Do you wonder why Nolan Ryan is so famous in the realm of the sport of baseball? Dale Murphy, a two-time national league MVP reportedly said Nolan Ryan was the only pitcher you started thinking about two days before you faced him. This was a player Reggie Jackson was the only guy he feared.
Are you one of those lucky few that just happens to own a Nolan Ryan baseball card? Well, if so, then boy are you in luck! Whether you want to sell it or keep it pristine in your collection, there is no denying the power of such a card. Nolan Ryan’s baseball cards are rare and beloved. We made a list of 25 Most Valuable Nolan Ryan Baseball Cards.
Table of Contents
25 Most Valuable Nolan Ryan Baseball Cards: Price List
No. |
Nolan Ryan Baseball Card |
Grade |
Price |
1 |
1968 Topps Mets Rookie Stars Nolan Ryan |
PSA 8 |
$2,025 |
2 |
1982 O-Pee-Chee Card Nolan Ryan Houston Astros |
PSA 10 |
$1,012.50 |
3 |
1988 Donruss Significant Signature Series Nolan Ryan |
PSA 10 |
$750 |
4 |
1973 Topps Nolan Ryan HOF California Angels |
PSA 8 |
$1,799.95 |
5 |
2005 Donruss Zenith Epix Nolan Ryan Red Season |
PSA 10 |
$2,999.99 |
6 |
1991 Nolan Ryan Topps Desert Shield |
PSA 10 |
$1,250 |
7 |
1975 Topps Nolan Ryan California Angels |
PSA 8 |
$899.95 |
8 |
1971 Topps Baseball Nolan Ryan New York Mets |
ISA 7.5 |
$539.99 |
9 |
1972 Topps Nolan Ryan Los Angeles Angels Original Baseball Card |
PSA 9 |
$599.99 |
10 |
1969 Topps Nolan Ryan New York Mets |
PSA 8 |
$710 |
11 |
1970 Topps Nolan Ryan New York Mets High Number Baseball Card |
CSG 8.5 |
$2,495 |
12 |
2016 Topps Tier One Nolan Ryan Signed |
PSA 10 |
$999.99 |
13 |
2001 Nolan Ryan Upper Deck |
BGS 9.5 |
$1,770 |
14 |
2014 Panini Prizm Gold Nolan Ryan Refractor |
BGS 9.5 |
$1,500 |
15 |
Nolan Ryan 1978 O – Pee- Chee |
PSA 9 |
$1,200 |
16 |
Nolan Ryan 1993 Pacific Card authorized by Nolan Ryan |
Ungraded |
$700 |
17 |
2012 Topps Tribute Nolan Ryan |
PSA 10 |
$1,599.99 |
18 |
1990 Donruss Nolan Ryan Card |
Ungraded |
$1,500 |
19 |
1977 Topps Nolan Ryan (HOF) Baseball Card |
Ungraded |
$665.50 |
20 |
1976 Topps Nolan Ryan Gem Mint 10 Card |
GEM 10 |
$4,995 |
21 |
1981 Topps Baseball Nolan Ryan |
Ungraded |
$990 |
22 |
1988 Topps Nolan Ryan Houston Astros |
Ungraded |
$2,000 |
23 |
1991 Upper Deck Heroes Nolan Ryan |
PSA 5 |
$900 |
24 |
2016 Nolan Ryan Finest Refractor |
BGS 9.5 |
$550 |
25 |
2018 Museum Collection Nolan Ryan |
BGS 9.5 |
$550 |
1. Topps Mets Rookie Stars w/ Nolan Ryan
Price: $2,025
Year: 1968
Grade: PSA 8
Card Number: #177
This is a Topps card produced in 1968 by Topps, the chewing gum company that made baseball trading cards. It features Nolan Ryan wearing a blue baseball cap and uniform. Although he looks older here in this photo, Nolan was 19 in his rookie year. He had attended Alvin High School. He was drafted by the New York Mets in 1965. This card is graded PSA 8.
2. O-Pee-Chee Card Nolan Ryan Houston Astros
Price: $1,012.50
Year: 1982
Grade: PSA 10
Card Number: #90
This card was made by the O-Pee-Chee Company Limited, a confectionery company that produced candy. They made many types of cards which included baseball cards. This one is a Nolan Ryan Card with the player’s signature on it. It features Ryan in the pitching position. He is here at a game where he’s playing for the Houston Astros, the team Nolan was with in 1982. This card is very valuable because it’s got Nolan’s signature, it is graded PSA 10.
3. Donruss Significant Signature Series Nolan Ryan
Price: $750
Year: 1998
Grade: PSA 10
Card Number: #R1
This Nolan Ryan baseball card was produced by Donruss. This company too was a confectionery company back in the 1950s. But it too soon started producing trading cards. Donruss cards were notable for the use of bright shimmering colors. Here you have Nolan Ryan about to pitch the ball. The background is a blend of yellow, blue, and orange colors. It’s got the signature of Nolan printed on the front boldly. This is one of the few cards in existence, highly graded PSA 10. It is valued $750.
