It would fetch much more than that today. Nadja was a brand name of the Blake-Wenneker Candy Co. of St Louis and the set features 62 cards in total. The sale smashed the record for most valuable baseball card at the time, beating the then-highest sale of a Honus Wagner T206 White Border card at $3.1 million. 2022 Topps Baseball Rookie Cards Guide. But its also one of the issues more difficult cards since it typically suffers from poor print quality and coloration. Most Expensive 2022 Topps 1st Edition card list & price guide. However, the gold borders of the T205 cards leave them vulnerable to chipping and wear. After a rough start at the plate, 21-year-old first baseman Freddie Freeman found his footing in the seasons final five months or so. But whats not up for debate is whether its one of his most important. 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 price would certainly be astronomical. In one of the great stories about this card, a collector once purchased an unopened five-card pack of1952 Topps baseball cardsand pulled the only Pafko to ever be graded PSA Gem Mint 10. 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. 5. 1989 Bowman Tiffany Ken Griffey Jr. 2. Walter Johnson appears twice in the T206 set, one in a pitching pose and then again in this portrait layout. Despite singling to right field off San Francisco's Matt Cain in his first at-bat, Goldschmidt stuck out nearly one in every three at-bats in 48 games that season. 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. Sammy Sosa, Frank Thomas, Bernie Williams, and Larry Walker all claim Class of '90. Halladay finished with four first-place votes to Clayton Kershaws 27, finishing as the leagues Cy Young runner-up for the second time in four years. #1. 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. The base set from Bowman holds little value. The most important post-war card in the hobby, price movements of the 1952 Topps #311Mickey Mantle baseball cardare often seen as an indicator of the health of the sports card market overall. Most Expensive 1909 T-206 Honus Wagner: $7.25 million 3. There are only a handful of known copies of this card in the hobby making it a rare and highly demanded issue. Many baseball historians still consider Cobb the greatest all-around player that ever graced a baseball diamond. Of all theWillie Mays baseball cards out there, this is his most important. 1952 Topps Willie Mays RC #261 #5. 15 Most Valuable 2011 Topps Baseball Cards More. 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. Since starting his professional baseball journey with the Orix Blue Wave of the Nippon Baseball League in 1992, the legendary outfielder posted a .300 batting average or better for 19 straight seasons through the 2010 campaign. 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. Trout exploded during his official rookie campaign the following season, earning AL Rookie of the Year honors and finishing second in the MVP race. With five Silver Sluggers and three batting titles to his name in twelve MLB seasons, Altuve continues to be one of the best hitters in the game. Ungraded & graded values for all '06 Topps Baseball Cards. Let's be clear: most of the cards from this set do not have any value these days. Most cards in the T206 set are not rare but the Honus Wagner cards are because they were pulled from production early. Are you selling sports cards that were produced from 1868 - 1975? So why would one of his cards be so expensive? 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. He ended the year with a 2.79 ERA, striking out 79 batters in 71.0 innings pitched. The question is: where do you start on this list? 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). 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. 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. Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, and Cy Young were also featured in the set but Cobbs issue is undoubtedly the most desired. Any collector lucky enough to get his hands on Mathewsons card is sure to be ecstatic. Prices are updated daily based upon 2022 Topps 1st Edition listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. 1. The 1969 Topps baseball card set is well-loved in this hobby by many collectors for several different reasons. All of them are on this list of most valuable baseball cards so that speaks to their importance and desirability. The Wagner soon reclaimed its title, but the 2009 Bowman Draft Trout remains a big deal in the baseball card world. Financial problems would cause Dunn to sell Ruths contract to the Boston Red Sox later that year, however. List by Card #, You own: 0 / 9496 items By Ryan Cracknell. This card is a key classic in the hobby and is Aarons only recognized rookie card. Most Expensive, The 23-year-old left walked a career-worst 41 batters in 50 innings pitched, issuing a ghastly 7.4 walks per 9 innings. This is the second most desirable card in the famed T206 set and the only pose of the HOF pitcher. 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. In the season's first 46 games, the 24-year-old star slashed .284/.368/.389 with four home runs and 21 RBIs in 162 at-bats. He also turned heads with his slick glove work at first, earning the only Gold Glove of his career thus far. 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. People are spending as much on old pieces of cardboard as most people spend on a house. The eye appeal is top-notch, as with most 1914 Cracker Jack cards. That is unless youre talking about the Red Portrait with the Ty Cobb back that was showcased earlier on this list. Moreover, the Mathewson Portrait is one of the toughest HOF portraits in the entire set. 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. By his third season in 2013, Goldschmidt had developed into a perennial All-Star and MVP candidate. And like Altuve, Martinez started with the Greeneville Astros and worked his way up to the Class AA Corpus Christi Hooks. 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. As with the American Caramel Cobb card mentioned just a bit ago, the design of the card isnt unique but it is certainly one of the more desirable Cobb poses in the hobby. Top athletes from baseball, football, hockey, tennis, golf, boxing, swimming, horse racing and even dog sled racing are showcased in the set. Identical in imagery as its 1915 Cracker Jack counterpart, the 1914 version is equally as visually pleasing. 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. 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. Like all Bowman cards, the eye appeal of this card is amazing as a the artwork of the young Mick is simply stunning. Get my weekly newsletter with the latest hobby updates delivered straight to your inbox! It is by far the most important of allHank Aaron baseball cards. No More Secrets Puzzle Game, Ungraded By 1954, printing quality had improved greatly so even though centering is still a challenge with this card, finding high-end copies is not as tough as some of the others on this list. Collectors find rookie cards are some of the most valuable baseball cards to collect from any player. And I attempted to estimate their current values when graded in PSA 10 condition so their "raw" or ungraded values may be wildly different. 