Rare baseball cards can be worth thousands of dollars. They are a fascinating piece of sports history. As you browse auctions or go through your parent’s collection, learn which cards are worth looking out for. The rarest cards in baseball are not just a luxurious home. From the legendary Honus Wagner card to the incredible cards of the Negro League.
Rare Baseball Cards that keep gaining value
| Rare Baseball cards worth money | Recent Sales Price |
| Honus Wagner T206, 1909-1911 | 31.2 million dollars |
| Ty Cobb Back T206 1909-1911 | Three Million Dollars |
| 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #31 | 2.88 Million |
| 1915 Sporting News Babe Ruth rookie card | 135 Million Dollars |
| 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle | $750,000 |
| 1963 Topps Pete Rose | $717,000 |
| American Caramel Joe Jackson 1909-1911 | $667,000 |
| Sherry “Magie Magee” T206, 1909-1911 | $600,000 |
| The Old Mill Joe Jackson T210 | $600,000 |
| 1951 Bowman Willie Mays #305 | $600,000 |
| Babe Ruth 1914 Baltimore News | $575,000 |
| 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente | $475,000 |
| 1915 Cracker Jack Ty Cobb | $432,000 |
| 1948 Leaf Satchel Paige | $432,000 |
| 1909-1911 Joe Doyle T206 “N.Y. | $312,000 |
| Goudey Napoleon Lajoie No. 106 1933 | $200,000 |
| 1926 Tomas Gutierrez Negro League Baseball Cards | $100,000 |
| 1909-1911 Eddie Plank T206 | $51,000 |
| 1953 Topps Jim Gilliam Rookie Card #258 | $6,000 |
| 1909 Pete Hill Cabanas | Unknown |
Baseball trading cards are a great way for kids to collect their favourite players or teams. Would America’s favourite pastime be so popular without them? Baseball cards allow people to play away the game. Over the past 100 years, they have become a popular way to collect. Collectors are willing to pay a lot of money for this rare baseball card, so make sure to check all corners and crevices in the houses of your relatives.
Honus Wagner T206, 1909-1911
Honus Wagner is a name that even novice baseball card collectors will recognize. Babe Ruth is the most famous baseball player with collectable cards. Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio are also among those who have collected them. Ted Williams, Hank Aaron, Hank Aaron, Hank Aaron, Hank Aaron, Hank Aaron, Hank Aaron, Hank Aaron, Hank Aaron, Ted Williams, Hank Aaron, Hank Aaron, Hank Aaron, Hank Aaron, Hank Aaron, Hank Aaron, Hank Adams, Hank Aaron, Hank Aaron, Hank Aaron, Hank Aaron, Hank Aaron, Hank Aaron, Hank Aaron, a Honus Wagner, a shortstop who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame early on, was a great player. Only 50 full-colour copies of the T206 Wagner, the rarest and most valuable baseball card, exist. One card sold for 3.12 million at an auction in 2016.
1952 Mickey Mantle Topps #31
Mickey Mantle’s 1952 Topps Major League Card is a sport collectable worth millions. This rare baseball card was sold in 2018 for 2.88 million. This 1952 Mickey Mantle Topps card marked an important season in the career of the legendary player. Baseball card collectors love the image of Mantle with a bat in his hand and looking to one side. There are as many as 1,700 copies of this card, but only a few dozen are in mint condition.
Sherry “Magie Magee” T206, 1909-1911
This rare baseball card is one of fewer than 175 that still exist. Magee was misspelled on the card as “Magie.” The error was discovered early on in the printing process, so very few cards with this spelling were made. The card is worth more because of this rare error. In 2018, the highest price was $660,000.
1909-1911 Joe Doyle T206 “N.Y.
This rare baseball card, which is ten times more rare than the extremely valuable Honus Wagner example of the same type, is known as the “king” of errors. By mistake, the league in which Doyle played is listed as National and not American. The card should read: “N.Y. AMER.” Instead of “N.Y. AMER.” This card is one of the most rare baseball cards ever. There are less than 10 error cards. In 2015, one of the 10 was sold at auction for $312,000.
1909-1911 Eddie Plank T206
No one knows why the 1909-1911 Eddie Plank T206 cards were printed in such a small number. Plank may not have consented to the use of his image, or there may have been an error with the printing die that was used to create the card. Around 100 copies of this card are known to exist. The record for 2018 auctions is $51,000.
