11 min read

America’s Most Collectable Sports Stars

Scott Krones

Scott Krones

Last updated: September 17, 2025

Collectible Sports Stars Featured

For many sports fans, collecting memorabilia of their favorite teams and players is an important part of the hobby. Not only does it show their appreciation for the top athletes in their sport, but it can also be an investment, with collectables and trading cards selling for huge amounts of money.

The most expensive sports card ever sold was a one-of-one Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman card, autographed by both players, which fetched a massive $12.6 million at auction in August 2025.

This shows that not only is the hobby of sports card collecting holding strong, but it also has significant financial backing. It also demonstrates that retired stars and legends of the sport have just as much excitement around their collectables as active players.

With this news, we began to wonder which athletes are the easiest to collect in the current marketplace. We looked at eBay to see which sports stars have the most active listings for their trading cards, and ranked them to show who the most collectable athletes in America are today.

Who are the top ten most collectable sports stars in America?

Our top ten is dominated mainly by baseball players, which shows MLB’s enduring legacy in the sports trading community. However, some top stars from other sports, such as the NFL and NBA, do manage to break the top of our rankings:

1. Shohei Ohtani (MLB)

The star designated hitter and pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who led them to their eighth World Series victory in 2024, Shohei Ohtani is arguably the most recognised name in baseball today. Nicknamed “Shotime” by fans, many MLB analysts consider him to already be among the all-time greats of the sport, which makes his trading cards a hot commodity for collectors.

With a massive 727,253 active listings for his cards on eBay for his trading cards, Ohtani tops our list as the most in-demand athlete among collectors today. Baseball has always been a favorite for sports collectors, so to top both listings for the sport and the overall field is an impressive feat.

2. Mike Trout (MLB)

In second place on our list is three-time AL MVP and 11-time All-Star outfielder Mike Trout, who has become a favorite among fans of the Los Angeles Angels since his 2009 debut. He has led the league in runs and times on base four times each, making him one of the most dominant baseball players in the world in his prime.

Trout’s sports cards are currently available on 669,032 eBay listings, which earns him a silver medal finish in our rankings of the most collectable sports stars in America.

3. Aaron Judge (MLB)

New York Yankees star Aaron Judge earns a podium finish as the third-most collectable athlete in American sports. The two-time MLB All-Star holds the record for the most home runs in one season, having scored 62 in 2022. Since his debut in 2016, he has earned numerous accolades and established a reputation as one of the league’s most reliable home run hitters, as well as one of its most adept batters.

As an iconic player for one of baseball’s most popular teams, it’s no wonder that Judge finishes in our top three. There are currently 582,697 eBay listings for his sports cards, making him one of the most popular MLB athletes to trade on the site.

4. Ken Griffey Jr. (MLB)

The first retired player to appear on our list is Hall of Fame inductee Ken Griffey Jr., who spent 22 years in the MLB playing as an outfielder. He was best known for his time with the Cincinnati Reds and Seattle Mariners, where he was named an MLB All-Star 13 times and won the Gold Glove ten times.

Although he never won a World Series, he’s regarded as one of the all-time greats and ranks as the player with the seventh-most home runs scored of all time, and 453,787 cards of Griffey Jr. are currently listed on eBay, despite his last MLB appearance being in 2010.

5. Michael Jordan (NBA)

Rounding out the top five with a break from baseball, Michael Jordan is an athlete who needs no introduction. Standing at 6 feet and 6 inches, Jordan became a six-time NBA champion, establishing the Chicago Bulls as the most dominant basketball team of the 1990s. He was named the Finals MVP in each of his wins, earned the MVP title in five regular seasons, and is often cited as the greatest player in the history of the NBA.

Jordan was one of the two basketball legends featured on the most expensive sports card of all time, alongside the late Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant, showing just how popular he is among NBA collectors. With 442,134 active eBay listings, his cards are still some of the most widely traded in American sports, even more than 20 years after his retirement.

6. Cal Ripken Jr. (MLB)

Another retired legend of baseball, Cal Ripken Jr., is known as one of the greatest shortstops in MLB history. A 19-time All-Star, who also won the 1983 World Series, Ripken Jr. was a mainstay of the Baltimore Orioles’ roster throughout his illustrious career. He spent 21 seasons with the team, where he earned two AL MVP titles and played a record 2,632 consecutive games.

