All sets covered

26 sets ranked by investment outlook.

1952 Topps Baseball

MLB · 1952 · score 5/5

The set that launched modern sports card collecting. Anchored by the Mickey Mantle #311 rookie.

T206 Series (American Tobacco)

MLB · 1909 · score 5/5

Pre-WWI tobacco-card series. Home of the Honus Wagner card — the most legendary sports card in history.

1986-87 Fleer Basketball

NBA · 1986 · score 5/5

The first major basketball card set. Houses the Michael Jordan #57 rookie — the most valuable basketball card ever.

1996-97 Topps Chrome Basketball

NBA · 1996 · score 5/5

First Topps Chrome basketball set. Kobe Bryant rookie #138 is the chase.

2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite Basketball

NBA · 2003 · score 5/5

Ultra-premium set with hand-numbered rookie patch autos. The LeBron James #78 RPA is a millionaire-tier card.

2003-04 Topps Chrome Basketball

NBA · 2003 · score 5/5

LeBron James rookie #111 plus Carmelo, Wade, Bosh rookies.

2000 Bowman Chrome Football

NFL · 2000 · score 5/5

Home of the Tom Brady Refractor rookie — the most-coveted football card of the 21st century.

2000 Playoff Contenders Football

NFL · 2000 · score 5/5

Houses the Tom Brady on-card auto rookie — the modern football grail.

2017 Panini Prizm Football

NFL · 2017 · score 5/5

Patrick Mahomes rookie #269. Prizm has become the default modern NFL chase product.

2009 Bowman Chrome Baseball

MLB · 2009 · score 5/5

Mike Trout's first auto card. The modern grail of baseball.

1980-81 Topps Basketball

NBA · 1980 · score 5/5

Larry Bird/Magic Johnson/Julius Erving tri-card rookie — the most iconic basketball rookie pre-Jordan.

2018-19 Panini Prizm Basketball

NBA · 2018 · score 5/5

Luka Dončić, Trae Young, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander rookie class.

2020 Panini Prizm Football

NFL · 2020 · score 5/5

Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Jalen Hurts, CeeDee Lamb, Justin Jefferson rookie class.

1986 Topps Football

NFL · 1986 · score 5/5

Jerry Rice rookie #161 — the WR GOAT's foundational rookie card.

1955 Topps Baseball

MLB · 1955 · score 5/5

Roberto Clemente rookie #164 — the cultural anchor of Latin American baseball collecting.

1989 Upper Deck Baseball

MLB · 1989 · score 4/5

The Ken Griffey Jr. #1 rookie defined a generation. Set marked the end of the 'junk wax' era.

2023-24 Topps Chrome Basketball

NBA · 2023 · score 4/5

Victor Wembanyama rookie chase set. First major basketball release post-NBA-licensing change.

2024-25 Bowman Chrome Basketball

NBA · 2024 · score 4/5

Caitlin Clark rookie chase. Premium set for women's basketball collecting.

2009-10 Topps Chrome Basketball

NBA · 2009 · score 4/5

Stephen Curry rookie #101 anchors the set. James Harden and Blake Griffin also rookies here.

2018 Topps Update Baseball

MLB · 2018 · score 4/5

Shohei Ohtani rookie #US1 — the most-collected modern baseball card.

2018 Bowman Chrome Baseball

MLB · 2018 · score 4/5

Juan Soto, Ronald Acuña Jr. rookie auto chase set.

2017 Topps Update Baseball

MLB · 2017 · score 4/5

Aaron Judge rookie #US150 — the Yankee slugger's flagship rookie.

2018 Panini Prizm Football

NFL · 2018 · score 4/5

Lamar Jackson, Saquon Barkley, Josh Allen rookie set.

1957 Topps Football

NFL · 1957 · score 4/5

The Johnny Unitas rookie #138 anchor card. Foundational vintage football set.

1989 Score Football

NFL · 1989 · score 4/5

Barry Sanders, Troy Aikman, Deion Sanders, Derrick Thomas rookie class.

1968-69 Topps Basketball

NBA · 1968 · score 4/5

First major modern NBA set. Lew Alcindor (Kareem) rookie chase.