Article · 5 min read
The Most Valuable Sports Cards Ever Sold
· By the Sports Card Value Scanner team
Quick answer
The highest price ever paid for a sports card is $12.932 million, for a one-of-one 2007–08 Upper Deck Exquisite Dual Logoman autograph of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, graded PSA 6, in August 2025. Close behind is a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle graded SGC 9.5, which sold for $12.6 million at Heritage Auctions in 2022 and is still the baseball record. Adjusted for inflation, the Mantle edges ahead.
Record-setting sports cards share a few traits. They feature the most important players in their sport, they're either very old and very scarce or modern and made as one of one, and they're in exceptional condition or carry an autograph or a game-worn patch. The 1952 Topps Mantle and the T206 Honus Wagner represent the vintage side: famous cards of legendary players in grades few surviving copies reach. The Jordan and Kobe Logoman, the Stephen Curry and Luka Doncic Logomans and the Aaron Judge superfractor represent the modern side, where manufacturers create single copies with league-logo patches or a unique refractor finish. Most of these sales happened at major auction houses or as reported private sales, and they reflect the very top of the market. They don't mean an ordinary copy of the same player's base card is worth anything close.
| Record sale | $12.932 million, Jordan and Kobe Dual Logoman (PSA 6), August 2025 |
|---|---|
| Top baseball sale | $12.6 million, 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle (SGC 9.5), August 2022 |
| Top football sale | $4.3 million, 2017 National Treasures Patrick Mahomes rookie patch autograph, July 2021 |
| Top hockey sale | $3.75 million, 1979 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky (PSA 10), 2021 |
| Common traits | An all-time great player, tiny supply and exceptional condition |
What are the most expensive sports cards ever sold?
The most expensive sports card ever sold is the 2007–08 Upper Deck Exquisite Dual Logoman autograph of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, at $12.932 million in August 2025, followed by the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle at $12.6 million.
| Card | Grade | Price | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007–08 Upper Deck Exquisite Dual Logoman Autograph, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant (1/1) | PSA 6 | $12,932,000 | August 2025 |
| 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle | SGC 9.5 | $12,600,000 | August 2022, Heritage Auctions |
| 1909–11 T206 Honus Wagner | SGC 2 | $7,250,000 | August 2022, private sale |
| 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth | SGC 3 | $7,200,000 | December 2023, Robert Edwards Auctions |
| 2009 Panini National Treasures Logoman Autograph, Stephen Curry | PSA 8 | $5,900,000 | July 2021, private sale |
| 2003 Upper Deck Exquisite Rookie Patch Autograph, LeBron James | BGS 9 | $5,200,000 | April 2021, PWCC Marketplace |
| 2013 Bowman Chrome Draft Pick Superfractor Autograph, Aaron Judge | BGS 9.5 | $5,200,000 | March 2026 |
| 2018 Panini National Treasures Logoman Autograph, Luka Doncic | Ungraded | $4,600,000 | February 2021, private sale |
| 2017 Panini National Treasures Platinum Shield Rookie Patch Autograph, Patrick Mahomes | BGS 8.5 | $4,300,000 | July 2021 |
| 1933 Goudey #53 Babe Ruth | PSA 9 | $4,212,000 | July 2021, Memory Lane |
Prices are nominal, not adjusted for inflation. Rankings change whenever a new record is set, so check the sources below for the latest sales.
What are the most valuable baseball cards of all time?
The 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle, the T206 Honus Wagner and early Babe Ruth cards are the most valuable baseball cards of all time. Baseball dominates the vintage end of the list. The 1952 Topps Mantle is the hobby's most famous post-war card. The T206 Honus Wagner is arguably the most famous card of all, partly because so few copies were printed and survived. Babe Ruth appears twice in the top ten, with his 1914 Baltimore News card and his 1933 Goudey.
The modern side of baseball is led by superfractor autographs, the one-of-one gold refractors at the top of Bowman Chrome's parallel ladder. Mike Trout's 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft superfractor autograph sold for $3.936 million in 2020, and Aaron Judge's 2013 version reached $5.2 million in 2026.
What are the record sales in basketball, football and hockey?
Basketball holds the overall record with the Jordan and Kobe Dual Logoman. Football's top sales are Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady rookie autographs, and hockey's is a PSA 10 1979 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky rookie.
- Basketball: the Jordan and Kobe Dual Logoman holds the overall record. LeBron James' 2003 Exquisite rookie patch autograph, Stephen Curry's 2009 Logoman and Luka Doncic's 2018 Logoman all sold for more than $4 million.
- Football: Patrick Mahomes' 2017 National Treasures rookie patch autograph ($4.3 million in 2021) and Tom Brady's 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Rookie Ticket autograph in BGS 9 (about $3.1 million in 2021) lead the sport.
- Hockey: a 1979 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky rookie card graded PSA 10 sold privately for $3.75 million in 2021.
What do record-breaking cards have in common?
Record cards combine an all-time great player, tiny supply, exceptional condition for their era, a famous story and good timing.
- The player is an all-time great. Mantle, Wagner, Ruth, Jordan, Kobe, LeBron, Brady, Gretzky.
- Supply is tiny. Very few copies survive from the early 1900s, or the card was made as a one of one.
- Condition is exceptional for the era. A 1952 Mantle in SGC 9.5 is extraordinary; most surviving copies grade far lower.
- There's a story. Famous cards attract media coverage and new buyers, which feeds demand.
- Timing helped. Several records were set in 2021 and 2022, when prices were high across the hobby.
What do record sales mean for your cards?
Record sales say little about most cards, because they describe a handful of exceptional ones. A common card of a famous player, even from the same set, can be worth a tiny fraction of these numbers, and condition makes an enormous difference. If you have older cards of famous players, check them carefully, but price them from recent sales of the same card in the same condition.
For everyday collections, our articles on what your baseball card is worth, valuable baseball cards from the 80s and 90s and how to tell if a sports card is valuable are far more useful guides.
How can you check whether your own cards are valuable?
Sports Card Value Scanner won't find you a Wagner, but it will tell you quickly whether a card is a common or worth a closer look. Scan the front to see the card's year, set and card number, a reference price range and a rarity score, then save the interesting ones to My Collection.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most expensive sports card ever sold?
By price paid, a one-of-one 2007–08 Upper Deck Exquisite Dual Logoman autograph of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, graded PSA 6, which sold for $12.932 million in August 2025. Adjusted for inflation, the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle that sold for $12.6 million in 2022 ranks slightly higher.
What is the most valuable baseball card?
The 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle graded SGC 9.5, sold for $12.6 million in 2022, holds the baseball record. The T206 Honus Wagner is the most famous; a copy graded SGC 2 sold privately for $7.25 million in 2022.
Are cards of these players valuable in any condition?
Not necessarily. Vintage cards of legends often have value even in low grades, but modern base cards of the same players can be inexpensive. Condition, scarcity and the exact version decide the price.
Sources
Find out what your cards are worth
Scan your first card in seconds. Get the card details, a reference price range and a rarity score, then build a collection you can track.
4.5★ App Store (75) · 4.4★ Google Play (79) · Free to download