Sports cards are a variety oftrading card, small cards usually made ofcardboard, which feature an image of an athlete or athletes along with identifying text. The earliest sports cards were promotional materials usuallyincluded with tobacco products and candy and often bearing an advertisement on the reverse. The value of a sports card depends on a combination of the card's condition, the subject's popularity and the scarcity of the card. In some cases, especially with older cards that preceded the advent of card collecting as a widespread hobby, they have become collector's items of considerable value. The two priciest cards arebaseball cards, followed by threebasketball cards.
The first sports card to sell for one million dollars was aT206 Honus Wagner which went for $1,265,000 at auction in 2000 (equivalent to $2,309,756 in 2024).[1] As of May 2020[update], the industry brings in over one billion dollars annually for manufacturers and retailers.[2]
This list of items is ordered byconsumer price index inflation-adjusted value (in bold) in millions ofUnited States dollars in 2024.
This list includes only the highest price paid for a given card and does not include separate entries for individual copies of the same card or multiple sales prices for the same copy of a card. Thus, for example, the T206 Honus Wagner is represented on this list by one particular card's 2021 sale and does not include the same card's 2012 sale for $1.2 million or theJumbo Wagner and its $3.12 million sale price.
Cards are evaluated by third-party services, most oftenProfessional Sports Authenticator (PSA), Beckett Grading Services (BGS), or Sportscard Guaranty Corporation (SGC), and given a grade on a ten-point scale based on condition.[3]
The images below do not necessarily represent the individual specimen sold but are representative of the given cards.
| Inflation-adjusted price[note 1] | Original price | Athlete(s) | Year | Card | Population | Grade | Image | Date of sale | Auction house | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $13,538,481 | $12,600,000 | Mickey Mantle | 1952 | Topps | c. 2,372[4][5][6] | SGCMT 9.5 | | August 28, 2022 | Heritage Auctions | Set record for most expensivesports memorabilia ever sold at auction.[7] More than doubled the previous record for a sports card.[8] |
| $12,932,000 | $12,932,000 | Michael Jordan /Kobe Bryant | 2007–08 | Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman Autographs | Serial numbered #1/1 | PSAEX-MT 6 | August 23, 2025 | Purchased by a group of three investors which includedKevin O'Leary. Not accounting for inflation, it set a record for most expensive sports card.[9] | ||
| $8,412,778 | $7,250,000 | Honus Wagner | 1909–11 | T206 | c. 47[10][11] | SGC 2 | | August 3, 2022 | Private sale | It is generally believed that only 50 to 200 of the cards were ever produced.[12] This sale was brokered by Goldin Auctions.[13] |
| $7,430,406 | $7,200,000 | Babe Ruth | 1914 | Baltimore News (red) | c. 10[14] | SGCVG 3 | .jpg) | December 3, 2023 | Robert Edwards Auctions | A blue variant of this card sold for $575,000 in 2021.[15] It was the first card of Ruth ever produced. It had been owned by the descendants of thepaperboy who collected it in 1914 and was housed at theBabe Ruth Birthplace and Museum.[14] |
| $6,846,261 | $5,900,000 | Stephen Curry | 2009 | Panini National Treasures Logoman Autograph | Serial numbered #1/1 | PSANM-MT 8 | July 6, 2021 | Private sale | Highest sale ever for a basketball card.[16] Purchased by Alt Fund II, the secondinvestment fund managed by Alt which is a company that specializes inalternative assets.[17] | |
| $6,317,963 | $5,200,000 | LeBron James | 2003 | Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Rookie Patch Autographs | Serial numbered #07/23 | BGSMT 9 | April 26, 2021 | PWCC Marketplace | The sale was the highest ever for a basketball card at the time.[18][19] There was a similar LeBron James card that sold for $1.845 million in May 2020.[20] | |
