But for those of us who grew up collecting these as kids, they'll always have a huge nostalgic factor to them despite not having the most monetary value. Brett won the crown thanks to a controversial inside-the-park home run in Game 162, finishing with a .333 average to McRae's .332. They have the same look and design as the Donruss version but the Leaf logo is clearly visible in the top left. On August 14, 1971, Simmons was on duty behind the plate helping the legendary fireballer, Bob Gibson, throw the first no-hitter of his career as the Cardinals destroyed the Pirates 11-0 that day. 2003 Topps Base Set Baseball Card Values. Although, 1986 Topps baseball cards weren't necessarily my favorites as a kid, the nostalgia surrounding them has really grown on me in recent times. Like the 1986 Donruss and Fleer sets, far too many of them were printed and the market is over-saturated with them. But this one has done pretty well in holding its value. It's not hard to find but it does land a higher value than his other Score issues on this list. But, bigger and better things were on the way for Oakland and the future Mr. October. The Angels were nothing special in 1976, ambling along to a mediocre 76-86 record and a fourth-place finish in the AL West. In 1978, New York Yankees left-hander Ron Guidry was the best pitcher in the Major Leagues. Another of Clemente's most expensive cards is his second year issue from the 1956 Topps set. In this article we'll take a look at the 25 most valuable. He started just 32 games and was brought in mainly as a situational pinch hitter and was regularly replaced by a pinch-runner when he got on base. While Schmidts star had been on the rise since his first All-Star appearance in 1974, his early-season theatrics during the 1976 campaign launched his career into the stratosphere. The 1990 Leaf set is one of the iconic releases of the Junk Wax Era, produced by Donruss as a premium product to compete with Upper Deck. Still known as David Arias when his rookie cards were printed, it wasn't until he made his MLB debut late in the 1997 season that he informed the Twins that he preferred David Ortiz. Barry Sanders wasted no time getting his Hall of Fame career in gear when he broke out during his rookie year with 1,470 rushing yards and fourteen touchdowns to earn the 1989 Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, First-Team All-Pro honors, and a Pro Bowl selection. Only eight examples of his 1986 Topps card have been given the PSA 10 stamp which does help boost its value a bit more than usual. This is probably the most recognizable Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card of them all. Although he went on an early-season tear and became the first MLB player to hit home runs in the first four games of a season, Mays knew he wasn't the same power hitter he used to be. Hello, and welcome to Protocol Entertainment, your guide to the business of the gaming and media industries. Check prices on: Amazon Although many consider the 1985 Topps to be the true Mark McGwire rookie card, many others consider his 1987 issues to be rookies as well since they were the first to feature him in an A's uniform.. Whatever your opinion may be, McGwire's 1987 Topps card has However, that wasn't to be, as he'd last just 45 games into a dismal 1977 season before he was canned. If there is one thing I've learned over the years regarding 1970 Topps baseball cards, it's this: collectors either love or hate this set. shows a head and shoulders drawing of Ken Griffey Jr by DJ Skee. Therefore a gem mint condition pops up a lot more often than some other cards from the era. Its numbered DAP-KGJ4 and features a great portrait of the man himself laughing. He also caught 36 of 59 potential base-stealers for an impressive 61% success rate. Despite hitting .322/.390/.511 with 34 doubles, 18 home runs and 93 RBI at Single-A in 1996, only the Fleer company had the foresight to put David Ortiz in its 1997 products, meaning the 1997 Fleer and premium 1997 Ultra sets contain the only two rookie cards of one of the marquee players of his generation. It was offered for sale in 2022 in perfect condition graded 10 by the Professional Sports Authenticator. The hype surrounding Arizona Diamondbacks slugger Travis Lee and Chicago Cubs phenom Kerry Wood helped drive interest initially, but it's Adrian Beltre who wound up having the most valuable rookie card in a set that also contains first-year cards of Roy Halladay, Aramis Ramirez, Miguel Tejada, Lance Berkman, Eric Chavez, Vernon Wells and many other notable 2000s standouts. If so, then please fill out the form below and I'll be in touch right away. During the first part of his career, Tom Seaver was absolutely dominant on the mound as he racked up 20-win seasons, Cy Young Awards, ERA Titles and Strikeout Titles like it was nothing. His first Topps card didn't come until the 1998 flagship set. After coming to terms on the release of recent trade acquisition Ken Brett in mid-May, the Yankees recalled Guidry to work out of the team's bullpen. Or, they'd need to be one of the Tiffany versions that were printed on premium quality stock and in much more limited numbers. This example wasnt in the best condition it was graded 6 on a 10 point scale, with 10 being mint. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It was the franchise's first title of any kind since capturing the 1931 American League pennant as the Philadelphia Athletics. The card was produced by Topps as part of their Project 70 series. It shows Ken Griffey Jr with his bat over his shoulder and sporting a scar on his left elbow. His home run power didn't return during the 1976 season, but his contact-hitting stroke sure did. After retiring, Baylor later found success as an MLB manager leading the Colorado Rockies for six seasons and the Chicago Cubs for three, while being named Manager of the Year in 1995. 