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. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. 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. Interest in the Dodgers/Giants rivalry was skyrocketing, and Kershaw's brilliance was a big reason for it. For some reason, collectors had to send in for the card a year later in 1934 by contacting Goudey if they wanted to complete this set. 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. 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. In early 1914, Jack Dunn of the minor league Baltimore Orioles signed Ruth to a professional baseball contract. Honus. Surprisingly, many dont even consider him the best pitcher ever, though. While currently ranked as the 5th most valuable baseball card, when Trouts 2009 Bowman Chrome Superfractors autographed card serial-numbered 1/1 sold in August 2020, it became the most valuable baseball card . The most prevalent theory is that the card suffered from a poor printing plate, resulting in many of the cards being destroyed since they could not pass quality control. 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. Overall, Votto hit .309 with a .947 OPS, 29 home runs, and 101 runs scored. 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. Read our methodology . That is a fact not likely to end any time soon. Natl along the bottom before the error was corrected. Again, the biggest condition issues with this card will arise from the glossy coating on the obverse that usually ends up cracking or creasing. 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. However, it just isnt as often found in high grade as #53. Prices are updated daily based upon 2022 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. Big names like Albert Pujols, Ichiro, David Ortiz, Derek Jeter, Miguel Cabrera and Clayton Kershaw help round out a solid checklist. 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. and one of the best-looking cards of the 1950s in my opinion. Whether you can find one in high grade or not, though, its a superb card for any collector to own. 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 Tigers couldn't capitalize on Cabrera's otherworldly October and lost to the Rangers in the ALCS in six. Part of the great quartet of T206 Cobb cards, the Green Portrait version is the toughest of all of them to collect. It was a brutal way for the season to end for the 90-win Red Sox. Being card #261 in the set, its not a high number card (#311 407) which means it is not as scarce as Mantles #311 card. The cream of the crop. So, although not as desirable as the others, the fact that it exists in such great condition brings a steep price tag. Most Valuable. But there was plenty to like about their accomplishments before the season's heartbreaking finale. A mixture of bad timing, poor communication, and an always-controversial roster rule kept Albert Pujols out of the 2011 MLB All-Star Game, ending his streak of consecutive Midsummer Classics at eight. Not many players were as consistent as Musial was over their careers as he went on to win seven batting titles and three MVP awards. 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. One of the most popular 1930s sets, the 1933 Sport Kings R333 set consists of 48 cards in total. Those that have been found in high grade are thought to have never been packaged and instead left the factory by hand. 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. Read our methodology. Goldschmidt also scored 106 runs and led the National League in slugging percentage (.578), OPS (.981), and OPS+ (180), solidifying himself as one of the greatest hitters in the game. This instantly recognizable card is easily one of Mathewsons most popular. There are two varieties of these cards with one version featuring a tobacco advertisement on the back and the other a checklist. 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. In this video, we go over the top 3 most valuable Topps baseball cards from the year 1985. However, the year ended on a bitter note. Its so rare that only a handful exist and not many collectors have even seen one in person. 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. Collectors love the eye appeal of this beautiful pre-war set. Considered one of the toughest post-war cards to collect, Leroy Satchel Paiges rookie card is a key to this set along with rookie cards of Jackie Robinson and Stan Musial. Yet, packed within all of that excitement was a run of base cards that featured big-name stars and promising rookies. Who did Freeman finish runner-up to in the leagues RotY race, you ask? 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 cards design is beautiful and easily distinguished from others of the 1950s. PriceIt Game | 1955 Topps #164 Roberto Clemente RC #4. 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. Distracting print lines usually hold this card back from higher grades, though. 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. With approximately 22 or less known to exist, all in low grades, the Ty Cobb back is the rarest of them all. 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. 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. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. 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. While his 1952 Topps card is more popular and more expensive, some collectors forget that this is the only recognizedMantle rookie card. 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. Many believe the 1887 N172 Old Judge set to be the most important 19th Century set in existence. 1986 Topps Pete Rose Card 3. The card is one of Ruths most desired of all. And their continued popularity and demand prove that baseball cards still do hold great value. Not surprisingly, Cobbs card is the cornerstone and to the set. Prices are updated daily based upon 2020 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. Rizzo soon earned a reputation as a guy capable of smacking 30 home runs and driving in 100 runs to become a fan favorite at Wrigley. The first Dodgers hurler to secure the NL pitching Triple Crown since Sandy Koufax back in 1966, Kershaw led the National League in wins (21), strikeouts (248), and ERA (2.24), the latter serving as the best mark for a starter in all of baseball. 3. 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. The last of the legendary quartet of 1933 Goudey Ruth cards on our list is the #144 Full Body Ruth. Several player variations exist, some with as many as 12, so the series boasts well over 3,000 different cards in total. Halladay was great, giving up just one run on four hits in eight innings. Download Price List, SportsCardsPro 2019-2023 A record that is pretty safe to say will never be broken. 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. ThisTed Williams card features a superb black and white image of Williams following through on his classic swing.