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The most expensive graded cards include 1948 Leaf Jackie Robinson #79 PSA 9 (sold for $9.8M 4/23/23), 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 SGC 9 (sold for $4.5M 8/21/23), and a 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #144 PSA 8.5 (sold for $1.1M also on 8/21/23). This is according to Market Movers data for cards sold in 2023.
Where are High-End Graded Cards Sold?
High-end cards like these typically sell on specialized sports card consignment and auction sites like PWCC, Goldin, and Heritage auctions. In fact, the Jackie Robinson sold on PWCC, with both the Mantle and Ruth selling on Heritage auctions.
Vintage vs. Modern
While these three vintage cards top the list, if you expand the lookback window to 365 days you’ll see two modern cards—the 2018 Luka Doncic National Treasures #127 RPA Logoman 1/1 BGS 9 that sold for $3.1M in November 2022, while a 2000 Tom Brady Contenders #144 Rookie Ticket Auto Championship sold for $2.4M in October of 2022. Both sold on PWCC.
The Players
To get a better look at the players that make up such valuable sales, here are the top 10 most expensive graded cards sold over the last 365 days:
- Jackie Robinson 1948 Leaf #79 Base PSA 9, $9750000
- Mickey Mantle 1952 Topps #311 Base SGC 9, $4500000
- Luka Doncic 2018 National Treasures #127 Rookie Patch Auto – Logoman /1 BGS 9, $3120000
- Tom Brady 2000 Contenders #144 Rookie Ticket Auto – Championship /100 BGS 9, $2400000
- Mickey Mantle 1952 Topps #311 Base PSA 8, $1470000
- Babe Ruth 1933 Goudey #144 Base PSA 8.5, $1065000
- Luka Doncic 2018 National Treasures #127 Rookie Patch Auto – Emerald /5 BGS 9, $900000
- LeBron James 2003 Topps Chrome #111 Gold Refractor /50 PSA 10, $900000
- Tom Brady 2000 Contenders #144 Rookie Ticket Auto – Championship /100 BGS 8.5, $840000
- Michael Jordan 1997 Upper Deck #GJ13S Game Jersey Autographs /23 BGS 8, $840000
While nobody would argue with the inclusion of most everyone on the list, it’s still amazing to see Luka Doncic up there with the greatest to ever play their respective sports, and selling for millions of dollars at that. Besides the valuable Lebron rookie card, Luka is also the only active player on the top 10 list.
Sport Mix
There is also a good mix of baseball, football, and basketball, but one can’t help but notice hockey and others sports and non-sports missing from the top 10.
In fact, the first card on the greater list of the top 100 most expensive graded cards sold over the last year that wasn’t from these three sports was a Magic the Gathering cards—the Black Lotus 1993 Alpha Edition Base PSA 10.
Surprisingly, before we even see a hockey or soccer card, there is the Max Verstappen 2020 Topps Chrome Sapphire Formula 1 Padparadscha 1/1 PSA 9 that sold in March of 2023 (again, on PWCC) for $336,000.
The Lionel Messi 2004 Panini Megacracks #71BIS Base PSA 10 at $266K and Alexander Ovechkin 2005 Upper Deck The Cup #179 Rookie Patch Auto /99 PSA 10 at $182K are the first on the list from soccer and hockey, respectively.
Grades
For a card to reach millions of dollars in value, it really takes the perfect storm—big name player, rookie card, great condition. It’s for that reason that most of the cards on the entire list of 100 are going to be graded 8 and above.
The card that sold for the most but in less than “8” condition was a Lamar Jackson 2018 National Treasures #165 Rookie Patch Auto Platinum NFL Shield /1 PSA 7.5 that went for $192K in November 2022.
The lowest graded card on the list? A 1909 Ty Cobb T206 “Bat Off Shoulder” PSA 2.5.
The Top 100 List
Here are the top 100 most expensive graded cards that have sold in the last 365 days. You can search and sort within the table.
