Sports Cards

Ted Williams

Creators Podcast Ted Williams Episode #19 04.01.25 Ted Williams, The Intensity, The Legend Learning about Ted Williams and the baseball legends, there’s two things I’m really having fun with. And I didn’t expect this when…

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Honus Wagner

Creators Podcast Honus Wagner Episode #16 2.20.25 Honus Wagner “It was speculated his refusal was tied to a dislike of tobacco products. But Wagner was a lifetime chewer and smoker. In later years, he said…

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ty cobb T206

Everyone knows the T206 Honus Wagner baseball card sold for $7 million because it’s super rare, right?

Afterall, once Wagner found out his face was featured on a tobacco baseball card advertisement, he famously ordered them to stop printing his card.

This led to the Wagner card being more rare than any other from the legendary 1909-1911 T-206 card set, right?

Wrong.

Ty Cobb has a much more rare card from the T-206 series. It features a red background with a “Ty Cobb” Tobacco advertisement on the back.

ty cobb T206

There are only 22 of these Ty Cobb cards in existence. The Honus Wagner T-206 includes 70-80 examples.

In 2016, someone paid about $1 million for the highest-grade PSA 4.5 version of the Ty Cobb T-206 ‘Cobb Back’ card. But nobody knows for sure, it was a private sale.

You could easily make the case for this card being worth at least as much as the most valuable T-206 Honus Wagner.

Is it just the Honus Wagner T-206 “hype” that’s overshadowing possibly the greatest baseball card of all-time?

If you had to pick one over the other, which way are you going? I know what my vote would be.

ty cobb T206

The $50 Million Mickey Mantle Card –

When Ted Lodge found a box of 1952 Topps in his father’s attic, it contained several Mickey Mantle cards.

He sold all the Mickey Mantle cards to Alan Rosen in 1986, who then sold one card to Anthony Giordano for $50,000.

Giordano had the card graded, a SCG 9.5, one of the highest known grades for the card.

In 2022, the card sold for $12.6 million at a Heritage Auctions sale.

1952 topps mickey mantle

But that’s not the most valuable 1952 Mickey Mantle rookie card.

The most valuable belongs to collector Marshall Fogel. The retired lawyer bought the card from David Hall, founder of Collectors Universe, back in 1995 for $121,000.

There are only three PSA 10 Mickey Mantle rookie cards in existence. And Fogel believes he owns the most pristine example.

He’s been offered $25 million for his card, but he turned it down.

Fogel estimates his 1952 Mickey Mantle PSA 10 rookie card could be valued at $50 million.

And he’s not selling.

1952 topps mickey mantle marshall fogel

Legendary card collector Ken Kendrick owns the second PSA 10 Mantle rookie, and the third PSA 10 card is owned by a mystery collector.

What do you think Fogel’s Mickey Mantle rookie card is worth?

sports cards
Sports Card Market Report, 2025

Top 10 Most Valuable Baseball Cards

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RankCardGradeDate SoldFactsBuyer & SellerImageValue
11952 Topps Mickey Mantle Rookie CardSGC 9.52022There are two variations of the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle with subtle design features. About 1,800 1952 Topps Mantle cards are known to exist, most in poor condition.When Ted Lodge found a box of 1952 Topps in his father's attic, it contained several Mickey Mantle cards. Alan Rosen purchased them in 1986, and sold one to Anthony Giordano for $50,000. Giordano had the card graded, an SCG 9.5, the highest known grade for the card.1952 topps mickey mantle$12,600,000
21909 T206 Sweet Caporal Honus WagnerSGC 22022An estimated 50 to 200 T206 Wagner cards were produced. This sale was an all-time record for highest price ever paid for a baseball card - until one month later the SCG 9.5 Mickey Mantle Card sold for $12.6 mil.Sold in the early 1970s for $1,100, and again in 2012 for $1.2 million to an unidentified buyer.1909 honus wagner $7,250,000
31914 Baltimore News Babe RuthSGC 32021The 11 card set printed by the Charm City newspaper included game schedules on the back of the card. Purchased by fractional share platform, Collectable, investors can buy shares in the card for $10 bucks each. The card is kept at the Babe Ruth Museum in Baltimore.1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth$6,000,000
41952 Topps Mickey Mantle Rookie CardPSA 92021While the PSA 9 graded Mantle card sold for $5.2 million, there are three PSA 10 graded cards that have not sold for years.Once owned by pro football player Even Mathis, the card was purchased by actor, Rob Gough.1952 topps mickey mantle$5,200,000
51933 Goudey Babe Ruth #53PSA 92021The yellow background Ruth card in one of four in the 1933 Goudey set. Sold by lifelong card collector and neurologist Dr. Thomas Newman. 1933 goudey babe ruth #53$4,212,000
62009 Bowman Chrome Prospects Mike TroutBGS 92020The card is one-of-a-kind, signed by Trout and marked "1/1"Sold by Dave Oancea, also known as "Vegas Dave." Oancea paid $400,000 for the card in 2018.2009 bowman chrome draft prospects mike trout superfractors$3,840,000
71916 M101 Sporting News Babe RuthPSA 72021The 1916 Sporting News set inlcudes 200 cards, some cards had advertisements on the back, while others were blank. Only 35 known Sporting News Ruth cards exist. One PSA 7 graded card, and one PSA 8 card.Mile High Card Company sold the card to an unnamed buyer.1916 sporting news babe ruth$2,400,000
81955 Topps Roberto Clemente RookiePSA 92021While there is 11 PSA 9 graded Clemente rookie cards, there is only 1 PSA 10 card. The 'Dmitri Young Collection' Clemente PSA 10 card last sold in 2012.Goldin Auctions sold the Clemente card to a private collectorroberto clemente rookie$1,107,000
91925 Exhibits Lou GehrigPSA 520221925 was Gehrig's breakout season. Only 2 cards in higher graded PSA 6 condition exist. Memory Lane auctions sold the card with a starting bid of $200,000.1925 exhibits lou gehrig$1,032,000
101969 Topps Reggie Jackson RookiePSA 102021The only PSA 10 Reggie Jackson Topps rookie card to exist, it's part of the famous Dmitri Young Collection. The last time the card sold was in 2012 for $115,000.Heritage Auctions sold the Reggie Jackson rookie to a private buyer1969 topps reggie jackson rookie card$1,005,800

