Tracking the Biggest Card Sales in History

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

Logan Paul’s 1998 Pokémon Japanese Promo Illustrator Holographic Pikachu sold for a record $16,492,000 through Goldin Auctions. The card is graded PSA 10 and is the only known example at that grade level. The sale price more than tripled the $5.275 million Paul paid for the card in 2021. It set a new benchmark for any Pokémon or any trading card sold at auction. Goldin positioned the sale as a milestone for both the Pokémon collecting community and the broader alternative asset market. The auction drew significant worldwide attention from collectors and mainstream media. Venture capitalist A.J. Scaramucci was identified as the winning bidder. His purchase highlights the growing presence of high-net-worth and institutional buyers in the top tier of the card market.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

The 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman Autographs featuring Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan represents an unparalleled piece in sports collectibles. This one-of-one card holds the distinction of being the sole card ever created that combines authentic autographs from both legends along with genuine NBA Logoman patches from their game-used jerseys. When it sold through Heritage Auctions in August 2025 for $12.932 million, the transaction broke all previous records for sports card sales and set a new benchmark as the highest-priced sports card in public auction history. The card was purchased by a partnership of three buyers: Canadian investor Kevin O’Leary (of “Shark Tank” fame), hobby super-collector Matt Allen (known as “Shyne150” on social media), and entrepreneur Paul Warshaw. This card is now the cornerstone of the “WonderShyne” investment index.

MEDIA: Learn more about this remarkable sale from Kevin O’Leary on CNBC.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

The 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card, graded SGC 9.5, shattered records when it sold for $12.6 million via Heritage Auctions, becoming the most expensive sports collectible ever auctioned at the time. Hailed as the “finest known example” of its kind (keep in mind, there are three Gem Mint PSA 10s out there), this card represents the ultimate prize in baseball card collecting due to Mantle’s iconic legacy and its remarkable preservation over seven decades. The card originates from the famed 1986 “Rosen Find,” a legendary discovery by dealer Alan “Mr. Mint” Rosen of high-grade 1952 Topps cards. Widely considered the most coveted baseball card of all time, the ’52 Topps Mantle embodies the intersection of baseball’s golden era, Mantle’s legendary career and popularity, and the growth of modern sports card collecting. Spoiler alert, there are multiple copies of this card on this list.

MEDIA: Details on the card directly from Heritage Auctions.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

The investment group led by Kevin O’Leary has made another monumental purchase. While this was a private sale, few details have been revealed beyond the $10 million price tag. Michael Jordan and LeBron James are widely regarded as two of the greatest basketball players of all time. As such, this card is believed to be even more significant — and potentially more valuable — than the comparable Kobe Bryant/Michael Jordan card that sold for nearly $13 million just a few weeks earlier (see card #1 above).

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

The T206 Honus Wagner card’s rarity is primarily due to its early withdrawal from production by the American Tobacco Company, after Honus Wagner reportedly objected either because he did not want to promote tobacco to children or was dissatisfied with his compensation for the use of his image. As a result, it is believed only 60 copies of the card were produced and distributed, creating an aura of myth and mystery driving its legendary status among collectors.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

The 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth card represents Ruth’s first appearance on any trading card, produced when he was just a 19-year-old pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles. With only 10 to 15 examples known to exist in any condition, it is extraordinarily rare — even rarer than the famous T206 Honus Wagner. The card came in red and blue versions. Its historical importance as Ruth’s rookie card, combined with its extreme scarcity, has made it one of the most valuable baseball cards ever produced, with an SGC 3 example selling for $7.2 million in 2021.

UPDATE: This exact card sold for $4.02 million via Heritage Auctions in October 2025.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

Robert Edward Auctions achieved a groundbreaking sale in August 2021 when a 1909 T206 Sweet Caporal Honus Wagner card graded SGC 3 sold for $6.6 million, setting a new record for the highest-priced sports card ever sold at the time. This legendary card is extraordinarily rare, with only a few examples earning grades as high as SGC 3. As the second appearance of this card on the list, it demonstrates its status as the ultimate prize in baseball card collecting, often referred to as the hobby’s ‘Holy Grail.’

