When you ask baseball card collectors which cards they would most like to get your hands on, most would agree on the top two - the T206 Honus Wagner and the 1914 Babe Ruth. There would probably be some disagreement after that, however. While condition of the card and market conditions certainly carry considerable influence over values, the following list includes five of the most valuable and recognizable cards in the baseball card collecting hobby.
Honus Wagner T206 - The most well-known rookie card in the baseball card collecting community, the Honus Wagner is generally treated as a work of art. It was included in the T206 set between 1909 and 1911 by the American Tobacco Company. Due to a dispute with the American Tobacco Company, between 50 and 200 cards were released to the public. The reasons behind the dispute continue to be questioned - whether Wagner didn't want his likeness included in packages of cigarettes or whether he wanted additional compensation. Whatever the reason, this limited availability made the T206 Honus Wagner the first valuable baseball card. Today, the card remains both an investment and a symbol of stature, as many famous individuals have bought or sold the card.
1914 Baltimore Sun Babe Ruth - printed in 1914 by the Baltimore Sun newspaper, the Babe Ruth rookie card has become the second-most valuable baseball card in the hobby. This 1914 set included Ruth with his Baltimore Orioles teammates, as well as the International League's Terrapins. The cards were available in blue or red and included a team schedule on the back. Given the overwhelming continued popularity of Babe Ruth with baseball card collectors, it is quite possible that this card will eventually replace the Honus Wagner as the most valuable card. For now, it stands as a firm number two with collectors.
1952 Topps Mickey Mantle - this Mickey Mantle card has been a darling of the baseball card collecting community for many years. The value of this Mantle card has fluctuated in price a bit over the past couple of decades, but remains popular with collectors and is widely considered the most valuable of cards printed during Mantle's career.
1951 Bowman Willie Mays - A PSA 9 Bowman Willie Mays card sold in a 2007 auction for over ,000, further establishing the card as one of the elite cards with collectors.
1933 Goudey Babe Ruth - of all Babe Ruth cards printed during his storied career, his 1933 Goudey cards remain the most widely recognizable. The 1933 Goudey issue included four Babe Ruth cards, reflective of his stature in the sport and in the hobby.
Honorable mention for top cards would have to go to the 1939 Play Ball Ted Williams and the 1949 Bowman Satchel Paige. Despite a spectacular career with the Boston Red Sox, the Splendid Splinter's rookie card is generally valued at a considerably price than Mantle's 1952 rookie card. While carrying a classic look, the 1939 Ted Williams is printed in black and white and visually is just not a particularly memorable card. Arguably the biggest name from the Negro Leagues, Satchel Paige had a brilliant career with relatively few baseball cards in circulation today. As a result, this card is seen priced at close to six figures in mint condition.
Rounding out the top ten would be an even more controversial task - Christy Mathewson, Ty Cobb, Hank Aaron, Lou Gehrig, Jackie Robinson, and several others could deserve a seat at that table.
