Baseball cards first came on the scene in the 1860s. The cards featured images of players on small cards that also carried advertisements from businesses. It wasn’t until the 1880s, however, that baseball cards really began to gain popularity. This was largely because cigarette companies like Old Judge and Allen & Ginter began to include the cards in their packets as promotional items. Later, in the 1930s, the Goudey Gum Company took the market by storm by producing colourful, high-quality baseball cards, producing the look that people have come to associate with the popular trading cards.
It was during the 1980s and 1990s that trading baseball cards reached the peak of its popularity but sadly the market became oversaturated and there was a steep decline in the value of the cards. Luckily, the turn of the century brought with it an increase in interest in the cards, fuelled by nostalgia.
Nowadays, baseball cards are truly cherished items, both for their nostalgic cultural value but also for their value as investments. Traders keep an eagle eye out for rare cards, which bring in millions at auctions. Some of the highest valued cards are those with high ratings from the SGC and the PSA, who grade the cards for their quality and condition. However, people are still willing to shell out huge amounts of money for cards that are damaged if they are rare enough. Below you will see examples of where people are willing to shell out even for torn cards. This fervour and passion for baseball cards, regardless of their condition, represents the enduring influence of the sport and the intensity of love it produces in its fans.
The experts at Sotheby’s auction house say that the trading card sector has seen enormous growth in recent years, both in terms of interest and in value. Nearly dozens of cards, they say, have sold for over $1 million since 2020, and new records are being set every day. Below, with the help of Sotheby's experts, we list some of the most expensive baseball cards to have ever been sold.
1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #53
This classic card, featuring Babe Ruth swinging a baseball bat, sold for $4.2 million in 2021. The card itself is almost 90 years old and is part of a very small handful of cards graded as a 9 by the Professional Sports Authenticator. Babe Ruth, known as “The Bambino” and “The Sultan of Swat,” was an American baseball player, who played primarily for the New York Yankees. He had a record breaking 714 career home runs and he is an enduring icon in sports history. Sotheby’s placed it in the “pantheon” of sports cards.
1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311
These cards were once dumped by the case into the Atlantic Ocean due to overproduction and lack of demand. In the 1960s, Topps had far too many unsold 1952 baseball cards and so, to clear warehouse space, Sy Berger, a Topps executive, made the call to dispose of the cards. As a result, these cards are now very valuable as the disposal increased their scarcity. One of these cards, sold by Sotheby’s, eclipsed $4 million, indicating its value to collectors.
1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311
Here we have another Mickey Mantle card. Mickey Mantle, otherwise known as “The Mick,” was an American baseball player for the New York Yankees. He was known for his powerful hitting and his speed, and he won three MVP awards and seven World Series titles. He is a beloved figure in baseball, and this is reflected in the immense popularity of his cards. This card is one of the few PSA 9 cards in the world and, according to Sotheby’s, it sold for $5.2 million to Billionaire Boys Club actor Rob Gough and set a world record.
1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner
Sotheby’s report that this card is consistently at the top of sports card sales leader boards. This particular card sold for $6.6 million in 2021 and, at the time, this sale set a record for the highest price achieved for a sports card. Honus Wagner was known as “The Flying Dutchman” and he played for the Pittsburgh Pirates in a career spanning from 1897 to 1917. He won eight batting titles and is considered to be one of the greatest baseball players of all time.
1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth Rookie
At the beginning of his career, Babe Ruth spent several months in the minor leagues, playing for the Baltimore Orioles in his hometown. This period of his career is captured in this card, which sold for $7.2 million in 2023. Sotheby’s writes that Ruth was signed at the age of 19, straight out of high school, by the owner and manager of the Orioles. After playing for this side, he moved to the major leagues with the Red Sox. The sale price of this particular card reflects his enduring impact on the sport.
1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner
Here we have a reappearance of Honus Wagner, whose cards, according to Sotheby’s, are among some of the most sought after in the world. They report that there is such fierce competition for Wagner cards that collectors will even pay over $400,000 for damaged and torn cards. This second listing, per Sotheby’s, is exceptionally rare and sold in 2022 for $7.25 million, a record breaking sale.
1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311
Here again, this Mickey Mantle card became the most valuable piece of sports memorabilia ever when it sold in 2022 for $12.6 million. According to Sotheby’s, this particular card is “The Finest Known Example” of the SGC’s 9.5 grade. This is an incredibly high-quality card and that is reflected in its market value. There are very few mint condition Mickey Mantle cards, and this has driven up the enthusiasm for those that are in circulation. This unbelievable sale represents a huge shift in the value of the card since its early years, when it was disposed of due to lack of demand and excessive quantities of stock.
If you were ever to strike it lucky enough to lay your hands on any of these cards then let’s just say you will most definitely be in for a home run at auction.