You can find 425,457 active eBay listings for Ripken Jr.’s sports cards, making him by far the most popular shortstop to trade.

7. Nolan Ryan (MLB)

Over the course of his 20+ year career, Nolan Ryan became one of the best-known pitchers in baseball, having played for numerous teams. He became a World Series champion in 1969 with the New York Mets and went on to earn eight All-Star titles. His jersey numbers have been retired by three separate franchises, and he was entered into the MLB Hall of Fame in 1999.

Considered one of the greatest pitchers to grace the field, it’s hardly a surprise that Nolan Ryan is a hit with collectors, as 425,457 eBay listings for his cards are currently active.

8. Patrick Mahomes (NFL)

The most collectable NFL star on our list is Patrick Mahomes, the two-time MVP quarterback who has led the Kansas City Chiefs to three Super Bowl wins since joining the franchise in 2017. Known for his skill across nearly all football disciplines, Mahomes earned the title of Offensive Player of the Year in 2018 and was named Super Bowl MVP in all of his team’s last three victories.

Mahomes has 417,884 active listings on eBay for his trading cards, which ranks him at #8 in our top ten most collected players. He beats the second-most traded NFL player, Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals, by more than 150,000 listings.

9. LeBron James (NBA)

The second NBA player to reach our top ten, and the only active one, is modern-day icon LeBron James. He is the current player with the longest career in the league, having earned four NBA titles with three teams (Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers) since his 2003 debut. Off the court, James is one of the most popular athletes in the world on social media, and his endorsements from major brands have helped make him one of the wealthiest sportspeople alive.

With 397,356 current listings on eBay, there’s no shortage of LeBron James collectables for fans to purchase. This earns him the ninth spot in our top ten, showing just how enduring his popularity has been over his 20+ year career.

10. Ronald Acuña Jr. (MLB)

Our top ten is rounded out by another MLB star, current Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. Born in Venezuela, Acuña Jr. debuted in 2018 and immediately won the Rookie of the Year award for his outstanding performance. He has since become a five-time All-Star and was named NL MVP in the 2023 season.

His 388,040 active trading card listings make him the 10th most-collectable athlete on our list, beating close competition from the likes of Tom Brady and Juan Soto to round out our rankings.

The most collectable athletes by sport

Now that we’ve rounded up the most collectable players across the board, who dominates their individual sports? We’ve assembled tables to show the most collectable active players in each of the major American sports, as well as the most popular retired athletes to trade in each league. Here are our findings:

MLB

America’s Most Collectable Sports Stars_MLB

The most common and popular of all sporting cards, here’s a full look at the most popular player card currently in the MLB sphere:

Active

As covered already, Shohei Ohtani ranks as the most collectable active MLB star, with Mike Trout and Aaron Judge rounding out the top three. Four of the top five players are outfielders, with Ohtani standing out as the only designated hitter.

RankPlayerSports Trading CardsTeamPosition
1Shohei Ohtani727,253Los Angeles DodgersDesignated Hitter
2Mike Trout669,032Los Angeles AngelsOutfielder
3Aaron Judge582,697New York YankeesOutfielder
4Ronald Acuña Jr.388,040Atlanta BravesOutfielder
5Juan Soto337,928New York MetsOutfielder
6Bryce Harper292,950Philadelphia PhilliesFirst Baseman / Outfielder
7Elly De La Cruz291,353Cincinnati RedsShortstop
8Julio Rodriguez291,338Seattle MarinersCenter Fielder
9Fernando Tatís Jr.291,225San Diego PadresRight Fielder
10Bobby Witt Jr.274,300Kansas City RoyalsShortstop
11Vladimir Guerrero Jr.260,504Toronto Blue JaysFirst Baseman
12Mookie Betts255,682Los Angeles DodgersOutfielder / Shortstop / Second Baseman
13Adley Rutschman225,854Baltimore OriolesCatcher
14Paul Skenes203,404Pittsburgh PiratesPitcher
15Gunnar Henderson189,347Baltimore OriolesShortstop
16Pete Alonso187,909New York MetsFirst Baseman
17Corbin Carroll186,205Arizona DiamondbacksOutfielder
18Freddie Freeman181,299Los Angeles DodgersFirst Baseman
19Wander Franco173,947Tampa Bay RaysShortstop
20Jackson Holliday173,473Baltimore OriolesInfielder

Retired

Ken Griffey Jr. leads the MLB in eBay listings for retired players’ sports cards, with league legends like Derek Jeter and Barry Bonds also making appearances in the top five.