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

The 2009-10 National Treasures Rookie Logoman Autograph #206 Stephen Curry card, graded PSA 8 with a perfect 10 autograph, sold for a record-breaking $5.9 million. As a one-of-one featuring the NBA Logoman patch and on-card signature, it’s considered the most iconic and valuable of Curry’s rookie-year cards. The purchase, by Alt Fund II, underscores the explosive growth of high-end modern sports card investing. Collectors and investors appreciate Curry’s revolutionary style of play — centered around deep three-point shooting and off-ball movement — which has fundamentally reshaped modern basketball strategy and inspired a new generation of players.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

Logan Paul made headlines in July 2021 when he purchased the world’s only PSA 10-graded 1998 Pokémon Japanese Promo Illustrator Pikachu card for $5.275 million. The card was produced as a prize for winners of illustration contests held by CoroCoro Comics, recognizing their creative contributions to Pokémon card design. It is believed that 39 to 41 copies were produced in total. The transaction involved trading his PSA 9-graded copy of the same card (valued at $1.275 million) plus $4 million in cash. Paul famously wore the card as a necklace during his WWE WrestleMania 38 appearance in April 2022, earning him a Guinness World Record for the highest-priced Pokémon card sale. With recent surges in the Pokémon market, many speculators believe the card’s value may have doubled or tripled since the purchase.

MEDIA: Logan Paul’s WrestleMania appearance.

UPDATE: It was recently announced that Logan Paul will be putting the card up for auction in February 2025 via Goldin.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

In October 2021, a 2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Gold Rookie Patch Autograph LeBron James card (serial numbered 07/23) with a BGS 9 grade sold privately for $5.2 million through PWCC Marketplace (now Fanatics Collect). This record-breaking sale matched the all-time highest price for a sports card at the time, equaling the $5.2 million paid for a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle PSA 9 earlier that year. The card received BGS subgrades of 10 for centering and surface, 9.5 for edges, and 8.5 for corners.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

This 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle PSA 9 card sold for a jaw-dropping $5.2 million in January 2021, making it one of the most expensive sports cards ever sold at the time. Revered for its iconic design and rarity, the card is considered the centerpiece of post-war baseball collectibles. The buyer, entrepreneur Rob Gough, called it “the Mona Lisa of sports cards,” underscoring its legendary status in the hobby.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

A 2013 Bowman Chrome Draft Aaron Judge Superfractor autograph, graded BGS 9.5 with a 10 autograph sub-grade, sold in a private sale brokered by Fanatics Collect for a record modern baseball card price. The card is Judge’s first MLB autograph and the premier parallel from his inaugural Bowman Draft release, making it his definitive early key. It previously sold at auction in May 2022 for $324,000, which stood at the time as the highest price ever paid for a modern baseball card.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

The T206 Honus Wagner card featured in Season 3 of Netflix’s King of Collectibles: The Goldin Touch carries one of the hobby’s most compelling origin stories. The Shields family consigned it to Goldin Auctions after holding it for over a century — their grandfather, Morton Bernstein, originally pulled it from a 1909 Sweet Caporal cigarette pack. Graded PSA PR-FR 1 with a special “Shields Family Collection” designation on the label, the card sold for $5,124,000. That result made it the third-most expensive T206 Wagner ever sold and the highest-priced example in PSA 1 grade — more than doubling the previous record for a comparable low-grade copy. The sale reflects two major forces working together: the extreme scarcity of the card itself, and the added premium that comes with fresh-to-market provenance and international television exposure.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

A Victor Wembanyama rookie-year card sold for a record $5.11 million in a private deal brokered by Fanatics Collect. The card is the 2023-24 Panini Prizm 1-of-1 Black parallel, graded Gem Mint PSA 10. At the time of sale, it was the highest known price ever paid for a non-autographed NBA card and the fifth-highest for any NBA card overall. The sale also shattered the previous record for a Wembanyama card, which stood at $860,100.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

WonderShyne recently acquired the 2018-19 Panini Flawless Logoman Autograph #LA-LDC Luka Doncic 1 of 1 card for $4.7 million, establishing it as the most expensive Luka Doncic card ever sold and among the most valuable basketball cards in history. The card now serves as another centerpiece of the WonderShyne Index, an exclusive collection of premium sports cards, and represents the latest in a series of record-breaking acquisitions by the group in 2025.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

A one-of-a-kind Luka Doncic rookie card made history in March 2021 when it sold privately for $4.6 million, establishing a new record in the collectibles world. The 2018-19 Panini National Treasures card (#127) features both an authentic NBA Logoman patch and Doncic’s hand-signed autograph, making it the most expensive Doncic card ever sold and one of the most valuable basketball cards in existence. This groundbreaking sale marked a defining moment for modern card collecting and solidified Doncic’s status as one of the hobby’s most coveted modern superstars.

