sold is the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card. In August 2022, this vintage trading card sold for $12 million at auction. This particular specimen is the finest known example of the coveted 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card, with a grade of SGC MT 9.5.
Are you an avid baseball card collector? If so, you might be surprised to discover that one (or several) of your cards are worth a fortune! This guide will reveal which baseball trading cards have sold for the highest prices.
10. 1969 Topps Reggie Jackson – $1.006 million
Card Grade: PSA GM-MT 10
Quite a few of the most valuable baseball trading cards display athletes who played for the New York Yankees. The 1969 Topps Reggie Jackson card is a top-notch example.
But Jackson, who played for the Yankees between 1977 and 1981, wasn’t yet a star member of this baseball team when this card was released. Instead, he was a relatively new member of the Oakland Athletics (also called the Oakland A’s).
Because the 1969 Topps Reggie Jackson card debuted before he became one of the most sought-after players, it’s considered the most valuable Reggie Jackson card ever released. A GM-MT 10 (gem-mint flawless) version of this card sold for $1.006 million in February 2021, making it the most expensive Jackson card ever sold at auction.
Why Is It So Expensive?
This vintage Topps card set a new record for Reggie Jackson baseball trading cards due to its vintage status and pristine condition.
Few baseball cards from the 1960s are discovered in gem mint condition, and those belonging to members of the Baseball Hall of Fame tend to be extremely valuable. This is especially true of rookie cards.
9. 1925 Exhibits Lou Gehrig – $1.032 million
Card Grade: PSA EX5
It’s impossible to talk about high-value baseball cards without mentioning one of the sport’s earliest greats, Lou Gehrig.
Nicknamed “Iron Horse,” this New York Yankees all-star was one of the first American baseball celebrities, comparable at the time to only one other: Babe Ruth.
Gehrig’s rise to athletic glory began early, though most consider 1923 the true start of his baseball career. This was the year he joined the New York Yankees, playing alongside baseball legends like Babe Ruth and Hank Johnson.
The 1925 Exhibits Lou Gehrig card might not be his “debut year” card, but it does show a black and white photograph of a young Gehrig at bat, wearing the iconic Yankees baseball stripes uniform. This card has survived almost a century, and despite the incredible passage of time, it remains in great condition (PSA EX5).
It should come as no surprise that this card sold for $1.032 million in 2021. No other Lou Gherig baseball trading card has sold for a higher price.
Why Is It So Expensive?
Although football is the most popular sport in the U.S., baseball continues to be known as America’s Favorite Pastime. Between the 1930s and 1960s, it reigned supreme as the most-watched sport in America.
Consequently, baseball players who set and broke records during that era are still beloved and considered national treasures. One of those players is Lou Gehrig, and sports memorabilia related to him (particularly items that date back to his New York Yankees career) can sell for jaw-dropping prices.
In short, Lou Gehrig’s legacy and impact on American baseball make his trading cards quite valuable.
8. 2011 Topps Mike Trout – $1.05 million
Card Grade: BGS MT 9
The newest baseball trading card to sell for top-dollar prices is the 2011 Topps Mike Trout card. This one-of-a-kind Topps card sold to a private buyer in 2021 for $1.05 million, making it the most expensive contemporary (from 2010 onwards) baseball trading card ever sold.
Although Trout might not be as much of a household name as Lou Gehrig or Babe Ruth, this centerfielder has been the MVP (Most Valuable Player) for the Los Angeles Angels for three years (2014, 2016, and 2019). Even better, he’s poised to be one of the youngest Baseball Hall of Fame members thanks to his stellar performances.
Still, Trout’s athleticism isn’t the main reason his 2011 Topps trading card changed hands for more than a million dollars.
Why Is It So Expensive?
2011 was Trout’s Major League Baseball (MLB) debut, and since that time, he’s become one of the Angels’ top players. This dramatic increase in notoriety, coupled with his 2011 rookie card being a one-of-a-kind item, makes the 2011 Topps Mike Trout card an expensive collectible.
Still, this high-priced trading card isn’t the most expensive Mike Trout card ever sold. But we’ll get to that in just a moment!
7. 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente – $1.107 million
Card Grade: PSA MT 9
The Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team might not be as well known as the St. Louis Cardinals or New York Yankees, but they’d be virtually unheard of if it weren’t for the efforts of Roberto Clemente, a right fielder who helped put the Pittsburgh Pirates on the map.