RankPlayerSports Trading CardsStatusPosition
1Ken Griffey Jr.453,787RetiredOutfielder
2Nolan Ryan418,461RetiredPitcher
3Cal Ripken Jr.425,457RetiredShortstop
4Derek Jeter285,341RetiredShortstop
5Barry Bonds227,619RetiredOutfielder
6Mark McGwire203,314RetiredFirst Baseman
7Frank Thomas193,324RetiredFirst Baseman
8Roger Clemens177,059RetiredPitcher
9Tony Gwynn176,014RetiredRight Fielder
10Albert Pujols168,888RetiredFirst Baseman

NFL

Corrected NFL Updates

While the NFL’s cards aren’t as widely traded as the MLB’s, many top stars still have hundreds of thousands of listings for their collectables. Here are the most popular:

Active

As already covered, Patrick Mahomes tops the list of the most collectable active NFL players. Quarterbacks dominate the rankings as the most popular role in the sport, with Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence rounding out the top three.

RankPlayerSports Trading CardsTeamPosition
1Patrick Mahomes417,884Kansas City ChiefsQuarterback
2Joe Burrow242,328Cincinnati BengalsQuarterback
3Trevor Lawrence204,007Jacksonville JaguarsQuarterback
4Josh Allen191,495Buffalo BillsQuarterback
5Justin Herbert189,038Los Angeles ChargersQuarterback
6Aaron Rodgers169,179Pittsburgh SteelersQuarterback
7Jalen Hurts139,550Philadelphia EaglesQuarterback
8Lamar Jackson131,681Baltimore RavensQuarterback
9Jayden Daniels127,294Washington CommandersQuarterback
10Ja’Marr Chase121,694Cincinnati BengalsWide Receiver
11C.J. Stroud121,102Houston TexansQuarterback
12Justin Fields112,446New York JetsQuarterback
13Tua Tagovailoa111,038Miami DolphinsQuarterback
14Bryce Young107,227Carolina PanthersQuarterback
15Bo Nix103,956Denver BroncosQuarterback
16Mac Jones103,791San Francisco 49ersQuarterback
17Dak Prescott103,466Dallas CowboysQuarterback
18Justin Jefferson97,985Minnesota VikingsWide Receiver
19Anthony Richardson97,930Indianapolis ColtsQuarterback
20Drake Maye94,266New England PatriotsQuarterback

Retired

Tom Brady ranks as the most popular retired NFL star to trade, with more than double the active listings of Barry Sanders in second place. Peyton Manning earns a bronze medal finish, just less than 100 listings ahead of legendary QB Brett Favre.

RankPlayerSports Trading CardsStatusPosition
1Tom Brady338,196RetiredQuarterback
2Barry Sanders155,813RetiredRunning Back
3Peyton Manning136,879RetiredQuarterback
4Brett Favre136,797RetiredQuarterback
5Joe Montana135,692RetiredQuarterback
6Jerry Rice119,463RetiredWide Receiver
7Dan Marino118,868RetiredQuarterback
8Emmitt Smith107,995RetiredRunning Back
9John Elway106,814RetiredQuarterback
10Marvin Harrison93,640RetiredWide Receiver

NBA

NBA Stars Collectible

The NBA is responsible for the most expensive sports card ever sold, so how does it hold up compared to other leagues? Here are the most popular stars to trade:

Active

It should be no surprise that LeBron James tops the list of the most collectable active NBA players, while star shooter Stephen Curry ranks in second. James’ recently recruited teammate, Luka Dončić, lands in third place, reflecting the impact he’s had in recent NBA seasons.

