Cap Anson – 1887 Old Judge
The Adrian Anson card, commonly known as “Cap Anson,” is the oldest on our list. In 1871, Adrian Anson began his professional baseball career with the Rockford Forest Citys, a one-year team that subsequently dissolved. He joined the Chicago White Stockings in 1876 (now the Cubs).
The 1887 Cap Anson card is quite unique. Many collectors consider the 1887 Old Judge series to be the finest from the late 1800s due to the large number of players it included and their different versions, which sometimes reached up to 12 per player. It’s believed that just five of these cards survive in mint condition, and finding one would earn you $80,000.