A one-of-a-kind Mike Trout baseball card sold for almost $4 million at auction Saturday, breaking a record for such items set by a Honus Wagner card.
The 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Mike Trout Superfractor signed rookie card has a notation on it that it was one in a series of just one, according to Goldin Auctions, which oversaw its sale to an unidentified buyer for a reported $3.93 million.
The previous record was set in 2016, when a rare Honus Wagner T206 card produced between 1909 and 1911 sold for $3.12 million. Wagner, whose career ended in 1917, has long since been regarded as one of the greatest baseball players ever, and while Trout is on track for that kind of acclaim, he is just 29 and figures to play for another decade.
The unique nature of the Trout card and his elite on-field production — not to mention that coveted trading cards are on a run of record-breaking sales this year — helped propel the item into unseen territory. An outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels, Trout has won three American League MVP awards and has finished in the top four in voting four other times. His career wins above replacement (WAR) mark of 73.5 already places him 84th in MLB history.
Most of the big-money buyers at sports memorabilia auctions are in their late 20s to early 40s, and “they want to buy cards of the players that they are watching today, or that they watched as a kid,” said Ken Goldin, founder and CEO of Goldin Auctions, which has had a hand in some of the most expensive sales this year.
A Trout rookie card that was one of just five fetched more than $920,000 at a Goldin Auctions sale in May, setting a record at the time for a card created after the 1970s. That modern-era mark was shattered in July by a LeBron James rookie card, which the auction company saw go for $1.845 million.
As with the Trout cards, scarcity was the key to the high value of the James card, which was one in a special series of 23 (correlating to James’s jersey number) and one of two to qualify as being in near-mint condition. That scarcity is hardly an accident; leading trading-card companies such as Topps and Upper Deck saw a thriving market collapse in the 1990s amid a glut of product.
“I think we all learned a lesson. The industry learned its lesson about overproduction and how damaging that was. The people at the card companies are aware of the damage that did,” an executive with Beckett Media, which produces price guides for trading cards, told the Athletic in May.
#Angels MGR Joe Maddon on Mike Trout-signed rookie card from 2009 selling at auction for almost $4 million: "Are you serious? Wow. I’m into art. That puts him right up there with, what did the Mona Lisa sell for? That’s phenomenal. Absolutely astounding."
— Mike DiGiovanna (@MikeDiGiovanna) August 23, 2020
Goldin, when reached by phone Sunday, noted that even cards of tremendous historical interest could lose value by suddenly becoming less rare. He cited the 2016 discovery in a house’s attic of seven Ty Cobb cards, which pushed the known total of such cards from 15 to 22.
“If you look at a ’52 Topps Mickey Mantle [card], nobody really knows how many were produced,” Goldin said. “This [Trout] card is the best possible card of the best player today, and there’s only one of them that was produced. And the whole world knows there’s only one.”
The Wagner card is thought to have been made in lesser quantities than those of contemporary baseball stars, with some accounts indicating the Pittsburgh Pirates legend, 10th all-time in WAR, did not want children to become interested in the tobacco products the cards were used to promote. Goldin’s presumption was that if the Wagner card sold in 2016 were auctioned off today, it would top the Trout card by selling for more than $4 million.
As for other limited items of modern-day stars, Goldin said a rookie card of James that also is one of one would sell for at least $2 million, and his company expects to get at least $1.5 million at its next auction for a 1/1 rookie card of another NBA superstar, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. He added that a “superfractor” card (meaning one of one) for Fernando Tatis Jr., a rising star for the San Diego Padres, would probably sell for at least $500,000.
The Trout card sold for $400,000 two years ago, making for a massive profit for “Vegas” Dave Oancea, a sports betting consultant who predicted this month it would make him $4 million or $5 million at the auction.
“A lot of people had a lot of negative things to say, that I was crazy,” Oancea told Reuters about the reaction to how much he spent in 2018 on the card. “You know, ‘You could have bought a house,’ ‘You could have bought this and that,’ that I’m stupid and it’s a piece of cardboard.”
Oancea echoed Goldin in saying supply and demand informed his 2018 purchase. “There’s one in the world,” Oancea said, “and right now the baseball card market is booming.”
