The Golden Bear, as the great Jack Nicklaus is known, has been widely acknowledged as one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. In a career that spanned four decades, he managed to win more than 100 professional tournaments, and 18 major championships, which is one of the many records he has set. In the early 1960s and throughout the mid-1980s, he was well-known for the power and precision of his shots.
Jack Nicklaus won his first U.S. Open in 1962. He would go on to set a record four years later as the youngest person to win all four majors at the age of 26. Twenty years later, in 1986, he capped off his majors wins with his 18th victory and set a new record as the oldest player to win a major. He continued to play until 2005, when the golfer finally turned in his clubs.
Over the course of all those years, sports card manufacturers have produced a lot of interesting Golf cards celebrating the decades of success Jack Nicklaus has enjoyed. Not until Tiger Woods did the sport see such a dominant player who broke so many records. With that in mind, let’s chip into the top 13 Jack Nicklaus cards that would make any collection better.
The 13 Most Interesting Jack Nickclaus Golf Cards
13. 2001 Upper Deck Golf Gallery Jack Nicklaus GG1
With an artist’s rendition of the Golden Bear, this card is perfect for those who like a little abstraction on the green. This unconventional card from Upper Deck’s 2001 Golf Gallery Card set is part of a series of cards that featured paintings of famous golfers in simple cards that framed the art with a plain white background so all of your attention is on the picture. While some of the paintings are in color, the Jack Nicklaus card casts a sepia tone that gives it a timeless feel. All the cards in this series seem like they would display beautifully and they almost beg to not be left on the slab in a drawer.
Best of all, there are ample copies of this unusual card available. Without too much effort, you can acquire a copy of 2001 Upper Deck Golf Gallery Jack Nicklaus GG1 in excellent condition, perhaps even graded, for less than $100.
12. 1981 Donruss Statistical Leader Jack Nicklaus #NNO
A classic ‘insert’ card without a designated number, this Jack Nicklaus card was one of five “Statistical Leader” cards included in the 1981 Donruss Gold Card set. Of course, it’s no surprise that Nicklaus was included since 1981 was another year full of success for the star golfer. Despite having already spent 20 years on the green, he was still one of the golfers to beat in any Masters tournament or PGA matchup.
Much like other Donruss Golf cards of the time, the design is spartan but that keeps the focus on the subjects of the cards. In this case, that means we get a full body view of the Golden Bear after he’s sent a golf ball far afield with his signature swing. While this 1981 Donruss Statistical Leader Jack Nicklaus #NNO card is a classic, it remains really affordable. Graded copies can be found for less than $25 with a little looking. Just add the card to your watchlist in the Cardbase App and keep an eye on it.
11. 2012 Upper Deck SP Game Used Driver Jack Nicklaus #ID-JN
Sports card companies keep trying to come up with new ways to make the hobby more fun, and that includes upping the ante on relic cards that feature some game-used element. Well, Upper Deck’s marketing wizards had a wild idea on their hands to make this one: This golf card features an autographed slab of metal from a driver used by Jack Nicklaus in a match.
As they often do, Upper Deck produced a few different colors of the 2012 Upper Deck SP Game Used Driver Jack Nicklaus #ID-JN card, varying the metal and ink used so they could sell them in different rarities and create some powerful scarcity. It works because an Authentic condition single copy of this card in the Persimmon/Black color variety sold for $2,025 back in January 2023. The one pictured below is one of the many variants out there that can be found for much less.
10. 1979 Venorlandus World of Sport Our Heroes Jack Nicklaus #22
This quirky series from 1979 tapped into the popularity of cartoon imagery on sports cards at a time when it was more fashionable. The Our Heroes series was a 48-card set featuring athletes from all over the world of sports, including Muhammad Ali, Pele, Mario Andretti, and other luminaries of the day. Jack Nicklaus is one of a handful of golfers included in the set.
The Nicklaus card isn’t too hard to find, although if you want it in mint-fresh condition, it’s going to set you back a bit more. A PSA 10 Gem Mint copy sold in July 2021 for $1,410. Prices have trended down on this card, allowing you to find copies in the $100 range if you’d like to add it to your collection of golf cards or start a new set of Venorlandus cards. They are certainly unusual and could end up escalating in value as time passes.
