These baseball cards are worth a fortune. Baseball cards have been around since the late 1880s, and collecting them has been a popular American pastime for over a century. While many old cards are worth just a few dollars, some of the rarest vintage cards in mint condition could fetch hundreds of thousands, or even millions, at auction. Let's take a look at some of the most valuable baseball cards from the past and what makes these specific cards so desirable to collectors. One of the holy grails of baseball card collecting is the 1909 to 1911 T206 Honest Vognor card, produced between 1909 to 1911 as part of American tobacco companies landmark T206 set. It's one of the rarest cards ever made. What makes this Vognor card truly one of a kind is that legend has it. Tobacco Mogul Richard RGR Reynolds pulled Vognor's card from production after a Vognor objected to his likeness being used to promote tobacco. As a result, it's estimated only 50 to 200 authentic 1909 to 1911 T206 Honest Vognor cards still exist today in mint condition. The card has sold for as much as $3.12 million at auction, making it potentially the most valuable baseball or trading card ever. Another extremely rare pre-World War I card is the 1913 Liberty Head 5 cent Franchasco Petzalo card. Unlike the Vognor, very few details are known about Petzalo or why his card is so scarce. Historical records show he played just a handful of games in one season for the Brooklyn Superbiz in 1911. For some reason, his card was omitted from the larger William S. Hearts Cincinnati sporting goods company said it was originally a part of. Only 12 are believed to still exist today. In 2016, one pristine PSA gem mount 10 graded copy sold for $156,000, setting a record for the most valuable non-sports card at the time. From the golden age of modern baseball cards in the 1950s, one of the most prized possessions a collector could have is a 1952 Topsmickey mantle card. Topsmickey 1952 set was truly groundbreaking as it was the first successful modern mass-produced baseball card set. Of Mantles RC included in the 524 card set, its estimated fewer than 50 PSA 10 gemments specimens still exist in a market of tens of millions of printed copies. In 2021, a single PSA 10 1952 Topsmickey mantle card sold at auction for $5.2 million, making it the highest price ever paid for a trading card at the time. Its record setting price tag affirmed Mantles status as the undisputed king of 1950s baseball Another exceedingly rare 1950s rookie card is the 1956 Topsmickey co-facts. Unlike Mantle, only a tiny fraction of co-facts as original rookie cards were produced due to a late start in his career. The printing plates for his card were destroyed shortly after printing began, making the existing quantity of authentic 1956 Topsmickey co-facts rookies exceptionally low with experts speculating there may only be 100 or fewer survivors in circulation. In 2015, 1 PSA 9 copy in brilliant condition was sold for $1.125 million, indicating just houseguairs and prized high-grade specimens of this iconic rookies have become. While the 1890s 1950s Ericards produced the most legendary rarities, some 1970s cards have recently taken the hobby by Storm as well. Arguably the most renowned is the 1973 Topsmickey Mantle Murderers row card, featuring an action photo of Mantle taking batting practice alongside legendary Yankees like Babe Ruth and Lou Garrick. Only a small original print run was believed to exist due to the card being omitted from Topsm 1973 set late in production. In 2021, a single PSA 9 copy of this already rare Mantle card sold for $2.88 million, representing a record price for any 1970s baseball Perhaps the most recognizable American company of the 20th century produced some of the most valuable vintage cards as well. SIGURAT Manufacturer Flair released their famous gum in each pack skybox cards throughout the 1960s and 70s. One of the true gems from this story DERA is the 1963 Flair skybox swale Chamberlain Rookie card. As one of the earliest basketball cards ever mass produced, only an estimated 50 to 100 copies are believed to exist today in high grades like a PSA 8 or above. In 2016, a single PSA 9 sold a auction for $455,000, underscoring the sky high value assigned to this ultra rare NBA pioneers' first card issue. While these cards represent some of the worthiest individual investments, there are also full vintage sets that could net collectors millions intact. One such example is the complete 1933 Goudy baseball card set, featuring epic photos and the first cards of legends like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Jimmy Fox. Only six confirmed 1933 Goudy sets survived today in complete near-mittament condition. In 2018, a single PSA graded an M-mount 8 1933 Goudy sets sold a auction for $2.88 million, or take the famed 1909 to 1911 T206 tobacco set mentioned earlier. Outside of raw specimens, a single complete PSA graded set would be worth over $10 million by conservative estimates. The rarity, historical significance, and grade of a card are the biggest determinants of a card's long-term potential value. For vintage issues in the pre-war and 1950s Golden Age, through untouched gem-mount example cards of rare players' self or amounts small countries could be bought for. As interest in collecting intensifies worldwide, iconic cards from the 1960s 70s eras are also appreciating at a dramatic rate. With careful preservation, a great vintage card found in a relative's attic today could grow to become a fortune for future generations. So check those old shoe boxes, you might discover a legendary piece of pop culture history worth more than you ever imagined. Whether one card or a complete set, the value and heritage behind these aging cardboard treasures remain unparalleled in the collection world.