RankPlayerSports Trading CardsTeam
1LeBron James397,356Los Angeles Lakers
2Stephen Curry258,524Golden State Warriors
3Luka Dončić215,548Los Angeles Lakers
4Giannis Antetokounmpo192,554Milwaukee Bucks
5Ja Morant187,213Memphis Grizzlies
6Kevin Durant174,055Houston Rockets
7Victor Wembanyama158,032San Antonio Spurs
8Zion Williamson157,061New Orleans Pelicans
9Jayson Tatum139,806Boston Celtics
10LaMelo Ball137,027Charlotte Hornets
11Anthony Edwards130,520Minnesota Timberwolves
12Nikola Jokić125,237Denver Nuggets
13Trae Young119,374Atlanta Hawks
14Anthony Davis104,283Dallas Mavericks
15Joel Embiid101,993Philadelphia 76ers
16Damian Lillard95,616Portland Trail Blazers
17Devin Booker92,249Phoenix Suns
18Kawhi Leonard92,026Los Angeles Clippers
19James Harden91,406Los Angeles Clippers
20Tyrese Haliburton89,747Indiana Pacers

Retired

Michael Jordan blows the competition out of the water when it comes to the most traded former NBA players, with more than double the active listings of Shaquille O’Neal in second. Kobe Bryant ranks as the third most collectable NBA legend.

RankPlayerSports Trading CardsStatus
1Michael Jordan442,134Retired
2Shaquille O’Neal201,479Retired
3Kobe Bryant126,628Retired
4Magic Johnson121,202Retired
5David Robinson103,783Retired
6Charles Barkley96,954Retired
7Scottie Pippen95,265Retired
8Hakeem Olajuwon92,700Retired
9Karl Malone92,265Retired
10Larry Bird90,993Retired

NHL

Updated NHL Roster of Stars

Which NHL players are the most widely collected by sports fans? Take a look at our lists of the most traded active players, as well as the legends of the league.

Active

All of the top three most collectable active NHL stars are centers, with the Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid topping the rankings. He’s followed by Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Toronto Maple Leafs player Auston Matthews.

RankPlayerSports Trading CardsTeamPosition
1Connor McDavid188,184Edmonton OilersCenter
2Sidney Crosby143,052Pittsburgh PenguinsCenter
3Auston Matthews105,019Toronto Maple LeafsCenter
4Alex Ovechkin104,497Washington CapitalsLeft Winger
5Connor Bedard76,339Chicago BlackhawksCenter
6Nathan MacKinnon61,496Colorado AvalancheCenter
7Leon Draisaitl56,770Edmonton OilersForward
8Cale Makar53,810Colorado AvalancheDefenceman
9Patrick Kane46,231Detroit Red WingsRight Wing
10Cole Caufield45,505Montreal CanadiensRight Wing
11Mitch Marner44,782Vegas Golden KnightsRight Wing
12Jack Hughes44,215New Jersey DevilsCenter
13Kirill Kaprizov41,351Minnesota WildWinger
14Steven Stamkos40,813Nashville PredatorsCenter
15David Pastrnak40,472Boston BruinsRight Wing
16Carey Price40,425Montreal CanadiensGoaltender
17Evgeni Malkin39,036Pittsburgh PenguinsCenter
18Alexander Ovechkin37,202Washington CapitalsLeft Winger
19Trevor Zegras37,095Philadelphia FlyersCenter
20John Tavares36,490Toronto Maple LeafsForward

Retired

Often considered the greatest NHL player in history, Wayne Gretzky takes a massive lead to rank as the most collectable retired athlete in the league. He has more than double the active listings of Mario Lemieux and Patrick Roy, who finish the top three.

RankPlayerSports Trading CardsStatus
1Wayne Gretzky184,214Retired
2Mario Lemieux83,182Retired
3Patrick Roy75,974Retired
4Joe Sakic50,747Retired
5Jaromir Jagr45,385Retired
6Steve Yzerman43,243Retired
7Brett Hull42,560Retired
8Martin Brodeur39,939Retired
9Mark Messier39,689Retired
10Eric Lindros37,788Retired

Soccer

Soccer Stars Most Popular ML

One debate has captured the minds of soccer fans for years: who’s better, Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? Both are regarded as two of the greatest players of a generation, with the answer being hotly contested, but Messi takes the crown as our most collectable player in the sport. Ronaldo finishes in second, with French forward Kylian Mbappé taking third place.

