To most sports card collectors and enthusiasts, collecting sports cards is simply: a hobby. However, as sports trading cards have grown increasingly lucrative, it has grown into something altogether unique. Many now consider these cards to be investments, some regard them as a status symbol, while others regard their acquisition as an adventure to obtain the world’s most costly sports cards.
The market for sports cards has seen a major shift recently, and many of the most valuable cards are now from the contemporary era and were first released into circulation less than 10 years ago. This list would have been drastically different half a decade ago if it had only featured extremely rare vintage baseball cards, such as a 1951 Bowman Willie Mays rookie card, 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle, and Honus Wagner T206 (all of which are still on the list but having shifted positions in an ascending or descending manner).
The 2009 Stephen Curry National Treasures Rookie Logoman, valued at $5.9 million and possessed by Alt Fund, is now the most expensive sports card in the world. The Lebron James 2003 Exquisite Collection RPA (rated BGS 9 Autograph 10) that was sold for $5.2 Million on April 26, 2001, in a private sale through PWCC was the record holder previously.
Athletes and celebrities like Gary Vaynerchuk, Kevin Durant, and Mark Wahlberg have contributed to the dramatic growth in popularity of this age-old activity. It will be intriguing to see if the market can maintain these high costs given how much more valuable sports cards have now become. It’s one of those cultural phenomena that is fascinating to watch unfold, yet largely sourced from a place many don’t understand.
With that said, let’s talk about the 20 most expensive Sports Cards ever sold.
Most Expensive Sports Cards
1. 2009 Stephen Curry National Treasures Rookie Logoman (Price: $5.9 million)
As spoiled in the intro, the 2009 Stephen Curry card is the most expensive one in the world. Now, please understand that I admire Steph. He is one of the NBA’s most exciting players and a thrill to watch. The man is a borderline court magician. But it has been nearly unheard of for basketball superstars who haven’t even turned 35 yet to have the most expensive sports cards, as they have traditionally belonged to vintage players.
For cards that have little to no price history, people are starting to pay historically unheard-of sums. This specific card is a 2009 National Treasures Rookie Card of Stephen Curry. It is immensely rare, and by that, I mean that it is the only card of its sort, especially since it includes a “Logoman” patch from one of Curry’s jerseys that have been worn during a game.
This is similar to the Luka Doncic card sold for $4.6 million. It was purchased by Alt Fund, a body that permits buyers to purchase shares in fractions of the cards that they own. While the actual price paid for the majority share is unknown, the card’s appraised value was $5.9 million.
2. 2003-2004 Lebron James Upper Deck Exquisite Collection #78 Rookie Patch Autograph (Price: $5.2 million)
The 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle and T206 Honus Wagner cards have dominated the most expensive sports cards list for ages, but basketball cards have boomed in value in the last few years, escalating to the list’s two top slots, an unusual occurrence for cards that were both created inside the last two decades. Before being taken over by Steph Curry’s Alt Fund purchased, card, LeBron “King” James held the record for the most expensive card ever sold.
I would have thought the buyer of this card would have spent a few dollars more to break the tie with Mickey Mantle, but I guess they were content with sharing the number two place. And who is the mysterious owner? Well, the truth is no one actually knows who threw down the $5.2 million for the card, but King James himself claims that he owns a couple of these rarities, which is saying a lot seeing as only 23 were ever made.
3. (But Tied For Second) 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle (Price: $5.2 million)
Numerous 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle cards have sold for $1,000,000 or more, making them the most well-known sports cards in the field. The most recent record-breaking sale of this card occurred in November 2020, when it was graded Mint PSA 9 and sold for $5.2 Million. This card, like the LeBron James card noted above, was sold privately through PWCC, to owner Rob Gough, who referred to it as the “Mona Lisa of sports cards.”
There are six PSA 9 copies of the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle and three Gem Mint PSA 10 copies. While one of the Gem Mint copies of this collector’s item has been sold or purchased recently, expert analysts agree that any of the three might be worth upwards of $10 million.
4. 2018-2019 National Treasures Luka Doncic Rookie Card Autograph Logoman (Price: $4.6 million)
Since his debut season in 2018-2019, Luka Doncic has been a captivating presence in the NBA. The Dallas Mavericks moved up from the No. 5 pick to the No. 3 pick to acquire Doncic in the 2018 draft and he has been a standout from day one.
The 6’7″ Slovenian point guard is a virtuoso on the court and headed for a fantastic career, but should one of his cards be listed among LeBron James, Mickey Mantle, and Honus Wagner? He’s twenty-two years old, which means there is plenty of time for him to prove himself, but also a lot of time for injuries that could derail the astronomically high $4.6 million price tag collected for his rookie card.