| $5,337,762 | $4,600,000 | Luka Dončić | 2018 | Panini National Treasures Logoman Autograph | Serial numbered #1/1 | Ungraded | February 28, 2021 | Private sale | The sale was made public on Luka Dončić's birthday.[21] The card previously sold for $3.2 million in a private deal in December 2019. | |
| $4,989,648 | $4,300,000 | Patrick Mahomes | 2017 | Panini National Treasures Platinum Shield Rookie Patch Autographs | Serial numbered #1/1 | BGSNM-MT 8.5 | July 2021 | Set the record for most expensive football card. The buyer was a card shop inNew Albany, Ohio and the sale was brokered by PWCC Marketplace.[22] | ||
| $4,887,534 | $4,212,000 | Babe Ruth | 1933 | Goudey #53 | c. 1,986[23][24][25] | PSA MINT 9 |  | July 10, 2021 | Memory Lane Inc. | Ruth appeared on four different cards in the 1933Goudey set: #53, #144, #149 and #181. There are no copies of this card with a higher grade.[26] |
| $4,782,212 | $3,936,000 | Mike Trout | 2009 | Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Superfractor Autograph | Serial numbered #1/1 | BGSMT 9 | August 23, 2020 | Goldin Auctions | The seller, gambling consultant David "Vegas Dave" Oancea, had bought the card for only $400,000 only two years prior.[27] | |
| $4,351,437 | $3,750,000 | Wayne Gretzky | 1979 | O-Pee-Chee | c. 10,873 [28][29][30] | PSAGM-MT 10 | May 27, 2021 | Private sale | The only other PSA GM-MT 10 had previously set the record for the most expensive hockey card, having sold for $1,290,000 just 5 months prior.[31][32][33] | |
| $3,605,743 | $3,107,372.40 | Tom Brady | 2000 | Playoff Contenders Championship Rookie Ticket Autograph | Serial numbered #8/100 | BGS MINT 9 | June 4, 2021 | Lelands | Broke the record for the most expensive football card which had been set two months earlier by a different copy of the same card in a Lelands auction.[34][35] | |
| $3,429,748 | $3,192,000 | Mickey Mantle | 1951 | Bowman | c. 2,066[36] | PSAMT 9 |  | December 3, 2022 | Memory Lane Inc. | The 1951 Bowman is the only recognizedrookie card of Mickey Mantle who is the most collected figure in the industry.[37][38][39] |
| $2,928,000 | $2,928,000 | Michael Jordan | 1997 | Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Ultimate Logos Signature | Serial numbered #1/1 | PSA Authentic | June 2, 2024 | Goldin Auctions | The whereabouts of this card were unknown to the public until it was submitted to PSA for authentication in 2022.[40][41] | |
| $2,578,758 | $2,400,000 | LeBron James | 2020–21 | Panini Flawless Triple Logoman Patch Autograph | Serial numbered #1/1 | PSA Authentic | June 25, 2022 | Ten-card boxes of Panini Flawless were sold for approximately $15,000. The sale was described onESPN.com as "arguably the most promoted card sale of all time."[42][43] It set a record for a card which was pulled from a pack and resold in the same year.[44] | ||
| $2,500,000 | $2,500,000 | Michael Jordan | 1986–87 | Fleer | c. 48,439[45][46][47] | PSA MINT 9 /AUTO 10 | June 26, 2025 | Joopiter | The first sports card ever sold byPharrell's auction house, Joopiter. One of nine Jordan rookie cards privately autographed in blue marker in 2024.[48][49] | |
| $2,320,766 | $2,000,000 | Kobe Bryant | 1997 | Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems - Green | 10 | BGSNM-MT+ 8.5 | February 22, 2022 | Private sale | Set a record for a Kobe Bryant card. The Precious Metal Gems were serially numbered to 100 with 1-10 being Green and 11-100 being Red.[citation needed] | |
| $2,256,606 | $1,857,300 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | 2013–14 | Panini National Treasures Logoman Patch Autograph | Serial numbered #1/1 | BGSMT 9 | September 20, 2020 | Goldin Auctions | Broke the record for a basketball card which had been set only two months and two days earlier.[50][51] | |
| $2,083,816 | $1,795,800 | Kobe Bryant | 1996–97 | Topps Chrome Refractor | c. 742[52][53][54] | BGS PRISTINE/Black Label 10 | March 6, 2021 | The same copy of this card had been sold for just $58,100 oneBay in 2016.[55] | ||
| $1,934,069 | $1,800,000 | Justin Herbert | 2020 | Panini National Treasures Platinum NFL Shield Autograph | Serial numbered #1/1 | BGSNM-MT+ 8.5 | September 11, 2022 | This card was sold later in the same week that another Herbert card sold for $1.1 million.[56][57] | ||