In fact, Clemente helped his team win the 1960 World Series against the famed New York Yankees! For this reason, Clemente is one of the most beloved Baseball Hall of Fame members.
When Clemente joined the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1955, no one could have known what an indelible mark he was about to make on MLB history. So, nowadays, his rookie-year 1955 Topps trading card is one of the most coveted and collectible baseball cards.
When a PSA MT 9 specimen (almost flawless) went to auction in 2022, it drastically outsold its minimum bid estimate of $200,000, reaching a final sales price of $1.107 million. This set a new record for any Clemente baseball card ever sold, and it’s uncertain whether this record will ever be broken.
Why Is It So Expensive?
Where to begin with this particular Topps trading card?
It’s a rookie card showcasing one of the most influential American baseball players of the 1950s (Roberto Clemente), it’s in exceptional condition (especially considering its age), and it’s comparatively rare. Any baseball card collector or sports museum would be delighted to have this card as part of their collection.
6. 1916 M101-4 Sporting News Babe Ruth – $2.4 million
Card Grade: PSA NM 7
There’s no ranking of the most expensive baseball cards ever sold that doesn’t include at least one Babe Ruth trading card. After all, even almost a century after Ruth’s retirement, he’s known as the all-time champion of American baseball.
The Sultan of Swat hit more than 700 home runs, and his skill made him a household name, not only in the U.S. but across the globe! And although he began playing professionally in 1914, many Babe Ruth cards released later continue to sell for amazing prices thanks to Ruth’s legacy.
Take the 1916 M101-4 Sporting News Babe Ruth card, for example. This card isn’t pristine (it has a grade of PSA NM 7), but it sold for $2.4 million when it went to auction in 2021.
Displaying a young and comparatively thin Ruth (in black and white photograph form), this card is simple. It straightforwardly lists his name, his team (the Boston Red Sox), and a card number (#151). But because it shows Ruth in his early years and is very rare, the multi-million-dollar selling price could be considered a bit of a bargain.
That said, some of the most expensive parties in history didn’t even cost as much as this Babe Ruth trading card!
Why Is It So Expensive?
Most folks associated Babe Ruth with the New York Yankees, as he spent most of his professional baseball career playing for the Yankees. But Ruth started out as a member of the Boston Red Sox, and early trading cards revealing this fact can be worth millions.
Not only is this care rare and in surprisingly good condition considering its age, but it’s also a piece of American sports history, making it irreplaceable and extremely valuable. But, as you’ll soon see, it’s not the most expensive Babe Ruth baseball card ever sold.
5. 2009 Bowman Draft Mike Trout – $3.936 million
Card Grade: BGS MT 9
The most expensive Mike Trout card ever sold is the 2009 Bowman Draft Mike Trout card. This card sold for $3.936 million (includes the buyer’s premium) to an unknown buyer in 2020.
Now, this Chrome Superfractors card didn’t start its life as a one-of-a-kind item. But after Trout signed it, the card immediately began to appreciate in value. This appreciation skyrocketed when Trout began wowing audiences and sports critics with his performance.
Why Is It So Expensive?
This card is the priciest Mike Trout baseball card (so far) because it’s autographed, a rookie card, and in top-notch shape (it has a grade of BGS MT 9). This card’s lucky and mysterious owner could likely sell it for an even more amazing price, especially if they wait until after Trout is inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame!
4. 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth – $4.212 million
Card Grade: PSA MT 9
By 1933, Babe Ruth was the most beloved New York Yankees player. So, when the 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth card was released, Ruth was already an American baseball hero.
Sadly, few Babe Ruth trading cards from this time exist today. This might be because of Ruth’s popularity. After all, many young collectors probably mishandled their cards, keeping them in their pockets as luck tokens or tucking them into their baseball caps for inspiration.
However, a rare example in mint condition (PSA MT 9) made its way to auction in 2023. This card, showing an illustrated Ruth against a yellow background, sold for $4.212 million.
For the price of this Babe Ruth baseball trading card, you could almost afford to buy the most expensive football card!
Why Is It So Expensive?
Ruth’s popularity and this card’s rarity (and age) make it worth several million dollars.
Hopefully, its current owner keeps it carefully locked away to ensure it survives another several decades. Who knows, under the right conditions, this 1933 Goudey card could even outsell the most valuable Babe Ruth card of all time, the 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth.