UPDATE: this cards has since been crossed over and re-graded by PSA and received a NM 7 grade with a 10 autograph.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

In August 2023, a 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle card graded Mint SGC 9 sold for $4.5 million at Heritage Auctions’ Summer Platinum Night. The card hails from the “Rosen Find.” With only a handful of examples surviving in such strong condition, it is among the most coveted Mantle cards in the hobby. While not as valuable as the record-setting Mint+ SGC 9.5 that sold for $12.6 million in 2022, this sale underscores the massive premium collectors pay for top-grade vintage icons.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

The 2017 Panini National Treasures Platinum Shield Autograph #161 Patrick Mahomes 1/1 rookie-year card, graded BGS 8.5 with a 10 autograph, sold for $4.3 million in July of 2021, establishing a new record as the most expensive football card ever sold. The card incorporates the NFL Shield from a game-worn jersey and is regarded as the premier Mahomes card due to its unique one-of-one status, unique patch and on-card signature. The purchase, by LJ’s Card Shop, represents the significance of Mahomes’ growing legacy and demonstrates the expanding market for super-premium sports collectibles.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

This card sold for $4.25 million through a private sale via Goldin Auctions in April 2026, making it the most expensive solo Michael Jordan card ever sold. The 1997-98 Upper Deck Game Jersey insert set was among the first to feature authentic game-used memorabilia pieces. This particular card includes Jordan’s signature alongside a colored jersey swatch from the 1992 NBA All-Star Game. It is hand-numbered 11 of 23 and graded PSA 6 with a 9 autograph.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

A Mint PSA 9 1933 Goudey #53 Babe Ruth card sold for a record $4.212 million through Memory Lane in 2021, making it the most valuable of the four legendary Goudey Ruth cards in the set and among the highest-priced sports cards ever at the time. The card’s extraordinary value comes from its scarcity and top condition, with only a select few achieving such an elite PSA grade. Collectors are drawn to its distinctive yellow background, historical significance, and Babe Ruth’s legendary status.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

The 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth card represents Ruth’s first appearance on any trading card, produced when he was just a 19-year-old pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles. With only 10 to 15 examples known to exist in any condition, it is extraordinarily rare — even rarer than the famous T206 Honus Wagner. The card came in red and blue versions. Its historical importance as Ruth’s rookie card, combined with its extreme scarcity, has made it one of the most valuable baseball cards ever produced, with an SGC 3 example selling for $7.2 million in 2021.

UPDATE: This exact card sold for $4.02 million via Heritage Auctions in October 2025.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

In August 2020, the 2009 Bowman Draft Chrome Prospects Autograph Superfractor Mike Trout 1/1 sold for $3.936 million in a private sale facilitated by Goldin Auctions. Graded Mint BGS 9 with a perfect 10 autograph, the card was sold by Dave Oancea (known as “Vegas Dave”), who had purchased it for $400,000 in May 2018. The sale set a record as the most expensive sports card ever sold at the time, highlighting both Trout’s exceptional talent and the rapid growth of the modern collectibles market. The card’s unique Superfractor finish and Trout’s rookie autograph made it the ultimate prize for elite modern card collectors. It has since been cross-graded to a Mint PSA 9 with a 10 autograph.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

A PSA 10 Gem Mint 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky rookie card achieved a historic milestone in March 2021 when it sold for $3.75 million in a private sale arranged through Heritage Auctions, establishing a new benchmark for hockey card sales. The card commands such remarkable value due to its extreme scarcity — just two specimens have ever received the Gem Mint 10 rating. Though both the seller and purchaser chose to remain unnamed, the new owner shared that obtaining this card represented the realization of a cherished family aspiration.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

In May 2021, a 1909 T206 Sweet Caporal Honus Wagner card graded PSA 2 achieved a remarkable $3.75 million through a private sale facilitated by Mile High Card Company, establishing a new record for this legendary piece. Despite carrying a modest PSA 2 grade, this particular example commanded a premium price because its visual appeal and overall presentation exceeded what the technical rating might suggest to collectors. This landmark transaction exemplified the explosive growth in vintage card values and served as a major catalyst for the broader collectibles market boom that followed.

