Patrick Mahomes 2017 Panini National Treasures Rookie Patch Autograph Platinum $43 Million
After only four seasons in the NFL, Patrick Mahomes has already compiled an impressive list of records. He was the youngest quarterback ever to be named Super Bowl MVP, the youngest to play in two Super Bowl games and the fastest to achieve 4,000 passing yards. His dominance in the game has already led him to be considered one of the best quarterbacks in history.
Off the field, Mahomes holds a significant record, as well. At $4.3 million, his 2017 Panini National Treasures Rookie Patch Autograph Platinum card is the most expensive football card ever sold. It topped the next closest card, which features a rookie Tom Brady, by more than $1 million.
The Mahomes Rookie Patch Autograph card is impressive. It is a one-of-one rookie card from the popular Panini National Treasures collection that features an NFL Shield logo on the patch incorporated in the design. As with all RPAs, the patch comes from a jersey that was player worn.
Mike Trout Superfractor Autograph Card
Mike Trout’s first baseball cards were released not long after he turned sixteen, and collectors have been keeping track of them ever since. The Angels selected him with the 25th choice in the 2009 draft, and he immediately rose to prominence in the league and in the hobby, putting Mike Trout rookie cards on the map.
To begin, the most prominent Mike Trout cards were released in 2009. Both 2009 Bowman Chrome and 2009 Bowman Sterling feature him in an Angels jersey with an extra signature, despite the fact that they are not official rookie cards. Meanwhile, the 2009 Donruss Elite Extra Edition includes one of the best Mike Trout cards available, with a print run of 495 and an autograph.
Mike Trout rookie cards appeared in a number of 2011 sets, a few years later. None are autographed, however, there is a signed parallel in 2011 Topps Finest Baseball. While all of Mike Trout’s official rookie cards have appreciated in value, his 2011 Bowman Sterling rookie is by far the most valuable of the first-year Mike Trout cards.
The year 2020 was the year of Goldin Auctions’ record-breaking Mike Trout card sale. The one-of-a-kind Superfractor was sold for $3.84 million. This confirmed transaction shattered the previous record of $3.12 million set in 2016 by the 1909 T206 card for Honus Wagner.
This Is The Most Expensive Baseball Card Ever Sold
Collecting baseball cards has been an American pastime for nearly as long as baseball itself. Sports cards in general really. Some of them go for a “pretty penny,” except that penny tends to be made of solid gold. Most cards are worth less than the sleeves collectors buy to store them in, but there are a few rarities out there that sell for more money than most people make in a decade.
Baseball cards actually come from humble beginnings as cigarette pack inserts. Little pieces of cardboard that prevented the “smokes” from getting squashed in somebody’s pocket. Okay, they’ve been around since the 1860s, per Newsday, but the cigarette packs that made them popular right around the turn of the 20th century. If your parents didn’t risk lung cancer, you didn’t get the latest rookie card. Not until the 1930s when baseball cards started popping up in chewing gum packs. It wasn’t until the 80s that playing cards were really mass produced in packs so even the average Joe could collect in the quantities necessary to make his significant other think twice about dating him.
Today, the baseball card industry is worth billions of dollars. The collectible trading market isn’t far behind. You might want to sit down. The most expensive baseball card ever sold wasn’t exactly cheap.
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Michael Jordan Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems
Price: $915,000
Who better to occupy the last spot on the list than Air Jordan? Though much easier to find than other cards on the list, Michael Jordan cards have continued to rise in popularity. 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan rookies continue to sell like crazy, and exclusive jersey patch autograph cards are fetching some crazy prices.
This Skybox Precious Metals insert is a unique card. The 1997 Metal Universe Precious Metals are numbered 100, but numbers 1-10 are the green foil and are the only ten produced. At this time, PSA only shows two of those have been submitted for grading. This particular card is number 9 of 100 and sold for $915,000 through Heritage Auctions.
These cards are extremely valuable, and there are more out there.
Play Ball Joe Dimaggio

Sold price: $750,000 Year sold: 2020 Auction house: Heritage Auctions
In America, the year 1941 is often remembered for two major events: the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that brought the U.S. into World War II, and The Streak. From May 15 to July 17 of that year, Joltin Joe DiMaggio hit safely in 56 consecutive games, a feat that has never been equaled.
Over the course of two days and 43 bids, this Play Ball issue managed to smash its previous auction records by more than a half-million dollars. The only known card to be certified as Gem Mint 10, it features sharp edges, well-defined borders, and DiMaggios distinctive follow-through swing. It is to date the only known Gem Mint 10 to have sold at auction.
Year sold: 2021 Auction house: Heritage Auctions & Goldin Auctions
Jack Roosevelt Robinson was already well on his way to a Hall of Fame career in 1952, and not just for being the first Black player in Major League Baseball history. He had already amassed single-season records for batting average and fielding percentage, was named Rookie of the Year in 1947 and NL MVP in 1949, and had led the Dodgers to National League pennants in those seasons as well .
