MLB Baseball cards · Most popular
Nolan Ryan Rookie Card Value & Most Valuable Cards
As of October 16, 2026, the most popular Nolan Ryan card is the 1968 Topps Baseball New York Mets Rookie Stars, listed from $1,050 on eBay.
Updated
The ranking
- 1968 Topps Baseball
New York Mets Rookie Stars
His rookie card, shared with pitcher Jerry Koosman. The most sought-after Nolan Ryan card and a hobby landmark.
from $1,0501968 Topps Baseball New York Mets Rookie Stars value & sales → - 1969 Topps Baseball
Topps Baseball
Widely described as his first solo card, and a high-number card, which makes it harder to find.
from $3751969 Topps Baseball value & sales → - 1970 Topps Baseball
Topps Baseball
A high-number card with a grey border that shows wear easily, so top grades are scarce.
from $4551970 Topps Baseball value & sales →
Fun fact
Nolan Ryan threw a record seven no-hitters and finished with 5,714 career strikeouts, almost 1,000 more than Randy Johnson in second place, over a record 27-season career from 1966 to 1993.
- 1971 Topps Baseball
Topps Baseball
His 1971 Topps card, from the high-number part of the set.
from $1991971 Topps Baseball value & sales → - 1972 Topps Baseball
Topps Baseball
His 1972 Topps card, from the high-number end of the set and a popular early-1970s Ryan.
from $219.721972 Topps Baseball value & sales → - 1973 Topps Baseball
Topps Baseball
One of the most popular Ryan cards from his Angels years, with very few copies in the top grade.
from $114.961973 Topps Baseball value & sales →
The cards that anchor a Nolan Ryan collection: his 1968 Topps rookie card shared with Jerry Koosman, his early-1970s Topps cards, and the later-career cards that most collectors actually buy. Ryan pitched a record seven no-hitters and struck out a record 5,714 batters. Ranked by grail status and collector demand; prices update daily.
- 1974 Topps Baseball
Topps Baseball
His 1974 Topps card, a popular and affordable Angels-era card.
from $1951974 Topps Baseball value & sales → - 1975 Topps Baseball
Topps Baseball
His 1975 Topps card, a classic mid-1970s Angels-era card.
from $591975 Topps Baseball value & sales → - 1976 Topps Baseball
Topps Baseball
His 1976 Topps card from the Angels years.
from $441976 Topps Baseball value & sales → - 1977 Topps Baseball
Topps Baseball
His 1977 Topps card, a high-number card.
from $91977 Topps Baseball value & sales → - 1978 Topps Baseball
Topps Baseball
His 1978 Topps card, one of his most affordable vintage cards.
from $591978 Topps Baseball value & sales → - 1979 Topps Baseball
Topps Baseball
His 1979 Topps card from the Angels.
from $32.991979 Topps Baseball value & sales → - 1980 Topps Baseball
Topps Baseball
His 1980 Topps card, from his first season with the Houston Astros.
from $401980 Topps Baseball value & sales → - 1981 Topps Baseball
Topps Baseball
His 1981 Topps card from his Astros years.
from $251981 Topps Baseball value & sales →
Didn’t see the one you want? Browse 81 Nolan Ryan cards for sale, $1 to $375
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Auctions with bids for Nolan Ryan, as of Oct 16, 2026. Bids and prices change fast.
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More MLB rookie cards
Frequently asked
- What is Nolan Ryan's rookie card?
- His rookie card is the 1968 Topps #177, which he shares with Jerry Koosman under the heading New York Mets Rookie Stars. It is the most valuable Nolan Ryan card.
- What is Nolan Ryan's first solo card?
- His first card with only him on it is the 1969 Topps #533, according to collector guides.
- What's the cheapest Nolan Ryan card to start with?
- His 1970s Topps cards, such as the 1973 #220 and the 1974 #20, are common and sell for far less than his 1968 rookie, especially in lower grades.
- Are Nolan Ryan cards a good investment?
- Sports cards are collectibles, not guaranteed investments. Values move with hobby demand and can fall as fast as they rise. This page is for research and enjoyment, not financial advice.
- What's a fun fact about Nolan Ryan?
- Nolan Ryan threw a record seven no-hitters and finished with 5,714 career strikeouts, almost 1,000 more than Randy Johnson in second place, over a record 27-season career from 1966 to 1993.
- What's the most expensive Nolan Ryan card for sale?
- As of October 16, 2026, the most expensive Nolan Ryan card on our list that's for sale is the 1968 Topps Baseball New York Mets Rookie Stars (#1), listed from $1,050 on eBay. If you'd rather buy one, the best Nolan Ryan card under $100 is the 1975 Topps Baseball (#8), listed from $59 on eBay. Prices update daily.
- What's the best Nolan Ryan card under $100?
- As of October 16, 2026, it's the 1975 Topps Baseball — #8 on our list of the 14 most popular Nolan Ryan cards — listed from $59 on eBay. Prices update daily.
- What's the best Nolan Ryan card under $500?
- As of October 16, 2026, it's the 1969 Topps Baseball — #2 on our list of the 14 most popular Nolan Ryan cards — listed from $375 on eBay. Prices update daily.
Where this comes from
How we rank these cards
We rank by popularity — how coveted a card is — not by price alone. A card rises on its iconic standing (flagship rookies, on-card autographs, and marquee inserts), its scarcity (low serial numbers and true one-of-ones), and collector demand, with market value as a strong signal. The most expensive card isn't always the most popular.
Every list is checked against several sources before it goes live. The facts — how rare a card is, what it sells for, which versions exist — come only from card checklists, price trackers, and real sold listings.
What the community is chasing shapes how we order the list, but it never counts as a fact on its own. It tells us about demand, not whether a card truly belongs at the top.
We only call a card's rarity confirmed when the maker officially publishes the number. Otherwise we label it an estimate — and we never make a number up.
Each card photo comes from the eBay listing its button points to, so you're always seeing a real card that's actually for sale — credited to that listing, never taken from the card maker.
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