Just one copy of the 2018-2019 Panini National Treasures Rookie Auto Logoman card was ever manufactured, so it is quite literally, irreplaceable. The card includes a game-worn patch of his jersey with the NBA insignia, as well as Doncic’s blue-inked autograph. It was initially opened by a card store owner, then sold for about $400,000.A year later, the new owner would turn a $4 million profit for the card, making it one of the all-time most expensive sports cards to ever be sold.
5. 2017 Patrick Mahones National Treasures Rookie Auto 1/1 (Price: $4.3 million)
Pat Mahomes is quite a special quarterback. Since his debut year, his card values have grown sharply. No-look passes, 70-yard throws to Tyreek Hill, not to mention the recently acquired Super Bowl ring have all contributed to the legacy of the former Red Raider.
When LJ’s card store paid $4.3 million in a private auction for the 2017 Patrick Mahomes National Treasures Rookie Auto, it became the most expensive football card ever sold. The one-of-a-kind card, which has an NFL logo patch from a game-worn Mahomes jersey, was signed with blue ink and graded by “Beckett Grading Services” as Near Mint 8.5.
While he may never be Tom Brady, winning 7 Superbowls, Mahomes will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the most remarkable and adored football players of all time.
6. 1933 Goude Babe Ruth (Price: $4.2 million)
A 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth card, one of the most recent entries to this most expensive sports cards list, was acquired through Memory Lane Auctions and belongs to Thomas Newman, a Florida doctor with an extensive collection of sports cards. Newman’s collection was auctioned off with the Ruth card as the auction’s royal gem.
This Goudey Babe Ruth is PSA 9 rated, which indicates it is slightly shy of Gem Mint condition, which is incredible considering it pre-dates World War II! While every 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth card remains exceptionally valuable, this is possibly the most valued of its kind due to its condition.
7. Mike Trout 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Superfractor ($3.936 million)
When this Mike Trout rookie card sold at auction for $3.93 million in August of 2020, it briefly was the record holder for the most expensive sports card ever. Although the card is grade BGS 9 Autograph 10, it is a one-of-a-kind collector’s item. In a way, this card is comparable to the Luka Doncic Rookie card from the number four slot on this list in that they are both relatively young stars, and contemporary-era cards haven’t ever exceeded the pricing of the list’s very rare vintage cards. But things have certainly changed.
Trout, 29, has already hit 300 home runs, been named to 9 All-Star Teams, won three MVP titles, and has even achieved a lifetime batting average of .306 in his career, Trout, like Doncic, has a lot of work to do to justify the price of this card. but if he keeps up his current pace and lives long enough, he may easily be considered one of the best baseball players of all time.
Dave Oancea, better known as “Vegas Dave,” began collecting Mike Trout rookie cards in high quantities in 2018, buying 4 different versions of the 2009 Bowman Chrome Trout autograph card. Vegas Dave previously sold a Mike Trout 2009 Bowman Chrome Red Refractor (one of just 5) for more than $900,000.
8. 1909 T-206 Honus Wagner ($3.75 million)
The T206 Honus Wagner, commonly recognized as “The Holy Grail” of sports cards, is most certainly the most well-known sports card in the world, though only the 8th most expensive. However, this card’s ascension to the top of the list is a virtual certainty. It is, in fact, a distinction it has held once before. Several T206 Honus Wagner cards have sold for more than a million dollars.
The key reason for this card’s significant value is its scarcity. Estimates are that only between 60 and 100 of these cards are still in existence, though when counting those in acceptable shape for massive price points, the list dwindles down to a much smaller number. So its rarity is not up for debate.
What is, however, is the reason for the scarcity. The cause of the scarcity is debatable. Some argue that Wagner was ethically opposed to advertising the use of smoking tobacco to minors, while others claim that he just wanted to be paid more for his inclusion on the card. In any case, only a limited number of these cards were produced until their production was suspended.
9. (Tied for 8th) 1979 Wayne Gretzky O-Pee-Chee (Price: $3.75 million)
“The Great One” is not only featured on sports cars, but he is also quite the card collector himself. Gretzky once acquired a replica of the aforementioned 1909 T206 Honus Wagner. For long-time card collectors, The 1979 Wayne Gretzky O-Pee-Chee (Topps Canada) Rookie Card has become one of the most highly prized sports cards. This particular card sold for $465,000 only five years ago, changing hands multiple times since then. There are just two cards of those graded in PSA 10 GEM MINT remaining.
With Gretzky being the indisputable GOAT in the sport of hockey and the card’s inherent rarity, the 1979 Gretzky is expected to remain one of the world’s most valuable sports cards.
