Each parallel features different numbering and different design aspects, as well as varying degrees of quality inserted patches. And while Sabathia is the biggest player to emerge from a once promising 1999 Topps Traded rookie crop, its still a relatively inexpensive card. When you talk about the highs and lows of 1980s baseball cards, few have seen greater swings in both directions than the 1985 Topps Mark McGwire. The PSA 9 copy is currently valued at $186,464, while PSA 1 versions of the card sells for $296. Bryant made his debut early enough in the season that they were able to squeeze him into Series 2 and not even as a short print like Harper was in 2012. Keep in mind, predictive analysis isnt 100% accurate, but can still act as guiding data for todays current market. The Rookie Cards in 1964 Topps Baseball are led by a couple of Phils. This one resulted in his Hall of Fame induction in 1997. Yadier Molina has quietly put together a career worthy of Hall of Fame consideration. Even a PSA 1 graded copy still goes for around $2,000, making it a top trading card. To make the cut in a major league base set, a player actually had to make it to the majors. The fire of Fernando-mania doesnt burn as brightly as it used to. PSA 8: $750 PSA 10: $160,000 1993 Pinnacle #457 Derek Jeter There's an elegance in this card's simplicity. This copy sold at GoldinAuctions for $584,250. Trout is already a three-time American League MVP just one decade into his career, but he has never won a World Series. Before this, draft picks and prospects appearing in base sets were common. Click here to see hockey cards on eBay. Six-time All-Star Ron Cey is a strong inclusion as well. It sold for $85,1000. Carter became best known for his time with the New York Mets on the 1986 World Series championship team. The value of Harmon Killebrew's 1955 Topps rookie card comes largely on the front end of PSA grades. C.C. Jim Gilliam isnt a Hall of Famer like a lot of players on this list. Even more amazing is he pitched no-hitters in three different decades over the span of 18 years. But that didnt mean the end of Rookie Cards. This shield patch auto comes from Paninis Flawless set, which isnt viewed with the same degree of desirability as the National Treasures set. But thats standard for the majority of multi-player Rookies from the era. In fact, with less than 20 in the entire product across two series, there arent many Rookies, period. The 1989 Topps Traded Ken Griffey Jr. That's when he also was named American League MVP for the first time. The first is the fact that its a Rookie Card of one baseballs all-time great sluggers. When it comes to Rookie Cards, 1981 Topps is one of the lines weaker sets of the decade. In 2017, Jim Brown's rookie card sold for a whopping $358,000 at an auction but is, no doubt, worth more today. It turns out someone mixed up his photo with teammate Juan LeBrons. Charting the top Topps Rookie Cards is also something of a time of several generations of baseball. Seattle Mariners outfielder Lewis saw his rookie card nab $29,999a tidy sum considering it wasnt professionally graded. There currently arent any PSA 10 graded copies of Joe Namaths 1965 Topps rookie cards and there are just 5 PSA 9 copies in existence. The card ushers in a decade that has plenty of major Topps Update Rookie Cards. He's also the only player with over 300 wins to play his entire career with the same team, the Washington Senators, although they struggled mightily throughout his career. Jackson won a World Series with the Chicago White Sox in 1917 but was banned from baseball for life for helping fix the 1918 World Series. Your Account has been confirmed and activated successfully. The last name certainly helped in the marketing department as well. There have been no recent sales of this card. Estimated PSA 9 Value: $750,000 Bronko Nagurski was one of the most feared runners the game has ever seen. Albert Pujols and Ichiro both burst onto the scene and the chase was on for anything and everything with their names on it. Like 2018, theres a deep class to draw from that also includes Keston Hiura, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (whose Series 2 SP is considered a variation insert and not an RC), Eloy Jimenez and more. But in the late 80s with the Oakland Athletics, he shifted to the bullpen and became one of the games truly dominant closers. Even though he actually made his MLB debut in 1908 to start his career. For evidence of how much the sports card market has changed, the same card with the same grade sold for $46,100 in July 2020. He died in August 2020 after suffering from Lewy body dementia. He has several additional variations as well, including appearances on a couple of extremely tough SSSP