The 20 Most Expensive Sports Cards Ever Sold

By Chris Ventura

To most sports card hobbyists and collectors, the collecting of sports cards is just that: A hobby. But as sports trading cards have become more and more valuable, it has become something entirely different. Now many see it as an investment strategy, some a status symbol, and for others, a treasure hunt to unearth the world's most expensive sports cards.

The meteoric rise in popularity of this age-old pastime has been boosted by athletes and pop culture icons such as Gary Vaynerchuk, Kevin Durant, and Mark Wahlberg. Sports card values have skyrocketed, and it will be interesting to see if the market can support these inflated prices. It's one of those cultural phenomena I'm not sure I understand entirely, but it sure has been fun to watch.

Without further ado, here is the list:

20 Most Expensive Sports Cards Ever Sold

1. Honus Wagner T206 SGC 3

the most expensive sports card ever sold, honus wagner card

The most expensive sports card ever sold is a Honus Wagner T206 SGC 3 Baseball Card. The card sold for $6.606 million in August 2021. Only 60 of these cards are known to exist, and this card ranked in the top 5 in terms of condition.

Wagner played Major League Baseball from 1897 to 1917. He was the league-leading batter for eight seasons, a record that he still holds today. He earned the nickname “The Flying Dutchman” after leading the league in stolen bases five times.

The rarity of this card comes from the fact that Honus Wagner didn't agree to have his likeness on baseball cards issued by the American Tobacco Company. He didn't want his name associated with cigarettes. Unfortunately, between 50-200 Wagner cards were still printed before Wagner's refusal.

2. 2009 Stephen Curry National Treasures Rookie Auto Logoman

2009 Stephen Curry Rookie Logoman Auto
Price: $5,900,000

This card is the most expensive basketball card ever sold. It's one of the cards that has led the way in terms of people purchasing cards for insanely high values, as this card had no previous price history near the value it sold for.

This particular card is a Stephen Curry 2009 Rookie Card from National Treasures. It is a 1/1, meaning it is the only card of its kind and contains a game-worn “logoman” patch from one of Curry's jerseys.

It is a similar card to the Luka Doncic card that sold for $4.6 Million in February.

The buyer of the card was the Alt Fund, a fund that allows people to buy fractional shares of cards they own. It is not known precisely how much Alt Fund paid for their majority share, but the appraised value is $5.9 Million.

T-3. Lebron James 2003-2004 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection #78 Rookie Patch Autograph

Sale Price: $5,200,000

1952 Topps Mickey Mantle and T206 Honus Wagner have long held the top spots on this list, but things have changed. Basketball cards have seen the highest increase in value these past couple of years, and two basketball cards printed less than 20 years ago now own the top spots.

Lebron did hold the number spot on this list and the most valuable basketball card list but was edged out by Steph Curry and the Alt Fund.

I want to think the buyer of this card would have paid an extra couple of bucks to break the tie with Mickey Mantle, but I guess they were ok with sharing the number 2 spot.

Who is the new owner of the card? Nobody knows, but King James does claim he owns “a couple” of this particular card, of which there are only 23 copies.

T-3. 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle

Price: $5,200,000

Arguably the most well-known sports card in the hobby, several 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle cards have sold for $1 Million plus. The most recent record-breaking sale of this card was graded Mint PSA 9 and sold for $5.2 Million in November of 2020. Like the Lebron James card mentioned above, this card was sold in a private sale through PWCC.

Rob Gough, the buyer, called it “the Mona Lisa of sports cards.”

There are believed to be six copies of the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle graded PSA 9 and three graded Gem Mint PSA 10. None of the Gem Mint copies of this card have sold in recent years, but sports card experts believe any one of those three cards could be worth north of $10 Million.

4. 2018-2019 National Treasures Luka Doncic Rookie Card Autograph Logoman

Price: $4,600,000

Luka Doncic has undoubtedly been an exciting figure in the NBA since his rookie season in 2018-2019. The Dallas Mavericks traded up from the No. 5 pick to the No. 3 pick to get Doncic in the 2018 draft, and he has been a star from day one.