1987 Topps #366 Mark McGwire Rookie Card. Like the 1992 Donruss, Fleer, Pinnacle, Topps, Ultra, and Upper Deck sets, large print runs saturated the market with these cards, driving down their values.. Card Description NM EX/NM EX VG GOOD; 2003 Topps Total #1 Brent Abernathy: $0.34: 2003 Topps Total #2 Bobby Hill: $0.34: 2003 Topps Total #3 Victor Martinez: $0.34: 2003 Topps Total #4 Chip Ambres: $0.34: 2003 Topps Total #5 Matt Anderson: $1.05: 2003 Topps Total #6 Ricardo Aramboles: This lot is for 300 Topps Baseball cards that still sealed in original packs. Come 1976, Torre's illustrious playing career was nearing its conclusion. But this example came to the market in near mint condition. His list of accomplishments is outstanding: But his legacy will forever be tarnished by the steroids scandal that rocked the sport in the late 1990s and early 2000s. ln 1989 and 1990, a company called Phoenix IND. Aaron, a natural run-producer with a clutch gene, also ended his 23-year career as the game's all-time RBI leader with 2,297, a mark that may never be eclipsed. His twelve-year career was highlighted by the 1966 season in which he made his only appearance in the All-Star Game as a member of the Houston Colt .45s. The 1986 Topps Traded Bo Jackson rookie card is his most desirable and most expensive card you can find. The final hammer price was $3,700. The lime green coloration scheme has 1980s written all over it. A look at Roger Clemens 1985 Topps rookie card is shown below as a reference of the regular set design. In his sixth full season in the Big Leagues, George Brett was really starting to heat up in 1979. The Mets and Cubs finished with identical 83-79 records in 1971,14 games behind the NL East champion Philadelphia Phillies. This 1996 baseball card was from Pinnacles Skyline series. Finishing his legendary career in the city where it started, Milwaukee Brewers designated hitter Hank Aaron had a disappointing statistical season by his lofty standards in 1976. Perhaps it's just because they're a bit more fun to look at. Aaron appeared in just 85 games for the 66-96 Brewers, hitting a career-low ten home runs in 271 at-bats. Add in a career-best 283 strikeouts to pace the National League, a sterling 10.2 WAR, and complete games in 21 of his 35 starts, and you have a recipe for a National League Cy Young Award. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Ken Griffey Jr and Mike Trout are both pictured. And much lower print runs. And Griffey's card, in particular, really captured his trademark swing in a unique format. Contact him at [emailprotected]. Playing injured for most of the season, Bench followed up his 1970 NL MVP campaign with an offensive performance to forget. Estimated PSA 9 Value: $1,800. And, I think this is true for many collectors these days Back in the day, many collectors didn't care for the design and the set lacked the rookie card power that others in the 1980's had. And each one was signed by Ken Griffey Jr. With limited protection in a lineup full of holes, Rose posted his worst OPS in seven seasons (.793). Raymond's card is one of the toughest in the set to find in PSA 8 condition, with fewer than fifty examples having achieved the grade as of this writing. Emmitt Smith's most recognizable rookie card was technically part of the "Score Supplemental" factory set that featured rookies and players who had been traded.. Unfortunately, Rice and the Red Sox rarely appeared in the playoffs during those sixteen seasons, making it into the post-season only twice in 1986 when they lost to the Mets in the World Series and 1988 when they lost to the A's in the ALCS. They also did it with the teammates Hal McRae and Brett battling it out for the league's batting title. This is another card produced by Topps very recently. Nomar from 1997-2000, and the card peaked at $120 dollars. In 16 seasons, he hit .318/.379/.553 for a 140 OPS+ with 449 home runs, 1,496 RBI and 59.5 WAR, and he earned Hall of Fame induction in 2018. Like Donruss "The Rookies" and Topps Traded,Score also releasedthis smaller box set outside of their main release. His signature written in blue ink in an elegant hand stretches across the top. Contact him at [emailprotected]. After spending years as one of baseball's most eligible bachelors, Bench married former Miss South Carolina and Miss USA runner-up Vicki Lynne Chesser before the 1975 campaign. When he finally put on an Orioles uniform, he was out of shape and visibly uninspired. While Dusty Baker and Don Baylor are the key names on this rookie card that the three players share, Tom Paciorek turned spent eighteen years in the league as a decent hitter and even made the All-Star Team in 1981 with the Mariners. Now that we got that out of the way, let's take a look at the top ten: Usually I prefer my Nolan Ryan cards to feature an image of the flame thrower blazing one towards home plate. 1990 O-Pee-Chee Baseball looks even more like Topps than most years as the Canadian cards kept the main name. The case has a noticeable scratch on one corner, but the card itself is in near mint condition. On a team that featured Darryl Strawberry and Gary Carter, Hernandez wasn't necessarily their most explosive or powerful hitter. Reverse Side:The reverse side of the card is printed with a horizontal layout and features McGwires personal information and statistics from each of his three years playing for USC. And in this guide I go over everything you need to know about collecting the 1985 Topps Mark McGwire rookie card. However, the bright orange Astros team name at the top and that awesome retro Astros jersey that Ryan is wearing help give this card strong eye appeal anyway. The three-time NL Manager of the Year (1993, 1997, 2000) is one of only six managers to have reached the playoffs ten times and the only manager to have led five different teams to the postseason. The 1977 MLB Rookie of the Year, Topps recognized Murray as one of their "All-Star I have probably 2,000 football, basketball, baseball and hockey cards in good condition from the early 90s I dont know what to do with them I have looked a lot up but I just dont know where to sell them at. Jackson struck out an MLB-worst 161 times in 1971, en route to becoming one of the game's most notable all-or-nothing hitters of all time. Within the set were also several different subsets, including: While the hobby may not hold this set in as high of a regard as others from the vintage era, I still think it packs a good punch. The design is much like the other Donruss issues that year but features a "The Rookies" logo in the upper right corner. 17 overall pick in the 1995 draft, Roy Halladay debuted in 1998 and pitched well in a swingman role the following year, but he was shelled to the tune of a 10.64 ERA in 67.2 innings in 2000. So, for the cards on this list to be worth much, they'll have to be graded by PSA to be in perfect, gem mint condition. After 46 bids the auction timed out. Top 11 Wide Receiver Rookie Cards. This small oddball set contained just fifteen cards in the checklist and had a look and feel to them reminiscent of the 1964 Topps set. Only 373 of the 3,125 submitted to PSA have come back with a PSA 10 grade. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 by Old Sports Cards, LLC. Remember the 1955 Bowman set with its television set design? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This is the holy grail of 1990s baseball cards. Different images of Ken in action grace the front and reverse of the card. Thurman Munson cards have always been quite popular in this hobby, but this one, in particular, is often a collector favorite. Design:Topps went with a vertical layout in 1985 and featured the team logo and name as well as the player name and position at the bottom. He would finish in the top five in Cy Young balloting a total of seven times in his career, and he was undoubtedly one of the elite pitchers of his generation. And he was still very much a respectable pitcher during his time in Cincinnati from 1977 to 1982 as he'd win It hadnt been professionally graded. 1965 Topps Joe Namath Rookie Card. Since most collectors in this hobby tend to draw the line on the "vintage era" at 1980, many consider the Rickey Henderson rookie card to be the last big-name vintage rookie.. And while its value pales in comparison to other big-name vintage rookies like Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Originally eligible for the Hall of Fame in 1994, Simmons fell off the ballot after receiving less than 5% of the vote but was fortunately later elected in December 2019 via the Veterans Committee. He rewarded that optimism with a quality sophomore season in 1976, reaching the 200-strikeout mark for the first and only time in his Hall-of-Fame career. This exceptionally rare baseball card was from the 1989 Heads Up series. 1971 Topps #630 Roberto Clemente. It definitely isnt worth what it used to be. (Unfortunately, theres no information on what game it was used in.). The most valuable cards are worth millions. Simply put, this is the hobby's most iconic card so we will allow it as the only card on the list mentioned twice. Here is a look at some of his other recognized rookie cards from 1987 from some of the hobbys mainstream printers: First up is his 1987 Donruss Rated Rookies issue. The Red Sox cut Miller's playing time dramatically during their march to the 1975 American League pennant, relegating him to fourth on the depth chart behind the dynamic outfield trio of Fred Lynn, Dwight Evans, and Jim Rice. The current record price is the US$12.600 million paid for a 1952 Mickey Mantle baseball card ( Topps ; #311) on August 28, 2022, breaking all previous records. And on May 30th, he passed Stan Musial to become baseball's all-time leading run-scorer at 1,950. He played 16 seasons in the big leagues between the Oakland Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals. The 1971 season would be Claude Raymond's last in Major League Baseball for the reliever out of Quebec, Canada. The grey pinstripe background is instantly recognizable but it's just a bit boring, in my opinion. Aaron kept extending his record the rest of the season before finishing with 2,262. The card itself wasnt graded, however perhaps because it was in less than pristine condition. Despite being a first-round pick in '95, he did not appear on his first MLB licensed card until 1997 when he was included in the Bowman, Bowman Chrome and Bowman's Best sets. The lot attracted over 50 bids and achieved a final price of $2,500. George Brett wasted no time making his mark early in the 1976 MLB season. And the reverse carried key details of his life and career, including his complete major and minor league batting record. When - October 20, 2022; 2022 Topps Rip Baseball Cards Checklist and Odds; And e responded with a .283 batting average, his best mark as a member of the Red Sox. Food issues are typically not as popular as mainstream cards since they were typically only released in certain regions. Are you selling sports cards that were produced from 1868 - 1975? got over the hump in 1976. Theyre considered more scarce, hence the price bump. Yet, each of those blasts was an event, including the final one, a crushed hanging slider by California Angels reliever Dick Drago on July 20th, which brought the Aaron career home run counter to 755. His only rookie cards are in the 1995 Bowman and Bowman's Best sets, as Bowman Chrome would not be introduced until two years later. To this day, those two cards and the entire 1971 Topps set are some of my favorites. This didn't win over Baltimore's fan base, nor did it sit well in the Orioles clubhouse. Most Valuable Ken Griffey Jr Baseball Cards Worth Money 1. After a slow start to his minor league career, he put together a breakout season at High-A in 1991, hitting .277/.344/.540 with 27 doubles, 29 home runs and 80 RBI in 117 games. After establishing himself as a star in the making during his American League Rookie of the Year campaign in 1970, Munson entered his sophomore season on a train of hype. Contact him at [emailprotected]. And I think that the design of their 1987 cards were some of their best overall. A gap hitter with a patient eye and quick-twitch instincts, Brett looked like a veteran superstar at the tender age of 23. Finishing fourth on the National Leagues Most Valuable Player ballot, you can make a convincing case that Rose was robbed of at least a top-three placement. After finishing runner-up in the American League West the year before, seven games behind the Oakland Athletics, K.C. 10 Most Valuable 1970 Topps Baseball Cards. The cards had belonged to one of my uncles and my grandma had dug them out to show me since she knew how much I loved baseball cards. Basketball Card Sets; 22T. Top 29 Most Valuable 1980 Topps Baseball Cards In the World: Price List. That brings us to the end of our look at 15 of the most valuable Ken Griffey Jr baseball cards. While many of the cards in this set feature a simple player pose, Munson's card is chock-full of action as he tags a runner at home plate, while the horizontal design and "Topps All-Star Rookie" trophy help distinguish it even more. 1980 Topps #482 Rickey Henderson Rookie Card. Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Value: $1,800. During the Fall Classic, Clemente was on fire at the plate, going 12 for 29 for a .414 clip while blasting two home runs, including his timely fourth-inning solo shot in Game 7 to open the scoring in the team's 2-1 triumph. Fresh off a 1975 debut campaign in which he finished second in the AL Rookie of the Year race and third in the MVP vote, Jim Rice looked to keep up the hot start to his Hall of Fame career in 1976. In recent years, this card has soared to become one of the most valuable baseball cards of the 1980s. PSA/DNA's Ten Most Dangerous Historical & Entertainment Autographs of 2014. And in Game 2 of the 1971 World Series, Robinson reached base five times in Baltimores convincing 11-3 win over the Pirates. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 by Old Sports Cards, LLC, most valuable baseball cards of the 1980s. Since his induction into the Hall of Fame in 2021, the eight-time All-Star's rookie card has seen a significant uptick in value. He finished with a 4-6 record, 2.99 ERA, and just 94 hits allowed in 129.1 innings pitched. Rare cards. For his efforts, Aaron earned his 17th-straight All-Star Game selection and a third-place finish in the National League's MVP voting. The Twins finished in fifth place in the AL West with a dismal 74-86 record, but Blyleven was undoubtedly a bright spot in an otherwise gray year in the Twin Cities. The high price tag mostly has to do with the fact that there are currently only three PSA 10 examples of this card in existence as of the time of this writing. Before we get started, I do want to make it clear that most of the cards from this set do not have any value these days. The two parties came to a compromise, and Oliva transitioned into a player/coach role, working with the team as a first-base coach and hitting instructor. It started with baseball cards, but now there's a market for all sports cards. The card and its description might have looked humble but this was a rare item. It's not his rookie card. A vast improvement over previous Bowman releases, the set has held its value better than most of its contemporaries thanks largely to the fact that it was printed to dealer order, meaning a much lower print run than the rest of the market that year. In recent years, this card has soared to become one of the most valuable baseball cards of the 1980s. Where would be best for grading and then selling? On the shortlist of the best all-around third basemen in baseball history, Philadelphia Phillies legend Mike Schmidt had a banner year in 1976. Number: This is card #401 in a huge set of 792 cards. His power numbers had fallen off and he was coming off a 1975 campaign in which he had posted a career-low .247 batting average. A young Griffey Jr. poses with a rather serious look, kneeling in his Mariners uniform. And it is much more valuable than its regular Topps counterpart From 1984 to 1991, Topps released a limited number of "Tiffany" factory sets so far fewer were printed making them more scarce. 2. When 1976 rolled around, Bench was able to focus on and fully appreciate the team's ride to back-to-back World Series titles. offense. So, he decided to be more patient at the dish, and it paid off with NL-best marks in on-base percentage (.425) and walks (112), both career highs. It features both Ken Griffey Jr and Micky Mantle. Dawson always had an intimidating look and presence and you can get a small sense of it here on this card. It's fitting, then, that his last MLB at-bat ended with an RBI. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. Bobby Murcer played 17 seasons in MLB from 1965 to 1983, spending the bulk of his time in New York Yankees pinstripes. 24-year-old righty Rollie Fingers was a big part of that, but not in the role he assumed he'd have. And, the 1976 set doesn't pack any blockbuster rookie cards outside of the Dennis Eckersley rookie. Things kicked off in April when the Atlanta Braves' slugger hit his 600th home run off of fellow future Hall-of-Famer Gaylord Perry, joining Willie Mays and Babe Ruth as the only players in the 600-homer club at that point. At age 34, Robinson had another fantastic all-around year for the Os as he batted .272 with 20 home runs and 92 RBI in 663 plate appearances (589 at-bats). The checklist includes rookies of Larry Walker, Sammy Sosa, David Justice and John Olerud, along with a second-year card of Ken Griffey Jr., but the most sought-after card in the set without question is the Frank Thomas rookie card. Ortiz spent six seasons with the Minnesota Twins before joining the Boston Red Sox in 2003, and he immediately broke out as one of the game's premier run producers. He also finished first in the AL with a 3.80 strikeouts-to-walk ratio and fourth in strikeouts (224). Yet, Miller stepped forward and reestablished himself as an essential piece of the team's roster puzzle. Its the only one of its kind, and it was signed by Ken Griffey Jr himself. The Dennis Eckersley card is the key rookie in the set by a mile, but there are plenty of great stars and Hall of Famers to boost the overall appeal of the checklist. With public opinion on his side, Rose eventually scored a two-year deal for $752,000 total, over $300,000 more than the Reds had initially offered for the same contract length. He also led baseball in plate appearances and tied George Brett atop the hits leaderboard with a whopping 215 on the season. His power wasn't quite on the same level as Johnny Bench, but Simmons still impressively hit 20 or more home runs in six different seasons, ultimately finishing his career with 248. This 2021 baseball card is another thats valuable, despite being made only recently. Upon retiring, Fitzmorris had logged a 77-59 record with a 3.65 ERA and 458 strikeouts in 1,277 innings pitched. They aren't worth as much as they used to be, but in top condition they can still go for hundreds of dollars. He was named World Series MVP for his efforts, later stating that the second trophy was a "personal triumph" even sweeter than the first. But it was still in decent order, and came in a protective clear plastic case. It remains to be seen if Major League Baseball will ever allow stars from that era in the Hall of Fame. "It was the absolute worst year I ever had," Miller said. Mays finished the 1971 regular season with a .271/.425/.482 line, 18 home runs, and 61 RBI in 537 plate appearances (417 at-bats). Most Valuable Basketball Cards During the 1990s(Non-Kobe) In the event we didnt cut Kobe Bryant at 2, we would have a list packed full of. The orange version was the first of the two and is fairly straightforward in design. Rookie Card. It was a season-long slight that weighed on Miller. Judging by his statistics with the Olympic team, it wasn't his best outing. The asking price? One of the game's all-time greats, I love seeing George Brett on this list. The seller was originally asking $5,000 but settled for a lower offer. If it ended there, it would have been a befitting ending for one of the game's most lovable and durable players. It's one of a very few Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards to feature artwork of the rising start. 1990 Score #101T Emmitt Smith Rookie Card. The design is much brighter than the flagship issue and features a great action shot of The Kid at the plate. The final price paid by one determined bidder was $1,656. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. One of the biggest reasons for the Cincinnati Reds' 1971 slump was Johnny Bench's struggles at the plate. Perhaps his most significant honor, though, was his induction into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984. Rose publicly confronted the Cincinnati front office to request a massive pay raise during the offseason. Top 11 QB Rookie Cards Building The All-Time Baseball Dream Team. Playoff and World Series Highlights (#461 - 462). Another tough card to find in high grade would be the #634 Phil Regan, a thirteen-year veteran who found much of his success on the mound coming in relief. Add to that the fact that the 20-card "Premiere Prospects" subset that Jeter is included in has a foil design that shows any and all imperfections, and it's virtually impossible to find a gem mint version of the card. McGwire was one of the most popular players playing for one of the most powerful teams in baseball. 1 overall in the 1993 draft, Alex Rodriguez debuted the following year and then set the card market ablaze when he hit .358/.414/.631 with 54 doubles, 36 home runs, 123 RBI and 141 runs scored in his age-20 season to finish runner-up in MVP voting and win the AL batting title. Thinking of getting it graded. 1989 Upper Deck #1 Ken Griffey Jr. When it comes to picking Frank Thomas rookie cards, none are wildly valuable anymore. 1980 Topps Strikeout Nolan Ryan Card. And some collectors may even debate if they're truly rookie "cards" or not since they're actually magnets. His 0.959 WHIP was the second-best mark of his Hall-of-Fame career. After rewriting baseball's record books in his 3,298 games as a player, he retired shortly after that. Of all the cards in this set, I think Bonds' is one of the best-looking and most memorable. Unfortunately, it wasn't to be. Nevertheless, the autographs made this an important card for collectors. Upper Deck made headlines whenthey entered the card market in 1989with a more premium quality product. Topps released this unusual test issue in 1989 that is a die-cut Griffey Jr. head that was meant to be stuck to a flat surface of your choice for display. The AL East champion Orioles may have fallen one game short of back-to-back titles in 1971, but Robinson was still doing his part. In my opinion, he was one of the most exciting players to watch. He entered 1971 with three, and that was one too many for opposing hitters. Let's say you did some baseball card collecting during the 1990s, and now you're revisiting your old collection and wondering if anything you have is valuable. Nor was 1986 a significant year for the Cincinnati Reds. Torre hit just five home runs in 310 at-bats for an 86-win Mets team but saw his batting average jump to a robust .306, his fifth and final season with a batting average of .300 or better. Get my weekly newsletter with the latest hobby updates delivered straight to your inbox! But hobbyists still chase his 1985 Topps and Topps Tiffany card and consider it his most valuable and sought after of all his rookies. It was offered for sale at $14,900, but the seller accepted a lower offer. The text on the back links the iconic status of Seattles Space Needle to that of Ken himself. It comes in its own transparent plastic case for safe keeping. We also see that his statistics for both his time with USC and the USA baseball team are shown as well. Estimated PSA 10 Value: $175. What makes this card so valuable in high grade is that it can appear in two variations: one with the stadium lights visible next to his ear and one with the lights appearing faint and hardly visible. 1. Some actually put more emphasis on those 1987 cards as being true rookies since they were the first cards to show him in an Oakland Athletics uniform. Entering his first full season as the San Francisco Giants manager, Charlie Fox tabbed 40-year-old superstar Willie Mays as a player/coach to help instruct the team's young outfielders. based in Fetus, MO, distributed these magnets that featured many different baseball and basketball players in individual plastic bags. "Frenchy," as his teammates called him, finished his career with a 46-53 record, 3.66 ERA, 497 strikeouts, and 82 saves over 721 innings pitched with the White Sox, Braves, Colt .45s, and Expos. The bad news was the 183 walks that Ryan issued, making it the fourth time in five years that he paced baseball in free passes. Notice the hole in Griffey's cap--that's where the little suction cup would be used to secure him to a window or wall. So, for the cards on this list to be worth much, they'll have to be graded by PSA to be in perfect, gem mint condition. When he was on point, nobody could hit him. 4. You can find this card in the standard 1989 Bowman set but the Tiffany version is much more expensive. Known for his extreme dedication and hustle, Rose piled up hit after hit over his career and spearheaded some great ball teams. Undoubtedly one of the greatest Major League Baseball players to immigrate from Cuba, Tony Olivas career was at an injury-plagued crossroads heading into the 1976 MLB season. 1989 Fleer #548 Ken Griffey Jr. In 1970, Cubs manager Leo Durocher relegated Banks to a backup role for the first time in "Mr. Cub's" career. It sold for a staggering $13,000. It came onto the market in 2022, and was quickly snapped up. But it commands a premium price today. It came up for auction online in 2022, attracting multiple bids before selling for $2,247. That means it meets one of the key criteria for baseball cards of Griffey or any player to grow in value: scarcity. That's what typically prevents this card from achieving a gem mint or pristine grade. And it highlights that he was awarded Baseball Player of the Year twice in four years. This card is perfect proof of just how important condition is to the prices fetched by collectable baseball cards. Bowman had not released a set since 1955 after they were bought out by their largest competitor, Topps. He famously broke Roger Mariss single season home run record in 1998 when he went on to rack up 70 dingers. Based on our research, this is the nicest looking 1952 Topps Mantle PSA Considered to be one of his most popular rookie cards, the1989 Topps Tradedissue features a young Griffey staring confidently with a bat over his shoulder. The checklist also contains rookie cards of Jeff Kent and Tim Wakefield. He also led the Majors in WHIP (0.946), strikeouts per 9 innings pitched (9.1), ERA+ (194), and FIP (1.93). Sure, there are others that are more expensive, but this card helped define an era of card collecting craziness during the late 1980's. Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Value (No Stadium Light Variation): $1,600, Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Value (With Stadium Light Variation): $400. His masterful .327 batting average and 118 RBI raised plenty of eyebrows but perhaps most impressively, Aaron led the Majors in slugging percentage (.669), OPS (1.079), and OPS+ (194), all career bests. Let's be clear: most of the cards from this set do not have any value these days. One of the most popular players of his era, Vladimir Guerrero was the No. I always loved the Rated Rookie callout on Donruss cards of that era. The colored borders didnt do collectors any favor in terms of chipping and wearing easily. As controversial as he is, Rose remains one of the game's greatest and most popular players in history. Guidry did receive a roster spot for the team's ALCS showdown with the Kansas City Royals, but he was only used once in Game 4 and as a pinch-runner nonetheless. With 10,886 PSA 9 and 3,857 PSA 10 in circulation, it's not hard to find a high-grade version, but they still sell for a premium as an iconic card of one of the decade's biggest stars. Throughout the 726-card checklist, you'll find lots of color, lots of action, and lots of star power. While both cards sell for a similar price ungraded, the shiny foil nature of the Bowman's Best card makes it extremely difficult to find them in gem mint condition. But it still might be surprising why his 1986 Topps card in PSA 10 condition may be worth more than guys like Nolan Ryan and Rickey Henderson. Had he not been involved with PEDs, there's no doubt he would be a Hall of Famer. The front showed Ken Griffey Jr in action at a game. If it hadn't been for the World Series, it would have been really bad for me that year, mentally and as a player.". Finding them in PSA 10 condition is much tougher, hence the high price tag. Learn more about the Sportlots Baseball Card Values Guide. But Martin was just not a fan of the rookie pitcher and left him on the bullpen bench for 47 consecutive games before being demoted back to Syracuse on July 6th. There weren't as many 1989 Topps Tiffany Griffeys printed as there were Bowman Tiffany Griffeys but that doesn't stop this card from being expensive. Below you'll see the Tiffany version on the left and the regular version on the right: The reverse sides of the cards are also drastically different. Like the 1992 Donruss, Fleer, Score, Topps and Upper Deck sets, large print runs saturated the market with these cards, driving down their values.. Heading into Spring Training, Oliva was well aware that his days as an everyday player were probably over. It wasnt even in a rigid plastic case, kept instead in a simple soft-sided pocket. I have a Topps 40 Years Of Baseball All Star #790. Technically Bonds' rookie card is part of the Topps Traded set but I decided to include it and a couple others from the set on this list given how iconic they are. The 25-year-old right fielder bounced back from a down season in 1970 to secure his second of 14 All-Star Game selections. As more and more people began to see that baseball cards could become collectable, more copies were set aside for safe keeping. You can find lots of versions of this 1989 Upper Deck baseball card featuring Ken Griffey Junior online. It was sold via an online auction in 2022 for $8,600. Bo Jackson washuge when I was a kid and his popularity is still quite high to this day. Martin was notoriously not a fan of rookie players and herarely spoke to the lefty during Spring Training before shipping him down to Triple-A Syracuse ahead of Opening Day. Get breaking MLB Baseball News, our in-depth expert analysis, latest rumors and follow your favorite sports, leagues and teams with our live updates. Demand for Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards is as strong as ever as you can tell by the price people are willing to pay for the glossy version of his 1989 Fleer rookie.. Griffey Jr. was one of those rare talents in any sport with enough star power to set himself apart on a whole different level. If I had to form the perfect lineup in history, I'd probably want this guy to be my leadoff hitter. Speaking of great hitters, next on our list is the game's all-time hits leader: Pete Rose. 2 prospect in baseball at the start of the 1997 season after hitting .360/.431/.618 with 72 extra-base hits, 19 steals and more walks (54) than strikeouts (52) between High-A and Double-A as a 22-year-old. That identity crisis wouldn't last. Thats because it was printed in a run of only 25 cards. Top 12 Running Back Rookie Cards. With the death of the reserve clause and the opening salvos of free agency, Oakland Athletics owner Charlie Finley traded Jackson (and star pitcher Ken Holtzman) seven days before Opening Day. They are usually thought to be the benchmark in that industry so collectors put heavy premiums on their graded cards. Yes, he may be famous for speaking in the third person but he's also incredibly famous for his production on the field. Estimated PSA 10 Value: $2,000. However, come 1976, Miller's role once again increased due to nagging injuries suffered by Lynn. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. And, if you're lucky to land any of them in high grade, you've obviously got a lot of value on your hands. It's a question that seems to pop up year after year Last but not least, we have one of my favorite players ever: Rickey Henderson. They were not many insert cards so, I'll need to look for more, and try to build up a nice somewhat master set. The card itself is also in excellent condition it was graded near mint by the seller. It shows Ken Griffey Jr in a full-length action shot, wearing his Seattle Mariners kit. And it was an exceptionally limited run. Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? After hitting .333 with four RBI in the team's four-game NLCS victory over the San Francisco Giants, Clemente scaled his Hall-of-Fame legend to unassailable heights in the team's epic seven-game World Series victory over the Baltimore Orioles. However, the hiring of Billy Martin as Yankees manager put a halt to his professional momentum. Hank Aaron had already accomplished the unthinkable on April 8, 1974, when he hit the 715th home run of his career to move past Babe Ruth into the all-time lead. MORE PSA LISTS. 1986 was actually Dawson's last with the Montreal Expos before he was traded to the Cubs in 1987 when he had his monster MVP season. And indeed, only five were ever made, making them instant collectables. Given a much-needed offseason to rest and recuperate, the native Texan returned to form in 1976. After spending the offseason in his native Puerto Rico managing the San Juan Senadores, Roberto Clemente returned to Pittsburgh determined and invigorated ahead of the 1971 MLB season. It was card number 116 in the series. After a classic five-game American League Championship Series showdown with the New York Yankees, the Royals were ultimately bounced in their playoff debut. Unlike modern day collectables that are produced in tiny numbers, this one wasnt expensive when it first came on sale. Remember, the Tiffany versions were produced in much smaller quantities and were printed on premium card stock. 