MEDIA: Learn all about this card from Goldin Auctions.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

The “Garagiola Wagner” is an SGC Authentic T206 Honus Wagner Sweet Caporal card with one of the hobby’s most memorable acquisition stories. Joe Garagiola — former MLB catcher and beloved broadcaster — didn’t buy it with cash. He traded for it, offering up his 1954 New York Giants World Series uniform among other items, a detail that captures his reputation as a passionate trader-collector rather than an investor. Graded below a 1 due to paper loss and sizing issues, the card still presents relatively well on the front and is considered a non-restored, hobby-respected copy. Garagiola kept it tucked away in a scrapbook for decades. After his passing, the family consigned it to Heritage Auctions, where it sold for the first time in 2021 for approximately $2.5 million. It returned to auction, through Heritage Auctions, in early 2026 and realized $3.599 million — the highest price ever recorded for an SGC Authentic Wagner.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

Another significant addition to the WonderShyne investment fund, led by Kevin O’Leary. The 2008-09 Upper Deck Black features a striking design, with white autographs creating a sharp contrast against the black background. The card is believed to have been owned by WonderShyne partner Matt Allen (Shyne150) before being acquired by the investment fund. This is one of only two 1-of-1 dual autograph cards featuring Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

The 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle rookie card, graded PSA 9, sold for $3,192,000 through Memory Lane Auctions in December 2022. This sale made it one of the most valuable Mantle cards ever sold at the time, quadrupling the previous record for this particular card. With only nine PSA 9 examples known to exist, the card’s rarity and classic design significantly enhances its appeal among baseball card collectors. The sale was part of a high-profile auction featuring a premium collection of Mantle cards, which collectively generated over $10 million in total sales.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

There is no denying the influence of Upper Deck’s inaugural Exquisite Collection from 2003-04. This particular card features logoman jersey patches from both Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. The Jordan logoman comes from a Wizards jersey, making it even more rare. The card sold for $3.172 million via Heritage Auctions and comes from the collection of PSA CEO Nat Turner.

MEDIA: Here are full details of the card from Heritage Auctions.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

A historic milestone occurred in June 2021 when a Tom Brady 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Rookie Ticket #144 autograph card achieved a record-breaking $3.1 million sale at Leland’s Auctions. This card, numbered out of only 100 copies and graded BGS 9, established a new benchmark as the highest-priced football card of its era. The unprecedented valuation stemmed from its strong condition in a notoriously condition-sensitive issue, extreme scarcity with just 100 examples produced, and Brady’s unparalleled legacy as a seven-time Super Bowl winner. With its BGS 9 grade and flawless 10-rated signature, this specimen stands among the most exceptional examples of Brady’s most coveted rookie card. The sale represented a watershed moment that positioned football cards alongside elite basketball and baseball collectibles, demonstrating their arrival as premium investment-grade assets.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

One of the most desired cards in all of modern basketball collecting, the 1997-98 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems Green #81 Kobe Bryant, ranks among the rarest basketball parallels ever produced. The Green foil version is limited to just 10 copies, serial numbered 1 through 10 out of 100 total PMGs. The remaining 90 cards carry red foil. The foil on these cards is notoriously delicate and prone to chipping. This example, graded PSA 5, numbered 009/100, was purchased by the marketplace ALT for a record $3.15 million in April 2026.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

A 1993 Magic: The Gathering Alpha Black Lotus card with a perfect CGC Pristine 10 grade sold privately for $3 million. This makes it the most expensive Magic card ever sold. The transaction took place between seller Adam Cai of Pristine Collectibles and collector “Benjamin.be,” who confirmed the sale’s legitimacy. This record-breaking price reflects the card’s exceptional rarity, condition, and significance. It also demonstrates the extraordinary value the trading card game community places on premium pieces. The Black Lotus is one of the rarest and most powerful cards in all of TCG collecting, both in terms of gameplay and collectibility.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

The 2003-04 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Logoman Michael Jordan card sold for $2.928 million via Goldin Auctions in June 2024, setting a Jordan-card record at the time. This one-of-one card features a game-used NBA “Logoman” patch from a Bulls Jordan jersey along with his signature, earning an “Authentic” grade for the card and a 10 grade for the autograph from PSA. Considered a “grail” among high-end collectors, it’s the first Jordan Logoman patch autograph. The card’s whereabouts were unknown until PSA graded it in 2022. Its extreme rarity and significance among Jordan collectors drove intense bidding to nearly $3 million.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

A signed Michael Jordan 1986 Fleer rookie card sold privately through Goldin Auctions for a record $2.7 million. PSA graded the card Mint 9 with a perfect 10 for the signature. This marks the highest price ever paid for an aftermarket autographed card. An aftermarket autographed card is a trading card signed after its original release, typically at a public signing or event. These cards require third-party authentication (from PSA, BGS or CGC) to verify the signature’s legitimacy. The sale underscores both the card’s significance to the trading card industry and Jordan’s status as one of the hobby’s most coveted athletes.