| Card | Max Sale |
|---|---|
| Jackie Robinson 1948 Leaf #79 Base PSA 9 | $9,750,000.00 |
| Mickey Mantle 1952 Topps #311 Base SGC 9 | $4,500,000.00 |
| Luka Doncic 2018 National Treasures #127 Rookie Patch Auto - Logoman /1 BGS 9 | $3,120,000.00 |
| Tom Brady 2000 Contenders #144 Rookie Ticket Auto - Championship /100 BGS 9 | $2,400,000.00 |
| Mickey Mantle 1952 Topps #311 Base PSA 8 | $1,470,000.00 |
| Babe Ruth 1933 Goudey #144 Base PSA 8.5 | $1,065,000.00 |
| Luka Doncic 2018 National Treasures #127 Rookie Patch Auto - Emerald /5 BGS 9 | $900,000.00 |
| LeBron James 2003 Topps Chrome #111 Gold Refractor /50 PSA 10 | $900,000.00 |
| Tom Brady 2000 Contenders #144 Rookie Ticket Auto - Championship /100 BGS 8.5 | $840,000.00 |
| Michael Jordan 1997 Upper Deck #GJ13S Game Jersey Autographs /23 BGS 8 | $840,000.00 |
| Tom Brady 2000 Contenders #144 Rookie Ticket Auto - Championship /100 PSA 8 | $660,000.00 |
| Bill Russell 1957 Topps #77 Base PSA 8.5 | $660,000.00 |
| Hank Aaron 1954 Topps #128 Base PSA 9 | $615,000.00 |
| Mickey Mantle 1952 Topps #311 Base SGC 8 | $600,000.00 |
| Pete Maravich 1970 Topps #123 Base PSA 10 | $552,000.00 |
| Black Lotus 1993 Alpha Edition Base PSA 10 | $540,000.00 |
| Mickey Mantle 1968 Topps #280 Base PSA 10 | $510,000.00 |
| Mike Trout 2009 Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects #BDPP89 Chrome Prospect Auto - Red Refractor /5 PSA 10 | $510,000.00 |
| Tom Brady 2000 Bowman Chrome #236 Refractor PSA 10 | $498,000.00 |
| Ty Cobb 1909 T206 Green Portrait PSA 8 | $488,000.00 |
| Mickey Mantle 1951 Bowman #253 Base PSA 8 | $480,000.00 |
| Mickey Mantle 1952 Topps #311 Base PSA 7 | $468,000.00 |
| LeBron James 2003 Topps Chrome #111 Gold Refractor /50 BGS 9.5 | $420,000.00 |
| Tom Brady 2000 Contenders #144 Rookie Ticket Auto - Championship /100 BGS 7 | $420,000.00 |
| Michael Jordan 1997 Metal Universe #23 Precious Metal Gems Red /90 BGS 8.5 | $420,000.00 |
| Sandy Koufax 1955 Topps #123 Base PSA 9 | $396,000.00 |
| Stephen Curry 2009 National Treasures #206 Rookie Patch Auto /99 BGS 9.5 | $390,000.00 |
| Mickey Mantle 1952 Topps #311 Base SGC 7.5 | $384,000.00 |
| Jackie Robinson 1948 Leaf #79 Base PSA 8 | $372,000.00 |
| Willie Mays 1953 Topps #244 Base SGC 9 | $360,000.00 |
| Michael Jordan 1997 Metal Universe #23 Precious Metal Gems Red /90 BGS 8 | $360,000.00 |
| Michael Jordan 1997 Metal Universe #23 Precious Metal Gems Red /90 PSA 4 | $342,000.00 |
| Babe Ruth 1933 Goudey #144 Base PSA 8 | $336,000.00 |
| Max Verstappen 2020 Topps Chrome Formula 1 Sapphire Edition #6 Padparadscha /1 PSA 9 | $336,000.00 |
| Tom Brady 2000 Contenders #144 Rookie Ticket Auto - Championship /100 BGS 8 | $324,000.00 |
| Patrick Mahomes II 2017 Prizm #RA-PM Rookie Autographs - Black Finite /1 BGS 9.5 | $312,000.00 |
| Michael Jordan 1997 Metal Universe Championship #23 Precious Metal Gems /50 BGS 9 | $288,000.00 |
| Lionel Messi 2004 Panini Megacracks #71BIS Base PSA 10 | $266,400.00 |
| Trevor Lawrence 2021 National Treasures #156 Rookie Patch Auto - Platinum NFL Shield /1 BGS 8 | $264,000.00 |
| Walt Frazier 1969 Topps #98 Base PSA 10 | $252,000.00 |
| Ty Cobb 1909 T206 Red Portrait PSA 8 | $252,000.00 |
| Wilt Chamberlain 1961 Fleer #8 Base PSA 9 | $252,000.00 |
| Charizard 1999 Pokemon Game #4 1st Edition Holo PSA 10 | $249,999.00 |
| Ja Morant 2019 National Treasures #118 Rookie Patch Auto - Emerald /5 BGS 9.5 | $240,000.00 |
| Roberto Clemente 1955 Topps #164 Base SGC 9 | $240,000.00 |
| Tom Brady 2000 Contenders #144 Rookie Ticket Auto - Championship /100 BGS 7.5 | $240,000.00 |
| Mickey Mantle 1952 Topps #311 Base PSA 6.5 | $240,000.00 |
| Mickey Mantle 1953 Bowman Color #59 Base PSA 9 | $234,000.00 |
| George Mikan 1948 Bowman #69 Base SGC 9 | $228,000.00 |
| LeBron James 2003 Topps Chrome #111 Gold Refractor /50 BGS 9 | $228,000.00 |
| Willie Mays 1951 Bowman #305 Base PSA 8 | $228,000.00 |
| Patrick Mahomes II 2017 Prizm #269 Gold Vinyl /5 PSA 10 | $222,000.00 |
