However, quite the opposite is true as he belted 41 home runs, drove in 110 runs, scored another 119 runs and batted .345 on the year. This site contains links to affiliate websites, and we may receive an affiliate commission for any purchases made on the affiliate website using such links. 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth: $4.212 million. The top card from 1954 . We use cookies to improve your experience. 1999 - 2023 Collectors Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved. Because of the checklist, the innovative horizontal design and the incredible artwork, this set ranks high atop the list of favorites for many collectors, including myself. The 20 Most Expensive Baseball Cards as of 2019 - Money Inc How many Dodgers sluggers did it take to match the Yankees duo of Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra? greatest baseball players of all-time, it also was the 1st appearance of Maybe more important were player migrations Topps landed Ted Williams for the first time and made the most of the opportunity by giving us two cards of the Splendid Splinter. 1909 T-206 Honus Wagner: $7.25 million. Top 10 1954 Bowman Baseball Cards To Buy Now - Gold Card Auctions The most expensive Hank Aaron baseball card is his 1954 Topps. Willie Howard Mays (May 6, 1931-) is arguably the greatest centerfielder that major League Baseball has ever seen. 2. However, you must remember that baseball card values can depend on several quirks and factors. But the Brookfield Bomber was a perfect complement to Aaron, and he jumped out of the gate even faster than Hank seasons of 25, 47, 40, and 41 home runs left him poised to put up big career totals. We live in a day when cards are collected as both raw and graded, and so that comes into play. One of the game's greatest players and fan favorites, Williams' inclusion in the set proved to be a key turning point for the company in relation to market share. So, my usual answer is that the item is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for the privilege of obtaining it. ), Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Baseball Humor: Jokes, Puns, and Funny Stories. But knowing that value does not always come as an easy answer. Since many collectors are trying to complete this set in high grade, they are willing to pay huge prices for this card in PSA 8 holders. In fact, it's one of the most beloved sets of all-time no matter what era or sport you're looking at. Nonetheless, this card is still highly sought after and can be worth thousands of dollars in top condition. In that vein, then, here are the most valuable 1954 Topps baseball cards, as determined for PSA 7 copies by the PSA Sports Market Report Price Guide. Most Expensive, In 1954, Robinson was 35 years old and starting to slow down, as evidenced by his 124 games played and seven stolen bases. 1975 Topps 1954 MVPs (Yogi Berra/Willie Mays) | PSA CardFacts The appealing design and impressive checklist has resulted in one of the more timeless vintage baseball sets. After missing most of the 1952 and all of the 1953 seasons due to his service in the Korean War, you'd think Mays would have been a bit rusty upon returning in 1954. Shortcuts: Most Expensive , Cheapest , List by Card # And although the Sandy Koufax and Harmon Killebrew cards are also key rookie cards in this set, Clemente's is far and away the most expensive of the trio. A remarkable all-around . HOBIE LANDRITH 1954 BOWMAN BASEBALL #220 VG-EX PSA 4. The 1954 Bowman Baseball set contains 224 cards. Roberto Clemente's importance to the sport of baseball cannot be understated. Among the monster sluggers of the 1950s and 1960s, Eddie Mathews often gets lost in the stats stacks. Today, the Mays card that greeted collectors during that magical summer sells for close to $2000 in PSA 7 condition. It drives the sales of new product which, in turn, help local card shops stay open for those collectors who are desperately seeking those lat three 1962 Salada Tea coins for their set or whatever. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network. of variations, first series cards were issued in Canada with gray backs. Today, Banks 1954 Topps rookie card sells for $6000+ in graded NM condition. Top 10 1954 Baseball Cards: Singles Buying & Collecting Guide To be glad to have an item simply because you want to have it in the collection you are building. All the Splendid Splinter did that summer was hit .388 with 38 home runs for the Boston Red Sox. Podres was a four-time All-Star and three-time World Series champ. You may be surprised to find Ben Wade ahead of guys on this list like Warren Spahn, Yogi Berra and Duke Snider. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. The 1954 Topps Baseball card backs provide both statistical and biographical information about the player. (Im not kidding the zero cards were big things, especially this early in a set.). * In a few instances the best graded card sold was an 8. However, the placement of the card on the list would not have changed even factoring in a doubling of the cards value by taking it to a 9, and so the list remained intact. Ernie Banks 1954 Topps - $142,836, PSA: 9 As is always the case where collectible cards are concerned, the condition is everything. Top 10 1952 Baseball Card Singles - The Cardboard Connection Doeasnt hurt, either, that this one was issued just a year before Banks began his two-year reign as National League MVP and set his course firmly toward Cooperstown. However, Thompson spent the majority of his career with the New York Giants from 1949 to his retirement in 1956. Without the idea of perceived value, this hobby would not have exploded in the 1980s, busted in the late 90s, and slowly built its way back up over the last decade or so. Ungraded & graded values for all '54 Topps Here's a quick recap of the 10 most expensive baseball cards in the world: Honus Wagner 1909-1911 ATC T206 - $3 Million. Why, you get the 1957 Topps Brooks Robinson rookie card, of course! #10 1951 Bowman #1 Whitey Ford RC (figured value of $28,919) Worth. Are you selling sports cards that were produced from 1868 - 1975? Download Price List, SportsCardsPro 2019-2023 He also loves to write about the hobby and has written for Beckett, Topps, SABR and of course, this website. 