The 6'7″ Point Guard from Slovenia is a savant on the court and poised for a spectacular career but should one of his cards be mentioned in the same breath as Lebron James, Mickey Mantle, and Honus Wagner? He's 22 years old. That's a lot of time to prove himself and a lot of time to get injured and make that $4.6 Million card worth…much less than $4.6 Million. I love Luka and hope he has a long and illustrious career, but he has a long way to go to justify that price tag.

The 2018-2019 Panini National Treasures Rookie Auto Logoman is a 1/1. The card features a game-worn patch of his jersey with the NBA logo and an autograph in blue ink. It was first opened in an unboxing by a card shop owner and later sold for around $400,000. That owner then turned it about a year later for an incredible $4 Million profit and made it the most expensive sports card at the time.

5. 2017 Patrick Mahomes National Treasures Rookie Auto 1/1

Price: $4,300,000

Pat Mahomes is a once-in-a-generation kind of quarterback. His card values have been climbing rapidly ever since his rookie year. No look passes, 70-yard tosses to Tyreek Hill, and now a Super Bowl ring have all added to the former Red Raider's legend.

The 2017 Patrick Mahomes National Treasures Rookie Auto became the most expensive football card ever sold when LJ's card shop purchased it for $4.3 Million in a private sale. The card is a 1/1, meaning it is the only of its kind and features an NFL logo patch from a game-worn Mahomes jersey. The card is autographed with blue ink and is graded Near Mint 8.5 by Beckett Grading Services.

Mahomes may never win 7 Super Bowls, but he is likely to become one of the most memorable and beloved football players of all time. I wouldn't be shocked to see more Mahomes cards show up on this list in 2021-2022.

6.  1933 Goudey Babe Ruth

1933 Goudey Babe Ruth Baseball Card

Price: $4,200,000

One of the most recent additions to this list, a 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth card, was sold through Memory Lane Auctions. The card belonged to a Florida doctor Thomas Newman, who owned an extensive sports card collection. Newman's collection was sold at auction, and the Ruth card was the crown jewel of the auction.

This particular Goudey Babe Ruth is graded PSA 9, which means it is just shy of Gem Mint condition. Excellent condition for a pre-WWII card. While any 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth card will hold immense value, this is likely the most valuable card of its kind because of its condition.

7. Mike Trout 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Superfractor

Price: $3,936,000

This Mike Trout rookie card had a short stint as the most expensive sports card ever when it sold at auction for $3.93 Million in August of 2020. The card is graded BGS 9 Autograph 10, but it is the only card of its kind. This card has drawn parallels to the Luka Doncic Rookie card in the number 3 spot. They are both pretty young stars, and modern-era cards have never rivaled the prices of the ultra-rare vintage cards on the list until now.

Trout, 29, has already been selected to 9 All-Star Teams, won 3 MVP awards, hit 300 home runs, and sports a career .306 batting avg. If he continues that pace and has longevity, he could easily be considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time. Like Doncic, Trout still has plenty left to do to justify the price of this card.

Dave Oancea, also known as “Vegas Dave,” started buying up Mike Trout rookie cards in bulk in 2018. He purchased several other iterations of the 2009 Bowman Chrome Trout autograph card. Before the sale of the Superfractor, Vegas Dave sold a Mike Trout 2009 Bowman Chrome Red Refractor (one of only 5) for over $900,000.

T-8. 1909 T-206 Honus Wagner

Price: $3,750,000

Often called “The Holy Grail” of sports cards, the T206 Honus Wagner is likely the most well-known sports card in the world. Odds are, this will once again be atop this list again someday. Several T206 Honus Wagner cards have sold for over $1 Million. It previously held the title of most expensive sports card ever sold, and another copy set the record as it was a better condition overall.

Scarcity is the main reason for this card's immense value. It is estimated that there are between 60 and 100 of these cards left in existence, but very few of those are graded and in good condition.

T-8. 1979 Wayne Gretzky O-Pee-Chee

1979 Wayne Gretzky O-Pee-Chee Rookie Card
Photo Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, HA.com
Price: $3,750,000

“The Great One” is known to be a card collector himself. Gretzky once owned a copy of the 1909 T206 Honus Wagner mentioned above. The 1979 Wayne Gretzky O-Pee-Chee (The Canadian branch of Topps) Rookie Card has become one of the most coveted sports cards among long-time collectors.