| Michael Jordan 1986 Fleer #57 Base PSA 10 | $222,000.00 |
| Ty Cobb 1909 T206 Bat off Shoulder PSA 2.5 | $222,000.00 |
| Black Lotus 1993 Alpha Edition Base BGS 9 | $222,000.00 |
| Tom Brady 2000 Bowman Chrome #236 Refractor SGC 10 | $222,000.00 |
| Lionel Messi 2022 Prizm World Cup #7 Gold Power /1 PSA 10 | $218,400.00 |
| Justin Herbert 2020 National Treasures #158 Rookie Patch Auto /99 PSA 10 | $216,000.00 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo 2013 Prizm #290 Gold /10 BGS 9.5 | $216,000.00 |
| Luka Doncic 2018 Prizm #280 Black Gold /5 BGS 9.5 | $216,000.00 |
| Ty Cobb 1909 T206 Bat on Shoulder PSA 8 | $210,000.00 |
| Mickey Mantle 1952 Topps #311 Base SGC 6 | $210,000.00 |
| Babe Ruth 1933 Goudey #181 Base PSA 8 | $210,000.00 |
| Stephen Curry 2009 Topps #101 Chrome - Refractor /500 BGS 10 Pristine | $210,000.00 |
| Joe Burrow 2020 National Treasures #156 Rookie Patch Auto /99 PSA 10 | $210,000.00 |
| Joe Namath 1965 Topps #122 Base PSA 8.5 | $207,400.00 |
| Hank Aaron 1954 Topps #128 Base PSA 8.5 | $204,000.00 |
| Michael Jordan 1998 SkyBox Premium #23 Star Rubies /50 BGS 8.5 | $204,000.00 |
| Derek Jeter 1993 SP #279 Foil PSA 10 | $204,000.00 |
| Mickey Mantle 1952 Topps #311 Base PSA 6 | $204,000.00 |
| Stephen Curry 2009 Topps #101 Chrome - Gold Refractor /50 BGS 9.5 | $204,000.00 |
| Luka Doncic 2018 National Treasures #127 Rookie Patch Auto - Gold /10 BGS 9.5 | $204,000.00 |
| Patrick Mahomes II 2017 National Treasures #161 Rookie Patch Auto /99 PSA 10 | $204,000.00 |
| Cade Cunningham 2021 National Treasures #123 Rookie Patch Auto - Logoman /1 BGS 9 | $204,000.00 |
| Stephen Curry 2009 National Treasures #206 Rookie Patch Auto - Century Gold /25 BGS 9.5 | $204,000.00 |
| LeBron James 2003 Topps Chrome #111 Refractor BGS 10 Pristine | $198,000.00 |
| Michael Jordan 1998 SkyBox Premium #23 Star Rubies /50 PSA 8 | $198,000.00 |
| Jackie Robinson 1952 Topps #312 Base PSA 8 | $198,000.00 |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1969 Topps #25 Base PSA 9 | $192,000.00 |
| Lamar Jackson 2018 National Treasures #165 Rookie Patch Auto - Platinum NFL Shield /1 PSA 7.5 | $192,000.00 |
| Thurman Munson 1971 Topps #5 Base PSA 9 | $192,000.00 |
| Willie Mays 1952 Topps #261 Base PSA 8 | $192,000.00 |
| Michael Jordan 1998 SkyBox Premium #23 Star Rubies /50 PSA 7 | $186,000.00 |
| Oscar Robertson 1969 Topps #50 Base PSA 10 | $186,000.00 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo 2013 National Treasures #130 Rookie Patch Auto /99 BGS 9.5 | $186,000.00 |
| Shohei Ohtani 2018 Bowman Chrome #BCRA-SO Rookie Auto - Red Refractor /5 (Batting) BGS 9.5 | $184,800.00 |
| Mickey Mantle 1952 Topps #311 Base SGC 6.5 | $183,000.00 |
| Alexander Ovechkin 2005 Upper Deck The Cup #179 Rookie Patch Auto (/99) PSA 10 | $182,400.00 |
| Jerry West 1969 Topps #90 Base PSA 10 | $180,000.00 |
| Mickey Mantle 1952 Topps #311 Base SGC 5 | $180,000.00 |
| Nolan Ryan 1968 Topps #177 Rookie Stars SGC 10 | $180,000.00 |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1986 Fleer Sticker #1 Base PSA 10 | $180,000.00 |
| Shaquille O'Neal 1997 Metal Universe #50 Precious Metal Gems Green /10 PSA 4 | $175,200.00 |
| Ty Cobb 1909 T206 Bat off Shoulder PSA 8 | $174,000.00 |
| Hank Aaron 1968 Topps #110 Base PSA 10 | $174,000.00 |
| Mickey Mantle 1952 Topps #311 Base PSA 5 | $174,000.00 |
| Luka Doncic 2018 National Treasures #127 Rookie Patch Auto - Gold /10 BGS 9 | $168,000.00 |
| Justin Herbert 2020 Prizm #325 Rookie Autographs - Black Finite /1 BGS 9 | $162,000.00 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo 2013 National Treasures #130 Rookie Patch Auto - Gold /25 BGS 9 | $162,000.00 |
| Lionel Messi 2022 Prizm World Cup #7 Black /1 PSA 9 | $159,584.40 |
With all of this, 2023 was another epic year in sports cards—bounties, tacofractors, QC mistakes, and a whole lot more. And while I don’t think we will ever see pandemic-level values ever again, graded card sales are doing just fine.
If you