1915 Sporting News Babe Ruth rookie card
Babe Ruth is considered by many to be the greatest baseball player of all time. His rookie card is one of the rarest and most valuable baseball cards ever created. It is very difficult to locate the card. The backs can be either blank or advertising. There are fewer than twenty examples. The record price of a Babe Ruth rookie is $1.3 million.
American Caramel Joe Jackson 1909-1911
This card is one of the rarest and most expensive baseball cards. There are only 90 copies in existence. This card features “Shoeless Joe Jackson, one of the greatest players in history. The card was originally issued with caramel candies in various sizes. Its record auction is just over $667,000.
Ty Cobb Back T206 1909-1911
Ty Cobb, one of the greatest players in baseball history, is featured on this iconic card. The card’s back features his name and the front depicts Cobb against a red backdrop. There are fewer than 23 copies of this card, and one family discovered eight on the floor in their great-grandparent’s home. Seven of the cards were auctioned for about $3 million.
1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle
This card is a collector’s item, even though there are more than 2,300 copies. Mickey Mantle is the official rookie of this card. This card is prone to serious issues such as wax stains or lines in the printing. Finding one in excellent condition is very rare. One in excellent condition was sold for $750,000 in 2018.
Babe Ruth 1914 Baltimore News
Only 10 copies of this “pre-rookie card” for Babe Ruth are known to exist. This is one of the most rare baseball cards, which makes it highly desirable for collectors. It’s available in both red and blue. In 2012, one of these cards was sold for $575,000.
1909 Pete Hill Cabanas
Rare Negro League Baseball cards exist. Most early African-American players weren’t included in regular sets during the time that they played. The majority of these cards were produced in Cuba because players often played there during the off-season. The 1909 Pete Hill Cabanas is one of the most valuable and rare Negro League Baseball Cards. Only one copy of this card is known.
1963 Topps Pete Rose
Pete Rose’s first card was the 1963 Topps. This is not the most rare baseball card, but it is extremely rare to find one in perfect condition. Over 3,700 cards exist, but only 1 is “gem-mint.” Rare are examples in excellent condition. This card was sold for $717,000.
1923 Tomas Gutierrez Negro League Baseball Cards
This is not a single baseball card but a collection of Cuban cards that were produced by Diaz Cigarettes in 1923. The card features several members of both the Negro League Hall of Fame and the Cuban League. Some of the cards have fewer than 12 copies. The set contains at least 84 different cards, and it is valued at at least $100,000.
The Old Mill Joe Jackson, Model 1910 T210
This eight minor league baseball card of “Shoeless Joe Jackson” is one of the most rare baseball cards that you can collect. It’s still very valuable, even in rough conditions. In excellent condition, it can sell for up to $600,000.
1951 Bowman #305 Willie Mays
It’s difficult to find this card in perfect condition, even though there are over 1,000 copies of it. This is one of the most famous baseball rookie cards in history. There are fewer than 10 cards in gem or excellent condition. These fetch a premium. It can be as high as $600,000. in mint condition.
1953 Topps Jim Gilliam RC #258
Collectors prize this card because it is one of the smallest print runs from a popular series. The value of those in excellent condition is the highest. It is estimated that less than 500 cards exist. These can be purchased for up to $6,000.
1948 Leaf Satchel Paige
This card is the rookie card for one of the most well-known players in Negro League’s history. It was a limited edition in this set. This card is extremely rare, and its value can reach up to $432,000 in excellent condition.
1955 Topps Roberto Clemente
The 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente card is another rare find that’s in great condition. It is a valuable collector’s item. The few cards that are in great condition are very valuable. In 2016, one was sold for $475,000.
1915 Cracker Jack Ty Cobb
This Ty Cobb card, was originally issued in 1915 and is now worth millions of dollars. In 2016, one card sold for $432,000. There are less than 100 of these cards, and it is very hard to find them in good condition.
Napoleon Lajoie, 1933 Goudey #106
The story behind one of the most rarest Baseball Cards ever is fascinating. Collectors had to directly contact Goudey to obtain the card. They were then mailed the card with a paperclip attached to the letter, damaging the card’s surface. There are less than 100 of these cards, which sell for as much as $200,000.
Get Valuable Baseball Card Appraisals
The cards used to be given away by companies such as Post Cereals and Cracker Jack. But today, these cards can be worth thousands of dollars. You should have your card professionally appraised if you think you may have one of the rare baseball cards. Only an expert will be able to tell you the value of the card based on its condition, rarity and other factors.