Just five years ago, this exact card sold for $465,000 and has changed hands several times since. This particular card is graded PSA 10 GEM MINT condition, one of only two cards graded in that condition.

With Gretzky being the undisputed GOAT in hockey and the natural scarcity of this card, the 1979 Gretzky is likely to remain one of the most valuable sports cards in the world.    

10. Tom Brady 2000 Panini Playoff Contenders Auto

Tom Brady Playoff Contenders Card
Price: $3,100,000

The record sale of this card took place in the aftermath of Brady's record SEVENTH Super Bowl Championship. With the $3.1 Million deal, the 2000 Panini Playoff Contenders Rookie Ticket Auto (Graded BGS 9) became the most expensive football card ever sold.

It was later eclipsed by a Patrick Mahomes rookie card, which sold for $4.3 Million. The same Tom Brady Panini Playoff Contenders card previously set several other records for football cards.

The Tom Brady card market has exploded since Brady increased his legend by winning another Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This was the 3rd copy to sell for over $1,000,000 in the past year.

While Brady's legacy as the G.O.A.T is undeniable, it remains to be seen if this particular card will have enough scarcity to hold its value through the years.

11. 1997 Michael Jordan Upper Deck Game Jersey Autograph

Price: $2,103,000


The most well-known Michael Jordan card is the 1996 Fleer Rookie Card. The most expensive Michael Jordan card, however, is this 1997 Upper Deck autograph card with a patch of Jordan's game-worn All-Star game jersey from 1992.

Upper Deck only produced 23 of these, and this particular card is graded Near-Mint PSA 8. The card was sold at Goldin Auctions on May 22, 2021.

This is a rare and beautiful card that is likely to hold its value over time. The Jordan card market is another one that has caught fire in the past two years. The rise of the sports card market stoked the flame, and the release of ESPN's Michael Jordan documentary “The Last Dance” poured lighter fluid on it.

12. Gianni Antetokounmpo 2013 National Treasures Logoman Autograph

Price: $1,812,000


This 2013 National Treasures Logoman Autograph is another from the same line that landed Lebron James and Luka Doncic higher on this list.

The card has a game-worn patch of the NBA “logoman” from one of Giannis's game-worn Jerseys. The card was sold well BEFORE Giannis led the Bucks to the 2021 NBA Championship and was the most expensive basketball card ever sold at the time.

Luka, Lebron, and Steph would all shatter the record within the year, but who is to say that the Greek Freak won't top this list yet again.

13. Kobe Bryant 1996-1997 Topps Chrome Rookie Refractor (BGS Black Label)

Price: $1,795,800

Kobe Bryant tragically died in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020. Following the five-time NBA Champion's death, fans and collectors started buying up his cards in bulk.

This particular card is a 1996-1997 Topps Chrome Refractor, and it is not as scarce as many of the cards on this list. PSA's population report says there are 63 Kobe Bryant RC Refractors, and Beckett's population report lists 103 graded BGS 9.5 or higher. What makes this card special is its grade from Beckett Grading Services. This particular Kobe Bryant Topps Chrome Refractor is graded BGS 10 Pristine (Black Label).

BGS Black Label is the highest designation possible in sports card grading. Beckett gives four sub-grades (Centering, Corners, Edges, and Surface), and a card must have all four sub-grades be a 10 to grade out as Black Label.

There are only 2 1996-1997 Kobe Bryant Topps Chrome Refractors graded BGS Black Label. This one sold for almost $1.8 Million through Goldin Auctions in March of 2021.

This Kobe Bryant Rookie is currently the 2nd most valuable pre-2000 basketball card

14. Lebron James 2004-2005 Upper Deck Ultimate Signatures Autograph

Price: $1,290,000

While multiple Lebron James cards have recorded sales over $1 Million, most of those sales are a part of the Exquisite Rookie Patch Auto line. This card that sold for nearly $1.3 Million is also from Upper Deck but is an Ultimate Signature Logoman Auto.

Like the Steph Curry, Luka Doncic, and Patrick Mahomes cards on this list, it is a 1/1. This particular card was a part of the same March 2021 auction that took place at Goldin Auctions. If you are looking for the best Lebron James cards to buy, look for the combination of 1) autographed, 2) jersey patch/logo patch 3) numbered cards.