cards. It's an interesting debate to have about Pete Rose's 1963 Topps rookie card. Thurman Munson may have only played for 11 seasons, but in that time, he established himself as one of baseballs greatest catchers. In this case, it's Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk. Note: All card values are for prospective PSA 10 grades, considered in perfect mint condition, or highest "most recent price" figures. Hes paired with Fritz Ackley to make for a card that, visually, doesnt have a lot of flair. Please enter the verification code that you received on your email. Before McGwire, Sosa and Bonds, there was Roger Maris. Lower graded versions of the card are more affordable with an entry point of $4,091 for a pop 38 PSA 6 copy of the card. But it does top the set, which also has RCs of hobby-favorite Dale Murphy and Hall of Famer, Bruce Sutter. You can reach him by email and through Twitter @tradercracks. Banks was a power-hitting shortstop who racked up a whopping 512 career home runs. Williams played in the World Series just once, in 1946, when the Red Sox lost to the St. Louis Cardinals. If you can find this card in a PSA 9 or PSA 10 condition, you're in the money. They include some of the greatest players who ever played the game. Is it rare? 12. He's also got one of the most comprehensive collections of John Jaha cards in existence (not that there are a lot of them). There are 117 copies of this card in a PSA 1 grade that have recently sold for $600. Rose was also a winner. Really, all thats missing is Gwynns beaming smile. While Nomar still had a strong career, neither his numbers or the values of this card lived up to expectations. This is one of many rookie cards to make the list that features multiple players, but the majority of their worth is tied to just one of the players. We love seeing Shohei Ohtani make the cut. That's right, not even Ken Griffey Jr.'s rookie card made the list. But the window was a small one. The list of 1965 Topps Rookie Cards includes several Hall of Famers including Joe Morgan, Jim Catfish Hunter and Tony Perez. It features a piece of his jersey, his autograph, a perfect PSA 10 grade, and a $65,100 price tag. A big part of that may have been because Topps Traded was shelved for a few years and Bowman becametheplace for Rookie Cards. Even a PSA 1 copy of this card could still be sold for around $600,000. Given the quantity with which the 1990 Topps Frank Thomas Rookie Card is available, its not going to ever be worth a lot in its most basic form. The Fleer version of the Sammy Sosa rookie card is a classic looking card. While that certainly had an impact on his place in the hobby as a whole, Joe Mauer Rookie Cards are still looked at with a high level of regard. And then there's the lesser-known John Hilton. Found in Series 1 packs, it also has a Gold parallel thats popular. 1.1 1996 Skybox E-X2000 Credentials and Base #30 Kobe Bryant. The projected values come from Cardladder, which has a detailed white paper on how they derive predicted market value here. The same card graded 9 sold for $59,100 back in July 2020, making its investment potential considerableafter all, only 15 were produced. The value of the Henderson rookie card has skyrocketed over the years due to the blunt-cornered cutting and off-center placement of the picture. The following list includes a year-by-year breakdown of the most valuable card for each flagship Topps baseball set from 1952 to 2020. In this case, we have a fairly basic 3-color patch with a refracting border. During the 2015 postseason, he went on a tear, hitting seven home runs over a nine games. The comic on the back has an uncorrected error. Given how the football market has been moving in 2021, this card is still number 2 on this list because its believed (with recent sale data0 that if another Brady Championship Contenders Autograph BGS 9 went up for auction, it would fetch an even higher price. But around the start of the 2019 season, Acunas flagship Topps Rookie Card took off. That record is closing in on 50 years since his career ended. But under those sideburns is a fan favorite Hall of Famer. With rookie patch autograph parallels, numbering isnt the only aspect of the card that matters for value. A 1952 Topps PSA 10 Mickey Mantle is the holy grail rookie card in baseball card collecting. 