How much are my baseball cards worth?

However, it's important to remember that for a collector, it may not be all about the money. Baseball cards have value for different reasons to different people. That being said, the money factor is important to many collectors, or people just looking to sell cards they may have inherited.

When it comes to money, a baseball card is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

Two of the most popular baseball card price guides are Beckett and Tuffstuff. A tricky thing about different price guides is that they may have different values for the same card! At this time Beckett is the most commonly used guide. Some collectors love Beckett and some hate it, but the bottom line is that Beckett is the resource that most collectors use.

Price guides give a high and low book value (BV) for any particular card. We like the online price guide offered by Beckett. You can subscribe to their site for a low monthly fee and have access to all of their current baseball card listings. Beckett makes it very easy to search their site for the cards you want to look up. Beckett also puts out a monthly magazine with the same price information. TuffStuff magazine also has online version of their price guides located at their website. A nice benefit to using this guide is that it is free! Learn more about the price guides.

These price guides are helpful but don’t rush out to sell your cards just yet...

CAUTION the listed prices in the guides do not mean you’ll be able to go and sell your cards for those prices! Remember that a card is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it; with this in mind you must visit auction sites to see what your card is actually selling for. After you visit the auction sites like ebay, you will notice that baseball cards often sell for much less than even the low end BV (book value) of the price guide range. As with any type of investment, we recommend you do your homework before investing in baseball cards.

Where we find the price guides to be particularly helpful is with trading baseball cards. Since there is no money exchanging hands when trading, collectors tend to rely more on what the price guides list; often card collectors will trade book value for book value!

One way to increase or maintain the $$ value of your baseball card is to have it graded. Learn more about getting your sports cards graded. If you're looking for a way to sell your baseball cards you'll want to learn more about the various ways you can turn your sports cards into cash!

A Mickey Mantle from this same 1952 Topps set is currently valued between $12,000 and $20, 000! More often than not, the older the cards the more likely they will have value, this is especially the case with cards from the pre 1970's. On the flip side, sports cards were vastly over produced in the 1990's, many cards from those years have very little value. It all gets back to supply and demand. The more that there are of a card the less value it's going to have.

Back in the 50's kids would actually play with their baseball cards, flipping them, putting them in the spokes of their bicycle tires, etc.. These cards often received a lot of hard (well loved) use, wear and tear, and often were damage beyond repair, diminishing the supply and increasing the demand (value).

The notion of a card becoming an investment dominated the late 80's and 90's. Kids were no longer playing with the cards, but were instead encouraged to not touch them, and put them in protective cases, binders, etc. The thought of jamming a card into the spoke of your bike tire became almost unimaginable! Combine this lack of use with card manufacturers making more and more cards, and the end result is a glut of cards not worth very much. That being said, we feel that even with cards from the 1980's and 90's, it is worth your time to see what you have and what it currently is selling for on sites like Ebay!

Let's take a look at the different values of baseball cards (and other sports cards as well). We'll pick a baseball card and look up its Beckett book value. We might also use the TuffStuff guide as well. Then, we'll look at what the card is actually selling for on sites like Ebay, Beckett, and Naxcom. Our experience tells us that most of the time we'll find that cards sell for quite a bit less than their high book values, often coming it at around 50% of high book. Occasionally there will be cards that sell for around book value, and in some instances we'll find cards that sell for more than their listed book values! Such was the case with the recent media induced phenomena involving the 2007 Topps #40 baseball card featuring Derek Jeter, President Bush and Mickey Mantle. Clearly what happened with this card was extremely rare and it's unlikely we'll find many (if any) examples of this type of sky-rocketing over book value situation, but you never know! Maybe you have a card that you'd like us to throw into the mix? No promises, and we're not professional graders, but if you send us the year and number of your card we'll see what we can find out. For the most part we're just going to assume that the cards we evaluate are near mint to mint condition.

The date we post a card is the date we check the book value, so it's possible that the book value may have changed if you're looking at an older post. When a card has sold for more than it's book value we'll give it a *.