15. Giannis Antetokuonmpo 2013-2014 Panini Prizm “Prizms Black Mosaic”

Giannis Panini Prizm Black
Price: $1,140,000

I did say no duplicates on this list. A player can appear on the list twice, just not for the same card. Again, this is a different card than the National Treasures Logoman Auto, but it is a 1/1.

What makes this card unique from most of the other modern cards on the list is the absence of an autograph on the card. The card was also sold at Goldin Auctions in December of 2020.

16. 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente Rookie Card (PSA 9 Mint)

Price: $1,100,000

This Roberto Clemente rookie card is another classic vintage card that should hold its value well over time. It has long been one of the more coveted baseball cards for serious hobbyists and collectors.

Clemente is legendary for both his baseball talent, likable personality, and philanthropic efforts. He died in a tragic plane crash while on a relief mission to Nicaragua. Clemente was only 38 years old and had just recorded his 3,000th career major league hit in the last game of the season.

Clemente's rookie card is extremely valuable if in good condition. There are 11 graded PSA 9 Mint (the same condition as this card) and only one known PSA 10 Gem Mint.

17. Anthony Davis National Treasures Logoman Rookie Patch Auto

Price: $1,045,500

This is the 5th National Treasures Rookie Auto to appear on the list. National Treasures is a line of cards manufactured by Panini Inc. A factory-sealed box of 8 cards will often sell for tens of thousands of dollars. People pay that kind of money for a box, hoping to pull a 1/1 rookie card like this one.

“The Brow” has plenty of skins on the wall but didn't have an NBA Championship until he teamed up with Lebron James in LA. The Lakers won the championship in the shortened 2020 NBA season. Following the championship, Davis' stock rose, and this 1/1 National Treasures Rookie Patch Auto sold for just over $1.1 Million.

18. 1969 Topps Reggie Jackson Rookie (PSA 10 GEM MINT)

Reggie Jackson Rookie Card
Price: $1,005,000

The last card on the list to sell for seven figures is this 1969 Topps Reggie Jackson Dmitri Young Collection rookie card. The card was once a part of the card collection of former MLB All-Star Dmitri Young. Young sold off his collection of over 500 cards for several million dollars.

If Young were to sell the same collection today, it would likely be worth north of $10 Million.

There are 41 Reggie Jackson rookies graded PSA 9, but this card is believed to be the only one graded PSA 10. Jackson was nicknamed “Mr. October” for his stellar performance in the playoffs and World Series through the years.

19. 1952 Topps #312 Jackie Robinson (PSA 9)

Jackie Robinson 1952 topps

Price: $984,000

Jackie Robinson's contribution to baseball is unparalleled. In 1947, Robinson became the first African American to play Major League Baseball. He is an icon in every way.

This particular card is a part of the same 1952 Topps baseball set to which the most valuable Mickey Mantle card belongs. In fact, the Jackie Robinson #312 card appears just after the #311 Mickey Mantle in the set.

The combination of Robinson's popularity and the scarcity of the 1952 Topps set makes this card extremely valuable. There are only 11 of this Jackie Robinson card graded PSA 9, which is the highest available grade. This particular card sold at Goldin Auctions in March of 2021 for $984,000, while another 1952 Topps Jackie Robinson PSA 9 sold at Heritage Auctions in May 2021 for $960,000.

I will say this. If I have a 1952 Topps Jackie Robinson graded PSA 9, I'm not selling.

20. 1997 Michael Jordan Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems (Green)

Michael Jordan Precious Metal Green
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.

Sources:

Stephen Curry – Lebron James – Mickey Mantle – Luka Doncic – Patrick Mahomes – Babe Ruth – Mike Trout – Honus Wagner – Wayne Gretzky – Tom Brady – Michael Jordan Patch Auto – Giannis NT – Kobe RC – Giannis Prizm – Anthony Davis – Dimitri Young Collection – MJ Precious Metal Gems 

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Chris Ventura

Writer & Editor for Ventured. Interests include: Golf | Building Businesses | Trying to find great pizza wherever I am

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