As for why the market has been growing so steadily in 2020, Goldin pointed to the stock market crash this year as the novel coronavirus pandemic caused massive disruptions worldwide. Though the market rebounded quickly, he claimed that wealthy individuals have taken some of their money out of the market and are looking into other investments outside the usual sectors.
“They’re not spending their money buying high-rises in New York, San Francisco or L.A.,” he said.
4 million dollars. I just flipped a piece of cardboard for 3.6 million dollars in 24 months which required no manual labor. That’s more money than each of my critics will ever make working a 9-5 for 40 hours a week for 40 years for a boss they don’t like even like.Cheers haters💋 pic.twitter.com/R5VOTqJ1ld
— Dave Oancea (@itsvegasdave) August 23, 2020
Goldin also noted that syndicates of pooled investors in trading cards have popped up recently, as the “standardized grading and authentication has … really propelled the marketplace.”
All of which could bode well for his company and others in the sports memorabilia business, as long as the fever doesn’t break.
“I think six months from now, the amount of available money to buy this is going to be much greater than it is now,” Goldin said, “and the supply is not increasing.”
That said, it may be some time before a perfect storm comes along again as it did with the Trout card, given its one-of-a-kind status and his veneration in baseball circles. Goldin said he thought the record set Saturday will stand “for a very, very long time,” because it will take many years for another baseball player to generate the kind of comparisons to Mantle that Trout has.
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FAQs
The most valuable Card of Mike Trout is currently 2011 Finest Gold Refractors #94 Mike Trout /50 BGS 9.5 by Finest from 2011 with a worth of approx. $44700.0. Other Cards of Mike Trout to watch are: 2022 Topps Stars of MLB #SMLB-1 Mike Trout by Topps from 2022 with a value of approx.
What ultra rare Honus Wagner baseball card sells for record $7.25 million? ›
A rare, authenticated Honus Wagner T-206 baseball card has changed hands for US$7.25 million through a private deal, making it the most expensive trading card of all time, according to the New Jersey-based Goldin Auctions.
How much did the last Honus Wagner card sell for? ›
One of the world's rarest baseball cards was sold for an extraordinary price last week. The famous T206 Honus Wagner sold for a record $7.25 million in a private sale facilitated by Goldin Auctions, the company said Thursday.
Which Honus Wagner card is worth the most? ›
There are currently 2462 Cards of Honus Wagner in our Database including 1 rookie Cards and 2167 variations Cards. The most valuable Card of Honus Wagner is currently 1909 American Tobacco Company T206 White Border #NNO Honus Wagner PSA 1.5 by American Tobacco Company T206 White Border from 1909 with a worth of approx.
What is the rarest baseball card right now? ›
The current record price is the US$12.6 million paid for a 1952 Mickey Mantle baseball card (Topps; #311) on August 28, 2022, breaking all previous records.
What is the rarest baseball card in the world? ›
1909-1911 Honus Wagner T206
Considered the rarest and most valuable baseball card in existence, there are only about 50 copies of this full-color card from 1909 to 1911, known as the T206 Wagner. In 2016, one sold at auction for $3.12 million.
What baseball card is worth $1000000? ›
These cards, like the T206 Honus Wagner and the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle, are incredibly rare and sought after by collectors. In conclusion, the T206 Honus Wagner and the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle are two of the most valuable baseball cards in the world, with both cards selling for over $1 million.
How many Honus Wagner cards are in circulation? ›
There are thought to be only 50-60 copies of the card in existence, making it one of the rarest sports cards in the world.
How much is Babe Ruth rookie card worth? ›
Babe Ruth rookie cards
In July of 2021, a PSA 9-graded 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #53 card sold for $4.2 million setting a new record price for a Babe Ruth baseball card then. A rare 1916 Babe Ruth Rookie Card #151 Blank Backs was sold in Lelands for $244,489 in June 2022.
Why are there so few Honus Wagner cards? ›
Originally created by the American Tobacco Company from 1909 to 1911, the Wagner T-206 is so rare because the Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop halted production of the card. Folklore behind the dispute between ATC says Wagner wanted the card taken out of circulation because he did not want children buying cigarettes.
The average value of "ken griffey rookie card" is $26.07. Sold comparables range in price from a low of $1.99 to a high of $399.95.
