Wilson Franks #20 Ted Williams
Estimated PSA 9 Mint Value: $150,000
Dimensions: 2-5/8″ x 3-3/4″
The 1954 Wilson Franks Ted Williams baseball card is one of if not the most important regional card ever produced.
Because they were distributed in packages of hot dogs, its extremely difficult to find them in high grade.
Theyre undoubtedly very condition sensitive.
Those that have been found in high grade are thought to have never been packaged and instead left the factory by hand.
Its arguably the most visually pleasing and desirable of all the Ted Williams baseball cards in the hobby.
Topps Ozzie Smith Rc #116
One of the most electrifying fielder’s the game has ever seen, Ozzie Smith translated highlight plays into a Hall of Fame career. His cool demeanor has also helped solidify his status as one of the game’s most popular players. However, looking at his rookie card, it’s strange not seeing him in his Cardinals colors.
Topps #459 Reggie Jackson All
Estimated PSA 9 Mint Value: $1,650
The 1969 season was a career year for Reggie Jackson as he would post personal bests in home runs , RBI , runs , slugging percentage and OPS .
Fittingly, he was named to his first All-Star team that year and as such would have his own 1970 Topps All-Star card to celebrate.
However, Jackson’s offensive production took a huge dip in 1970 as nearly all of his major offensive stats were cut in half.
That slump in performance actually prompted Oakland A’s owner Charles Finley to send Jackson to Puerto Rico to play over the winter with the Santurce Crabbers.
It worked out perfectly as Jackson was back on track for the 1971 season and would go on to appear in 13 more All-Star games and win an MVP award over the remainder of his storied career.
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Topps Eddie Murray #36sold For $17600
Eddie Murray played 20 seasons in the MLB, with 10 of those years as a Baltimore Oriole. He is said to be the 5th best 1st baseman of all time and has ranked as the 77th best MLB player in the Sporting News list of top 100 players. He is highly loved in Baltimore for his achievements during his career with the Orioles. They even made a bronze statue of Eddie Murrays left-handed hitting stance at Oriole Park! Needless to say, his rookie card is highly collectible and valuable when found in high grades.
Above is a screenshot of how many Eddie Murray rookie cards have been submitted to PSA. As you can see, over 9,500 have been graded by PSA. Incredibly, only 18 were found in gem mint condition. A recent auction for one ended in March of 2019 for $17,600!
The Final Word On 1972 Topps Baseball
The 1972 Topps set is now 50 years old. It represents a time in the history of Topps cards that was very much of their 70s monopoly. Centering issues and thin stock, plus 50 years of wear and tear, can make finding high-grade copies a challenge. And that design is arguably the most of its era of all time.
Whether youre a mid-grade set builder, a collector of rookie cards, or just someone who appreciates cards of some of the all-time legends of the game from their playing days, theres a way for you to add 1972 Topps to your collection.
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Conspiracy To Commit Murder
On March 28, 2015, Mark Leonard was charged with conspiring to murder the key witness against him, Mark Duckworth. Leonard allegedly asked another inmate at the jail if he could put him in contact with a hitman, according to the probable cause affidavit. The inmate and Leonard drew up a contract agreeing that Leonard would pay the inmate $15,000 when he was released, the affidavit said. On March 13, Leonard allegedly placed a call to a man who he believed to be a hit man. The man he called was actually an undercover agent. Prosecutors also allege that he offered the hit man a $5,000 bonus if he made the murder look like a suicide. They claim that Leonard wanted the hit man to force the witness to call 9-1-1 and recant his statement before killing him.
Joe Dimaggio 1939 Play Ball #26
Although some baseball card manufacturers are better known than others, the mystery that comes from obscurity can increase the value of a card. That was the case with Joe DiMaggios 1939 Play Ball card, which sold for $218,578 in July 2021. Many consider this version DiMaggios top rookie card, and it stands out because of the often serious players surprising smile. With nicknames like Joltin’ Joe and The Yankee Clipper, DiMaggio was a beloved New York Yankee stalwart. He spent his entire career playing for theYankees, became an all-star 13 times over and a nine-time batting champion, not to mention his 56-game hitting streak in 1941.
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Bowman #65 Mickey Mantle
Estimated PSA 9 Mint Value: $115,000
Dimensions: 2-1/2″ x 3-3/4″
Because Mantle was exclusively signed with Bowman in 1954 and 1955, you won’t find him on any of Topps’ cards in either of those two sets.
Like all Bowman cards, the eye appeal of this card is amazing as a the artwork of the young Mick is simply stunning.
Topps #35 Frank Robinson Rc
Value: $300
While he would later join Brooks Robinson on the Orioles, Frank Robinson began his career in Cincinnati where he put together 10 terrific seasons before being traded to the Orioles at the age of 30, which Reds GM Bill DeWitt justified by saying he was “an old 30.”
He would win the Triple Crown the following season, 1966, and help the Orioles to a World Series win. He in fact had 11 more seasons in him after the trade, as he ended his storied career with 586 home runs and 1,812 RBI.
