Black Athletes x Trading Cards
As we celebrate Black History Month, let’s take a trip down memory lane with a twist—through the lens of sports collectibles. Our curated list of the highest-valued trading cards featuring Black athletes showcases the power, passion, and perseverance that have shaped sports history. Join us on this journey where every card is a tribute, and every trade is a celebration of legacy and excellence.
Most Valuable Cards Featuring Black Athletes
1996-97 Topps Chrome® Basketball Refractor #138 Kobe Bryant RC
Player info
• Hall of Famer
• five-time league champion
• 18-time all-star
card info
• 220 card base set
• sold for $1,795,000 at auction
what they’ve said
• “I remember my rookie year, I was wearing LeBron shoes and playing at Staples [Center], and he said, ‘Young fella if you had my shoes on, you would get more buckets.’ That made me laugh, and it was cool. The fact a guy I looked up to my whole life, for him to say something like that to me, especially as a rookie, was like, ‘This guy’s a human.’ – Tristan Thompson
1955 Topps Baseball #164 Roberto Clemente RC
Player info
• gained the most yards from scrimmage from 2003 through the 2006 season
• one of 31 players to eclipse 10,000 yards rushing
card info
• 206-card set
• sold for $1,700,000 at an auction
what they’ve said
• “often overlooked in the yearly commemoration is Clemente’s activism as a Black man who spoke out, frequently in his second language, against racism in the United States during a career that paralleled the civil rights movement.” – Jorge Castillo of the la times
1969 Topps Baseball #260 Reggie Jackson RC
Player info
• Hall of Famer
• oakland A’s Hall of Famer
• number retired by both the Oakland a’s and New York Yankees
card info
• 664 card set
• sold for $1,005,600 at auction
What they said
• “But I grew up in an era – and I grew up in a family – where I spoke out and said what I felt. I didn’t hold back. When I spoke, I said something with intelligence. I didn’t run my mouth and sound stupid, but I was quick to speak out about racism. I was quick to speak out about unfairness and quick to speak out about the inequities.” – Reggie Jackson
1952 Topps Baseball #312 Jackie Robinson
Player info
• broke major league baseball’s color barrier
set info
• 407 card set
• sold for $960,000 at auction
what they said
• “Jackie Robinson made my success possible. Without him, I would never have been able to do what I did.” – dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
2020 Topps Chrome F1 Superfractor #1 Lewis Hamilton 1/1
Player info
• first black f1 driver
• First black f1 driver to win the world drivers’ championship
•holds the f1 record for career race victories
set info
• 200 card base set
• sold for $900,000 at auction
What they said
• “Lewis has spearheaded our sport’s efforts to combat racism, and he is a true champion of diversity on and off track.” – Mercedes F1 Team