1954 Topps Baseball was distributed in three different series, including Series 1 (#1-50), Series 2 (#51-75), and Series 3 (#76-250). 1954 Topps #250 Ted Williams Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Value: $9,000 1954 Topps #10 Jackie Robinson Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Value: $8,000 One of the most impactful people in all of baseball and American history, Jackie Robinson's cards are always a key to any set in which he appears. Mix all that with bright coloring, the company's first use of dual player images, and a checklist that includes some of the biggest stars of the era and you've got one of Sy Berger's greatest creations. But if you have it because you want it, then it does not matter what dollar figure is attached to the item. I believe his 1950 Bowman issue is his only other mainstream card where he's shown posing as a catcher. It makes some of the more expensive cards a little easier to handle. $20.00. What Is Defensive Indifference in Baseball? Another interesting card option showcases twin baseball players. As a collector, dealer and card shop owner I have long hated the question, Whats it worth? This is especially an onerous question when it comes from a ten-year old. But he was already a Cubs legend and turning the corner on a Hall of Fame career, and this is arguably one of his most iconic issuesafter his 1954 Topps rookie card. Of note for fans Most Valuable Rookie Card in Every Topps Baseball Set, 1952-2020 But the scarcity of the card actually restricts the number of collectors who are legitimately seeking to add it to their collection (or portfolio), thus making it a card with a high price guide value and limited appeal. What do you get when you combine one of the greatest players ever at his position, an all-time classic card design, and a rookie card in a scarce high-number series? By entering your email address you agree to receive email versions of the Baseball Card Market Report. As long-time collectors know, the top card was often subject to rubber band marks and other wear from sitting atop a childhood stack of cards. The result is that his 1954 Bowman has become one of the most valuable cards ever made by Bowman during their initial run of sets from the 1940s and 50s. In fact, nobody hit more home runs over that decade than Snider as he smacked 326 of his 407 career home runs over that span. Before the release of this set, Ted Williams had been exclusive Bowman. Value: $275-300 Check prices on eBay Check prices on Amazon 1960 Topps Hank Aaron All-Star (#566) Oh, to be sure, some give me dirty looks because they think it is all about investment, but the vast majority understand and agree regarding what collecting is about at its core. The color photography process Bowman used in 1953 proved to be too expensive to repeat. And usually, the first and last cards of any vintage set get a boost in value because they're tougher to find in top condition. At least they changed up the action shot so not everything was duplicated. That kind of talk was reserved for Mantle and Mays. While the 1954 Topps baseball card set is relatively small in size, it obviously packs a huge punch with all the star power and key rookie cards it contains. Book-ending the productwith card #1 and #250, these cards are often found with the same defects that plague most vintage cards tofall first orlast in the set. Unfortunately, it appears that the press operator forgot to orient the card backs accordingly. After all, over Wade's brief five-year career as a Major League pitcher, he bounced around between the Cubs, Dodgers, Cardinals and Pirates. In many ways, 1954 was the year for Willie Mays. Did that mean they were doomed to failure? ARTICLES. Topps was so proud of this they made Ted the FIRST (#1) and LAST (#250) card in the set. While the 1955 Topps baseball card set may not be the biggest in terms of its checklist few sets pack the star power that this set did. 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle: $12.6 million. #3 1952 Topps #1 Andy Pafko (figured value of $69,442)* We are user supported. #6 1952 Topps #407 Eddie Mathews RC (figured value of $53,912)* 1955 Topps Baseball Cards - 12 Most Valuable - Wax Pack Gods Although there are not any known short prints, gray backs were issued in Canada for the first series, in addition to the standard white background cards that were availablein the United States. Top 50 Most Valuable Hank Aaron Baseball Cards #15 1952 Bowman #218 Willie Mays (figured value of $17,391). Are you selling sports cards that were produced from 1868 - 1975? Unless you count the 1951 Red Sox cards, at least. Highlights include cards for Mickey Mantle, Hank Aaron and Ernie Banks. When you choose to collect what amounts to paper keeping it pristine (or very nearly) is the only way to preserve what makes it worthwhile. Topps was so proud of this they made Berra picked up the second of his 3 career MVP awards for his efforts in the 1954 season as he batted .307, smacked 25 home runs and drove in 125 runs. While neither had very notable careers, the card maintains solid value. 