Mayo’s Cut Plug Cap Anson
Estimated PSA 9 Mint Value: $92,500
Dimensions: 1-5/8″ x 2-7/8″
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.
This is one of them. Issued by the Mayo and Brother Tobacco Works of Richmond, VA, the set contains 48 different cards overall but Anson’s is undoubtedly the most coveted.
The black borders are susceptible to showing wear and chipping but finding any card from the 19th century in high grade will undoubtedly be difficult anyways.
Goudey #149 Babe Ruth
Estimated PSA 8.5 NM-MT+ Value: $200,000
Dimensions: 2-3/8″ x 2-7/8″
The second toughest of the four 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth cards, the #149 Red Ruth is every bit as appealing as the #53 Yellow Ruth.
However, it just isnt as often found in high grade as #53.
Thats the key differentiator in value.
Ruth was at the tail end of his career in 1933 but he still produced well enough to be named a starter in the All-Star game at Comiskey Park that year.
Position In Set Sequence
As odd as it seems, a baseball card value can be influenced by its position in the set sequence, as that would determine its print and handling process.
A card that is first in a set would be located in the top left corner of the sheet, vulnerable to damages such as wear when the sheet is stacked.
A perfect example of this is the 1953 Topps #1 Andy Pafko card, which is rare to find in mint condition, thus increasing its value.
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Baltimore News #9 Babe Ruth
Estimated PSA 4 VG-EX Value: $925,000
Dimensions: 4-1/2″ x 6″
This pre-rookie card of Ruth is one of rarest cards in the hobby with 10 copies known to exist and can be found with either blue or red borders.
In early 1914, Jack Dunn of the minor league Baltimore Orioles signed Ruth to a professional baseball contract.
Financial problems would cause Dunn to sell Ruths contract to the Boston Red Sox later that year, however.
Conditions of these cards are not very good but even a PSA 4 is expected to bring in roughly $900,000.
Who knows what a high grade example of this card would go for?
The price would certainly be astronomical.
Us Caramel #32 Babe Ruth
Estimated PSA 9 Mint Value: $300,000
Dimensions: 2-1/2″ x 3″
The 1932 U.S. Caramel set is one of the most desirable and challenging prewar sets in the hobby.
Babe Ruths card is the key and most valuable of the 32 card set.
If you remember, during Game 3 of the 1932 World Series against the Chicago Cubs, Babe Ruth made his famous Called Shot.
A fantastic portrait of the Sultan of Swat wearing a tilted Yankees cap is shown atop a bold, red background.
The card is one of Ruths most desired of all.
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Goudey Sport Kings #2 Babe Ruth
Estimated PSA 9 Mint Value: $350,000
Dimensions: 2-3/8″ x 2-7/8″
One of the most popular 1930s sets, the 1933 Sport Kings R333 set consists of 48 cards in total.
Top athletes from baseball, football, hockey, tennis, golf, boxing, swimming, horse racing and even dog sled racing are showcased in the set.
But, the Great Bambino is the number one card to own out of all of them.
Centering that favors the bottom and slight angular cuts are usually the factors that prevent these cards from reaching higher grades.
The card features a great image of Ruth and it remains one of his most desirable cards.
I remember seeing one of these in a baseball card shop near where I grew up and I would just stare in awe.
T205 Gold Border Ty Cobb
Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Value: $125,000
Dimensions: 1-7/16″ x 2-5/8″
Collectors love the eye appeal of this beautiful pre-war set.
However, the gold borders of the T205 cards leave them vulnerable to chipping and wear.
Cobb turned in an absolute monster of a season in 1911 as he set career highs in batting , hits , doubles , triples , RBI , runs and slugging percentage .
As with pretty much any pre-war set that features Cobb, his card is the heart and soul of this legendary set.
Just be prepared to put up big money if you want one in high grade.
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Value Of Topps Baseball Cards
Use Mavin to search for the value of Topps baseball cards. See what they sell for online.
Youll need these details:
For example 2016 Topps Chrome Corey Seager #150
Topps #407 Eddie Mathews Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 9 Mint Value: $175,000
Dimensions: 2-5/8″ x 3-3/4″
No matter where Eddie Mathews appeared in the 1952 Topps set, his only recognized rookie card would be worth a lot.
But, the fact that his is the last card in the iconic 407 card set gives it an extra bump due to the inherent difficulty in collecting the card.
A high number card, Mathews rookie is extra tough to collect since it was positioned at the bottom corner of print sheets and usually is found off-center as a result.
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.
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A Brief History Of Baseball Cards
The first baseball cards were sold in the 1880s. They were packaged in cigarettes as part of an advertising campaign featuring actors, war heroes, and athletes. The tactic did not take off with adults, but resonated with children, who used the abandoned cards to start their own collections. It wasnt until the 1930s when the Goudey Gum Company began to include baseball cards in packs of gum that companies started to target younger markets.