MEDIA: Watch as Ken Goldin describes the details of this historic sale.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

This autographed 1986-87 Fleer #57 Michael Jordan rookie card sold for $2.5 million at Joopiter, Pharrell Williams’ auction house, in June 2025. This marked Joopiter’s first sports card auction. It also set a record for the highest price paid for a Jordan rookie card, at the time, whether signed or unsigned. The auction was titled “Rising Greatness: 1986-87 Michael Jordan Rookie Card.” It closed on June 26, 2025, with a single bid at $2.5 million, including buyer’s premium. The card was graded PSA Mint 9, and the blue Sharpie autograph received a Gem Mint 10 rating. This is one of only three such dual-graded (condition and autograph grade) examples and the first sold publicly. Jordan signed nine such cards privately in early 2024 at his Florida golf club, The Grove XXIII, with a PSA representative present. This is another example of an aftermarket autographed card.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

The 1916 M101-4 Sporting News #151 Babe Ruth card sold for $2.4 million at auction (Mile High Card Company). The card is graded PSA 7 and features an MBA Gold Label for superior eye appeal. This blank-back rookie card shows a young Babe Ruth in a pitching pose with the Boston Red Sox. It represents one of his earliest major league cards and one of the few that feature him with the Red Sox. The PSA 7 grade is exceptionally rare, with only two examples at this grade level. PSA data shows just one example graded higher at PSA 8. The sale set a record for the card at the time.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

The 2020–21 Panini Flawless Triple Logoman 1/1 LeBron James card, graded PSA “Authentic,” sold for $2.4 million at Goldin Auctions on June 25, 2022. The card features NBA Logoman patches from his Cavaliers, Heat, and Lakers jerseys. This sale marked one of the most expensive sports cards ever auctioned at the time. The card was consigned to Goldin. The promotion was unprecedented and was dubbed “the most promoted card sale of all time.” It received coverage on ESPN, CBS Sports, and USA Today, and even appeared on a Times Square billboard. Rapper Drake heightened the hype by spending over $200,000 on cases while attempting to pull the card himself.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

The 2025 Topps Chrome Dual Gold MLB Logo Autograph featuring Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge is a 1-of-1 that captures a memorable moment in both baseball and hobby history. The card features game-worn Gold MLB Logo patches from both players — authenticated and traceable to specific games — along with on-card signatures from each. The patches connected to Ohtani’s historic 2024 season, in which he founded the 50/50 Club with 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases, and to Judge’s AL MVP campaign of 58 home runs and 144 RBI — two players who also faced each other in the World Series that fall. On March 20th, 2026, this historical piece sold at auction on Fanatics Collect for $2.16 million.

NOTE: the solo 2025 Topps Chrome MVP Award Gold MLB Logo Autograph 1-of-1 of Ohtani (above) sold for $3 million in December 2025.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

The 1997 Fleer Ultra Michael Jordan Masterpiece (#23P), a 1-of-1 graded NM-MT PSA 8, sold for $2.1045 million at auction on February 28, 2026 through Heritage Auctions. It holds a notable place in trading card history as the first 1-of-1 card ever produced of Jordan. In 1997, Fleer introduced the “Masterpiece” parallel, pioneering the ultimate card scarcity that now defines modern card collecting. The card’s ties to the 1997-98 season — famously documented in The Last Dance — add further historical weight. This was also its first-ever public offering.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

This card was purchased for $2.1 million through Goldin Auctions in May 2021, making it the most expensive Michael Jordan card ever sold at that time. The 1997-98 Game Jersey insert set represented a groundbreaking moment in basketball card collecting as one of the first sets to incorporate authentic game-used memorabilia pieces. This particular card features both Jordan’s signature and a colored jersey swatch taken from his jersey worn during the 1992 NBA All-Star game. As a rare collectible, the card is hand-numbered 21 of 23, indicating it is one of only 23 copies produced. The card was sold as a PSA 8 with a 9 autograph. It has since been regraded by PSA as a 6 with a 10 autograph.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

The One Ring card from Magic: The Gathering’s 2023 Lord of the Rings set is a unique one-of-one featuring special artwork and Tengwar script. Collector Brook Trafton pulled the card from a pack, had it graded Mint PSA 9, and sold it privately to musician and famed Magic enthusiast Post Malone for $2 million in August 2023. Its unprecedented exclusivity, combined with stunning design and the Lord of the Rings franchise’s popularity, made it one of the most famous and valuable pulls in modern trading card game history.