3. 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth – $6 million
Card Grade: SGC 3 VG
Rookie-era Babe Ruth cards are virtually impossible to find, as Ruth was an unknown new player back in 1914. In fact, his reputation wouldn’t crest until 1919, which is about the time that baseball card collectors began seriously scouring for his cards.
Before that time, a Babe Ruth card might only be worth the card paper it was printed on. As you might imagine, many early collectors likely traded away or discarded these early rookie cards.
But a mere ten have managed to survive to the present day. The highest-quality of these is the 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth trading card that sold for $6 million in 2021. Its edges are a little frayed and peeling, but there’s no other baseball rookie card quite like this one.
Why Is It So Expensive?
This red-and-white baseball card is the first known Babe Ruth card ever released, and there are fewer than a dozen left. As a result, it’s rare, historically significant, and bound to appreciate over time.
Overall, this baseball trading card is one of the smartest physical assets an investor can buy. You can even invest in a share of this card if you’d like.
2. 1909-1911 T206 Honus Wagner – $7.25 million
Card Grade: SGC 2 GD
Although baseball cards were introduced in the mid-1880s, they didn’t really become a “thing” until the early 20th century. For this reason, it’s challenging to find baseball cards dating back to the early 20th century or late 19th century.
But, without a doubt, the most expensive antique baseball trading card is the 1909-1911 T206 Honus Wagner card. This card, often called the Holy Grail of Baseball Cards, is one of only about 50 (up to 200) ever made.
A good-condition specimen sold for $7.25 million in 2022, almost setting the record for the priciest baseball trading card ever sold.
This card, produced and released by Sweet Caporal Cigarettes (American Tobacco Company), shows the most famous Pittsburgh Pirates player of all time: Honus Wagner. Although Wagner’s fame never reached Babe Ruth’s levels, this card’s high value should tell you just how valuable of a player he was!
Why Is It So Expensive?
This card is among the most valuable baseball trading cards because of its rarity and age. The popularity and legacy of Honus Wagner also boost this card’s value.
1. 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle – $12.6 million
Card Grade: SGC MT 9.5
The most expensive baseball card ever sold is the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card. This card sold for $12.6 million at auction in August 2022.
For perspective, this baseball trading card is twice as valuable as the most expensive basketball card!
Unlike modern baseball cards, this card has no shiny holograms or eye-catching patterns. It’s a straightforward trading card showing Mickey Mantle, then a rookie player for the New York Yankees, carrying a bright yellow bat and wearing a navy blue cap.
Beneath the marquee-style banner on the bottom of the card is Mantle’s reproduced (aka printed, not an autograph) signature. So, if this card isn’t autographed, why is it worth more than any other baseball trading card?
Why Is It So Expensive?
The 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card has always been rare. Approximately 2,000 (potentially even fewer) of these cards were released in the 1950s, and most wound up folded up in dirty pockets, slotted between bicycle spokes, or hidden in messy shoebox collections.
Additionally, these cards are over half a century old, so finding one in like-new condition is extremely unlikely. But that’s just what happened with this particular MT 9.5 card.
Not only is it free from many of the flaws that plague similar 1952 Topps Mantle cards (yellowing, fingerprint smudges, frays, rips), it’s in virtually brand-new condition. This exceptional condition makes it the best and rarest 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card.
Of course, Mickey Mantle’s legacy also plays a part in pricing. Like Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, and Lou Gehrig, Mantle is considered one of the all-time American baseball legends. Consequently, vintage Mickey Mantle trading cards are generally worth a pretty penny.
What’s the Most Expensive Baseball Card Ever Sold?
So, what’s the most expensive baseball card ever sold? That would be the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card!
This card is so highly prized that even examples in poor condition sell for upwards of $25,000. But the one that sold for $12.6 million in 2022 is thought to be the most pristine of the bunch, making it particularly valuable.
Here’s a quick recap of the top 10 most expensive baseball cards ever sold:
- 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle – $12.6 million
- 1909-1911 T206 Honus Wagner – $7.25 million
- 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth – $6 million
- 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth – $4.212 million
- 2009 Bowman Draft Mike Trout – $3.936 million
- 1916 M101-4 Sporting News Babe Ruth – $2.4 million
- 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente – $1.107 million
- 2011 Topps Mike Trout – $1.05 million
- 1925 Exhibits Lou Gehrig – $1.032 million
- 1969 Topps Reggie Jackson – $1.006 million
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