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Mike Trout 2009 Bowman Draft Bdpp89 Superfractor
The 2009 Bowman Draft BDPP89 Superfractor Mike Trout card sold for $3.9 million in August 2020. Still on the roster for the Los Angeles Angels, Trout is a nine-time All-Star, three-time American League Most Valuable Player, and eight-time Silver Slugger Award winner. Bowman only printed one copy of this iridescent gold Superfractor card, which made it incredibly valuable even before the active outfielder autographed it.
From historys most valuable cards to cult favorite collectibles, Dibbs turns physical baseball card collections into fractionalized assets so everyone can own a piece of the action. To learn more about the fractional collectible market and start trading on Dibbs,
Nila Lê
Nila Lê is the Senior Content Manager at Dibbs. Nila’s PC is comprised of Pokémon TCG, NBA and WNBA cards, as well as pop culture NFTs.
Most Expensive Baseball Cards 1970s: Investment Outlook
Investment Rating: Strong Buy
Ownership Disclosure: None
Baseball cards from the 1970s are widely considered as the last of the vintage era, before the hobby was widely commercialised and transitioned to the modern era.
The 70s were a great decade for baseball and it saw many historic moments, including Hank Aaron breaking Babe Ruths home run record, and Pete Rose coming as close as anyone ever has to Joe DiMaggios record 56-Game hit streak.
The Cincinnati Reds, or Big Red Machine as they were affectionately nicknamed are the most memorable team from the 70s due to their big-hitting style and 2 World Series victories. Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees, and the Pittsburgh Pirates also won multiple World Series, whilst the Baltimore Orioles also took one home.
These cards are not only now part of sporting history, but they are also bordering on being real antiques. They are the last of the vintage era and feature some true legends of the game, including numerous Hall of Famers.
Like with any antique, if you keep it in the mint condition it is value will remain solid, and even grow over time. Investments in 70s baseball cards are as safe as investments come.
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Topps #260 Reggie Jackson Rc
Value: $300
Before the trendy glasses, before the trademark mustache, and long before he became “Mr. October,” Jackson was just another rookie for the Oakland Athletics, as he is hardly distinguishable on his 1969 Topps rookie card.
Whether or not it looks like him, the card is among the most wanted in all of the hobby, as it marks the first of one of baseball’s most popular and at the same time most controversial players of all time.
Topps Traded #98t Cal Ripken Jr
Value: $150
Throughout his career, Ripken was beloved not only in Baltimore but league-wide, as his blue collar attitude endeared him to the masses. The fact that he could flat out play didn’t hurt either.
He has three rookie cards, with his Donruss and Fleer issues valued at $25 and his Topps version at $40. However, he also appeared in a far shorter-printed Topps Traded set, and while that card is not technically considered a rookie card for Ripken, it is far more valuable and, for all intents and purposes, is the Ripken card to own if you have to pick just one.
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Goudey #144 Babe Ruth
Estimated PSA 9 Mint Value: $350,000
Dimensions: 2-3/8″ x 2-7/8″
The last of the legendary quartet of 1933 Goudey Ruth cards on our list is the #144 Full Body Ruth.
This one was double-printed meaning there were more of them in circulation but its still surprisingly tougher to find in high grade than the #181 Green Ruth.
If you look closely at each of the double prints of this card, youll notice that one version shows better clarity and focus than the other.
But the value between the two isnt affected. Collectors will pay big money for either version as long as its in high grade.
Cal Ripken Jr Topps Traded Card $4726
The son of a long-time baseball player and coach, Cal Ripken Jr. became an icon over an illustrious career that spanned 20 years. Nineteen times an All-Star, twice named the American Leagues MVP, and holding the record for most consecutive games played at 2632, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007 with nearly 99% of the vote on the first ballot.
Sure enough, this Ripken brother offered a suitably popular card to boot. A PSA Grade 10 version of his 1982 rookie card with Topps fetched an astonishing $4,726 at auction on eBay in August 2022. Its one of many highly popular Cal Ripken cards, which featured in 27 different sets over the decades.
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Topps Thurman Munson And Dave Mcdonald Rc #189 With Dave Mcdonald
Although Thurman Munson’s life ended tragically, his legacy and status as a beloved Yankee lives on. His rookie card has him pictured alongside Dave McDonald, a first baseman who drove in a total of six runs during his career. And while Munson’s rookie card holds strong values, it’s worth noting that his second-year card actually sells for much more thanks to its condition sensitivity and iconic photo.
Jim Palmer 1970 Topps
Jim Palmers 1970 card shows off the player mid-pitch, and the grey border makes it difficult to find a copy in mint condition. A PSA 9 could easily be picked up for under $300 a couple of years ago, and average prices are rising. For example, a PSA 10 went for $1,880 in 2008, and two sold for roughly $4,000 and $8,000 respectively in 2019. Its an expensive card, but he is the only pitcher in history to win the World Series in three separate decades between the 1960s to the 1980s.