10. Tom Brady 2000 Panini Playoff Contenders Auto (Price: $3.1 million)
Once Tom Brady won his unprecedented seventh Super Bowl ring, the 2000 Panini Playoff Contenders Rookie Ticket Auto card, graded BGS 9), hit its record sale price point becoming the most expensive football card ever sold during its purchase for $3.1 million. To the earlier mention in this list, it would be eventually surpassed by a Patrick Mahomes rookie card that sold for $4.3 million. The identical Tom Brady Panini Playoff Contenders card had already set multiple other football card records.
Since Brady added to his fame by winning another Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Tom Brady card value has flourished even more. This was the third copy to sell for more than a million dollars within the past year.
While no one can dispute Brady’s legacy as the G.O.A.T. it remains to be seen if this specific card will be rare enough to preserve its value over time.
11. 1997 Michael Jordan Upper Deck Game Jersey Autograph (Price: $2.103 million)
The 1996 Fleer Rookie Card of Michael Jordan is the most well-known Jordan card, but the most expensive one is this 1997 Upper Deck autographed card with a patch of Jordan’s 1992 All-Star game jersey.
Upper Deck only made 23 of them, and this particular one is graded Near-Mint PSA 8. On May 22, 2021, the card was auctioned off at Goldin Auctions.
This is a unique and exquisite card that will most certainly increase in value over time. The Jordan card sector has also lit up in just the last two years, fueled by the fire of the overall sports card industry as well as the publication of ESPN’s Michael Jordan documentary “The Last Dance.”
12. Gianni Antetokounmpo 2013 National Treasures Logoman Autograph (Price: $1.812 million)
Another item from the same line that propelled Lebron James and Luka Doncic higher on our list is this 2013 National Treasures Logoman Autographed card of Gianni Antetokounmpo. A game-used patch of the NBA “Logoman” from one of Giannis’s worn jerseys is included on the card. Way before Giannis led the Bucks to the 2021 NBA Championship, this card was already sold as the most expensive basketball card sold at the time with its $1,812,000 price tag.
It would be outpaced by the prices of the Luka, Lebron, and Steph Curry cards within the following year, but who knows, the Greek Freak may have the value of his card rise again in the not-too-distant future.
13. Kobe Bryant 1996-1997 Topps Chrome Rookie Refractor (BGS Black Label) (Price: $1,795,800)
On January 26, 2020, Kobe Bryant sadly perished in a helicopter crash. After the five-time NBA Champion passed away, fans and collectors began buying up large quantities of his cards. The 1996-97 Topps Chrome Refractor card, isn’t as rare as some of this list’s other inclusions, however, with 63 of them according to PSA’s population data. Beckett’s population report lists even more than that (103 to be exact) of the card-graded BSG 9.5 or more.
It is that very Beckett Grading Services grade that makes this card so valuable. This Kobe Bryant Topps Chrome Refractor card has a BGS 10 Pristine grade (Black Label), which is the highest rating that a sports car can receive. To qualify, it needs to receive a 10 in every measurable subgrade including Surface, Centering, Edges, and Corners.
The highest rating in sports card grading is BGS Black Label. A card must receive a 10 on each of Beckett’s four subgrades (Centering, Corners, Edges, and Surface) to be classified as Black Label.
Only two 1996–1997 Kobe Bryant Topps Chrome Refractors were given the BGS Black Label grading. Through Goldin Auctions, this one sold for about $1.8 million in March 2021, being the second-most expensive basketball card since before 2000 is this Kobe Bryant rookie.
14. Lebron James 2004-2005 Upper Deck Ultimate Signatures Autograph ($1.29 million)
Several Lebron James cards have sold for more than $1 million, but the Exquisite Rookie Patch Auto series has been the beneficiary of most of those purchases. Although it is an Ultimate Signature Logoman Auto, this card from Upper Deck sold for about $1.3 million.
It is a one-of-a-kind, just like the Patrick Mahomes, Luka Doncic, and Steph Curry cards on this list. This same card was offered in the same Goldin Auctions auction that took place in March 2021. If you are looking to find the top Lebron James trading cards, search for the following: 1) signed 2) A logo or jersey patch; 3) numbered cards.
15. Giannis Antetokuonmpo 2013-2014 Panini Prizm “Prizms Black Mosaic” (Price: $1.14 million)
While there are no duplicates on this list, multiple players appear on different card features throughout the list. This holds true for the next Giannis Antetokuonmpo card. While this card is the same as the National Treasures Logoman Auto, it is technically one of a kind. What makes it different is the lack of an autograph, and its point of sale being at the December 2020 Goldin Auctions.
16. 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente Rookie Card (PSA 9 Mint) (Price: $1.1 million)
Another iconic vintage card that should keep its value well over time is this Roberto Clemente rookie card. For years, it has been one of the more sought-after baseball cards among serious collectors and amateurs alike.
Clemente is renowned for his prodigious baseball skills, endearing demeanor, and charitable work. While on a humanitarian journey to Nicaragua, he tragically perished in an aircraft crash at just 38 years of age. In the final game of the season, Clemente had just collected his 3,000th major league hit.