MEDIA: Here is a CBC feature on the discovery of the card and the sale to Post Malone.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

A 1998 Pokémon Illustrator Pikachu sold for $2.09 million USD (14,500,000 RMB) through a recent PokeColor auction. This is the same card that previously changed hands for over $16 million via Goldin Auctions in a sale involving Logan Paul. The wide gap in value is widely attributed to two factors: the relative prominence of the auction platform and the grading company. CGC-graded copies of the same card typically command lower prices than PSA-graded equivalents, regardless of grade. The sale still ranks as the second-highest price ever paid for a CGC-graded card.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

The 1997–98 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems (PMG) Green #81 Kobe Bryant card, graded BGS 8.5, is among the rarest basketball parallels ever produced. The Green (Emerald) foil version is limited to just 10 copies, serial numbered 1-10 out of 100 total PMGs. The remaining 90 cards feature red foil instead. The foil is delicate and prone to chipping. This makes the BGS 8.5 grade particularly significant, as it represents the highest known grade for this card. This example (#004/100) sold privately for a record $2 million in February 2022. PWCC Marketplace (now Fanatics Collect) brokered the transaction. The identities of both the seller and buyer remain undisclosed.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

Fanatics Collect has confirmed a private sale of $1,950,000 for a 2017 Aaron Judge Topps Dynasty 1-of-1 Patch Autograph. The card is one of only two Aaron Judge logoman rookie-year cards in existence, and the sale marks the highest price ever recorded for a Judge patch autograph card. The example grades BGS Gem Mint 9.5, backed by strong subgrades across the board: 9.5 centering, 10 edges, 9.5 corners, and 9.5 surface.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

A rare 1996–97 Topps Chrome Refractor Kobe Bryant, graded BGS 10 Pristine (Black Label), sold for $1,795,800 at Goldin Auctions on March 6, 2021. This flawless card earned perfect 10s in all subgrades: corners, centering, edges, and surface. Only two Black Label examples of this Refractor are known to exist. The sale marked the highest price ever paid for a Kobe Bryant card at the time. It headlined Goldin’s 2021 Winter Auction during the sports card market pandemic boom. The same card had sold for $58,100 on eBay in March 2016.

UPDATE: This same card sold for $795K at Heritage Auctions in August 2022.

MEDIA: Check out the fine details on this spectacular card from Heritage Auctions. The card is currently available for sale at Heritage.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

In 2024, a 1961 Fleer Wilt Chamberlain rookie card graded SGC 10 sold privately for $1.7 million, setting records as both the highest price ever paid for a Chamberlain card and for vintage basketball cards overall. It’s the only card of its kind to receive the Gem Mint SGC 10 grade. The card had been stored in a Minnesota grocery store closet for over sixty years before being graded and sold through Goldin Auctions. Former SGC President Peter Steinberg called it the best Wilt rookie card in existence.

UPDATE: The card as since been crossed over to PSA and graded a Gem Mint 10.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

In August 2025, the 2017-18 Panini Flawless Logoman Autograph of Kobe Bryant was acquired through a private sale by the group representing the WonderShyne investment index (Kevin O’Leary, Matt Allen, and Paul Warshaw). The card was purchased raw (ungraded) and subsequently earned a PSA Mint 9 grade with a perfect 10 for the autograph. This makes it one of the best-conditioned Kobe Bryant logoman cards in existence. Following the grading, the WonderShyne Index valued the card at $2.8 million. This valuation is featured at SecureCollectibles.com, the home of the WonderShyne Index.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

The 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #149 card, known as the “Red” Ruth, sold for a record $1.62 million at Fanatics Collect auction in November 2024. This PSA 8.5 example became the fourth-most expensive Babe Ruth card ever sold publicly, at the time. Only three such high-grade copies are known to exist. The card features a striking red background that distinguishes it from the other Ruth cards in the set (#53, #144, #181). It was family-owned for decades before being privately sold, graded by PSA, and vaulted with Fanatics Collect. Its exceptional eye appeal earned a PWCC-A designation, which contributed to the premium price. The anonymous consignor, a longtime Yankees fan and high-end collector, timed the sale to coincide with World Series-driven Ruth hype.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