6/30/2009
1999 Bowman Chrome Alfonso Soriano Rookie Card #350
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $5.00 low book and $12.00 high book
A recently completed Ebay auction for one of these cards closed at: $4.00 (33% of high book value)
A seller on SportsBuy has one of these cards listed for sale for: $7.95 (66% of high book value)

6/24/2009
2009 Upper Deck Rick Porcello Rookie Card #945
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $2.00 low book and $5.00 high book
A recently completed Ebay auction for one of these cards closed at: $1.00 (20% of high book value)
A seller on SportsBuy has one of these cards listed for sale for: $2.95 (60% of high book value)

6/22/2009
1998 Bowman Chrome Jimmy Rollins Rookie Card #181
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $4.00 low book and $10.00 high book
A recently completed Ebay auction for one of these cards closed at: $1.00 (10% of high book value)
A seller on SportsBuy has one of these cards listed for sale for: $8.95 (89.5% of high book value)

6/16/2009
Topps Total 2002 David Wright Rookie Card #403
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $12.50 low book and $30.00 high book
A recently completed Ebay auction for one of these cards closed at: $5.54 (18% of high book value)
(We should note that the two previous Ebay auctions for this card closed at $21.51 and $20.50, so someone got a good deal for $5.54.)
A seller on SportsBuy has one of these cards listed for sale for: $14.00 (47% of high book value)

6/8/2009
Nelson Cruz 2005 Bowman Chrome Draft #165 Rookie Card
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $2.00 low book and $5.00 high book
A recently completed Ebay auction for one of these cards closed at: $1.00 (20% of high book value)
A seller on SportsBuy has one of these cards listed for sale for: $1.95 (39% of high book value)

6/2/2009
2008 Bowman Chrome #216 Evan Longoria Rookie Card
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $6.00 low book and $15.00 high book
A recently completed Ebay auction for one of these cards closed at: $2.25 (15% of high book value)
A seller on SportsBuy has one of these cards listed for sale for: $5.75 (38% of high book value)

5/28/2009
1989 Upper Deck #25 Randy Johnson Rookie Card
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $3.00 low book and $8.00 high book
A recently completed Ebay auction for one of these cards closed at: $3.26 (41% of high book value)
A seller on SportsBuy has one of these cards listed for sale for: $10.00 (19% of high book value)

5/26/2009
2002 Topps Chrome #622 Joe Mauer Rookie Card
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $6.00 low book and $15.00 high book
A recently completed Ebay auction for one of these cards closed at: $11.00 (73% of high book value)
A seller on SportsBuy has one of these cards listed for sale for: $10.00 (66% of high book value)

5/19/2009
2000 Bowman Chrome Draft Picks #86 Adrian Gonzalez Rookie Card
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $2.50 low book and $6.00 high book
A seller on Ebay has one of these cards listed for sale for: $8.82 (97% of high book value)

5/14/2009
2003 Topps 205 #177 Chad Billingsley Short Printed Rookie Card
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $3.00 low book and $8.00 high book
A recently completed Ebay auction for one of these cards closed at: $.99 (12.5% of high book value)
A seller on SportsBuy has one of these cards listed for sale for: $6.40 (80% of high book value)

5/12/2009
2005 Bowman Sterling Ryan Zimmerman Rookie Card #RZ
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $10.00 low book and $25.00 high book
A recently completed Ebay auction for one of these cards closed at: $8.50 (34% of high book value)
A seller on SportsBuy has one of these cards listed for sale for: $15.00 (60% of high book value)

5/11/2009
2006 Upper Deck #1181 Adam Jones Rookie Card
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $5.00 low book and $12.00 high book
A recently completed Ebay auction for one of these cards closed at: $8.50 (71% of high book value)
A seller on SportsBuy has one of these cards listed for sale for: $7.00 (58% of high book value)

5/6/2009
2002 Bowman Chrome #363 Jason Bay SP Rookie Card
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $5.00 low book and $12.00 high book
There's a buy it now on ebay for one of these for $18.84 (call it 157% of high book value)
A seller on SportsBuy has one of these cards listed for sale for: $24.95 (208% of high book value)

5/4/2009
2002 Bowman Chrome Draft #6 Zack Greinke Rookie Card
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $5.00 low book and $12.00 high book
These are selling on Ebay for about $6 to $10 so let's say 50 to 80% of high book value.
A seller on SportsBuy has one of these cards listed for sale for: $12.00 (100% of high book value)

4/1/2009
1982 Donruss Cal Ripken Rookie Card #405
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $10.00 low book and $25.00 high book
A recently completed Ebay auction for one of these cards closed at: $11.51(46% of high book value)
A seller on SportsBuy has one of these cards listed for sale for: $17.00 (68% of high book value)

