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Last Updated On: May 16th, 2025
In a hobby obsessed with perfect Gem Mint 10s, one grade often gets overlooked and underrated: the PSA 1. In this post, we’ll explore what makes certain PSA 1 cards surprisingly valuable and collectible, spotlighting six notable cards, vintage and modern. Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
Overview: What the Heck is a PSA 1?
On PSA’s grading scale, PSA 1 is the lowest numeric grade. Cards labeled “Authentic” haven’t been graded for condition, while a PSA 1 slab carries “PR” for Poor condition.
According to their website, a PSA 1 graded card:
“…may be missing one or two pieces, exhibit major creasing that nearly breaks through all the layers of cardboard, or contain extreme discoloration or dirtiness throughout that may make it difficult to identify the issue or content of the card on either the front or back. A card of this nature may also show noticeable warping or another type of destructive defect.”
Despite the lengthy list of characteristics that determine how a PSA 1 is scored, the demand for collectors to own certain cards can outweigh condition concerns or where it lands on PSA’s grading scale.
Let’s take a closer look at the unusual niche of collecting popular cards in PSA 1 grades and what factors can drive their value.
What Makes a PSA 1 Valuable or Desired?
Multiple factors can contribute to the popularity and value of cards that carry a PSA 1 tag, but the main one comes down to the specific card. Most PSA 1 slabbed cards that catch the attention of potential buyers have historical importance or elite status in the hobby. The high demand for legendary cards in top condition often results in collectors being priced out of higher grades, making PSA 1 examples an affordable entry point for most.
Also, because cards in high demand are often counterfeited, authentication and grading by a reputable third party can demand a sizable premium over the same raw, ungraded card. With that in mind, let’s turn our attention to PSA 1s that sell for the biggest premiums!
Most Valuable PSA 1 Graded Cards
Below are three PSA 1 cards whose combination of rarity and historical importance will continue to generate hobby buzz and nose-bleed prices.
1909 T206 Honus Wagner
If I had to select one sports card that was instrumental in transforming the trading card hobby as we know it today, it would be the Honus Wagner 1909 T206. Since its release over a century ago, collectors have only discovered around 50 or 60 examples. This scarcity, combined with the card’s fascinating backstory and Honus Wagner’s Hall of Fame career, makes any graded or authenticated copy extremely valuable and highly sought after.
The last public sale of Wagner’s T206 in a PSA 1 grade went for a whopping $1,146,000 in 2020, during the height of the sports card boom fueled by the pandemic. Five years following this record-breaking PSA 1 sale, Goldin is auctioning another PSA 1 copy known as the “Connecticut Wagner” starting on May 21st. The same copy sold in 2010 for $282,000 and is now estimated to be worth over $5 million.
1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle
Mickey Mantle’s 1952 Topps #311 is considered the modern-day Mona Lisa in the sports card collecting world because of its interesting folklore and undeniable scarcity.
PSA has graded nearly 2,000 copies of the card, with 368 examples currently carrying the less coveted PSA 1 designation. Despite being the most common grade for The Mick’s classic card, PSA 1 examples sell online roughly once a month for around $30,000. Back in 2006, collectors could purchase a PSA 1 graded 1952 Topps Mantle card for as low as $2,000. That’s an astonishing price increase of nearly 1,400%!
Even in poor condition, the demand for the Yankee legend’s debut Topps card makes it one of the holy grails of the sports card industry.
1933 Goudey #53 Babe Ruth
One of Babe Ruth’s most memorable baseball cards during his career is his 1933 Goudey #53. The Great Bambino has 4 different 1993 Goudey cards featured in the set, with the yellow background card #53 being the most valuable. The nearly 100-year-old card has less than 1,500 PSA slabbed copies, and only 288 of those have received a PSA 1 grade.
Examples of Ruth’s 1933 Goudey #53 in the lowest scoring PSA grade sell online around a dozen times a year for roughly $6,000. Since 2004, PSA 1 sales have ranged from $1,000 and have steadily increased in value regardless of the card’s visual appearance or eye appeal.
