Top 5 Most Valuable Kansas City Royals Baseball Cards of All Time

Baseball card collecting has long been a beloved hobby for fans of America's national pastime. The Kansas City Royals may be a relatively young franchise, but they boast some incredibly valuable cardboard over their 50+ year history. This article will count down the top 5 most valuable Royals baseball cards of all time.

5. 1985 Topps Bret Saberhagen (#170) - $125+

"Sabes" took the league by storm in 1985, capturing the AL Cy Young award with a 20-6 record, 2.87 ERA, and 158 strikeouts. This iconic rookie card pictures a young Saberhagen in an awesome retro Royals powder blue jersey. It's his only recognized rookie and a must-have for fans chasing KC's championship teams of the 1980s. Mint copies of Saberhagen's '85 Topps regularly sell for $125 and up.

4. 1969 Topps Amos Otis (#293) - $150+

Before becoming a 5x All-Star center fielder for KC, Amos Otis started his career with the New York Mets. His '69 rookie features Otis still in a Mets uniform, though he was traded to the Royals after the season. It's one of Otis' two recognized rookies along with his 1970 card. This hard-to-find high number commands over $150 in flawless condition.

3. 1976 Topps George Brett (#237) - $175+

George Brett is the greatest player in Royals history, owning numerous franchise records while collecting 3,000+ hits en route to the Hall of Fame. Brett's '76 Topps card pictures him following through after crushing one of his 317 career home runs. Graded copies in PSA 10 or BGS 9.5 can sell for $175 or more.

2. 1971 Topps Dennis Leonard (#488) - $300+

"Lenny" tossed the first perfect game in Royals history in 1977. He went on to win 20 games that year and again in 1980. Leonard's rookie is found in the high number series of 1971 Topps. The pitching prospect is listed as "Dennis Leonard" rather than the more common "Leonard Dennis" seen on his later cards. Near-mint copies approach $300 in today's market.

1. 1968 Topps Nolan Ryan rookie (#177) - $1,500+

Before becoming a fireballing Hall of Famer, Nolan Ryan actually began his MLB career with the New York Mets. The 1968 Topps set marks his first-ever baseball card appearance. Ryan is pictured in a classic Mets windbreaker jacket. He was drafted by the Royals in the 12th round of the 1965 draft but did not sign. Only a handful of mint '68 Ryan rookies are known to exist, with high-end examples reaching over $1,500 at auction. This card is the undisputed most valuable Royals-related issue of all time.

Well there you have it - the five priciest baseball cards of current and former Kansas City Royals players. Honorable mentions go to cards of franchise legends like Frank White, Willie Wilson, and Bo Jackson. Rookie cards of current stars like Salvador Perez and Whit Merrifield should also gain value over time.

Which Royals player is your personal cardboard collecting favorite? Let me know in the comments! Thanks for reading this countdown of the highest-valued gems for fans of the boys in blue.