4. 1973 Topps Nolan Ryan Hof California Angels
Price: $1,799.95
Year: 1973
Grade: PSA 8
Card Number: #220
If you are an avid baseball card collector you must be familiar with the Topps company. They started out making chewing gum and candy. Topps love baseball. Noan Ryan is a favorite face on Topps cards. This particular one is in great condition, graded PSA 8 which is considered a decent condition. Nolan is seen here with his hands in the air, glove and ball, ready to begin playing. He is wearing the uniform of the California Angels here in the 1970s. Nolan spent eight years with the Angels after he was traded to the team on December 10, 1971.
5. Donruss Zenith Epix Nolan Ryan Red Season
Price: $2,999.99
Year: 2005
Grade: PSA 10
Card Number: #E-24
Donruss cards had the proclivity of being affordable and they were made in large numbers. This Nolan Ryan Card was made in 2005. As noted earlier, Donruss made them colorful for collectors’ delight. As you can see here Nolan is poised to throw the ball, behind him is a wall of shimmering orange and red. This is Nolan from his time with the California Angels. One thing about cards is, they made it possible for fond memories of baseball players to keep coming back fresh.
6. Nolan Ryan 1991 Topps Desert Shield
Price: $1,250
Year: 1991
Grade: PSA 10
Card Number: #1
Here’s another baseball card from Topps. This one is from 1991. It has been graded and laminated in plastic to further preserve it. It shows Nolan Ryan after hurling the ball. It must have been a powerful pitch as he is seen bent forward. Hopefully it was a hit. Here he is wearing the Texas Rangers uniform in 1991. In this year, on May 1, at age 44, Nolan threw the seventh no-hitter of his career which extended his record. This graded card from Topps says it all.
7. Topps Nolan Ryan Hof California Angels
Price: $899.95
Year: 1975
Grade: PSA 8
Card Number: #500
Yet another valuable Topps card showing Nolan Ryan. This one is valued at almost a thousand dollars. It shows Nolan in the 1970s while playing for the California Angels. He is seen here holding his glove, posing for a picture before a game. Topps card makers liked to keep it simple and minimalistic with the colors. Here the background is the color of the sky, an intense blue. And Nolan wears the uniform of his team. This Topps card is graded PSA 8, has Nolan’s signature and is worth a lot of money.
8. Topps Baseball Nolan Ryan New York Mets ISA
Price: $539.99
Year: 1971
Grade: ISA 7.5
Card Number: #513
This is classic Nolan in the field of play. This Topps card is 1971, the years of Nolan’s time with the California Angels. Pitcher Nolan is seen here about to let the ball fly. As every baseball enthusiast knows, the pitcher’s job is very important as it begins the game. A good hurl can mean victory for the team. This card has Nolan’s signature on the face. Even though the card has the word METS written on it, note that this was the 70s and he was with the California Angels.
9. Topps Nolan Ryan Los Angeles Angels Original Baseball Card
Price: $599.99
Year: 1972
Grade: PSA 9
Card Number: #595
In 1972, Nolan was a young player. Sometimes, cards will feature full bodies of players in the act of playing the game, at other times players seem to stop and pose for the cameras. In this Topps card, Nolan takes a moment to squint off camera. He is seen wearing the California Angels cap and uniform. This card is one of the very highly graded cards with a PSA 9 rating. It is protected with a plastic cover.
10. 1969 Topps Nolan Ryan New York Mets
Price: $710
Year: 1969
Grade: PSA 8
Card Number: #533
In this Topps card Nolan Ryan is wearing his team’s uniform, the New York Mets. It is 1969 and our hero is young and fresh. He is seen here in his baseball cap and wearing his pitching glove. This Topps card has aged well and is now very valuable at the price of $710. It is one of the many Topps cards that graded PSA 8. Nolan was usedore as a reliever and spot starter in the New York Mets in this year. Reports say he’d deal with the blisters in his hands by soaking them in pickle brine.
11. Topps Nolan Ryan New York Mets High Number Baseball Card
Price: $2,495
Year: 1970
Grade: CSG 8.5
Card Number: #712
This Topps card is 1970, very valuable and graded average at PSA 8.5. Nolan is here dressed in New York Mets uniform and standing for the camera moment with his glove in the air. On April 18, 1970 Nolan tied an existing Mets record by striking out 15 batters in one game.
12. 2016 Topps Tier One Nolan Ryan Signed
Price: $999.99
Year: 2016
Grade: PSA 10
Card Number: #T1
In 2016 Nolan Ryan isn’t playing anymore professional baseball. But this card is as valuable as if it was from days of yore. Grade PSA 10, one of the few that is. It’s got the player’s authentic signature sprawled on it. This card shows Nolan when he was playing for the California Angels between 1972 and 1979.