American Caramel E106 Ty Cobb
Estimated PSA 9 Mint Value: $120,000
Dimensions: 1-1/2″ x 2-3/4″
Produced in 1915 by the American Caramel Company of York, Pennsylvania, the E106 set consists of 48 different cards, including two varieties of the legendary Ty Cobb.
The set is one of if not the most condition sensitive of the early E class era.
Cobb is pictured is his Detroit Tigers uniform leaning on his bat atop a multi-colored background.
This card shares its front design with several others of the era .
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American Caramel E106 Honus Wagner
Estimated PSA 9 Mint Value: $100,000
Dimensions: 1-1/2″ x 2-3/4″
The E106 American Caramel cards are some of the scarcest Honus Wagner cards in the hobby .
Seldom seen at auction, the 48 card set distributed by the American Caramel Co. of York, Pa. released some of the rarest type cards in existence.
Their glossy obverse surface usually results in creasing and cracking issues making it tough to find these in high grade.
Considered to be one of the more obscure Honus Wagner type cards its value continues to remain strong.
Goudey #92 Lou Gehrig
Estimated PSA 9 Mint Value: $175,000
Dimensions: 2-3/8″ x 2-7/8″
This card should look very familiar.
Identical in imagery to the 1933 Goudey #160 Lou Gehrig that you saw earlier on this list, this card does usually present whiter borders and lighter blue backgrounds than its #92 counterpart.
Gehrig was one of a long line of Yankee legends and no doubt put up some of the greatest hitting statistics of them all.
His record for most games played in a season stood for decades until 1995 when Cal Ripken, Jr. played in his 2,131st straight game.
A truly great baseball card of the legendary icon.
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What To Do Next
Once youve gone through and searched for the value of your baseball cards using our price guide, you have several different options:
If theyre valuable: You can either hold onto the cards, perhaps get them graded if not already, and see if they appreciate in value over time. Alternatively, you sell it to a local card shop without getting ripped off since you know its worth. Lastly, you can sell it yourself on eBay to get a competitive price. Read our guide to selling on eBay.
If not: A card doesnt have to be worth money to be considered valuable. Card collecting has been a beloved hobby that has been passed through generations. Each card has sentimental value to someone: where they found it, how they traded for it, who gave it to them. If your cards arent worth money, they could be worth some memories to a relative or a stranger. Put them on Craigslist, take them to a card shop, donate them, or hold onto them to give to the next generation.
T210 Old Mill Joe Jackson
Estimated PSA 3.5 VG+ Value: $600,000
Dimensions: 1-1/2″ x 2-5/8″
The T210 Old Mill set features hundreds of minor league ballplayers that most people have never heard of before.
But, Joe Jackson is instantly recognizable on this card depicting him as a member of the Cleveland Naps minor league team, the New Orleans Pelicans.
After spending 1908 and 1909 with the Philadelphia Athletics, they quickly gave up on him and traded him to the Cleveland Naps for the 1910 season.
What a mistake that was!
Jackson dominated the minors that year and the Naps called him up late in the 1910 season.
The rest is history.
There are only a handful of known copies of this card in the hobby making it a rare and highly demanded issue.
However, as with any colored borders, the surrounding red borders of this card are susceptible to wear making it very condition sensitive.
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Sporting News Babe Ruth Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Value: $1,350,000
Dimensions: 1-5/8″ x 3″
It should come as no surprise that the rookie card of the greatest player who ever lived would be on this list.
The card shows a young Ruth in a Boston Red Sox uniform before they traded him to the rival New York Yankees.
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.
It is one of the most difficult cards to find overall, making it one of the most important cards on this list.
In PSA 8 condition, this card would likely sell for $1 million or more.
Sporting News #151 Babe Ruth Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Value: $1,350,000
Dimensions: 1-5/8″ x 3″
Babe Ruth rookie cards are also part of the 1916 M101-4 Sporting News set that is believed to have been printed shortly after the M101-5 set.
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 they are both card #151 in their respective sets, it is nearly impossible to tell which set the card belongs to unless the back of the card features an ad unique to either of the sets.
For example, one easy way to tell if youve got an M101-4 Ruth rookie is if the Sporting News ad is on the back of the card as no M101-5 Ruths featured that ad.
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Free Baseball Cards Value List
Scroll through this free baseball cards value list, to find out how much your sports trading cards are worth. You could stumble upon a great find, if you know the latest prices, before trading in your cards to other collectors or buying one to add to your very own collection…
Scroll through this free baseball cards value list, to find out how much your sports trading cards are worth. You could stumble upon a great find, if you know the latest prices, before trading in your cards to other collectors or buying one to add to your very own collection
Baseball fans, and other sports fans alike, are now scrambling to other collectors and getting caught up in bids and auctions for vintage cards, that date back to as far as the early and mid 1950s. If youre an avid baseball card collector, I suggest you do ample research before dipping your feet into the trading pool.