Top 10 Most Valuable Football Cards

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RankCardGradeFactsValueDate SoldBuyer & SellerImage
1 2017 National Treasures Pat Mahomes AutoBGS 8.5The Panini card is identified as 1 of 1, making it the most valuable football card ever sold. The autograph is graded BGS 10, with the NFL Shield Rookie Patch. $4.3 million2021The sale by PWCC Marketplace to LJ's Card Shop in New Albany, Ohio broke the record held by the Tom Brady $3.1 million card. 2017 national treasures pat mahomes rookie card
22000 Playoff Contenders Tom Brady Auto/TicketBGS 9 BGSOnly 7 Tom Brady 'Contenders' cards were produced, one for each of his 7 Super Bowl victories. $3.1 million2021The card sold at a Lelands Auctions sale in 2021 breaking a record for most valuable football card ever sold. The next month, the identical card graded BGS 8.5 sold for $2.2 million. 2000 Playoff Contenders Tom Brady Auto/Ticket
31935 National Chicle Bronko Nagurski RookiePSA 9It's the only PSA 9 Bronko Nagurski card in existence. Bronko was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame in 1963. He was also a professional wrestler, and named World Heavyweight Champion several times.$350,0002011Memory Lane auctions brokered the sale to a private buyer. 1935 Bronko Nagurski
41958 Topps Jim Brown RookiePSA 9Only 6 PSA 9 Jim Brown rookie cards exist, and no PSA 10 grade cards exist. $336,0002017The card was purchased at a Heritage Auctions event in February, 2017. 1958 Topps Jim Brown Rookie
51957 Topps Bart Starr RookiePSA 9Bart Starr was MVP of two Super Bowls, four-time Pro Bowl, league MVP, and Hall of Fame inductee in 1977. $288,0002017One of only 3 PSA 9 Bart Starr rookie cards, with no PSA 10 cards. Sold by Heritage Auctions. 1957 topps bart starr
61965 Topps Joe Namath RookiePSA 9Namath received offers to play professional baseball, and was known to dunk during his high school basketball games. After his football career, Namath developed his acting career appearing on The Love Boat, The Brady Bunch, The A-Team, ALF, and hosted The Joe Namath Show.$264,0002018Only 5 cards have a PSA 9 grade. Heritage Auctions sold the Namath card to a private collection. 1965 Topps Joe Namath Rookie
72000 Bowman Chrome Tom Brady RefractorBGS 9.5The 2000 Bowman Chrome Brady card is one of 37 with a BGS 9.5 grade.$233,7002021Sold by Goldin Auctions.2000 Bowman Chrome Tom Brady Rookie Card #236
82000 Bowman Tom Brady Gold RookieBGS 9Tom Brady was the 199th pick overall in the 2000 NFL Draft. Six other quarterbacks were picked before Brady in the draft including Chad Pennington (18th pick) Giovanni Carmazzi (65th pick) Chris Redman (75th pick) Tee Martin (163rd pick) Marc Bulger (168th pick), and Spergon Wynn (183rd pick) $230,0002021Heritage Auctions sold the Bowman Brady card, one of six cards with a BGS 9 grade. 2000 Bowman Tom Brady Gold Rookie
91976 Topps Walter Payton RookieSGC 10Payton's would often stiff-arm tacklers, and would refuse to go out of bounds. Instead, he would prefer to punish the defense rather than escape to the sidelines. He also used his "stutter-step" to throw off tacklers, and was known to leap over defenders for touchdowns. $228,0002021Sold by Heritage Auctions1976 Topps Walter Payton Rookie
102000 SP Authentic Tom Brady RookieBGS 10Brady grew up a San Francisco 49ers fan, and his hero was Joe Montana. He attended the same high school as Lynn Swann and Barry Bonds, and was drafted to play baseball as a catcher by the Montreal Expos $144,0002020Goldin Auctions2000 SP Authentic Tom Brady Rookie
joe montana rookie card