If in good condition, Roberto Clemente’s rookie card is incredibly valuable. Only 1 known PSA 10 Gem Mint and 11 rated PSA 9 Mint (both in the same condition as this card) exist.
17. Anthony Davis National Treasures Logoman Rookie Patch Auto (Price: $1,04,500)
This is the list’s 5th featured National Treasures Rookie Auto card. Panini Inc. produces National Treasures cards generally factory-sealed packages of eight, and can easily fetch tens of thousands of dollars. people spend that much for a box simply in the hopes of getting a one-of-its-kind rookie card like this one.
While Anthony “The Brow” Davis has quite a few skins on his wall, it wasn’t until he joined forces with LeBron James that one of his accomplishments became being an NBA champion in Los Angeles. During the shortened 2020 NBA season, the Lakers won the title, skyrocketing Davis’ stock, and this 1-of-1 National Treasures Rookie Patch Auto sold for over $1.1 million.
18. 1969 Topps Reggie Jackson Rookie (PSA 10 GEM MINT) (Price: $1.005 million)
This 1969 Topps Reggie Jackson Dmitri Young Collection rookie card is the 18th card on our list, but it is also the final one to sell for more than a million dollars. The card was once in the collection of former MLB All-Star Dmitri Young, who sold his over 500-card collection for millions. If Young sold the same collection now, it would most certainly be worth more than $10 million.
There are 41 Reggie Jackson rookie cards rated PSA 9, but this is the only one graded PSA 10. Jackson was dubbed “Mr. October” for his outstanding efforts and performances in the playoffs and World Series throughout the years.
19. 1952 Topps #312 Jackie Robinson (PSA 9) (Price: $984,000)
Jackie Robinson made an incomparable contribution to baseball, becoming the first African American to play in Major League Baseball in 1947. In every aspect, he is a legend and an icon of sports that transcends baseball.
This card is from the same 1952 Topps baseball series that has the most valued Mickey Mantle card. In fact, the Jackie Robinson card is #312, which is preceded by Mantle’s #311.
Robinson’s fame, along with the scarcity of the 1952 Topps collection, makes this card costly. Only 11 of these Jackie Robinson cards have been awarded PSA 9 grade. This card sold for $984,000 at Goldin Auctions in March 2021, while another 1952 Topps Jackie Robinson PSA 9 sold for $960,000 at Heritage Auctions in May 2021. Though considering the incredible rarity and value of this card, I would not want to part with it if it was in my possession for anything.
20. 1997 Michael Jordan Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems (Green) (Price: $915,000)
Who better than Air Jordan to take the final slot on the list? Michael Jordan cards have risen in popularity despite being considerably simpler to get than the others. 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan rookies are still flying off the shelves, and special jersey patch autograph cards are commanding exorbitant premiums.
This Skybox Precious Metals inlay is one-of-a-kind. The 1997 Metal Universe Precious Metals are numbered to a 100, although only numbers 1-10 (of which only 10 were produced) are green foiled. PSA currently shows that just two of them have been submitted for grading. This card specifically is number 9 out of 100 and was auctioned for $915,000 at Heritage Auctions.
Most Expensive Sports Cards: The Endgame
Did you suspect that this many sports cards would be worth north of a million dollars? It’s mind-boggling that a tiny piece of cardboard can be so precious. So begin your internet search to find one of these ultra-rare sporting memorabilia pieces and perhaps you too will become a billionaire card investor.
If you’re fascinated by the world of rare sports cards, you won’t want to miss our article on the “TOP 20 Most Expensive Pokémon Cards Ever Sold.” This article highlights the value of collecting rare items and showcases the high prices that people are willing to pay for the most sought-after cards. Click the link to learn more and see how the world of Pokémon collecting compares to the world of sports card collecting. Keep exploring the world of rare and valuable items!
Frequently asked questions:
how to make money flipping sports cards?
One way to make money flipping sports cards is by buying low and selling high. Research which cards are in demand and buy them at a low price. Then, sell them for a profit once their value has increased. Building relationships with other collectors and staying up-to-date on industry trends can also be helpful in finding profitable opportunities.
what does rps mean in sports cards?
RPS in sports cards stands for “Rocket Professional Sports Authenticator.” It is a third-party grading and authentication service for sports cards. RPS uses a 10-point grading scale to rate the condition of a sports card and to authenticate its authenticity.
Hello, my name is Idammah, and I am the founder of Wolfionaire.com, a personal development, and finance blog focused on motivation, success, and wealth. I am obsessed with studying the world's wealthiest individuals and learning about their path to success. I believe anyone can achieve their financial goals with the right mindset and strategies, and I hope to inspire and empower my readers to pursue their own path to success.