1980 Topps George Brett Card. But with lots of different designs on the market, how do you know which ones are valuable? With a star-packed rotation that featured Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, and Don Sutton, the Dodgers utilized Regan out of the bullpen, where he quickly grew a reputation for earning the win. Well, in 1989, Bowman used a similar style in its subset of four cards that featured fathers and sons who both played in the Majors. Mark McGwiregoes down in history as one of the games most feared power hitters of all-time. O-Pee-Chee had produced a set as far back as 1937 but consistently served as a Topps's partner to create baseball cards for the Canadian market since 1965. This is a rare card, and Griffeys scar is an interesting detail that appeals to collectors. Donrusss Canadian counterpart, Leaf, produced rated rookie cards for McGwire as well. In fact, Regan was earning so many wins that Koufax nicknamed him "The Vulture.". The Giants fell in the NLCS to the Pirates, but Willie's legacy just grew and grew. Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? Due to poor sales of the previous Fleer Update sets, the print run was slashed for the 1992 release, making it one of the few hard-to-find sets of the Junk Wax Era. And the most valuable ones can be worth millions of dollars. As a result, many arent rare and that keeps prices low. Estimated Base PSA 10 Value: $130. Fleer has always been known for its unique designs but I was never really much of a fan of their 1989 layout. These are certainly one of the more odd Ken Griffey Jr. rookie issues. But, the 1989 Mother's Cookies Griffey cards are still great cards. There was a scuff on the front left side where part of the background color was missing. The future Hall-of-Famer added an off-speed pitch to his fastball and game-changing curveball, prompting pitching coach Marv Grissom's compliment that he was the "most coachable pitcher" Grissom had ever coached. His career had already been extended once by the institution of the Designated Hitter in the American League in 1973. Not as popular as his other major releases, you could find these at hobby shops or by sending in for them in the mail. The cards in this set aren't as glossy as those of the 1955 set. When people think of Brett, many times that infamous "pine tar incident" during a game against the Yankees in 1983 comes to mind. But, Eckersley's mere presence on the bump was a reason for optimism for Cleveland's beleaguered faithful. To that point, only 59 of 16,753 that have been graded by PSA have come back with a PSA 10 grade. Estimated PSA 9 Mint Value: $600. 20 Most Valuable X-Men Trading Cards 20. Most Valuable Frank Thomas Cards . Chicago Cubs right-hander (and pitching Ironman) Ferguson Jenkins took home 17 first-place votes to Seaver's six, winning the award in large part thanks to his MLB-best win (24) and complete game totals (30). It didn't, though, and things got a bit tough. The all-time leader in runs scored and stolen bases is definitely deserving of a spot on this list. Part of a smaller 42 card set, this Griffey card packs a lot of punch. The huge yellow lettering of the Pirates team name across the top paired with that awesome retro Pirates jersey and cap make this card really pop. Originally eligible for the Hall of Fame in 1994, Simmons fell off the ballot after receiving less than 5% of the vote but was fortunately later elected in December 2019 via the Veterans Committee. In 1971, the young core of the Athletics took center stage and gave the City of Oakland its first taste of postseason baseball. Its one of their Dynasty series and features not one by two players. Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? Unfortunately, we cant say for sure. Schmidt hit .308 with two doubles and two RBI in the brief series, but Cincy still steamrolled through Philadelphia for a convincing three-game sweep. And even with the rarest of cards, condition is all-important. As the great ones sometimes can and do, though, Jackson flipped the switch from then on. The autographs had been authenticated by the Professional Sports Authenticator, so buyers could have confidence they were getting the real deal. The 1987 Topps issue was the first time the company featured McGwire in an Oakland Athletics uniform and a card that many kids of that era chased feverishly. However, throughout the 1976 season, Bench played through severe cramps in his back. Ahead, we've taken a closer look at the 10 most valuable rookie cards of the 1990s. The purple shade is very rare which of course makes it very valuable. One of the most beloved fan favorites in the long, storied history of the Boston Red Sox, speedy outfielder Rick Miller entered the 1976 MLB campaign with a postseason-sized chip on his shoulder. Estimated PSA 8 Value: $10. Over a career spanning 21 years with three different teams, switch-hitting Hall of Famer Ted Simmons established himself as one of the greatest hitting catchers in MLB history. With this 1994 card from Topps, you get two baseball stars for the price of one. Milwaukee manager Alex Grammas removed Aaron for a pinch-runner, sensing history at hand. The Red Backs, though more common, have always been appealing to collectors for their superior star power, and Yogi leads the charge among the all-time greats. In addition to being a real rarity, the card was in mint condition, complete with its original wrapper. Philadelphias reward for its regular-season triumph was the unenviable task of derailing the Big Red Machine in the National League Championship Series. His .722 OPS for the 1971 campaign is 95 points worse than his career mark. The 1986 season was huge for the New York Mets as they would go on to win the World Series title that year. We hope youve enjoyed learning more about these cards and celebrating a true icon of the game. Though the Yankees stumbled to an 82-80 record, 21 games out of first in the AL East, Munson was a bright spot for a young core that paid dividends late in the decade. But with or without pine tar, Brett was one of the greatest hitting third basemen the game has ever seen. 5. When I was a kid, I would often visit my grandparents on their farm, and one weekend, I saw a pile of maybe 300 or so vintage cards that spanned across the 1970, 1971, and 1972 Topps sets sitting on a bookcase. Starting off the list of most valuable baseball cards from the 1980s is the 1980 Topps George Brett Topps Tiffany baseball cards are by far some of the most valuable baseball cards from both the 80s and the 90s. Packs will be from a variety of years. The 1976 MLB season was both a relief and a pain for future Hall-of-Fame catcher Johnny Bench. From May 8th through the 13th, Brett collected at least three hits in six consecutive contests, tying a Major League Baseball record. Long the overlooked stepchild of the main Topps line, O-Pee-Chee baseball cards offer the same overall look. The same card sold two years earlier for $2.8 million. This was the first card in the Skylines series, which adds extra interest for collectors. "Fred (Lynn) played all the time, Jim Rice played all the time. The Griffeys, along with the Ripkens, Alomars and Stottlemyres were showcased in a modern (at that time) television set design. 