13. 2001 Nolan Ryan Upper Deck
Price: $1,770
Year: 2001
Grade: BGS 9.5
Upper Deck made cards of all games ever played in the Yankee stadium. They’d title their cards like this Nolan Ryan named The Sweet Spot. The card comes with Nolan’s signature and is graded by Beckett Grading Services (BGS) and rated 9.5. It is beautifully preserved in a plastic case.
14. Panini Prizm Gold Nolan Ryan Refractor
Price: $1,500
Year: 2014
Grade: BGS 9.5
Card Number: #170
In 2009 Panini Group bought out Donruss. This Nolan Ryan card was made in 2014. It shows Nolan in the act of pitching in a game. It is highly valuable and graded by BGS at 9.5 for good condition. It is not autographed.
15. Nolan Ryan 1978 O – Pee- Chee
Price: $1,200
Year: 1978
Grade: PSA 9
The company called O-Pee-Chee was a confectionery company that started out in 1911 that made candy. It became a brand of Topps in 1997. This Nolan card shows when the player was with the California Angels. He wears the number 30. The card is graded PSA 9.
16. Nolan Ryan 1993 Pacific Card authorized by Nolan Ryan
Price: $700
Year: 1993
Grade: Ungraded
Card Number: #182
Pacific used to make baseball, hockey and football cards. They started making cards of baseball stars in 1980. Then they focused on making cards with Nolan’s face on it. This is one of such very valuable cards with the smiling face of Nolan Ryan. They used bright and vibrant colors, high value insert sets.
17. 2012 Topps Tribute Nolan Ryan
Price: $1,599.99
Year: 2012
Grade: PSA 10
Card Number: #TA
This Topps 2012 card shows Nolan Ryan in his elements, concentrating on his game. This photo was taken between 1989 and 1993 when Nolan was playing for the Texas Rangers. The card is signed on the front and is PSA 10 graded. Which makes it very valuable.
18. Donruss Nolan Ryan Card
Price: $1,500
Year: 1990
Grade: Ungraded
Card Number: #659
Donruss produced this card for Nolan in 1990. It shows Nolan wearing the Texas Rangers baseball cap and uniform. The card is not graded which really has nothing to do with its condition as it looks great from the sight of it. Nolan was playing with the Texas Rangers in those years before 1993.
19. Topps Nolan Ryan (HOF) Baseball Card
Price: $665.50
Year: 1977
Grade: Ungraded
Card Number: #650
In 1977 Nolan was playing for the California Angels. Topps used a picture of him from a game in those years and put it on this card. Nolan is seen here wearing his team’s uniform and holding his glove. His posture is likely a demonstration of how to pitch. The card is upgraded but numbered.
20. Topps Nolan Ryan Gem Mint 10 Card
Price: $4,995
Year: 1976
Grade: GEM 10
Card Number: #330
Nolan is still playing for the California Angels in 1976 as shown in this card. His cap is tipped back on the back of his head so we can get a clear sight on his full face. This card was made by Topps. It is graded GEM 10 which means it is flawless and perfect.
21. Topps Baseball Nolan Ryan
Price: $990
Year: 1981
Grade: Ungraded
Card Number: #240
This is a 1981 Topps card of Nolan, a year after he joined the Houston Astros team. On September 26 of that year he threw his fifth no-hitter becoming the third pitcher to throw a no-hitter in each league. The grim looking Nolan is seen in this card wearing Houston’s uniform and baseball cap.
22. Topps Nolan Ryan Houston Astros
Price: $2,000
Year: 1988
Grade: Ungraded
Card Number: #250
This Topps card is from the year 1988. It shows Nolan about to pitch. One of the most memorable games Nolan played with the Houston Astros was the one against the Atlanta Braves on May 1, 1987. He hit his second and last career home runs in a 12—3 win.
23. Upper Deck Heroes Nolan Ryan
Price: $900
Year: 1991
Grade: PSA 5
Card Number: #18
This Upper Deck card shows a medley of Nolan pictures from his time in several teams. In 1991 he was playing for the Texas Rangers. Nolan was 44 this year. This card is graded PSA 5 and it is signed on top. He threw his seventh no-hitter this year as well.
24. Topps Nolan Ryan Finest Refractor
Price: $550
Year: 2016
Grade: BGS 9.5
Card Number: #25
This is a refractor card issued by Topps. The card has a reflective coating and displays a rainbow when you tilt the card at an angle. The picture of Nolan Ryan is on it where he is in the act of pitching. This card was made in 2016, rated BGS 9.5.
25. Museum Collection Nolan Ryan
Price: $550
Year: 2018
Grade: BGS 9.5
This card is off the museum collection produced by Topps. They are usually ornate in their design. The aim is to make cards that featured stars like hit cards. This one features Nolan Ryan in his time with the Texas Rangers from 1989 to 1993. It is graded BGS 9.5 and has his signature on it.
Final Thoughts
It is exciting to see what trading card companies have done to preserve the memories of our favorite baseball stars, reminding us of the most important games of the players’ careers. Did you notice cards of Nolan Ryan that you don’t currently have? Well, this list gives you the chance to collect them. These cards make it possible for you to relive those amazing moments in the bleaches.