1.3 1996 Topps Chrome Refractor #138 Kobe Bryant. Digital cards must exist within a restricted framework, like the Topps Bunt app or from a blockchain. And then COVID-19 hit and the start of the season was pushed back. Rookie Cards have surpassed comparable Alonso cards when it comes to prices. Join the hundreds of thousands of collectors who have benefited from the OPG. Despite the eye-popping value this card would bring in, we havent seen any copies surface for sale. While the autograph gets most of the attention in 2000 Topps Traded, the base version is a strong seller, especially when you consider its not particularly difficult to find. Killebrew was an understated, quiet star who played in the World Series just once, in 1965, when the Twins lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers. It's a fitting tribute to one of the greatest winners in professional sports history to see his rookie card this high on the list. Cardladder has developed indexes for particular players to evaluate their market as a whole to help us better understand what certain cards would fetch in the market today. Hes also a proven winner with three World Series rings. For starters, hes one of the greatest catchers to ever play the game. Gone were the short prints that came with the high numbers. Henderson still owns MLB career records for stolen bases (1,406), runs (2,295) and leadoff home runs (81) and also owns the MLB single-season record with 130 stolen bases. Ernie Banks, Al Kaline and Tommy Lasorda are among them. In short, 2009 Topps Baseball isnt big on major Rookie Cards. An extremely limited Sapphire Red Refractor version graded PSA 10 fetched $26,000. In 1986 Topps, you get Ozzie Guillen. There are 69 copies of the card in a PSA 1 grade, which are currently valued at $2,287. Gibson did it all for the Cardinals, where he played his entire career, winning two Cy Young Awards and two World Series MVP awards. On paper, his offensive numbers might not stack up, but theres a lot more to Molinas case. 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. RC #1. 1. Magic's second base card arrived in 1981-82 Topps and it shows Johnson driving to the hoop against the Bullets. Its easy to point out today how its not worth nearly as much as it was in 1998 or 1999. After moving to the Washington Nationals the following season, he had his best regular season. Ah, the glorious woodgrain of 1987 Topps Baseball. And even within that last run, this is one of several short prints. And the design and color of the cards look at those colors made it beloved and valuable. Landing over 5X higher than any previous sale for this iconic card! In fact, physical print runs are much more secretive and misleading than digital. Theres also some mystique around this card when it comes to grading. For a while, he was one of the better shortstops in the game. While not Hall of Famers, Dusty Baker and Don Baylor certainly left their mark on the game. Robinson, who broke MLB's color barrier in 1947, has had his No. Condition and rarity can drive significant value for a card and Youngs 1986 Topps Rookie is a great example of just how much of a premium that can bring in. Theyre clear standouts in the two years that Topps returned to the box set format for Topps Traded and Topps Chrome Traded. But thats only part of the cards story. 1983-84 Star Company Magic Johnson #13 SP Buy on eBay. It just doesnt stand out much. Instead, Donruss issued a very small batch of Barry Bonds rookie cards with a picture of Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Johnny Ray, his teammate,and not Bonds. It's actually just one of a handful of cards of Jackson that were ever made. Caseys 1996 Topps Rookie Card was hot for a couple of years but then settled into that spot of recognizable but cheap. Murphy was named the 2015 NLCS MVP, helping the Mets make it to the World Series. Hope they put out 2021, I have them all but trouts 2011. He also won a World Series as manager of the White Sox. These '80-81 cards are still his rookies and much more affordable. He is one of just three modern players to have their rookie cards among the most highly valued of all time. Most valuable? Sure. It isnt as rare as the other copies that made this list of most valuable rookie cards, but it is still valued at $343,657. Other notable Rookie Cards in 1958 Topps Baseball include Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda and Curt Flood. He's the youngest NBA player to feature on the Beam Team card series. It took a few years (and a trade to Milwaukee) for Christian Yelich to emerge as a hobby superstar, but here he is. Acuna also has a variation short print found in Series 2 packs. It sold for $5.9 million. This does not look like the Rookie Card of one the flashiest fielders to ever play the game. Only, its not because of Koosman. discussion comes up, it doesn't matter which side you are on, between LeBron, Michael Jordan, or even Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. His eight Gold Gloves show he was equally strong in the outfield. That would be enough to make his 1961 Topps Rookie Card one of the most coveted in a set that also includes Ron Santo and