1987 Topps Baseball Cards 25 Most Valuable R 1978 Topps Baseball Cards The Ultimate Guide. 1972 would be yet another watershed year for the Reds backstop, culminating in his 2nd NL MVP award in three seasons. And it was spearheaded by one of the greatest hitters of his or any era, 35-year-old star third baseman Pete Rose. 11) 1988 Topps Mike Schmidt (#600) Schmidt hit 30 home runs (actually, 35) for the last time in 1987, and Topps chose to celebrate by putting his hair on backwards. Despite repeatedly asking Finley to trade him in the years leading up to this, Jackson was devastated by the deal. It was a breathtaking about-face, but it wasn't enough to push Baltimore past the Yankees for an AL East title. This baseball card by Topps came up for auction on an online platform in 2022. Jenkins received the nod, all things being equal, and Seaver's electric 1971 campaign goes down as one of the best second-place seasons in Cy Young voting history. The original price had been $9,400, but the seller accepted a lower offer. Their tumultuous relationship was tabloid fodder, especially considering they had known each other for just four days before Bench proposed and married at the seven-week mark. The card came framed and in mint condition. In fact, his production at the plate was down across the board as he hit just five home runs, scored 60 runs and drove in 75 RBI with an uncharacteristic .291/.371/.394 slash line. And in this guide, I'll run through the 15 most valuable to look for. Will he ever be inducted into the Hall of Fame? The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. And both sportsmen have signed the card. 1982 Topps #30 Tom Seaver. I've always loved this card and it's probably my favorite one in the set overall. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. But it is true when his card comes up for sale in PSA 10 condition, it typically sells for much higher prices than what you might think. $6.00 New.1992 Upper Deck NFL football unopened. 1989 Topps Traded #83T Barry Sanders Rookie Card. Despite earning a handful of MVP votes and his fifth-straight All-Star nod, even the great Pete Rose posted a so-so 1971 season by his lofty standards. It would probably have changed hands for a higher sum in years gone by. Many sports lovers enjoy collecting memorabilia. Contact him at [emailprotected]. Both his defensive play behind the plate and his swing were affected as he hit just .234 and played in 135 regular-season games for the Reds, both career lows. Fewer than fifty examples of this card have been given a PSA 8 grade, making it one of the most difficult to find in this condition. but he was shelled to the tune of a 10.64 ERA in 67.2 innings in 2000. The key is is finding one graded by Professional Sports Authenticators (PSA) in PSA 10 Gem Mint condition. These featured sports stars paired with a graphic of the skyline of their teams city. 1980 Topps Rickey Henderson Rookie Card. Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? This card is also a short print, adding to its scarcity in high grade. When Jackson did make contact, he changed game after game for the A's, helping to lead them to a 101-61 record and an AL West division title. Still, there is plenty to enjoy about this set from its straightforward design, great imagery of the players, and a fantastic lineup of stars and Hall of Famers. Just under a year before one of the worst trades in New York Mets history, future Hall-of-Famer Nolan Ryan was happy as could be under Tom Seavers learning tree. The first card in the set shows The Kid posing with his arms crossed. Tony Adame. But what makes this one special is the color of his baseball cap. There is also a Topps Tiffany version of the Mark McGwire rookie card. It was clear that he would be a superstar for years to come. The shock factor isn't quite as strong in this case compared to Eric Davis, however. I think this card featuring playing first base is fitting since that was arguably what he was best known for: the guy was a fantastic defender and would win 11 Gold Glove awards over his storied career. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 by Old Sports Cards, LLC. 1956 Topps #33. Over a career spanning 21 years with three different teams, switch-hitting Hall of Famer Ted Simmons established himself as one of the greatest hitting catchers in MLB history. After leading Major League Baseball in strikeouts every season from 1972-74, the Ryan Express rolled back to the top of the leaderboard in 1976 with 327. He made his MLB debut the following year after continuing to rake in the upper levels of the minors and then took the league by storm with one of the best rookie seasons of all time in 1993. After the Expos acquired Willie Davis from the Dodgers in 1974, Day lost his center field job and eventually found himself in the Minors, where he would play until 1980. That means the card needs to be basically flawless. You can easily tell the difference in the card stock of Tiffany cards as they are much whiter and have a glossy finish on them. The card was in perfect condition and came presented in a simple penny sleeve. He was one of the most consistent hitters in the game throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, earning nine All-Star appearances, a Gold Glove, and the 1971 National League MVP award. During a decade in which they dominated MLB, the 1971 season was a frustrating outlier for the Cincinnati Reds. After spending the offseason in his native Puerto Rico managing the San Juan Senadores, Roberto Clemente returned to Pittsburgh determined and invigorated ahead of the 1971 MLB season. It's been one of my favorite Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards and one of my favorite cards of the "junk era" in general ever since I started collecting as a kid in the late 1980's. The product was only available to hobby dealers and a few select retail outlets, and the result was a smaller print-run than the massively overproduced counterparts of the era. 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