9. 1982 Donruss Jack Nicklaus #16
In many ways, this feels like a companion card to another simple but compelling Donruss card from the early 1980s featuring the legendary Jack Nicklaus. While so many cards depicting the golf master show him in the middle of his thunderous swing, this 1982 Donruss Jack Nicklaus #16 captures Nicklaus on the green and he looks more focused on precision than power. With a putter in hand and trademark plaid golf pants on, Nicklaus awaits the outcome of his shot. While it lacks the drama of 1990s sports cards or the spectacle of refractor rainbows from the 2000s, it’s a pleasantly attractive card that captures Jack Nicklaus’ famous calm on the green.
While you can still find ungraded copies of this card for less than $100-$300, a PSA 10 Gem Mint copy of the card sold in December 2022 for $3,905.
8. 2014 Exquisite Collection Jack Nicklaus #7 /125
The 2014 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Autographs Jack Nicklaus is a series of sports cards designed to stand out in the realm of golf memorabilia. Jack Nicklaus, as one of the most iconic figures in gold, was naturally included in the set on a variety of cards, as was his biggest rival, the similarly legendary Arnold Palmer. This was the first year when Upper Deck included golf cards in the Exquisite Collection and several of Jack Nicklaus’ autograph cards have become the most valuable of the set.
One of the distinguishing factors of this set is the focus on unique designs. Despite the variations, there is a common thread that runs through the entire collection - a premium, high-quality look that is characteristic of Upper Deck's Exquisite Collection. While the set is full of double and triple autograph cards, plus others with round-worn patches and other relics, this is just a classy card from the set that highlights Jack Nicklaus’ greatest achievements and powerful swing. As part of a limited run of 125 cards, you can find this card ungraded for less than $20 - which is a shocking affordable way to add a fantastic Jack Nicklaus card to your collection.
7. 2014 Upper Deck SP Authentic Limited Autograph Swatch Jack Nicklaus Signed Patch Card #29 /10
While the relic/artifact cards are always interesting, I’m not sure there’s a better choice of round-worn golf apparel than the plaid pants swatch on this limited edition set from Upper Deck. This 2014 card also features a compelling shot of Jack Nicklaus surveying the green before a putt, his face locked in analysis. The design of the card is also quite beautiful, incorporating a sepia-toned background, a portion of a golf ball and flowing lines throughout, all without taking away from the image, the swatch and the autograph’s vibrant color.
This set was limited to 10 copies and, with a genuine autograph from the legendary Golden Bear included to complement the swatch, it’s no wonder this card shot up in value. A pristine PSA Authentic copy was sold in September 2022 for $2,164. As more of the 10 cards in this set emerge into the market, you can expect that price to rise for this exceptional card.
6. 2014 Upper Deck SP Authentic Tiger Woods Tribute Jack Nicklaus Signed Card #TWJN /10
This highly-coveted piece of memorabilia is awkwardly referenced as a “Tiger Woods Tribute” card, but if you look at the card itself, it’s all about Jack Nicklaus. While paying tribute to a different, if similarly amazing, golfer is unusual, the card itself is gorgeous and nothing should take away from that. Moreover, it captures an older, wiser Jack Nicklaus who was still showing up and delivering on the links more than forty years into his golfing career. A comprehensive collection of Jack Nicklaus cards should feature him across the years and this one effectively covers his Senior PGA Tour period.
The card is signed in blue ink by the legendary golfer himself and, since it’s a limited run of only 10, it’s commanding impressive pricing on the open market. A BGS 9.5 Gem Mint copy of 2014 Upper Deck SP Authentic Tiger Woods Tribute Jack Nicklaus Signed Card #TWJN /10 sold in April 2022 for $6,600.
5. 2001 SP Authentic Sign of the Times Jack Nicklaus #JN
Despite being a quieter participant in golf tournaments by the early 2000s, the Golden Bear found his way into the Upper Deck 2001 SP Authentic Sign of the Times series. This set of Golf cards focused on autographs of golfers. Although Tiger Woods was the golfer of the moment, Jack Nicklaus was included in this attractive set with 2001 SP Authentic Sign of the Times Jack Nicklaus #JN to honor his long legacy. One of the best features of this card is the focus on Nicklaus’ bold and highly-stylized signature from twenty years ago, rendered in magnificent blue ink.
There is a Gold parallel version of this card as well, which was limited to just 25 copies. If you are seeking one of those, you can expect to pay top dollar. Current auctions put the price of one of the coveted 25 Gold parallels (pictured below) at over $5,000. Even so, any version of this card, with a sepia-toned image of Jack Nicklaus shaking a triumphant fist, would class up a collection of golf cards.