Year sold: 2021 Auction house: Heritage Auctions
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Willie Mays 1952 Topps
Willie Mays is a legend in the baseball community. Widely regarded as one of the best players in baseball history, his 1952 Topps card sold for $478,000 at auction in 2016.
His card was offered as part of a three-day sports auction put on by Heritage Auctions, which was successful in selling a total of $11 million worth of memorabilia.
The Willie Mays card was the most expensive item overall! Even though it wasnt his rookie card, Willie Mays was depicted on the very first Topps card.
Hank Aaron Baseball Cards
When a baseball players name can be breathed in the same sentence as Babe Ruth when it comes to record-breaking and record-holding career home run hitters, Hank Aaron rightfully deserves to find it every bit as covetous a baseball card as the original icon himself. The Boston Braves, who later became the Atlanta Braves, saw in Hank Williams star quality level, whose talent not only met but exceeded even their own expectations. As far as baseball card collections go, getting one that has a decent quality grade to it that has Hank Aarons name on it is not likely going to come cheap. There are five in particular where the price tag was so high that theyve become record-breakers themselves. The one that stands out the most is the Topps 1954 #128 Hank Aaron, which may not be the rarest or most valuable baseball card out there, it is one of the most recognized sports cards ever and is symbolic of a card collecting hobby.
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Upper Deck Sp Rookie Card Psa 10 Sold For: $33842
Steiner Sports reports that a Derek Jeter baseball trading card recently sold for $33,842 at an auction. The card is a 1993 Upper Deck SP Rookie card, which isnt rare in itself. The value of the card is tied up in its condition. The card was graded and found to be a PSA 10 grade in pristine condition. You can find other editions of the card in less than perfect condition, for far less. Although paying over thirty thousand might seem rich for a baseball trading card, this isnt the most expensive Derek Jeter card on the collectibles market. Some sell for tens of thousands more. Were just at the beginning of the most expensive Derek Jeter trading cards.
Babe Ruth 1933 Goudey #53 Psa 9$42 Million
The 1933 Goudey set featured four Babe Ruth cards in total, but the yellow background is acknowledged as the toughest grade of the four with just 1 PSA 9 in existence.
This card sold for $4.2 million over the summer, a record for any Babe Ruth card, and came out of the collection from a Florida Doctor who passed away this past January.
Ruth is considered to be one of the greatest hitters to ever play the game of baseball, but he started his career as a pitcher and went on to win 89 games between 1915 and 1919 putting up an ERA of just 2.16. Ruth was a 4x World Series Champion.
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The Most Expensive Baseball Card Ever Sold
Whens the last time you saw a sports trading card?
For me, it was in 2012. The year I met Michael Jordan at his basketball summer camp in California. Seven hundred kids gathered to learn from the greatest athlete of all time, and we were all allowed to bring one object to have it signed by MJ at the end of the camp. Some kids brought jerseys, other basketballs, and only a few brought original trading cards.
Maybe you have one, or you might know someone who owns one. Perhaps you havent seen one your whole life. But did you know that the most expensive trading card was sold for 2.8 million US dollars at an auction in 2007?
¡¿2.8 million dollars?! You and I probably had the same reaction.
Heres a list of the 20 most expensive trading cards ever sold:
Today, well learn about the process of which sports trading cards were developed, and the story of the most expensive sports trading card ever sold.
Bowman #218 Willie Mays Psa 9
Who wouldnt relish the opportunity to get their hands on one of these cards? Without a doubt, this is one of the most important cards in any Willie Mays collection. Unfortunately, its also one of the hardest cards to find. This is especially true if youre looking for one that is in mint condition. It may not be the most valuable card in the entire list, but it is a key component to any collection featuring the player. That means anyone who has one is likely willing to pay a decent price in order to get one. As you can see, the card doesnt sell for as much as some others, but its still possible to make a significant amount of money from selling one.
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Of The Worlds Most Rare And Expensive Baseball Cards
Are baseball cards worth money? Its a common question for anyone interested in getting started with the hobby for the first time.
The answer is a resounding yes, but the intrinsic value of baseball cards will differ wildly depending on a number of factors. Who is the player on the card? What was the year of release? Does it have an auto, or is it a rare one-of-one? If youre looking for baseball cards with value, youve come to the right place.
Upper Deck Sp Derek Jeter Rookie Card Sold For: $99100

ESPN reported that a 1993 Upper Deck SP Rookie card sold for nearly $100K the card fetched the high price on an eBay auction in 2018. The owner of the card shared that the PSA 10 card was foil, which enhanced its overall value. A collectible baseball card in perfect condition is worth what a collector is willing to pay for it. He said that someone offered him $25,000 in 2008, but he held onto the card for another ten years and reaped the benefits of his patience. Its rare to find a perfect 10 in baseball cards. The moral of this story is that it pays to take care of what you have. Adrian Proietti placed with winning bid on the card and plans to keep it in a safety deposit box because of its immense value. Its the third highest-selling Derek Jeter trading card of all time.