| $1,826,642 | $1,770,000 | Babe Ruth | 1916 | M101-4Sporting News (Sporting News back) | c. 35[58][59][60] | SGCNM 7 |  | February 25, 2023 | Heritage Auctions | Although called theSporting News set, many other companies advertised on the backs of these cards. The February 25, 2023 card advertised theSporting News on the back.[61] |
| $1,826,620 | $1,700,000 | Joe Burrow | 2020 | Panini National Treasures Platinum NFL Shield Autograph | Serial numbered #1/1 | BGS GEM-MINT 9.5 | September 12, 2022 | Private sale | [62] | |
| $1,805,131 | $1,680,000 | Michael Jordan /LeBron James /Kobe Bryant | 2006–07 | Upper Deck Exquisite Collection All NBA Access Triple Logoman | Serial numbered #1/1 | PSA Authentic | August 6, 2022 | Goldin Auctions | [63] | |
| $1,784,089 | $1,537,500 | LeBron James | 2003–04 | Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Rookie Patch Autographs | Serial numbered #32/99 | BGSNM-MT+ 8.5 | March 6, 2021 | |||
| $1,700,000 | $1,700,000 | Wilt Chamberlain | 1961 | Fleer | c. 3,170[64][65][66] | SGC 10 |  | September 2024 | Private sale | The only recognized rookie card of Wilt Chamberlain,[64] it set a record for a vintage basketball card. This private sale was brokered by Goldin Auctions.[67] |
| $1,670,952 | $1,440,000 | Michael Jordan | 1997–98 | Upper Deck Game Jerseys | Serial numbered #8/23 | PSANM 7 | February 5, 2021 | PWCC Marketplace | The autographed card features aswatch of the jersey he wore during the1992 NBA All-Star Game. Set a record for a Jordan card.[68] A copy of the same card with a higher grade from BGS sold for just $840,000 two years later.[69] | |
| $1,620,000 | $1,620,000 | Babe Ruth | 1933 | Goudey #149 | c. 1,905[70][71][24] | SGCVG 3 |  | November 21, 2024 | Fanatics Collect | Ruth appeared on four different cards in the 1933Goudey set: #53, #144, #149 and #181.[72] Another Ruth card from this set, the yellow-backgrounded #53, sold for $4,212,000 in 2021.[26] |
| $1,500,000 | $1,500,000 | Lionel Messi | 2004–05 | Panini Mega Cracks | c. 1,820[73][74][75] | PSAGEM MT 10 | August 2025 | Private sale | Set a record for a soccer card.[76] | |
| $1,498,635 | $1,291,500 | LeBron James | 2004–05 | Upper Deck Ultimate Signatures Logos #USL-LJ Signed Logoman | Serial numbered #1/1 | PSA Authentic | March 6, 2021 | Goldin Auctions | Set record for any 2004 LeBron James card. | |
| $1,322,837 | $1,140,000 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | 2013–14 | Panini Prizm Black Mosaic | Serial numbered #1/1 | BGS GM-MT 9.5 | December 12, 2020 | |||
| $1,284,544 | $1,107,000 | Roberto Clemente | 1955 | Topps | c. 11,156[77][78][79] | PSAMT 9 | June 3, 2021 | Set record for a Roberto Clemente card. | ||
| $1,253,214 | $1,080,000 | Patrick Mahomes | 2017 | Panini National Treasures Holo Gold Rookie Patch Autographs | Serial numbered #3/10 | BGS GEM MINT 9.5 | September 18, 2021 | PWCC Marketplace | Rarer parallels of the same card had sold for $4,300,000 and $840,000 earlier in the same year.[80] | |
| $1,067,500 | $1,067,500 | Shohei Ohtani | 2024 | Topps 50/50 Shohei Ohtani Black Dynasty Relic Autograph | Serial numbered #1/1 | PSA MINT 9 | March 29, 2025 | Heritage Auctions | The card included theMLB logo patch worn on Ohtani's pants when he became the first player in league history to have a50–50 season. The ball from the samehome run was separately auctioned for $4.392 million.[81] | |
| $1,218,402 | $1,050,000 | Mike Trout | 2011 | Topps Update Platinum | Serial numbered #1/1 | BGSMT 9 | July 29, 2021 | Private sale | Purchased by DJ and EntrepreneurDJ Skee. Was displayed at the 2021Topps booth at theNational Sports Collectors Convention[82] | |
| $1,183,591 | $1,020,000 | Anthony Davis | 2012–13 | Panini National Treasures NBA Logoman Rookie Patch Autographs | Serial numbered #1/1 | BGSMT 9 | January 30, 2021 | Goldin Auctions | Set record for an Anthony Davis card. | |