A 2004-05 Panini Sports Mega Cracks #71 Lionel Messi PSA 10 card sold for $1.5 million through Fanatics Collect’s private sales network, with Acquir representing the seller. The buyer’s identity remains undisclosed. This Spanish release commands extraordinary value as Messi’s most desired rookie card from his debut season at Barcelona. Of 935 total copies graded by PSA, only 20 have achieved the Gem Mint 10 grade. This particular card also carries a Mike Baker Authenticated (MBA) Gold Diamond certification, indicating exceptional condition even among PSA 10 examples. The sale established a new record for soccer cards, eclipsing the previous high of $1.33 million paid for a 1958 Pelé card in 2022 (below).

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

The 1933 Goudey #181 Babe Ruth card features a green background portrait of Ruth holding a bat. It is one of four Ruth cards from that iconic set. In late February 2026, a PSA 4.5 graded example carrying an after-market autograph grade of NM-MT 8 sold for $1,464,000 at Goldin Auctions. The sale set two records: the highest public sale price ever achieved for a signed Ruth trading card, and the highest for any after-market autograph card issued before 1980. The card was discovered in a 1930s scrapbook alongside other signed Ruth cards and later consigned through Goldin, where it generated significant pre-sale interest. An after-market autograph is a signature added to a card after its original production and issuance — in this case, Ruth signing the card sometime after 1933.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

A Josh Allen redemption card sold for $1.35 million, including buyer’s premium, on May 22, 2026, through Fanatics Collect after 41 bids. The card is a 2025 Topps Chrome Honors MVP Award Gold NFL Shield Patch Auto numbered 1/1. It features a game-worn gold NFL shield patch from Allen’s jersey following his 2024 MVP season and became the first NFL trading card to sell for over $1 million in nearly three years. Worth noting: the auction was for a redemption, meaning the physical card had not yet been produced. The buyer purchased the rights to receive the finished card once Topps manufactures it, fulfilled through a Topps. The sale shattered Allen’s previous record of $288,000, set in 2022, and made him just the fifth player in NFL history to have a trading card cross the seven-figure mark.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

Fanatics Collect brokered a $1,350,000 private sale for a 1-of-1 Cristiano Ronaldo 2018 Panini Kaboom Green card, graded PSA 10, setting the all-time record for the most expensive Ronaldo card ever sold. The Kaboom insert is one of the most recognizable designs in the modern hobby, known for its bold artwork and extremely limited print runs. A true 1-of-1 featuring Ronaldo graded at the highest level is the kind of card that surfaces once and rarely comes back to market. The $1.35 million result also ranks as the second most expensive soccer card ever sold, trailing only a 2004 Panini Mega Cracks Lionel Messi PSA 10 rookie card that fetched $1.5 million in September 2025. Together, the two sales confirm what the market has been signaling for some time. Ronaldo and Messi occupy their own tier, and collectors paying for the best are proving that elite soccer cards can compete with anything the hobby has to offer.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

In 2022, a 1958 Alifabolaget Pelé rookie card graded PSA 9 Mint sold for $1.33 million, setting a record for a soccer collectible at the time. Produced by a Swedish candy company, this diminutive card — measuring just 1.25″ x 1.85″ — features a 17-year-old Pelé in his iconic blue Team Brazil jersey with a Swedish bio on the reverse. Originally acquired through the fractional platform Rally for $288,000, the card has been dubbed the ‘T206 Honus Wagner of soccer.’ This card symbolizes both Pelé’s transcendent impact on the sport and soccer’s rise as a premier card category.

