Every baseball card hobbyist knows the right cards in great condition can sell for ridiculous amounts of money. A card you bought for a dollar 40 years ago could be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars today—talk about a return on investment!

If you want to live vicariously through people who have found some of the best cards in baseball, read on to discover ten of the most collectible baseball cards.

A Quick History of Baseball Cards

Way back in 1865, the same year the American Civil War ended, we got the first baseball card. It depicted a team photo of the Brooklyn Atlantics, the best-known team during this era. During games, this card was given out to fans and supporters of opposing teams. Other teams ran with this idea, and certain industries noticed the popularity.

By the early 1900s, candy and tobacco companies were the main ways for the general public to get baseball cards, followed by Cracker Jack boxes in 1913. It wasn’t until 30 years later that the most well-known brands (Topps and Bowman) got into the game. By the 1940s, collecting baseball cards was a well-established hobby, but potential monetary gains weren’t the main idea.

In general, people collected cards to support their favorite teams and players. Little did they know that 70 years in the future, those cards would command a life-changing price tag.

The Determining Factor for Value

Owning a rare card is, unfortunately, not enough to score an obscene payday. Some cards on the list below aren’t worth a fraction of the top price—it all comes down to condition. A 1952 Topps Jackie Robinson card could sell for just shy of $1 million, or it could sell for $50. That’s where card grading comes in.

If you think you’ve got an ultra-rare card worth a few hundred thousand bucks, send it away for grading. Cards graded as an 8.5 and above have a much better chance of commanding ridiculous prices than those determined to be in less-than-good condition.

1. 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle

The Bronx Bombers were the team to beat in 1951, thanks (in no small part) to switch-hitter Mickey Mantle. His ability to confound pitchers and knock balls out of the park turned him into a legend—a player that every kid in the 1950s wanted a baseball card of. If you were lucky enough to pull a Mickey Mantle out of a Bowman pack in 1951 and keep it in good shape, you could turn quite a profit!

In 2018, a Mint 9 Mickey Mantle rookie card sold for $750,000.

2. 1941 Play Ball Joe DiMaggio

Joltin’ Joe’s 1941 season is unrivaled to this day—56 consecutive games of hitting safely is no small feat!

In 2020, a Gem Mint 10 Joe DiMaggio card sold for $750,000.

3. 1952 Topps Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson is one of the best names in baseball, and when you combine a legendary player with a card in great condition, you may earn yourself a nice payday.

In 2021, a Mint 9 Topps Jackie Robinson card sold for $960,000.

4. 1969 Topps Reggie Jackson

As far as we know, there’s only one Gem Mint 10 Topps Reggie Jackson card in existence, and it sold in 2021—if you find one, we’ll buy it off you! Let’s say… five bucks?

In 2021, a Gem Mint 10 Topps Reggie Jackson card sold for $1 million.

5. 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente

Roberto Clemente is among the very best to play the game, and that fact (coupled with his tragic death in 1972) propelled his 1955 rookie card to grow in value over the years.

In 2021, a Mint 9 Topps Roberto Clemente card sold for $1.1 million.

6. 1916 Sporting News Babe Ruth

Over a century later, Babe Ruth is still a household name. It stands to reason that any cards featuring the Bambino would sell for utterly ridiculous amounts—a theory proven in 2021.

In 2021, a PSA 7 Sporting News Babe Ruth card sold for $2.4 million.

7. 2009 Bowman Mike Trout

It’s the only 21st-century card to make this list, so you have to wonder—is there something transcendent about Mike Trout? While many would argue that, yes, Mike Trout is a baseball legend (and we won’t fight that statement), the real value of this card comes from its one-of-a-kind nature. With a 1/1 marking on the card, this is the only 2009 Bowman Mike Trout card in existence!

In 2020, a one-of-a-kind Bowman Mike Trout card sold for $3.9 million.

8. 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth

PSA knew what they had when they graded this card—on the listing page for this Babe Ruth card, they stated it was the “Sole and highest-graded example on the planet.” That’s true because no other Goudey Babe Ruth has ever received a Mint 9 or higher!

In 2021, a Mint 9 Goudey Babe Ruth card sold for $4.2 million.

9. 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle

Only hindsight caused Mantle’s 1951 rookie card to skyrocket in value. In actuality, he had a somewhat unremarkable first season. In 1952, however, Mantle made the All-Star team, which makes this card’s high value understandable.

In 2021, a PSA-certified 9 Topps Mickey Mantle card sold for $5.2 million.

10. 1909-11 T206 Sweet Caporal Honus Wagner

This card is so rare that it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility to see an Indiana Jones movie in which Indy has to track it down. Back in 2016, a Wagner card sold for a whopping $3 million, but that price is only half what a Wagner sold for just last year.

In 2021, a grade 3 1909-11 T206 Sweet Caporal Honus Wagner card sold for $6.6 million.

Where To Get Baseball Cards Today

Baseball cards are still sold in packs, but there’s a better way to score cards in 2022. Look into box breaks, like those done with vintage Topps baseball cards. A box break gives you the opportunity to score high-value cards and make a fun online event of it!

Now that you know ten of the most collectible baseball cards, you might have a burning desire to find some ultra-rare cards yourself. We sure do! Join us on our YouTube channel for our next baseball card box break and see if you spot any rare cards in the packs we crack.