| $1,181,931 | $1,100,000 | Justin Herbert | 2020 | Panini Prizm Black Finite | Serial numbered #1/1 | BGS 9 | September 2022 | Private sale | This sale made Herbert the third NFL player to have a card sell for over $1 million afterTom Brady andPatrick Mahomes.[56] | |
| $1,166,881 | $1,005,600 | Reggie Jackson | 1969 | Topps | c. 18,644[83][84][85] | PSAGM-MT 10 | February 28, 2021 | Heritage Auctions | There are no other copies of the card graded as highly as this one which was previously owned byDmitri Young.[86] | |
| $1,160,441 | $1,080,000 | Stephen Curry | 2009–10 | Panini National Treasures "Century Platinum" Rookie Patch Autograph | Serial numbered #4/5 | PSA MINT 9 | August 6, 2022 | Goldin Auctions | [87] | |
| $1,160,441 | $1,080,000 | Mike Trout | 2009 | Bowman Chrome Draft Red Refractor Autograph | Serial numbered #5/5 | BGS GEM-MINT 9.5 | October 2022 | PWCC Marketplace | The same copy of this card set a record in 2020 for a modern-day card when it sold for $922,500.[88][89] | |
| $1,141,817 | $984,000 | Jackie Robinson | 1952 | Topps | c. 2,024[90][6][5] | PSAMT 9 | March 6, 2021 | Goldin Auctions | In 1953, unsold cards from the set were returned to Topps by retailers and dumped in theHudson River.[91][92] | |
| $1,111,719 | $915,000 | Michael Jordan | 1997 | Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems - Green | 10 | PSA Authentic | December 13, 2020 | Heritage Auctions | The Precious Metal Gems were serial numbered to 100 with 1–10 being green and 11–100 being red.[93] | |
| $1,110,000 | $1,110,000 | Paul Skenes | 2024 | Topps Chrome Update MLB Debut Patch Autograph | Serial numbered #1/1 | PSAGM-MT 10 | March 21, 2025 | Fanatics Collect | The buyer wasDick's Sporting Goods. Fanatics vowed to donate their portion of the sale to the2025 California wildfire relief efforts.[94][95] | |
| $1,093,494 | $900,000 | LeBron James /Michael Jordan | 2003–04 | Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Logoman | Serial numbered #1/1 | BGSNM-MT+ 8.5 | February 2020 | Goldin Auctions | At the time, set a record for a modern-day card and a basketball card. The buyer was identified as high-end basketball card collector Nat Turner.[96] | |
| $1,070,453 | $922,500 | Kobe Bryant | 2002–03 | Upper Deck Autograph Logo Mania | Serial numbered #1/1 | BGS MINT 9 | October 24, 2021 | Set a record for a non-rookie card of Kobe Bryant.[97] | ||
| $1,003,012 | $933,483.60 | Mickey Mantle | 1969 | Topps (white letter error) | c. 2,251[85][98][99] | PSA MINT 9 | December 3, 2022 | Memory Lane Inc. | This is anerror card featuring Mantle's name in white letters instead of yellow.[100] It is around eight times rarer than the yellow-lettered version.[101] | |
| $999,090 | $861,000 | Larry Bird /Julius Erving /Magic Johnson | 1980–81 | Topps | c. 24,554[102][103][104] | PSAGEM MT 10 | August 7, 2021 | Goldin Auctions | Joint rookie card of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson.[105] | |
| $974,722 | $840,000 | Patrick Mahomes | 2017 | Panini National Treasures Black Rookie Patch Autographs | Serial numbered #1/5 | BGSMT 9 | January 30, 2021 | Set the record for most expensive football card. | ||
| $967,034 | $900,000 | Lewis Hamilton | 2020 | Topps Chrome F1 Superfractor auto | Serial numbered #1/1 | PSAMT 8 | May 1, 2022 | As featured onKing of Collectibles: The Goldin Touch, this sale is considered the most expensive F1 card in the world.[106][107] | ||
| $958,733 | $700,000 | Eddie Plank | 1909–11 | T206 | c. 110[108][10][11] | PSA 7 | _for_the_American_Tobacco_Company_MET_DP845141.jpg) | 2012 | Private sale | Like theT206 Honus Wagner, the reason for the scarcity of T206 Plank cards is unknown.[109][110][111] |
| $939,397 | $717,000 | Babe Ruth | 1916 | M101-5Sporting News (blank back) | c. 49[112][113][114] | PSANM 7 | | August 28, 2016 | Heritage Auctions | Although called theSporting News set, many other companies advertised on the backs of these cards. The August 28, 2016 card had nothing on the back.[115][116][117] |
| $939,397 | $717,000 | Pete Rose /Pedro González /Ken McMullen /Al Weis | 1963 | Topps | c. 6,760[118][119][120] | PSAGM-MT 10 | August 28, 2016 | Goldin Auctions | The only recognized rookie card of Pete Rose.[120][121] | |