Hottest Babe Ruth Cards Trending on eBay
Notable Modern PSA 1 Graded Cards
When it comes to holy grail cards from the pre-war and post-war era that are authenticated by reputable companies like PSA, the premium prices commanded in most grades are typically out of reach for ordinary collectors.
Even modern day cards in PSA 1 condition can generate enormous attention in the card hobby, beginning with the 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan.
1986 Fleer #57 Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan’s 1986 Fleer #57 is widely regarded as the most influential modern basketball card ever produced. The overall impact of this card (and set) helped reshape the sports card industry and the future of basketball cards. As a result, trading card collectors cherish even the most damaged copies of MJ’s first official rookie card.
PSA has graded nearly 30,000 copies of MJ’s first official rookie cards, with only 365 receiving a PSA 1 grade. I’m going to guestimate that Jordan’s 1986 Fleer #57 more than likely holds the crown for the highest sales volume for any PSA 1 graded card, showing multiple weekly transactions. Just over a decade ago, collectors could purchase a PSA 1 graded example for as low as $200, which is surprisingly less than most basketball hobby boxes released by Topps and Panini today.
Whether you were old enough to watch him dominate the NBA or simply love rocking Jordan sneakers, MJ’s Fleer rookie card in any PSA authenticated condition remains a prized possession for sports card fans.
1989 Upper Deck #1 Ken Griffey Jr Star Rookie
Another important card from the modern era of collecting is, without a doubt, Ken Griffey Jr.’s 1989 Upper Deck Star Rookie card. In fact, it’s so popular that it’s PSA’s most graded card of all time.
Out of the 119,000+ PSA copies in existence, just 156 examples have received a PSA 1 grade. Despite this card being heavily overprinted during the junk wax era, recent PSA 1 sales are in the $100 ballpark.
The lasting demand for The Kid’s Upper Deck rookie card and the nostalgia surrounding it makes it a cornerstone of modern baseball card collecting, even in its lowest grade.
2003 Topps #221 LeBron James
King James’ 2003 Topps #221 is one of his most collected rookie cards on the market today and is known as the more common paper counterpart to his Topps Chrome #111 rookie card. As a 10 year old, I have fond memories of ripping packs of 2003 Topps basketball with my dad at the local hobby shop in search of LBJ’s (and Carmelo’s) first Topps Flagship rookie cards.
LeBron’s Topps RC has been graded by PSA over 20,000 times and is limited to fewer than 10 PSA 1 examples! Due to its limited availability in PSA 1 grade, the only recorded online sale was for $201.01 in December 2023. At the time of the sale, PSA 7s were going for about the same price, so it was clearly smarter to grab the higher graded version!
Maybe someone was chasing a PSA graded “rainbow,” collecting the same card in grades 1 through 10. Some might find that redundant or unusual, but it’s somewhat similar to ultra-modern collectors who try to snag every colored parallel of a base card from a set.
Final Thoughts
The sports card market has shown that important cards in poor grades can appreciate in value over time, regardless of visual appeal or the hobby’s negative perception of the PSA 1 grade.
That said, not all PSA 1 cards are equal. While PSA 1 collectors often prioritize rarity over a cards appearance, its vital to remember that prices can vary based on visual aesthetics and presentation. For example, recent PSA 1 sales of Babe Ruth’s 1993 Goudey #53 are anywhere from $2,500 – $8,000.
As a self-proclaimed sports card historian with a bucket list of iconic cards on my wish list, I find that buying universally celebrated PSA 1 cards can be a unique way to acquire historic cards at a lower price. The collecting philosophy of “buy the card, not the grade” has helped me stay disciplined on the journey to obtain cherished cards in poor grades that I otherwise couldn’t afford.
Would you consider adding any historic PSA 1 to your collection? Let us know in the comments below!