Cooper Flagg Debut Patch Hits $8.04M on Top 5 List

Massive week for high-end sports card sales

The latest Top 5 Sports Cards list delivered one of the biggest weeks in hobby history, with total sales topping $15 million across just five cards. The headline-grabbing results were driven by the ongoing chase for NBA Debut Patch autos from top rookies, along with major sales for Shohei Ohtani and Babe Ruth.

Fanatics Premier Auction and Goldin Auctions were both involved in the action, and the final numbers pushed several cards into rare territory. One extra card also surfaced as additional sale information came in late Sunday and into Monday.

No. 6: Shohei Ohtani Bowman Chrome Orange Refractor Auto /25

The list begins with a 2018 Bowman Chrome Orange Refractor Auto /25 of Shohei Ohtani, graded BGS 9.5 with a perfect Auto 10. The card sold for $810,000 on September 25, 2026 through Fanatics Premier Auction.

The sale followed another strong result for the same card line. A Bowman Chrome Blue Refractor /150 version of the Ohtani card sold for $390,400 on September 19, 2026 at Heritage Auctions.

No. 5: Babe Ruth Sport Kings Auto

At No. 5, a 1933 Sport Kings Auto Babe Ruth #2 graded PSA Authentic with an Auto 9 sold for $999,000 on September 25, 2026 through Fanatics Premier Auction.

The card remains one of the most recognizable vintage pieces tied to Ruth, pairing a classic relic image with the slugger’s signature. Nearly a century after its original release, it continues to stand out as one of the landmark cards in the hobby.

No. 4: Kon Knueppel NBA Debut Patch Auto 1/1

The first of the NBA Debut Patch cards on the list is a 2025 Topps Chrome Update Kon Knueppel NBA Debut Patch Auto 1/1, graded PSA 10 with an Auto 10. It sold for $2,340,000 on September 25, 2026 through Fanatics Premier Auction.

That sale helped set the stage for a run of rookie patch autographs that would dominate the rest of the countdown. The card is a true one-of-one and features the debut patch tied to Knueppel’s first NBA game.

No. 3: Shohei Ohtani Gold MLB Logoman Auto 1/1

Shohei Ohtani appeared again at No. 3 with a 2026 Topps Chrome Gold MLB Logoman Auto 1/1, listed as an unused redemption card. The card sold for $2,848,700 on September 26, 2026 through Goldin Auctions.

The card highlights Ohtani with a Gold MLB Logoman and also references his 2025 NL MVP award in gold lettering on the card. According to Topps, the Gold MLB patch is reserved for players who have earned top honors such as Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, or MVP awards.

No. 2: Dylan Harper NBA Debut Patch Auto 1/1

Spurs rookie Dylan Harper claimed the No. 2 spot with a 2025 Topps Chrome Update NBA Debut Patch Auto 1/1 graded PSA 9 with an Auto 10. The card sold for $2,880,000 on September 25, 2026 through Fanatics Premier Auction.

The card shows Harper in a black jersey with a blue autograph beneath his image. On the right side is the NBA debut patch he wore during his first NBA game, making it one of the most notable rookie memorabilia cards from the release.

No. 1: Cooper Flagg NBA Debut Patch Auto 1/1

At No. 1, Cooper Flagg’s 2025 Topps Chrome Update NBA Debut Patch Auto 1/1 PSA 10 with Auto 10 sold for $8,040,000 on September 25, 2026 through Fanatics Premier Auction.

The sale makes the card one of the most expensive sports cards ever sold and places it No. 5 on Card Ladder’s all-time list of most expensive sports card sales. It is the highly sought-after Topps Chrome Update NBA Debut Patch Auto 1-of-1, a card that had been one of the biggest modern chases in the hobby.

With Flagg’s result leading the way, the week became a showcase for the rising demand around NBA Debut Patch autos, while Ohtani and Ruth added heavyweight star power from baseball and vintage collecting. The final total of more than $15 million across the list underscores just how powerful a single week of elite card sales can be when multiple major chases collide.

What made this week stand out

The list combined modern rookie one-of-ones, premium baseball autographs, and a vintage Ruth relic into a single stretch of blockbuster sales. The top results all came from cards with strong hobby appeal, whether because of rarity, player significance, or both.

Cooper Flagg led the week with an $8.04 million sale.
Dylan Harper followed with a $2.88 million result.
Shohei Ohtani appeared twice on the list, including a Gold MLB Logoman Auto 1/1 that sold for $2,848,700.
Babe Ruth’s 1933 Sport Kings Auto brought in $999,000.
Shohei Ohtani’s 2018 Bowman Chrome Orange Refractor Auto /25 sold for $810,000.

With those numbers, the week served as another reminder of how high-end modern rookie cards and iconic vintage names can drive extraordinary results when the right pieces reach the auction block.