MEDIA: Twitter post from Rally on the 1958 Pelé buyout sale.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

The 1909–11 T206 Joe Doyle “N.Y. Nat’l” error card is one of baseball’s rarest cards. The card features pitcher “Slow Joe” Doyle of the New York Highlanders but mistakenly labels him as playing for the National League’s New York Giants. In summer 2023, an SGC 3.5 example sold for a record $1.323 million at Robert Edward Auctions, breaking the previous public auction record of $1.03 million for a PSA 2 in 2022. The error occurred early in production when the printer likely confused Doyle with Giants star Larry Doyle. They captioned it “N.Y. Nat’l” before quickly correcting the mistake by removing “Nat’l,” leaving most copies labeled simply “N.Y.” Fewer than 10 authentic “N.Y. Nat’l” examples are known to exist. This makes the card many times scarcer than the iconic T206 Honus Wagner.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

World-famous DJ and entrepreneur Steve Aoki, along with his business partner Benjamin.be, now owns the only 1993 Magic: The Gathering Alpha Black Lotus graded PSA 10 with a Christopher Rush autograph graded 10. Aoki describes it as “the grail” TCG card. The card sold privately for $1.3 million. The quality and position of the autograph classify it as a “Generation One” autograph, meaning it is an early autograph from Rush. Generation One autographs of this card are more sought after and rare.

MEDIA: Buyer Steve Aoki and broker Adam Cai of Pristine Collectibles discuss the fine details of this monumental purchase.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

Logan Paul initially purchased this PSA 9 Pikachu Illustrator card for $1.275 million in June 2021 from seller Matt Allen (Shyne150) through a private sale. This ultra-rare contest prize card, is considered among the most iconic Pokémon cards ever made. The PSA 9 purchase served as a stepping stone toward Paul’s later acquisition of the PSA 10 version for a record-breaking $5.275 million just one month later (all-time card sale #8).

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

The 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #181 card, one of four Ruth cards in the set, sold for $1.272 million at a Memory Lane auction in June 2021. This card achieved PSA Mint 9 status, making it one of only two known examples at that grade. The card is known for its light-green background and depicts Ruth looking over his shoulder. It ranks among the highest-graded examples ever auctioned publicly. The card fetched its record price due to exceptional centering, corners, and surfaces. This sale significantly outpaced prior high sales, such as the $456,000 paid for another PSA 9 example in 2019.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

The Paul Skenes 2024 Topps MLB Debut Patch Autograph card is a unique piece from the 2024 Topps Chrome Update set. It features the ‘MLB Debut’ patch from the jersey Skenes wore during his major league debut on May 11, 2024. The card received a perfect PSA 10 grade for both the card and autograph. Pulled from a pack by an 11-year-old boy from California, it attracted widespread attention from collectors and media alike. The Pittsburgh Pirates offered a bounty of a 30-year season ticket package worth over $1 million for the card. It ultimately sold at Fanatics Collect auction for $1.11 million, with Dick’s Sporting Goods emerging as the buyer.

MEDIA: take a close look at the card after it was freshly graded by PSA.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

The Lewis Hamilton 2020 Topps Chrome F1 Superfractor Auto, numbered 1/1 and graded PSA 8, reportedly sold in a private deal for $1.1 million. As the first-year Topps Chrome F1 Hamilton autograph Superfractor, it had long been considered a true hobby grail. The card gained additional notoriety after being featured on the Netflix series “King of Collectibles: The Goldin Touch,” and its backstory added to the appeal as it was originally pulled by a young boy in Canada. Before the private deal, it had already sold through Goldin for $900,000, a transaction that helped establish it as one of the most valuable Formula 1 trading cards ever sold.

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

This 2024 Topps 50/50 Dynasty Black Autographed Relic card of Shohei Ohtani sold for $1,067,500 at Heritage Auctions in March 2025, setting a record for an Ohtani card. The 1-of-1 card features a PSA Mint 9 grade, a gold autograph graded 9, and an authenticated MLB relic (the MLB logo patch from game-used pants) from Ohtani’s historic 50 home run, 50 stolen base season of 2024. The auction headlined Heritage’s spring catalog event, and the sale marks the highest price ever paid for an Ohtani card, nearly doubling his previous auction record (at the time) of $585,600 (2018 Topps Finest Autographs #FA-SO PSA 10, signed in Kanji, via Goldin Auctions).

CARD SIGNIFICANCE:

A 2025-26 Topps Chrome Gold Logoman 1/1 Autograph card of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sold for over $1.061 million through Goldin Auctions in June 2026, setting a new record for any SGA card. The card is an unused redemption that will be fulfilled as a true 1/1 featuring an on-card autograph and a game-worn MVP Gold Logoman patch from the 2025-26 NBA season. The card was pulled from a box break by a father and his two sons from Minnesota, who took a shot on a box and landed what many consider the top card in the entire 2025 Topps Chrome product. The auction drew heavy bidding interest before finally crossing the seven-figure mark.