3/31/2009
1989 Upper Deck Gary Sheffield Rookie Card #13
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $2.00 low book and $5.00 high book
A recently completed Ebay auction for one of these cards closed at: $.99 (20% of high book value)
A seller on SportsBuy has one of these cards listed for sale for: $.25 (5% of high book value)

3/30/2009
2005 Bowman Chrome Draft Brett Gardner Rookie Card #85
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $1.00 low book and $2.50 high book
A recently completed Ebay auction for one of these cards closed at: $.75 (30% of high book value)
A seller on SportsBuy has one of these cards listed for sale for: $1.60 (64% of high book value)

3/26/2009
1999 Bowman Chrome C.C. Sabathia Rookie Card #344
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $4.00 low book and $10.00 high book
A recently completed Ebay auction for one of these cards closed at: $1.99 (20% of high book value)
A seller on SportsBuy has one of these cards listed for sale for: $7.50 (75% of high book value)

3/23/2009
1989 Donruss Curt Schilling Rookie Card #635
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $1.50 low book and $4.00 high book
A recently completed Ebay auction for one of these cards closed at: $.99 (22.5% of high book value)
A seller on SportsBuy has one of these cards listed for sale for: $1.90 (47.5% of high book value)

3/18/2009
2002 Bowman David Wright Rookie Card #381
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $8.00 low book and $20.00 high book
A recently completed Ebay auction for one of these cards closed at: $5.54 (28% of high book value)
A seller on SportsBuy has one of these cards listed for sale for: $12.50 (62.5% of high book value)

3/16/2009
2001 SP Authentic #234 Brian Roberts Rookie Card
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $8.00 low book and $20.00 high book
A recently completed Ebay auction for one of these cards closed at: $16.50 (82.5% of high book value)
A seller on SportsBuy has one of these cards listed for sale for: $22.00 (110% of high book value)

3/10/2009
1983 Donruss #277 Ryne Sandberg
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $4.00 low book and $10.00 high book
These are selling on ebay for about: $4.00 (40% of high book value)
These are selling on Sportsbuy for about: $5.00 (50% of high book value)

2/27/2009
1992 Donruss Manny Ramirez Rookie Card #98
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $1.50 low book and $4.00 high book
A recently completed Ebay auction for one of these cards closed at: $1.78 (44.6% of high book value)
A seller on SportsBuy has one of these cards listed for sale for: $.40 (10% of high book value)

2/24/2009
1989 Fleer Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card #548
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $4.00 low book and $10.00 high book
A recently completed Ebay auction for one of these cards closed at: $1.78 (5.6% of high book value)
A seller on SportsBuy has one of these cards listed for sale for: $3.75 (37.5% of high book value)

2/20/2009
1975 Topps George Brett Rookie Card #228
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $40.00 low book and $80.00 high book
A recently completed Ebay auction for one of these cards NM closed at: $39.00 (49% of high book value)

2/19/2009
2001 SP Authentic Brian Roberts Rookie Card #234 (limited to 1500)
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $8.00 low book and $20.00 high book
There's a buy it now on ebay for one of these for $14.99 (call it 75% of high book value)
A seller on SportsBuy has one of these cards listed for sale for: $22.00 (110% of high book value)

2/18/2009
1963 Topps Pete Rose Rookie Card #537
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $500.00 low book and $1000.00 high book
A recently completed Ebay auction for one of these cards PSA 8 NM/M closed at: $690.00 (69% of high book value)
A recently completed Ebay auction for one of these cards in "good+" closed at: $155.00 (15.5% of high book value)

2/17/2009
2005 Bowman Chrome Nate McLouth Rookie Card #178
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $1.50 low book and $4.00 high book
A recently completed Ebay auction for one of these cards closed at: $.99 (25% of high book value)
A seller on SportsBuy has one of these cards listed for sale for: $1.50 (66% of high book value)

2/11/2009
1999 Fleer Tradition Update Rick Ankiel Rookie Card #U1
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $3.00 low book and $8.00 high book
A seller on SportsBuy has one of these cards listed for sale for: $2.50 (31% of high book value)

2/9/2009
Should be interesting to see what happens to the value of his cards with all of the steroid news out there.
1994 Fleer Update Alex Rodriguez Rookie Card #86
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $12.50 low book and $30.00 high book
A recently completed Ebay auction for one of these cards closed at: $18.27 (61% of high book value)
A seller on SportsBuy has one of these cards listed for sale for: $20.00 (67% of high book value)