| $927,726 | $799,500 | Kevin Durant | 2007–08 | Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Rookie Card Parallel Patch Autographs | Serial numbered #23/35 | BGSMT 9 | March 6, 2021 | Set record for a Kevin Durant card. | ||
| $911,245 | $750,000 | Joe DiMaggio | 1941 | Play Ball | c. 1,386[122][123][124] | PSAGM-MT 10 |  | February 22, 2020 | Heritage Auctions | This card was produced during the same year asJoe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak.[125] |
| $905,099 | $780,000 | Luka Dončić | 2018 | Panini Prizm Gold Prizm | Serial numbered #3/10 | PSAGM-MT 10 | January 30, 2021 | Goldin Auctions | ||
| $874,795 | $720,000 | LeBron James | 2004 | Topps Chrome Superfractor | Serial numbered #1/1 | PSAGM-MT 10 | October 3, 2020 | Heritage Auctions | Set record for a non-autographed 2004 LeBron James card. | |
| $874,084 | $667,149 | Joe Jackson | 1909 | American Caramel | c. 124[126][127] | PSANM-MT 8 |  | August 21, 2016 | SCP Auctions | Set a record for a candy card. Considered a rookie card.[128][129][130] |
| $870,000 | $870,000 | Ty Cobb | 1909–11 | T206 | c. 837[131][10][11] | PSAMT 9 |  | August 23, 2024 | Heritage Auctions | One of several Cobb cards from the T206 set. This variant features Cobb holding a bat away from his body on the obverse and an advertisement for Piedmont Cigarettes on the reverse. Another copy of the card sold for $488,425 in 2016.[132][133][134] |
| $826,443 | $660,000 | Sherry Magee | 1909–11 | T206 (Error) | c. 110[135][136] | PSANM-MT 8 |  | September 21, 2018 | Magee's name is erroneously spelled as "Magie."[137] | |
| $802,300 | $612,359.83 | Nolan Ryan /Jerry Koosman | 1968 | Topps | c. 17,425 [138][139][140] | PSAGM-MT 10 | August 26, 2016 | Nolan Ryan's rookie card[141][142] | ||
| $787,531 | $575,000 | Babe Ruth | 1914 | Baltimore News (blue) | c. 8[143][144] | PSA Good 2 |  | August 2012 | Private sale | Features Ruth with the minor leagueBaltimore Orioles two years before his first Major League card. The seller had bought the card for $199,750 in 2007.[145] |
| $773,627 | $720,000 | Henry Aaron | 1954 | Topps | c. 11,211[146][147][148] | PSA MINT 9 | August 18, 2022 | PWCC Marketplace | A copy of the card with the same grade sold for only $645,000 a year earlier in 2021.[149] | |
| $765,853 | $660,000 | Babe Ruth | 1917 | Collins-McCarthy | c. 28[150][151] | SGCNM-MT 8 | _147_Babe_Ruth.jpg) | February 27, 2021 | Heritage Auctions | As of 2021, only nine submissions from the entire 200-card set had been graded this highly by SGC or PSA.[152] |
| $737,915 | $600,000 | Joe Jackson | 1910 | Old Mill | c. 17[153] | PSAVG+ 3.5 |  | February 2019 | Features Jackson with the minor leagueNew Orleans Pelicans despite being issued during his Major League career.[153][154][155] | |
| $731,041 | $630,000 | Bill Russell | 1957 | Topps | c. 1,752[156][157][158] | PSANM-MT+ 8.5 | August 21, 2021 | Russell's only recognized rookie card. The same copy of the card sold in May 2023 for $660,000[159][160] which, adjusted for inflation, is less than the August 21, 2021 inflation-adjusted sale price. | ||
| $730,454 | $601,200 | Stephen Curry | 2009–10 | Panini National Treasures "Century Gold" Rookie Patch Autographs | Serial numbered #10/25 | BGSGM-MT 9.5 | December 20, 2020 | Goldin Auctions | ||
| $657,578 | $501,900 | Lew Alcindor | 1969–70 | Topps | c. 4,433[161][162][163] | PSAGM-MT 10 | August 26, 2016 | Heritage Auctions | Set record for a basketball card. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's only recognized rookie card.[162][164] | |
| $626,265 | $478,000 | Willie Mays | 1952 | Topps | c. 3,088[165][5][6] | PSAMT 9 | May 12, 2016 | In 1953, unsold cards from the set were returned to Topps by retailers and dumped in theHudson River.[91][92] | ||
| $619,848 | $504,000 | Ty Cobb | 1915 | Cracker Jack | c. 198[166][167][168] | PSAMT 9 |  | April 23, 2019 | [169] |
It was the first time this card was available at public auction, its whereabouts unconfirmed until it surfaced with card grader PSA in 2022.