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Topps #414a Frank Thomas Nnof Rc
Value: $700
Take one of the greatest hitters of the 1990s, throw in a short-printed error version of their rookie card, and you have an awfully valuable card on your hands.
Thomas is the rookie to own from the 1990 products, and Topps made the mistake of printing some of the Thomas cards without his name on the front of them. While it is unknown exactly how many of these error cards got out, the estimated print run is thought to be somewhere between 100-150.
T206 White Border Eddie Plank
- Price: $850,000 .
- Dimensions: 1-7/16 x 2-5/8.
T206 White Border Eddie Plank
In the T206 deck, the Eddie Plank card is the next face that receives attention. It is also the only one of the most dominant pitchers to enter the Hall of Fame.
Legend says that this cards rarity stems from poor quality prints that led to mass destruction. You can easily spot this by its centered quality.
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Play Ball #92 Ted Williams Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 9 Mint Value: $150,000
Dimensions: 2-1/2″ x 3-/8″
Its amazing to think of the stats that Williams could have produced had he not missed nearly five full seasons of his prime to military service.
Arguably the greatest hitter of all time, Williams posted some truly jaw-dropping numbers over his career: a .344 batting average, a .483 on-base average and a .634 slugging average.
And with those five prime seasons back, he quite possibly couldve added enough home runs to his career 521 total to challenge Ruths record of 714 before Aaron did.
The 1939 Play Ball #92 issue is the Splendid Splinters only recognized rookie card.
This Ted Williams card features a superb black and white image of Williams following through on his classic swing.
Goudey #53 Babe Ruth Rc
Value: $8,000
The 1933 Goudey set marked the first release of baseball cards in congruence with bubble gum, as they had previously been packaged with cigarettes and cracker jacks.
It also marked the first time Babe Ruth appeared on a card as a member of the Yankees, as he had one previous, ultra rare card from his time in the International league. It came in a number of different colored backgrounds, but regardless it was the first card of the greatest player in baseball history.
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Topps Bert Blyleven Rookie Card #26
Although a Hall of Famer, it isnt Blylevens record that makes this card as valuable as it is. This card was released in 1971 and is one of a series of cards released with black borders.
This set of cards with black borders is one of the rarest sets of the 1970s and one of the most difficult to find in mint condition.
Bowman #1 Whitey Ford Rc
Value: $2,500
This card is in a tough spot, sandwiched between the top two cards of two of the most loved players in baseball history. It holds its own, however, as it is actually valued the same as the Willie Mays rookie card from the same set.
It could be attributed to the large market for everything Yankees, but there is no denying that Ford had a terrific career, winning 236 games in just 16 seasons, and fronting the staff of a Yankees team that won 11 AL pennants, and six World Series while he was with the team.
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Topps Desert Shield Chipper Jones
Chipper Jones is one of the greatest Braves to ever play the game. Jones played his entire career with the Braves . He was an eight-time All-Star and a World Series Champion. He won seven Silver Slugger Awards and was the AL home run leader in four different seasons. All of which makes his cards some of the most valuable of the 80s and 90s. There are only a handful of these particular cards in circulation and even less in mint condition. The card features Chipper posing with the baseball bat on his shoulders. Simple. Whats not as simple is the price tag that can exceed $10,000! Needless to say one of the top baseball cards worth money of the entire decade.
What Baseball Cards From The 2000s Are Worth Money
Top 3 Most Valuable Baseball Cards 2000s
- Mike Trout 2009 Bowman Chrome So not only is this the most valuable baseball card of the 2000s, its the most valuable baseball card of ALL TIME.
- Albert Pujols 2001 Bowman Chrome
- Ichiro Suzuki 2001 Bowman Chrome Xfractor
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Topps #464 Johnny Bench All
Estimated PSA 9 Mint Value: $2,500
Usually in this hobby, a given player’s base card is worth much more than his All-Star card.
However, The Sporting News All-Star cards in the 1970 Topps set were notoriously plagued with centering issues making examples of them in high grade all but impossible to find.
And Johnny Bench’s is the most valuable of them all…
Bench wasted no time becoming an All-Star as he appeared in 13 straight All-Star games beginning with his rookie debut in 1968.
Interestingly, the rarity of Bench’s All-Star card in high grade isn’t too much greater than those of some of the other big name All-Stars on this list.
What gives this card an extra boost in price, in my opinion, is that the 1970 season was the first of his two MVP campaigns in which he turned in single season bests in home runs and RBI .
Topps Gary Carter Marc Hill Danny Meyer And Leon Roberts Rc #620
Like a lot of rookies from the era, Gary Carter is pictured alongside several other players. The Hall of Fame catcher is surrounded by three other players that didn’t amount to much. So while it’s still a fantastic card of an all-time great, many collectors are still probably wishing that Carter were given the same single-player treatment George Brett and Robin Yount got in the same set.
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