RankPlayerSports Trading CardsTeamPosition
1Lionel Messi91,437Inter MiamiForward
2Cristiano Ronaldo66,563Al-NassrForward
3Kylian Mbappé46,944Real MadridForward
4Neymar Jr.30,422SantosForward
5Erling Haaland56,360Manchester CityForward
6Christian Pulisic26,819AC MilanWinger
7Jude Bellingham26,113Real MadridMidfielder
8Robert Lewandowski25,458BarcelonaForward
9Harry Kane25,131Bayern MunichForward
10Phil Foden24,152Manchester CityMidfielder
11Kevin de Bruyne20,044NapoliMidfielder
12Pedri19,735BarcelonaMidfielder
13Gavi19,239BarcelonaMidfielder
14Lamine Yamal18,640BarcelonaWinger
15Ansu Fati16,972MonacoWinger
16Julian Alvarez16,891Atlético MadridForward
17Mohamed Salah16,887LiverpoolWinger
18Ronaldo15,531RetiredForward
19Alex Morgan15,101Retired Women’s TeamForward
20Marcus Rashford13,819BarcelonaForward

Wrestling

Wrestling stars

When it comes to trading cards of wrestlers, the icons of the industry make up the top three. Hulk Hogan, who was one of the longest-reigning champions of all time, tops the list, with John Cena and The Rock close behind. They do face fierce competition, though, as recent stars like Alexa Bliss and Roman Reigns also rank highly.

RankWrestlerSports Trading Cards
1Hulk Hogan26,307
2John Cena26,096
3The Rock22,298
4Alexa Bliss21,242
5Roman Reigns19,957
6Charlotte Flair17,441
7Undertaker16,927
8Bayley14,826
9Becky Lynch13,464
10Asuka13,123
11Triple H12,076
12Sasha Banks11,969
13Seth Rollins11,749
14Randy Orton11,515
15AJ Styles11,369
16Rhea Ripley10,820
17The Miz10,693
18Sting10,342
19Liv Morgan10,240
20Bianca Belair10,186

The most expensive sports cards of all time

While some cards are relatively common, others are so rare that dedicated collectors are willing to pay a fortune to add them to their collections. These are the top ten most expensive trading cards in the history of American sports:

RankSportCardSale PriceKey Details
1NBA2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Michael Jordan & Kobe Bryant Dual Logoman Autograph$12.93MOne-of-a-kind with dual Logoman patches and autographs from two of basketball’s greatest legends.
2MLB1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311$12.6MIconic Mantle card, extremely valuable in high grade; considered the face of vintage card collecting.
3MLB1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner$7.25MKnown as the “Holy Grail” of cards, it was pulled from production due to Wagner’s objection to tobacco promotion.
4MLB1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth Rookie$7.2MFeatures Ruth during his minor league career with the Baltimore Orioles; extremely rare.
5NBA2009 National Treasures Stephen Curry Rookie Logoman Autograph$5.9MOne-of-a-kind autographed Logoman rookie card of the NBA’s 3-point king.
6NBA2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite LeBron James Rookie Patch Autograph (RPA)$5.2MFeatures a game-worn jersey patch and rookie autograph; a modern basketball grail.
7NBA2018 Panini National Treasures Luka Dončić Rookie Logoman Autograph$4.6MOne-of-a-kind Logoman rookie card with autograph; driven by Luka’s meteoric rise.
8NFL2017 Panini National Treasures Patrick Mahomes Platinum Shield Rookie Patch Autograph$4.3MOne-of-a-kind NFL shield rookie patch with autograph; most expensive football card ever sold.
9MLB1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #53$4.2MOne of four Babe Ruth cards in the set; iconic image and highly sought-after in top condition.
10MLB2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Superfractor Mike Trout Rookie Card$3.93MOne-of-a-kind Superfractor rookie; symbol of Trout’s dominance and modern collecting.

Find your new all-star with Props.com

While it may seem like an old-school hobby to some, sports trading cards are still in high demand, with countless fans worldwide building up their collections. Thanks to the internet, it’s never been easier to get your hands on the card of your dreams, with millions of potential buyers for a range of athletes.

Looking for more coverage of your favorite sports? Head to our news page for all the latest, from updates on your favorite teams to all the top betting picks.

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