2/6/2009
2003 Bowman Chrome Hanley Ramirez Autographed Rookie Card #334
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $100.00 low book and $200.00 high book
A recently completed Ebay auction for one of these cards closed at: $139.39 (70% of high book value)
A seller on SportsBuy has one of these cards listed for sale for: $178.00 (call it a 89% of high book value)

2/3/2009
1997 Bowman Chrome Jon Garland Rookie Card #287
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $2.50 low book and $6.00 high book
These are selling on ebay for about $4.00 (66% of high book value)
Various sellers on SportsBuy have these cards listed for sale for about: $2.00 (33% of high book value)

2/2/2009
2002 Bowman Chrome Draft Rich Hill Rookie Card #98
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $5.00 low book and $12.00 high book
These are selling on ebay for about $7.20 (60% of high book value)
Various sellers on SportsBuy have these cards listed for sale for about: $5.00 (42% of high book value)

1/30/2009
2002 Donruss Elite #212 Oliver Perez Rookie Card (print run 900)
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $4.00 low book and $10.00 high book
There's a buy it now on ebay for one of these for $9.70 (call it 100% of high book value)
Various sellers on SportsBuy have these cards listed for sale for about: $7.00 (70% of high book value)

1/27/2009
2000 Bowman Chrome Ben Sheets Rookie Card #207
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $3.00 low book and $6.00 high book
A recently completed Ebay auction for one of these cards closed at: $1.31 (22% of high book value)
Various sellers on SportsBuy have these cards listed for sale for about: $2.50 (42% of high book value)

1/26/2009
1993 Bowman Andy Pettitte Rookie #103
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $3.00 low book and $8.00 high book
These are currently selling on ebay for about: $1.50 (19% of high book value)
Various sellers on SportsBuy have these cards listed for sale for about: $2.25 (28% of high book value)

1/23/2009
2000 Bowman Chrome Roy Oswalt Rookie Card #395
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $6.00 low book and $15.00 high book
A recently completed Ebay auction for one of these cards closed at: $3.50 (23% of high book value)
Various sellers on SportsBuy have these cards listed for sale for about: $12.00 (80% of high book value)

1/22/2009
2005 Leaf Limited #200 Prince Fielder Phenoms Autographed Rookie Card
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $90.00 low book and $150.00 high book
A recently completed Ebay auction for one of these cards closed at: $50.09 (33% of high book value)

1/20/2009
2002 Donruss Elite #272 Adam LaRoche Rookie Card (print run 900)
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $20.00 low book and $50.00 high book
There's a buy it now on ebay for $48.50 (97% of high book value)
A seller on SportsBuy has one of these cards listed for sale for: $49.97 (call it a 100% of high book value)

1/16/2009
2003 Bowman's Best Kevin Youkilis Autographed Rookie Card #KY
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $12.50 low book and $30.00 high book
A recently completed Ebay auction for one of these cards closed at: $26.52 (87.5% of high book value)
A seller on SportsBuy has one of these cards listed for sale for: $39.95 (133% of high book value)

1/13/2009
1975 O-Pee-Chee #616 Jim Rice Rookie Card
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $8.00 low book and $20.00 high book
These are selling for about $6.00 on Ebay (30% of high book value) - might go up a little with the HOF announcement!
A seller on SportsBuy has one of these cards listed for sale for: $12.00 (60% of high book value)

1/9/2009
2000 Bowman Chrome #250 Scot Shields Rookie Card
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $.30 low book and $.75 high book
A seller on SportsBuy has one of these cards listed for sale for: $.25 (33% of high book value)

1/7/2009
1991 Topps Traded #45T Jason Giambi USA Rookie Card
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $2.00 low book and $5.00 high book
A recently completed Ebay auction for one of these cards closed at: $1.00 (20% of high book value)
A seller on SportsBuy has one of these cards listed for sale for: $4.95 (99% of high book value)

1/6/2009
1999 Bowman Chrome Pat Burrell Rookie Card #175
Beckett lists this baseball cards value at: $3.00 low book and $8.00 high book
A recently completed Ebay auction for one of these cards closed at: $4.34 (54% of high book value)
A seller on SportsBuy has one of these cards listed for sale for: $1.25 (16% of high book value)