Billy Williams. The Captain headlines the 1993 Topps Baseball checklist and for good reason. Mike Schmidt is one of the greatest sluggers baseball has ever seen. Its not quite as scarce as his 2012 Topps Archives card, but still a tough find. The 1980s kicked off in style with Rickey Henderson anchoring the flagship release. Digital cards are collectibles in the same way as physical cards. Bill Denehys MLB career spanned just three seasons and less than 50 total games. Some years have lots of star RCs. Yes digital cards are coming fast and they are real! Its Ripkens first solo Topps card and tougher to find. Let's take a look at some of the most valuable basketball rookie cards from the 1990's. Players like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Shaq made the list. The former Jet's star player's rookie card sold for a massive sum of $265,000 in February of 2018. His beloved stature, the memorable design, that old Padres uniform all help contribute to the cards place in history as one of the greatest cards of not just this set but the entire decade. And theres still plenty of it to go around. The other Phil on the card is a different story. $29.99. Read our, a symbol of sorts for modern baseball cards. I have one of your older books and wasnt able to find anything in there either. (Bear in mind values for the same card can vary widely depending on its condition and grade from a . Cecil Cooper was a five-time All-Star and finished in the top ten in MVP voting on four occasions. The deep 1957 Topps checklist also includes Rookies of Don Drysdale, Bill Mazeroski and Jim Bunning. $54.00. Ive got 5th grade education an I on my 3rd round with sports cards lost to water Here I go again with over 100,000 cards an I dont have a clue where to start so here we go. The 1960s saw a lot of great pitchers take to the mound. Theres also the Desert Shield version that is also rare and has some history behind it. Perhaps it's because the players with rookie cards went on to play most of their careers in the big-hitting era of the 90s or because fans appreciate that the '80s was possibly the last true pre-steroid era but the cards from this era are some of the most sought after in the world. And while Rollie Fingers, Bobby Cox and Bobby Bonds are among the other RCs in 1969 Topps Baseball, Jacksons iconic first Topps card towers over them all. i have football cards , basketball cards. For the first half of his career, he was a starter and a good one at that, winning 20 games with the Red Sox in 1978. In August 2018, it could be had for just $2918. The most sought-after card in a set that includes cards from Ty Cobb and Honus Wagner is Shoeless Joe Jackson's rookie card. And while he may be known best for his home run-hitting days wearing the pinstripes of the New York Yankees, Maris Rookie Card came from his early days with Cleveland. The PSA 10 version of this card sold for $2.25 million dollars at an auction this past April, and sold for a new record high on 8/22: A new record has been set for the 2000 Playoff Contenders Tom Brady Rookie PSA/DNA 10/10. Trying to price it. Part of the tough 1966 Topps seventh series, it comes largely down to rarity as collectors work to finish their sets. 2. saints) card #264 & his name is not printed on card & the lil gold emblem N corner of card like its barely done U cant C it but U can feel it. It's an insert from the Topps beam team series that featured well-known NBA stars. However, it does include one of the greatest pitchers of the 1990s, two-time Cy Young Award winner Tom Glavine. The fact that its one of the sets rarer high numbers adds to its value and appeal. Donna Marriner. Chipper Jones was a spark plug for Atlantas offense for two decades. And its not just Canos bat that made him great. For the moment, Willson Contreras gets the edge. Because Topps Traded sets from 1983 to 1988 use the XRC tag, theyre not listed. Some of the most prized baseball cards are rookie cards. One of the prettiest cards of all time, this Johnson rookie card was distributed with packs of T.T.T. The 1965 rookie card is one of the most sought after for its slightly bigger dimensions and its rarity. Top 10 Draft Picks: 6. Seaver was the star pitcher on the Mets World Series championship team in 1969 and a three-time Cy Young Award winner. Paul Konerko would be a first-ballot player in the Hall of Very Good but youre probably not going to see him inducted into Cooperstown any time soon. Winfield was one of the greatest outfielders in MLB history. Although I do have to take issue with the sub headline of Best Rookie Card from each Topps set. The USA spin is unforgettable. He was also the first Cub in history to have his number retired. Jeter is only one of three modern players to