1954 Topps. If so, then please fill out the form below and I'll be in touch right away. Regardless of the formula used or time needed to form the list, it was an interesting exercise to help determine the 15 most valuable baseball cards of the 1950s. Below we explore the top 10 most expensive baseball cards of all time. As a Dodger fan and collector of Sandy Koufax baseball cards, I must say I am a bit partial to this card. The 1954 Topps set is one of the easier sets of the 1950s to complete, with no high number series (like in the other Topps sets from the 1950s and 1960s) to go after. As long-time collectors know, the top card was often subject to rubber band marks and other wear from sitting atop a childhood stack of cards. Maybe, though Roy Campanella has to be in that discussion, too. Senator (Kentucky), and you have the perfect recipe for keeping this card in the limelight. 1954 Topps Whitey Ford (#37) By 1954, Ford was already the ace of the Yanks' staff, and the battery of Whitey-to-Yogi is one of the most legendary of all-time. With bright, clear photos and minimal design elements, there is nothing to distract collectors from the grandeur of the game and its denizens. Track your collection for free. Mays was a 24-time All-Star selection, a 12-time Gold Glove winner, the 1951 National League Rookie of the Year, a two-time NL Most Valuable Player (1954, 1965) and a member of the 1954 World Series champion New York . Either way, the demand for this card remains sky high. Maybe Duke Snider if you were silly. It seems like every one of Jackies baseball cards is a stone-cold classic, and this one is no exception. Incredibly, those monster statistics were not enough to help him win his second consecutive MVP award as he would finished in fourth place in the vote that year. When Banks came back for a full season in 1954, though, and smacked 19 home runs and then followed it up with 44 dingers in 1955 he proved he was for real. Despite Mickey Mantle being noticeably absent, the 1954 Topps baseball card set is one of the most iconic of the vintage era. . Drysdale was just 20 years old heading into the 1957 season and fresh off a 25-game Major League debut in 1956 that saw him go 5-5 with a 2.64 ERA. Although there are not any known short prints, gray backs were issued in Canada for the first series, in addition to the standard white background cards that were available in the United States. The 10 Most Expensive Baseball Cards in the World Topps, meanwhile added a second photo to card fronts for the first time, complementing large color head shots with smaller black-and-white, full-body images. 1959 Topps #561 Hank Aaron All-Star Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Value: $650 1959 Topps #202 Roger Maris Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Value: $600 1959 Topps #330 Gus Triandos Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Value: $600 1959 Topps #445 Cal McLish Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Value: $600 1959 Topps #500 Vic Wertz Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Value: $600 1959 Topps #515 Harmon Killebrew (1951), an NL MVP award (1954), and a 50-homer season (1955) under his belt . A Triple Crown, MVP, and World Series MVP later, and it was clear F. Robby was headed to Cooperstown. Here's the list: #1 - 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle (figured value of $254,196) #2 - 1951 Bowman #253 Mickey Mantle RC (figured value of $156,050) #3 - 1952 Topps #1 Andy Pafko (figured value of $69,442)* I am building the set, picking up about any grade I can find and then upgrading when I can. Of course, to speak of something as golden brings to mind the idea of richness. And, back in 1957, probably not many fans would have predicted that it would be Aaron who would go on to break Babe Ruths all-time home run record. Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) & PSA/DNA are divisions of Collectors Universe, Inc. Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) & PSA/DNA Authentication Services. After snagging National League Rookie of the Year honors in 1951, Mays played in only 34 games in 1952 before losing all of 1953 to military service. Read our methodology . Cheapest, Contact him at [emailprotected]. His smiling RC, here in the 1957 Topps set, is a hobby favorite all these years later. Since they'd go on to win the World Series that year, many Dodger fans love Dodger cards from this set based on that association alone. Appearing here at the very end of a tough high-number run, the Pinstripe Pair form the basis for another high-dollar card. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network and Amazon Associates. Not only did he help the team win, he was named MVP of the series. Though he was "just" an All-Star in 1954, Ford would soon enough become a 20-game winner, Cy Young nabber, postseason legend. 1. Of course, The Say Hey Kid was on a collision course with all-time greatness, and this card reflects that status. Baseball Cards. ). 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