Ever wondered what makes a piece of cardboard worth millions?

Well, the world of sports cards isn’t just for collectors – it’s a playground for serious investment.

From iconic players to jaw-dropping prices, these cards are no longer just memorabilia but prized treasures.

In this article, you will see the most expensive sports card ever sold, and you might just start eyeing your own collection in a new light (or at least your granddad’s old box of cards!).

1. Topps Mickey Mantle

Card	Sport	Price	Sale Date	Buyer	Seller
1952 Topps Mickey Mantle	Baseball	$12.6 Million	August 28, 2022	Anonymous	Heritage Auctions

Graded SGC 9.5, this is the highest-quality example of the most famous post-war baseball card. From the famous Rosen Find, it features Mantle in his Yankees uniform with a blue sky background.

Though not his actual rookie card, it’s the most iconic Mantle card and the crown jewel of the first Topps set.

2. T206 Honus Wagner

Card	Sport	Price	Sale Date	Buyer	Seller
T206 Honus Wagner	Baseball	$7.25 Million	August 2022	Private collector	Private sale

The T206 Honus Wagner is known as the Holy Grail of baseball cards, with only 50-60 copies believed to exist. Wagner reportedly stopped production because he didn’t want to promote tobacco to children.

This SGC 2 graded card briefly held the record for the most expensive sports card ever before the Mantle sale.

3. Baltimore News Babe Ruth

Card	Sport	Price	Sale Date	Buyer	Seller
1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth	Baseball	$7.2 Million	2023	Private collector	Private sale

Ruth’s true rookie card shows him as a minor league Baltimore Orioles pitcher before his legendary MLB career.

With only about 10 known examples, this SGC 3 graded card was originally collected by a paperboy in 1914 and passed down through generations before being sold at a record-setting auction.

4. Upper Deck Exquisite LeBron James

Card	Sport	Price	Sale Date	Buyer	Seller
2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite LeBron James	Basketball	$5.2 Million	April 2021	Private collector	PWCC Marketplace

This rookie card, numbered 23/99 to match James’ jersey, features his autograph and a patch from his game-worn Cavaliers jersey.

Part of Upper Deck’s groundbreaking Exquisite Collection, which revolutionized the high-end card market with $500 packs, this set showcases James at the start of his legendary career.

5. Panini National Treasures Stephen Curry

Card	Sport	Price	Sale Date	Buyer	Seller
2009-10 Panini National Treasures Stephen Curry	Basketball	$5.9 Million	July 6, 2021	Private collector	Private sale

This one-of-a-kind card features Curry’s autograph and the NBA logo patch from his Warriors rookie jersey.

The highest-selling basketball card ever, it surpassed cards of legends like Jordan and James, showing Curry’s immense impact on the game and collectibles market.

6. National Treasures Luka Doncic

Card	Sport	Price	Sale Date	Buyer	Seller
2018-19 National Treasures Luka Doncic	Basketball	$4.6 Million	February 28, 2021	Nick Fiorella	Bolillo Lajan San

This unique 1-of-1 card has Doncic’s autograph and the NBA logo from his Mavericks jersey.

First revealed during a live pack break at Layton Sports Card shop, it sold privately to collector Nick Fiorella. The same card was later resold at public auction for $3.12 million in 2022.

7. Panini National Treasures Patrick Mahomes

Card	Sport	Price	Sale Date	Buyer	Seller
2017 Panini National Treasures Patrick Mahomes	Football	$4.3 Million	July 2021	LJ’s Card Shop	PWCC Marketplace

Graded BGS 8.5, this 1-of-1 rookie card shows the NFL Shield logo from Mahomes’ jersey with his autograph.

It set the record for the expensive football card ever sold, exceeding the previous record by over $1 million. The sale reflected early confidence in Mahomes’ potential greatness.

