What are the best baseball cards of all-time? Here they are, ranked from one to five. They were ranked using a specific algorithm assessing the baseball card’s demand, it’s printing material, the quality of the picture on the card, the amount of detail on the back of the baseball card, as well as it’s geometrical shape. Yeah….right. Anyway, I did some research online and came up with these:
1) Honus Wagner 1909-11 T206 White Border, #366
Why this card? Well, for one there is a reported sale of this baseball card for $2.8 million dollars. Yes, million. For another, a book was written with the subject being primarily this specific card. It’s been estimated that there are about one hundred of these cards in existence. The card was short printed, some say, due to Honus Wagner’s request that his cards be pulled from distribution because they promoted smoking. (Many of the early baseball cards were used as fillers for cigarette packs). For more info on this card, as well as a picture of it, check out this article at the Baseball Hall of Fame website.
2) Eddie Plank 1909-11 T206, #394
Another card from the T206 baseball card set. This card is also estimated to have about 100 copies in known existence. It was recently listed in Beckett Baseball at a book value of between $35K and $50K. Eddie Plank pitched for 17 years in the major leagues, earning himself a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame. He had 326 career wins, with 2,246 career strikeouts. Couple this star quality with the rarity of Plank’s T206 baseball card and you have the makings of a highly sought after collectible.
3) Mickey Mantle, 1952 Topps, #311
According to www.collectors.com, this card is the most valuable post-war (that’d be WWII for you non-history buffs,)sportscard. It was recently listed in Beckett Baseball with a value of between $18,000 and $30,000. A PSA 10, graded gem-mint, version of this card sold for $275,000. Why is this card so sought after and valuable? Well, for one thing, this card is Mickey Mantle’s Topps rookie card. In an era when ballplayers were worshiped, Mickey was the king of all ballplayers. The nostalgia that a rookie card of Mantle holds for many collectors is incalculable.
4) Nap Lajoie 1933 Goudey, #106
The 1933 Goudey set was one of the first baseball card sets issued in gum packs. This particular set is loaded with valuable cards that help define baseball card collecting of the era. The baseball card that defines this baseball card set in particular is the Nap Lajoie #106 card. The odd thing about this baseball card is that it was not originally distributed as part of the 1933 set. It was available only when requested from Goudey via mail. This card is one of the cards in the set that does not include the Big League Chewing Gum border on the bottom of the card. This baseball card currently holds an estimated book value of between $15,000 and $25,000.
5) Leroy “Satchel” Paige, 1949 Leaf, #8
This card is valuable for two reasons. One, it’s the rookie card of one of the finest pitchers to ever wind-up on a professional baseball mound, who unfortunately did not get to show his best stuff in major leagues, due to segregation. And two, this card is short-printed meaning it is quite rare. This baseball card’s book value is currently between $9,000 and $15,000.
I do not understand why the Billy Ripken FFace card is not listed. What card caused a bigger stir in the hobby and non-hobby world in the 1980′s?
Yeah, that was quite an interesting card. A top five of all time card though? Maybe not.
is a 2008 opening day mickey mantle signed card valuble? (not rookie card).
I’m not aware of any authentic autograph parallel cards for Mantle in the 2008 Opening
Day set (would obvioulsy have to be an inserted autograph item, such as a check or letter auto, not on-card). It is most likely the reproduced autograph common card though. Not being able to see the card though, you might want to check with Topps to be sure.
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