What is the oldest baseball card? ›
Having won several city championships, the Brooklyn Atlantics dominated New York baseball in the early 1860s. The team's carte de visite (a visiting card), produced in 1865, is considered the earliest extant dated “baseball card,” a souvenir handed out to fans and even to opposing teams.
How much is a Mickey Mantle rookie card worth? ›
A new price record has been set for a signed 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie card. Just a few hours ago, the final bid at For the Love of the Game auctions was a whopping $422,400!
What is the most expensive Mickey Mantle card? ›
Certified Sports Guaranty received the iconic 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle card valued at over $2 million dollars. The folks at CSG, says this is the most valuable card they have ever certified.
What is the hardest baseball card to find? ›
There are four Babe Ruth cards in the 1933 Goudey set, but #53—the Yellow Ruth—is the most sought-after card of the quartet. It's considered the hardest to find, though all are highly valued. In July 2021, a Yellow Ruth sold at auction for $4.2 million.
Are any Mark McGwire cards worth anything? ›
Overall about 1053 Cards of Mark McGwire have been traded in the last 30 days on ebay. The average price was $23.76. The price range was from $0.1 for 2022 Topps Allen & Ginter Banner Seasons #BS-50 Mark McGwire by Topps Allen & Ginter from 2022 to $2751.0 for 1985 Topps #401 Mark McGwire PSA 10 by Topps from 1985.
How much is a Michael Jordan rookie card worth? ›
It's a cornerstone of any Michael Jordan collection, and can sell for tens of thousands of dollars. In the current market, and at grade 9, this rookie card ranges from $10,000 to $20,000. 1986-87 Fleer #57 Michael Jordan graded CSG 1.
What is the holy grail of baseball cards? ›
The "Holy Grail" of baseball cards is the T-206 Honus Wagner issued in 1909. Reportedly, approximately 50 were ever made. Today, very few exist, making it the most sought-after sports card in history. It was created and distributed by the American Tobacco Company and came in a pack of cigarettes.
Are Nolan Ryan cards worth anything? ›
The most valuable Card of Nolan Ryan is currently 1972 Topps #595 Nolan Ryan PSA 10 by Topps from 1972 with a worth of approx. $45600.0.
Are baseball cards from the 80s worth anything? ›
Card values tanked and many collectors now refer to that part of the hobby as the "junk era." So, it might be shocking to find that some baseball cards from the 1980s can be worth five and six figures... You see, not every card fell victim to overproduction.
A mint condition Mickey Mantle baseball card became the most valuable piece of sports memorabilia to be sold at auction, notching $12.6 million early Sunday morning.
What is the rarest Topps card? ›
10 Most Valuable Topps Baseball Cards
| Most Valuable Topps Baseball Cards | Record Sales Price |
|---|
| 1952 Jackie Robinson #312 | $960,000 |
| 1963 Pete Rose #537 | $717,000 |
| 1954 Hank Aaron #128 | $645,000 |
| 1968 Nolan Ryan #177 | $612,360 |
6 more rowsApr 21, 2023
A 1935 National Chicle #34 Bronko Nagurski sold for a whopping $350,000 in January 2011. The card features a portrait of Nagurski in his Bears uniform running straight toward the viewer, with a blue and yellow background. It's one of the rarest and most expensive football cards in existence.
What is the most expensive tobacco card? ›
Iconic card: 1911 American Tobacco Company T206, which sold for $6.606 million in August 2021. Legend has it that Wagner was a teetotaler who abhorred the use of his likeness to sell tobacco.
How many Nolan Ryan rookie cards exist? ›
1968 Topps Milton Bradley #177 Nolan Ryan Rookie Card Facts
In total, the set is composed of 132 cards: 77 baseball, 33 football and 22 hot rod cards.
How many Mickey Mantle cards are there? ›
Mickey Mantle was a Baseball-Player. In his career he played for New York Yankees and retired in 1968. There are currently 12738 Cards of Mickey Mantle in our Database including 1 rookie Cards and 2856 variations Cards.
Are there any Ken Griffey Jr cards worth money? ›
The most valuable Ken Griffey Jr. cards include his 1989 Bowman Tiffany, 1989 Topps Heads Up, and 1989 Upper Deck #1 Star Rookie card. Massive print runs limit the investment value of Griffey's cards. Rally app offers fractionalized shares for valuable cards like 1989 Bowman Tiffany.
