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What sports cards are worth money and how much are they worth?
Steve Njuguna
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:24 PM
The world of sports memorabilia holds great sentimental value to sports fans. Everyone loves something that reminds them of their favourite team or player. Sports cards take centre stage in this and some are valued at millions. Today we look at what sports cards are worth money and how much they are worth.
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Sports cards were initially traded between fans for fun. As time passed, vintage sports cards that could be verified as original accumulated in value.
What is the origin of sports cards?
Sports Cards came into prominence in the late 19th century. They were initially used to incentivize the sale of some goods like candy and cigarettes by being included in the packaging. American tobacco company Allen and Ginter first inserted sports cards in their cigarette packs in 1886. Around the same time, British tobacco company W.D. & H.O. Wills followed suit in 1888.
Which sports have cards?
Most major sports have sports cards. Examples include association football, hockey, basketball, baseball etc.
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How do you know which sports cards are worth money?
The main criteria for selecting which sports cards are worth money is the condition and validity of the card. A torn or damaged card will not fetch much on the market. To check the validity of your sports card, you can check its serial number and research online on the company that made that specific batch. They get rated by Professional Sports Authenticators (PSAs) who have their 10-point ranking system.
What is the most valuable sports card in the world?
In 2022, Anthony Giordano broke the world record when he received $12.6 million for his 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle baseball card.
Which sports cards from the 90s are worth a lot of money?
The '90s saw a golden era in baseball and basketball with superstars in every big team. Some big names include Michael Jordan with the Chicago Bulls and Derek Jeter with the New York Yankees. The most valuable card of that era belongs to Lakers legend Kobe Bryant. His rookie Topps Chrome card in the 1996-97 season can be worth up to $10,000. The only card that comes close is Derek Jeter's 1993 SP #279 with some verified examples sold for $8500.
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Which new sports cards are worth a lot of money?
Despite not being as valuable as antique cards, several cards manufactured after the millennium have sold for high values. Here is a list of the top 10 :
Card | Sport | Value |
2009 Bowman Chrome Mike Trout Superfractors (Autographed) | Baseball | $400,000 |
2003 Ultimate Collection Ultimate Logos Lebron James Rookie (Autographed) | Basketball | $312,000 |
2000 Playoff Contenders Tom Brady Championship Ticket Rookie (Autographed) | American Football | $250,000 |
2018 Bowman Chrome Shohei Ohtani Rookie Superfractors (Autographed) | Baseball | $184,000 |
2013-14 National Treasures Gold Giannis Antetokounmpo Rookie Patch (Autographed) | Basketball | $90,000 |
2007-08 Upper Deck Kevin Durant Exquisite (Autographed) | Basketball | $66,000 |
2006 Bowman Chrome Draft Clayton Kershaw Red Refractor (Autographed) | Baseball | $51,300 |
2009-10 National Treasures Steph Curry (Autographed) | Basketball | $50,000 |
2001 Bowman Chrome Albert Pujols Refractor (Autographed) | Baseball | $20,000 |
2017 Panini Contenders Patrick Mahomes Cracked Ice (Autographed) | American Football | $16,000 |
What is the most valuable brand of sports cards?
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The biggest manufacturing company dealing with cards is Panini. Topps and Upper Deck are popular in North America amongst baseball and basketball.
Sports cards evolved from fun toys for trade among sports fans to a multimillion industry. If you have some lying hidden in an attic somewhere, make sure you have them assessed. You could be lying on a pot of gold! We have just detailed what sports cards are worth money and how much they are worth.
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