10 Valuable Trading Cards (That Have Nothing To Do With Sports)
Not all trading cards are created equal. Some are just tiny rectangles of nostalgia, while others are basically little cardboard lottery tickets. Over the years, certain non-sports trading cards have skyrocketed in value, turning childhood collections into serious investments.
Whether they came from playground trades, cereal box promotions, or comic shop splurges, these are some of the most valuable trading cards you might still have stowed away in a binder somewhere.
1. Pokémon
Gotta catch ’em all! The first Pokémon cards debuted in the late ’90s, and they’ve been a stalwart in the trading card realm ever since. Early sets like the 1st Edition Base Set and rare promotional cards are highly collectible and disgustingly valuable. In 2022, social media star Logan Paul broke a Guinness World Record when he bought the “rarest Pokémon card” for $5.275 million — a PSA 10 Pikachu Illustrator card. Pika Pika, that’s a lot of money.
2. Garbage Pail Kids
Topps saw the Cabbage Patch Kids craze and raised Garbage Pail Kids trading cards in the late ’80s. These gross characters parodied Cabbage Patch, turning their likeness into funny (and often grotesque) depictions. From Potty Scotty to Up Chuck, these (once dirt cheap) cards can sell for as much as $2,600 depending on the condition and rarity of the specific card or set.
3. Magic: The Gathering
If you’ve ever heard whispers of the legendary Black Lotus, then you know Magic: The Gathering can be a goldmine. The first sets, Alpha and Beta, dropped in 1993. Cards from these sets, especially powerhouses like Mox Sapphire and Ancestral Recall, can go for jaw-dropping prices, but complete sets might send your jaw through the floor to the basement: A 1993 complete Beta set sold for $105,000 in 2022.
4. Yu-Gi-Oh!
Back in the early 2000s, if you weren’t dueling at recess, were you even living? Classic Yu-Gi-Oh! cards from the first few sets — like Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Dark Magician, and the ultra-rare Tournament Black Luster Soldier — can sell for as much as $25,000.
5. Topps ‘Star Wars’ Trading Cards
Not a marketing stone was left unturned when “Star Wars” came out. From lunch boxes to action figures, the movie’s merchandise had the longest-reaching arms imaginable. Topps churned out Star Wars trading cards featuring scenes from the original trilogy. The very first set, released in 1977, included a legendary Luke Skywalker #1 card that collectors still chase, and a first-series Han Solo card sold for nearly $6,000 on eBay.
6. Marvel Trading Cards
Naturally, Marvel had to get in on the trading card game. The 1990s Impel and Fleer sets were peak childhood for comic book fans. Holographic chase cards, power ratings for every hero and villain, and insane artwork made these cards irresistible. Nowadays, collectors are scooping up rare Spider-Man, Wolverine, and X-Men cards like it’s the Infinity War of nostalgia. Sets can sell for as much as $5,000 depending on factors like grade, condition, and rarity.
7. Wacky Packages
Long before Garbage Pail Kids started grossing people out, Wacky Packages were the original kings of parody. These sticker cards from the 1960s and 1970s poked fun at everyday products with names like “Crust” toothpaste or “Band-Ache” bandages. Kids loved them, parents hated them, and now collectors can’t get enough of them — sets have sold for as much as $2,200 on eBay.
8. Dragon Ball Z
Whether you were watching Toonami or shouting “KAMEHAMEHA” at your friends, the 1990s Dragon Ball Z cards were nothing short of a craze. Sets from Bandai and Score Entertainment featured holographic Super Saiyans and ultra-rare Broly and Goku cards — one of which sold for nearly $2,500 on eBay.
9. Dungeons & Dragons Spellfire Cards
Before Magic: The Gathering ruled the fantasy card world, D&D’s Spellfire tried to claim the throne in the 1990s. While it didn’t last as long, the game’s rare cards can go for a couple hundred dollars on eBay.
10. Disney Collectible Cards
The beginning of Disney collectibles is but a blur, and the end is nowhere in sight. The brand has been churning out collectible items for more than 100 years, and trading cards are part of the mania. From 1930s movie tie-ins to 1990s animated classics, Disney collectors go wild for rare sets featuring beloved characters. A complete set from 1935 sold for $4,500 in 2020.