What Jose Canseco cards are worth money? ›
The most valuable Card of Jose Canseco is currently 2019 Topps Update 1984 Topps Baseball Autographs 150th Anniversary #84A-JCA Jose Canseco /150 PSA 9 by Topps Update from 2019 with a worth of approx. $31.0.
What Barry Bonds cards are worth money? ›
What's the most valuable Barry Bonds card to invest in?
- 1986 Donruss “The Rookies” Barry Bonds #11. ...
- 1987 Donruss Opening Day Barry Bonds RC #163. ...
- 1986 Fleer Update Barry Bonds #U – 14. ...
- 1993 Finest Refractor Barry Bonds #103. ...
- 1987 Topps Tiffany Barry Bonds #320 RC. ...
- 1991 Topps Desert Shield Barry Bonds #570.
The rare 2003 Ultimate Collection Ultimate Logos Signature Card is valued at over $300,000. A 2012 Panini Prizm Gold LeBron James Rookie Card fetched $571,000 in 2021. The 2003 Topps Chrome LeBron James Black Refractor Rookie Card sold for $480,000.
The card comes in different tiers (just like Flair) including bronze, silver, and gold versions, and is a part of the Finest Series 1 Apprentices subset. Kobe's 1996 Finest Refractor rookie cards are worth anywhere from $1,000 to $30,000.
How much is Wayne Gretzky rookie card worth? ›
While most believe the Topps version is easier to come by, it doesn't get graded much higher than the OPC version. Neither card is considered to be rare. The Trading Card Database lists this card as having a median price of $1,500.
How many errors did Honus Wagner have? ›
During Honus Wagner's 21-year Major League Baseball career, he had a lifetime total of 828 errors, an average of 39.43 errors per season. 1917 was his best season with 10 errors and his worst season was 1905 when he had 60 errors.
What baseball card sold for $100 000? ›
13-Year-Old Sells Rare Card of Patriots' Mac Jones for a Whopping $100,000: 'It Was Surreal' Jason Hahn is a former Human Interest and Sports Reporter for PEOPLE.
Are Ty Cobb cards worth anything? ›
Overall about 135 Cards of Ty Cobb have been traded in the last 30 days on ebay. The average price was $113.1. The price range was from $0.25 for 2022 Panini Diamond Kings #112 Ty Cobb by Panini Diamond Kings from 2022 to $5760.0 for 1912 Series of Champions T227 #3 Ty Cobb by Series of Champions T227 from 1912.
How much is Derek Jeter's rookie card worth? ›
Article snapshot. Derek Jeter rookie cards are some of the most highly sought after cards for any collector. The 1993 Upper Deck SP Derek Jeter rookie card is the most valuable, with a maximum sale price of $600,000.
Who has the most expensive rookie card? ›
As of May 27, 2021
A 1979 Wayne Gretzky O-Pee-Chee rookie card was sold for $3.75 million, breaking the record for the most expensive trading card ever sold.
What is the most valuable baseball card from 1989? ›
All 1989 Topps Baseball Cards
The most valuable card of 1989 Topps is currently 1989 Topps Tiffany #647 Randy Johnson PSA 10 with a worth of approx. $1,525.00. The most traded card of 1989 Topps in the past 30 days on eBay was for 1989 Topps #647 Randy Johnson with 32 trades and an average price of $1.28.
How much is a Joe DiMaggio rookie card worth? ›
Top Joe DiMaggio Rookie Cards
The most valuable Card of Joe DiMaggio is currently 1938 Goudey Heads-Up (R323) #274 Joe DiMaggio SGC 1 by Goudey Heads-Up (R323) from 1938 with a worth of approx. $132000.0.
What year did baseball cards stop being valuable? ›
Because so many baseball cards were printed between roughly 1987 and 1993, the values plummeted significantly.” There are, however, some cards from this era that have some value. There's a consensus about one in particular — a 1993 SP Derek Jeter rookie card.
So most of that 1952 Topps set never made it into circulation. Believe it or not, it's estimated there are 1,800 of that Topps Mantle card in existence. Most are in poor condition, frayed by time, poor care and perhaps even from bicycle spokes.
How much is Roberto Clemente rookie card worth? ›
Roberto Clemente 1955 Topps Rookie Card Auctions for Near Record $1.05M.