see his rookie card land on this list, alongside Los Angeles Angels teammates Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout. BGS 9.5 Listed for $99,999, Best Offer accepted. That tradition may be constantly evolving, but there are some things that remain true. While classic baseball cards held their value, not everyone can get their hands on a Honus Wagner without having disposable income in the millions. And if you happen to have all three conditions reunited, then the card becomes more than a collector's item. Easily the top of the 1982 Topps Rookie Card class, its actually the Traded version that has gained more traction, notoriety and value over the years. If you go through the massive Topps catalog, theres just one that has two Hall of Famers featured on the same Rookie Card the 1978 Topps Rookie Shortstops, which is anchored by Paul Molitor and Alan Trammell. Compared to some cards on this list, the 10 PSA 10 grade copies of George Brett's 1975 Topps rookie card must seem like 1,000 to collectors. Theres also the ultra-scarce No Name on Front error that has gone on to be one of the most coveted cards of the era. "Yaz" was an 18-time All-Star and had his best season in 1967, winning the American League Triple Crown and American League MVP. Sandy Koufax was one of thegreatest pitchers of all time. And then there are a couple of seasons where some baseball card quirks make certain Rookie Cards bigger than one would normally expect. For true sports card rarityand an elevated price pointcards with authentic player jersey swatches are tough to beat. And sometimes the simplicity that continuity brings is enough. Probably the greatest switch-hitter who ever played the game, Mantle's ability to hit for average and for power was never more on display than when he won seven World Series championships for the New York Yankees. Dubbed the holiest of grails by Sports Collectors Daily, Mike Trouts rookie status with the Los Angeles Angels got the highly reflective treatment from Bowman in 2009. And although not particularly rare, Update is believed to be the lowest produced set from the flagship line. Hes been in the top 5 in Cy Young voting three times. In fact, the top rookie cards in baseball history are so rare their value has skyrocketed over the years, and they now can be worth millions of dollars. No PSA 10 grade copies of this 1954 Topps Ernie Banks rookie card are known to exist, and they're scarce enough overall to get pretty good money for grades through a PSA 7. He surpassed 3,000 hits, won six Gold Glove Awards and at one point was the highest-paid player in MLB history when he signed a 10-year, $23 million contract with the New York Yankees. i have been trying to sale my baseball cards. But the top card belongs to Steve Carlton, a four-time Cy Young Award winner. The pop 13 BGS 10 graded Tom Brady 2000 SP Authentic is currently valued at $240,000. Also, Winfield was good enough to get his own rookie card and didn't have to share space on a card like several other valuable cards of the era. 1981-82 Topps Magic Johnson #21 Buy on eBay. The design might be on the generic side, but boasting a young Tom Seaver, the card is anything but. @JDonovan Yes, Best can be interpreted different ways. "Pudge" played basketball and baseball at the University of New Hampshire before making it to the majors in 1969 with the Boston Red Sox, then breaking through in 1972 as the American League Rookie of the Year. Brett played all of his 21 seasons with the Kansas City Royals and accomplished everything imaginable for a ballplayer. This is one of those cards thats easier to love (or hate) for what it is rather than dream about what could have been. When it comes to Rookie Cards, 1998 Topps Baseball doesnt have much. The Best Topps Baseball Rookie Card from Each Year - 1952-2020 The following list includes a year-by-year breakdown of the most valuable card for each flagship Topps baseball set from 1952 to. (Bear in mind values for the same card can vary widely depending on its condition and grade from a third-party authentication company.). This National Treasures rookie patch auto card is a parallel numbered to just 5 copies and sold at GoldinAuctions for $840,000 in January, up significantly from its previous sale of $236,160 in October of 2020. Lets face it (no pun intended), Pete Rose has a lot of cards that are more attractive than his 1963 Topps Rookie Card and its quartet of floating heads. Winner of the 2007 AL Cy Young Award, he finished in the top 5 of voting in each of the four years after that as well. Stanton even managed to ascend the hobby ranks while playing for the Marlins, a team that its hard to breakthrough on. Joining him on the checklist are Nolan Arenado, Didi Gregorius, Yasiel