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Bowman #89 Willie Mays Psa 8
It might seem rather odd that this particular card shows up at the bottom of this list, considering the fact that 1954 was also the year that Willie Mays and his team won the World Series. As a matter of fact, it was actually Mays himself who made the winning catch, a very difficult catch by all accounts. Experts recall him being forced to reach over his shoulder in order to catch the ball, something that very few players could have accomplished successfully. Despite that fact, this is not the most highly sought-after trading card featuring Mays. Its definitely worth enough to make the list, as one of these cards that was in good condition recently sold for just under $16,000. Thats a decent enough payday, to be sure. However, it actually pales in comparison to virtually every other card that appears on this list. As you can see, the very next one on the list sold for more than $100,000. If you think thats a lot of money, just wait until you get to number one and see how much that card is worth. Nevertheless, most people would be very happy to have a card in their collection that they could sell for more than $15,000. Thats exactly what happened here and the person who sold it ended up making a decent amount of money, especially when you consider the fact that it was only one item being sold.
The 10 Most Expensive Baseball Cards In The World
Baseball cards are a nostalgic piece of memorabilia for many people. They can evoke memories of childhoods spent collecting cards and trading them with friends, or watching games with family members.
Baseball cards are also valuable collectibles, with some rare cards selling for thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars.
The first baseball cards were produced in the late 1800s and were included as a premium in tobacco products.
These early cards were very simple, usually just featuring a black and white photo of a player.
Over time, cards became more elaborate, with color photos and detailed statistics.
Today, baseball cards are produced by a variety of companies and can be found in packs of gum, cereal, and other products. They are also sold on their own, in collectible shops, and online.
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Luka Doncic 2018 1/1 National Treasures Rookie Patch Autograph Logoman$46 Million
Back in February, this 2018 National Treasures Luka Doncic Rookie Patch Autograph 1/1 Logoman held the record for the most expensive basketball card ever when it sold via a private deal.
Unlike Mantle and Wagners cards, this rookie card has built-in scarcity as it was designated a unique one-of-one by Panini. Despite being ungraded, and Luka only played 3 seasons, this card still fetched $4.6 million.
Doncic has averaged 25.7 points per game to go along with 8.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game so far in his career. Hes drawn comparisons to LeBron James and Michael Jordan, but is only in his fourth season and has yet to win an NBA championship or MVP award.
Bowman Draft Mike Trout Superfractor Auto
This is the holy grail of modern baseball card collecting. Trout is this generations best player, a modern-day Mantle who can hit, run the bases, and play defense at an elite level. There are many more Trouts in existence than guys who played in the early 1900s, but this is easily Trouts most desirable card.
There are a few key things to know about this card . Youll notice that this card was distributed in 2009, but Trouts rookie season took place in 2012. Thats because this is whats considered his First Bowman prospect card. That means this card was the first time that Trout appeared in any Bowman/Topps product.
Additionally, this card is autographed, which is something that hasnt been included in any of the previous cards mentioned. Autographs are a massive part of the hobby these days, but they werent included in sets in the early days. Autographed cards are almost always going to go for more than their base counterparts.
Finally, this card is a superfractor parallel, meaning that only one card of this type was manufactured. There are other parallels of this card red might be numbered to 100, blue to 50, etc but the superfractor is a perfect one of one.
Add it all up, and this card checks all the boxes that youre looking for in the hobby. This card sold for nearly $4M at auction in August of 2020, and it would undoubtedly fetch more now.
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T206 Sherry Magee Error Card
Youve probably never heard of Sherry Magee, but his card has one of the coolest backstories on this list.
Magee was a decent player, even winning the National League batting title in 1910, but he didnt get serious consideration for the Hall of Fame. He never received more than 1% of the vote, so its completely reasonable that youve never heard of him.
However, his 1909 T206 will occasionally fetch close to multiple six-figures at auctions due to an error. His name was erroneously spelled Sherry Magie before eventually being corrected.
As a result, the Magie version of his card is extremely rare, and serious old-school collectors believe you need to own one to complete the legendary T206 set. There are only 110 graded copies in existence, so getting your hands on one can be extremely difficult.
The record sale for this card was at an Auction in 2018, with a PSA 8 fetching $660k. A PSA 4.5 cracked $118k at auction in May of 2021, while the most recent sale for a PSA 3 was $37.2k.
Remember all this is due to a typo! Im going to keep that in mind whenever I make a mistake in my writing. Instead of viewing it as a negative, Im just going to play it off as though Im trying to increase the future value.