What is Tom Brady's rookie card? ›
The 2000 Bowman Tom Brady gold rookie card #236 is the kind of collectible many football card enthusiasts would die for. Making it even more special, these cards are a rare find, numbered at just 99. One of those sold for an eye-popping $288,000 at Heritage Auctions on November 18, 2021.
Are Hank Aaron cards worth anything? ›
Overall about 1746 Cards of Hank Aaron have been traded in the last 30 days on ebay. The average price was $234.33. The price range was from $0.25 for 2022 Stadium Club #218 Hank Aaron by Stadium Club from 2022 to $22200.0 for 1954 Topps #128 Hank Aaron PSA 7.5 by Topps from 1954.
How much is a Nolan Ryan rookie card worth? ›
The average value of "nolan ryan rookie card baseball" is $566.33. Sold comparables range in price from a low of $0.99 to a high of $15,000.00.
What's the value of a Mike Trout rookie card? ›
Overall about 2966 Cards of Mike Trout have been traded in the last 30 days on ebay. The average price was $73.37. The price range was from $0.12 for 2022 Panini Prizm #138 Mike Trout by Panini Prizm from 2022 to $4299.99 for 2011 Topps Update Diamond Anniversary #US175 Mike Trout BGS 9.5 by Topps Update from 2011.
Why is Mike Trout card worth so much? ›
Trout's rookie card is relatively scarce
and others who had their cards produced in the mass production or “junk wax era” there are simply going to be a lot more of those cards available.
What is the rare Derek Jeter card? ›
About Derek Jeter
The most valuable Card of Derek Jeter is currently 1993 SP #279 Derek Jeter PSA 10 by SP from 1993 with a worth of approx. $204000.0. Other Cards of Derek Jeter to watch are: 1993 Topps #98 Derek Jeter by Topps from 1993 with a value of approx.
What is the most expensive rated rookie card? ›
The Most Expensive Sports Trading Cards of All Times
| Card | Price |
|---|
| T206 SGC 3 (Honus Wagner) | $6.6 million |
| 1952 Topps (Mickey Mantle) | $5.2 million |
| 2003-04 Rookie Patch Autograph (LeBron James) | $5.2 million |
| 1:1 Logoman Autographed (Luka Doncic) | $4.6 million |
6 more rows1. 1948 George Mikan. The 1948 Bowman George Mikan rookie card is one of the rarest and most valuable basketball cards of all time.
The most valuable brand of baseball card can vary depending on the specific card, however, Topps is generally the most constantly valuable baseball card brand. Topps is considered the leader of the industry, and rookie cards produced by Topps are often very highly sought after.
Are Tom Brady rookie cards worth money? ›
If you're looking to invest in this Tom Brady card, you can expect to shell out anywhere between $600 and $9,000, with the highest sale price pegged at $9,300. On eBay, a BGS 8.5 sold for $3,050 in December 2022, and another eBay seller let go of one that same month for $2,348.
Is Mike Trout rookie card a good investment? ›
In conclusion, Mike Trout's rookie cards are a wise investment for collectors. They're valuable and in high demand, so be prepared to pay a premium if you want to add one to your collection. Use the tips above to determine the value of your Mike Trout card, and always purchase from reputable dealers.
Do rookie cards hold value? ›
Due to excessive collector demand, rookie cards are more valuable than any other later issue (with some occasional exceptions). Even in cases where a player's second year card has a lower supply than a rookie card, the rookie card still tends to be worth more money.
Why is Derek Jeter rookie card worth so much? ›
So why are these rookie cards so valuable? Well, it all comes down to Jeter's incredible career. He was a 14-time All-Star, a five-time World Series champion, a five-time Gold Glove Award winner, and a five-time Silver Slugger Award winner.
What baseball card is worth a lot? ›
A 1952 Topps Jackie Robinson card that sold for $984,000 at Goldin Auctions in 2021 remains one of the most expensive sports cards ever sold. Jackie Robinson is an icon of baseball forever remembered for breaking the color barrier and having a lasting impact on the game.
How much is a Shaq rookie card worth? ›
Shaquille O'Neal's legacy makes his rookie cards a valuable investment. Prices can range from $20 to over $2,000, depending on card condition and rarity. Rarity, condition, and iconic status contribute to the high value of Shaq's rookie cards.