Puig, Corey Kluber and more. Of course, his Venezuelan card is the rookie the get for 1966. Yount became a two-time American League MVP and led the Brewers to the World Series in 1982. The Patrick Mahomes II rookie ticket autograph has 38 copies graded as a PSA 10 and is valued at $91,029. And as the card has taken on a life of its own, it has also helped its status as it continues to gain attention. #4 - Bart Starr. Lets face it, Guillen is not your typical Best in Class Rookie Card. After making his MLB debut at the end of April, Topps managed to sneak Bryce Harper into 2012 Topps Series 2, which came less than two months later. Only cards with the RC tag in the Beckett database are included. Hes finished in the top 5 in AL MVP voting four times. Here's how the 2021 Topps Baseball Rookie Cards break down in Series 1: Total RCs: 50. Lot of fun to look at. However, its another high number short print, making it harder to find and, thus, adding more value. And given the quiet finish, his cards dont make a lot of noise now. The lowest graded copy of the card is a population 12 PSA 7 and is still valued at $69,834. There's actually a Venezuelan version of this set that would be just as valuable. With his 2009 Bowman Draft autograph long out of reach for the average collector, this card has seen tremendous growth. There have been several cases of mistaken identities over the years. This is the first of several rookie cards from the legendary 1975 Topps set to make the list that features Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter during his time with the Montreal Expos. The slugger formerly known as Mike is one of the games best home run hitters in an era where dingers are flying at a furious rate when hes healthy. Herb Score gets RC runner-up status in a classic set, albeit one driven by design and veterans. Its a special case for a special player. Palmer consistently eeks out higher value for the same condition. The 1960 Topps set features rookie cards for two legends with Willie McCovey and Carl Yastrzemski, but centering has been a longtime problem for this set. While there are just three PSA 10 copies of pitcher Tom Seaver's rookie card out there, you can still get pretty decent value for the PSA 9 and PSA 8 grade copies. Ryan became one of MLB's greatest pitchers overa 27-year careerthat included MLB records with seven no-hitters and 5,714 strikeouts. His 2013 Topps Update Rookie Card is part of a set that is aging very nicely. While no PSA 10 copies of the 1933 Goudey have ever been found, there is one known PSA 9 in existence. This population 3, PSA 10 copy of the 2017 Patrick Mahomes Gold Prizm sold for $528,000 at auction on 8/21. Topps also issued a pair of special factory sets in 1993 honoring the inaugural seasons of the Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins. The 1975 Topps George Brett Rookie Card captures both of these sentiments. Hes in 1951 Bowman so its actually a second-year card. Bradys 2000 Playoff Contenders rookie ticket isnt as rare as its Championship parallel, but it still commands serious value. So it shouldnt come as a surprise that Yazs Rookie Card is one of the most recognized of the 60s. On top of that, Fisk provided one of the most dramatic moments in World Series history with his Game 6 walk-off home run in 1975. 42 retired by every MLB team. The 1957 Topps John Unitas rookie card has a supply of just 8 copies in its highest grade PSA 9. But he played just 12 seasons, so his 165 career wins don't even put him in the top 50 on theMLB career wins list. If the card is rare, even better. There were three amazing rookie cards in the 1954 Topps set with Al Kaline, Henry Aaron and Ernie Banks. Disclaimer: The football card market is moving fast, so Ive opted to use predicted price values to develop this list of most valuable rookie cards. Take a look instead at 10 of the most valuable rookie sports cards minted in the past 20 years. Griffey, Nomar and konerko. If $27,000 seems like a lot for a Mark McGwire rookie card, please remember that this card, which features McGwire in his 1984 Olympic uniform, was once considered a rival to the Mickey Mantle 1952 Topps rookie card as one of the most valuable cards of all time. Factory sets also have a Bryce Harper #661 card, although these were done as a couple of different variations. It mentions a game he had at Modesto stealing seven bases. Period. The two-time American League Cy Young winner and three-time runner-up has proven to be one of the most dominant pitchers of his generation. Justin Herbert broke records during his rookie season and although he is just entering his second year in the NFL, his one of one Shield Patch Autograph National Treasures rookie card is currently valued at $547,328.