4. 2021 Upper Deck Artifacts Golf Achievement Jack Nicklaus #E-3 /25
The most recent card on the list is this 2021 Artifacts Gold Achievement set. Upper Deck really outdid themselves on this series, with a set of Golf cards that included round-used relics like Ball Marker Artifacts, Big Drive Fragments, and Hole-In-One Remnants. Plus, if you collected the right sets promptly, you could claim additional cards from the publisher. That’s what these “E-3” cards represent. To gain access to this autographed card, one had to collect over 50 different cards and prove that to the publisher. Thus, the value of this card has risen on its scarcity and the effort involved to get it.
The card itself is much like the rest of this fine set, with compelling action shots of the golfers on most of the cards. Jack Nicklaus is shown mid-swing, but since it’s a more recent picture, it’s not hard to see he’s putting less power into his swing as a Senior PGA Tour member. His signature is also somewhat smaller than usual, but for those who collect autographs, it’s valuable to have them from different eras.
All of the cards in this limited set were confirmed to be in PSA Authenticated condition before they went out to the winners since they were sent directly from the publisher. The one that has come up on the market so far, back in September 2021, sold for $2,499.99. Future copies will likely appreciate in value.
3. 1981 Donruss Jack Nicklaus #13
This classic card from Donruss features an action shot of Jack Nicklaus as he watched his golf ball soar in the air after one of his powerhouse shots. It’s a no-nonsense sports card from the early 80s from a card manufacturer that wasn’t interested in new designs; they just put out solid cards with the stats we wanted and the superstar players featured. That said, its vibrant green border highlights the image of Nicklaus and its simple composition heightens your attention on the athlete.
Prices for this 1981 Donruss Jack Nicklaus #13 card vary, like all sports cards, based on the condition of the card, market conditions, and demand in the space for the athlete featured on it. In July 2021, a collector paid nearly $8,000 for a PSA 10 Gem Mint copy on eBay. Many more copies in similar shape have sold since then, all at premium-level pricing.
2. 1971 Barratt & Co. Ltd. Goldflake "Famous Sportsmen" Jack Nicklaus #6
This card from the London-based 1971 Barratt & Co.’s "Famous Sportsmen" line is part of a 50-card set featuring many key athletes from different sports around the world. Being a card printed in the UK, its size is a bit different from traditional trading cards in the States, but it still has a gorgeous shot of the Nicklaus mid-swing surrounded by fans and greenery.
The 1971 Barratt & Co. Limited Famous Sportsmen #6 Jack Nicklaus card is hard to find these days, but a number of them have found their way to the PSA grading team. In February 2021, a couple of PSA 9 Mint copies were sold in the range of $20,000 on a few different platforms. If you’d like to add this charming international card to your collection, keep an eye on the Cardbase page for the card itself so you can spot any Hot Deals available in the future.
1. 1973 Panini Campioni Dello Sport Jack Nicklaus #375
This is it, the most valuable Jack Nicklaus Golf card around and a really gorgeous collectible. Panini printed this 1973 card near the height of the Golden Bear’s powers. During his early-1970s resurgence, he had just won the PGA Championship in August after winning six other tournaments that year. He was sensibly awarded the PGA Player of the Year as well, so it makes sense that fans would be clamoring for the best card to capture the banner year he had in 1973. While the card was issued overseas, it’s become a kind of “Holy Grail” card for many collectors now.
The card’s design is simple, showing Nicklaus in the process of a swing with that Golden Bear hair shining in the sun. His determination shows in his facial expression, waiting to celebrate until the ball lands where he intended. The rest of the card is quite basic: only his name and the card number are listed on the front. Yet, somehow it’s a powerful look and without a bunch of rainbow refractors or other chrome, the image is given a chance to shine. That’s all it needed for a PSA 10 Gem Mint copy to sell for $40,000 in June 2021. That’s top dollar for Jack Nicklaus and an impressive sum for a gold card in general (well, one without Tiger Woods’ name on it).
The Legacy of Jack Nicklaus captured in Golf Cards
The bottom line is that many people think Jack Nicklaus is simply the greatest golfer the sport has ever seen. Hopefully, this collection of 13 Best Jack Nicklaus Golf Cards offers you good suggestions about what card to buy so you can own a piece of golf history. From Jack Nicklaus's early triumphs in the 1960s, to his iconic 1980s comeback, and his lasting legacy that reached into the 2000s, these cards capture the essence of his remarkable career.
Whether you're a dedicated Jack Nicklaus card collector or a passionate golf enthusiast, these cards tell an exciting story and any one of them could become a key source of pride in your golf card collection.