Its a budding form of collectibles, that dates back to as far as the players themselves, when they started out that is. Here youll come across a free baseball cards price list, to find out how much your trading card is valued at. Youll also read through guidelines, that every collector/seller must go by, if he/she wants to make the right deal.
N172 Old Judge Cap Anson
Many believe the 1887 N172 Old Judge set to be the most important 19th Century set in existence.
Several player variations exist, some with as many as 12, so the series boasts well over 3,000 different cards in total.
The legendary Cap Anson appears on two different cards with the uniform version being the rarer of the two.
Its so rare that only a handful exist and not many collectors have even seen one in person.
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Cracker Jack Christy Mathewson
Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Value: $250,000
Dimensions: 2-5/8″ x 3-3/4″
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.
As you already know, there wasnt much difference between the 1914 and 1915 Cracker Jack sets except that 1915 Cracker Jack cards are usually found in better shape since they were a redemption set.
But, there are two major glaring differences overall between Mathewsons cards.
Mathewson is the only player in both the 1914 and 1915 sets whose poses are entirely different.
Hes also the only key player in the 1914 set on a horizontal layout.
Most collectors will tell you they prefer the eye appeal of his 1915 Cracker Jack card but his 1914 version is the more rare and valuable of the two.
Topps #164 Roberto Clemente Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 9 Mint Value: $325,000
Dimensions: 2-5/8″ x 3-3/4″
Demand for Clementes rookie card has skyrocketed over the past couple of years.
While a PSA 10 Gem Mint copy sold for $432,690 in 2012 a PSA 9 copy sold for an even higher amount, $478k, in 2016.
That tells you how much the prices of Clementes rookie card have increased. His aggressive play on the field and his generous ways off the field made him a special individual.
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.
Along with the Killebrew and Koufax rookies, the Roberto Clemente rookie card is an anchor in the 1955 Topps baseball card set and the most expensive of the three.
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Topps #311 Mickey Mantle
A PSA 9 Example Sold in January 2021 for $5,200,000
Dimensions: 2-5/8″ x 3-3/4″
The most important post-war card in the hobby, price movements of the 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle baseball card are often seen as an indicator of the health of the sports card market overall. The card is key for three main reasons:
1) 1952 was the first year Topps entered the sports card market so the set itself is wildly popular and even common cards in mint condition can fetch over $1,000.
2) Being a high number card means that fewer Mickey Mantle rookie cards were printed than the average 1952 Topps baseball card in the first place.
3) Many high number cards were famously dumped into the ocean leaving even less of them in existence.
Even though it is not Mickey Mantles official rookie card it is definitely his most important.
Topps #123 Sandy Koufax Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 9 Mint Value: $92,500
Dimensions: 2-5/8″ x 3-3/4″
Considered by most to be the greatest lefty of all-time, Sandy Koufax has one rookie card to his name and this is it.
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 Left Arm of God as he was known, Koufax possessed raw power that helped him once strikeout an astounding 382 batters in a season.
He was also clutch, maintaining a sub-1.00 World Series ERA and twice being named series MVP in 1963 and 1965.
Centering issues, as well as dark print blotches in the yellow background, are usually the two key issues of this card.
This is my favorite Sandy Koufax baseball card and one of the best-looking cards of the 1950s in my opinion.
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Topps #128 Hank Aaron Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 9 Mint Value: $165,000
Dimensions: 2-5/8″ x 3-3/4″
Hammerin Hank needs no introduction.
Over his remarkable career, Aaron made 24 All-Star appearances, a record shared with Mays and Musial and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982.
Once the owner of the career mark for home runs , Aaron possessed some of the strongest hands and wrists that produced some of the quickest bat speed the game has ever seen.
This card is a key classic in the hobby and is Aarons only recognized rookie card. It is by far the most important of all Hank Aaron baseball cards.
Try finding something to not like about this card!
A PSA Gem Mint 10 #128 Aaron sold for $357,594 in 2012, a price that would easily be overcome in todays market.
Goudey #106 Napoleon Lajoie
Estimated PSA 9 Mint Value: $200,000
Dimensions: 2-3/8″ x 2-7/8″
Interestingly, this card was not originally part of the 1933 Goudey set.
And its extremely rareone of the rarest in the hobby.
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.
And, unfortunately, Goudey mailed the card with a paper clip on it that left indentations on the card.
That story is enough to make any collector cringe.
Napoleon Lajoie was considered the best defensive second baseman of his day and won three batting titles, had 3,242 total hits and a .338 average.
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