8. O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky Rookie

Card	Sport	Price	Sale Date	Buyer	Seller
1979 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky	Hockey	$3.75 Million	May 2021	Private collector	Heritage Auctions

The most valuable hockey card ever sold, this O-Pee-Chee card (the Canadian version) shows “The Great One” in his Edmonton Oilers uniform.

More valuable than its Topps counterpart due to its lower production quality and greater rarity in mint condition.

9. Playoff Contenders Tom Brady

Card	Sport	Price	Sale Date	Buyer	Seller
2000 Playoff Contenders Tom Brady	Football	$3.1 Million	March 2021	Private collector	Lelands Auction

Graded BGS MINT 9, this autographed rookie card is numbered 8/100. It held the record for the most expensive football card before the Mahomes sale.

The card shows Brady in his Patriots uniform at the beginning of what would become the greatest quarterback career ever.

10. Bowman Chrome Draft Mike Trout

Card	Sport	Price	Sale Date	Buyer	Seller
2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Mike Trout	Baseball	$3.9 Million	August 2020	Private collector	Goldin Auctions

This 1-of-1 autographed rookie card briefly became the most expensive baseball card when it sold.

The superfractor features a unique, rainbow-like reflective background. The high price reflected Trout’s status as baseball’s best active player.

11. Metal Universe Michael Jordan

Card	Sport	Price	Sale Date	Buyer	Seller
1997 Metal Universe Michael Jordan	Basketball	$2.5 Million	February 2022	Private collector	Private sale

Numbered 4/100, this card stands out with its distinctive green background. Part of the highly sought-after Precious Metal Gems series, it represents Jordan at the height of his career.

Even decades after retirement, Jordan cards maintain exceptional value among collectors.

12. Panini National Treasures Giannis Antetokounmpo

Card	Sport	Price	Sale Date	Buyer	Seller
2013-14 Panini National Treasures Giannis Antetokounmpo	Basketball	$1.812 Million	September 2020	Private collector	Goldin Auctions

Graded BGS MT 9, this 1-of-1 rookie card of the “Greek Freak” includes his autograph and an NBA logo patch.

The card sold before Giannis won his NBA championship, showing early collector confidence in his potential to become an all-time great.

13. Goudey Babe Ruth #53

Card	Sport	Price	Sale Date	Buyer	Seller
1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #53	Baseball	$4.2 Million	2021	Private collector	Private sale

This iconic card shows Ruth in his Yankees uniform against a yellow background. It’s one of four Ruth cards in the 240-card Goudey set, but it’s the most valuable of these versions.

The card comes from baseball’s first fully colored gum card series during the Great Depression.

14. Upper Deck Game Jersey Michael Jordan

Card	Sport	Price	Sale Date	Buyer	Seller
1997 Upper Deck Game Jersey Michael Jordan	Basketball	$1.44 Million	February 2021	Private collector	Heritage Auctions

Numbered 8/23, this card features a piece of Jordan’s game-worn jersey and his autograph.

It was among the first cards to include game-used memorabilia, starting a trend that became standard for premium cards. The limited production and Jordan’s status make it highly valuable.

15. Upper Deck Ultimate Signatures LeBron James

Card	Sport	Price	Sale Date	Buyer	Seller
2004-05 Upper Deck Ultimate Signatures LeBron James	Basketball	$1.29 Million	March 2021	Private collector	Goldin Auctions

This 1-of-1 signed Logoman card (PSA Authentic, Auto 10) features James early in his career. The card contains the NBA logo from his game-worn jersey and his pristine autograph.

The high price reflects the significant value collectors place on rare LeBron James cards.

At the End

The world of sports cards has changed into an interesting mix of history, nostalgia, and high-stakes investment.

While the record-breaking sale of these cards may seem like an outlier, they showcase the powerful intersection of sports culture and financial value.

Whether you dabble occasionally or live and breathe sports cards, the passion behind these cards continues to drive their worth.

So, next time you dig through an old box, you might just find your own hidden treasure waiting to make headlines.