After an eBay auction that ended in October 2022, one copy sold for an impressive $1,800. If you do not receive the verification code within 60 Seconds, we will send you the activation link again. Sandberg's status as a Hall of Famer and one of the most beloved Cubs of all-time keeps demand for high grade specimens of his rookie card at lofty price levels. The photographer and the entire Fleer printing team did not miss this. The population report for both the Topps Traded and Topps Traded Tiffany sets will give us some insight into how rare the Tiffany version is. Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? There are a massive 5,228 of them in PSAs population report. Youll notice the same image used for this card also appears on Bos Topps Traded card. But it was baseball in 1988, so buy it we did, mostly looking for the highly-touted Mets prospect who looked like the kid who sat near the back of your social studies class. "10 Most Valuable 1980s Baseball Cards. The young, bearded lefty poses in his White Sox uniform on his 1981 Topps rookie card, which has received a nice boost in price ever since his Hall of Fame induction. Bowman had not released a set since 1955 after they were bought out by their largest competitor, Topps. One of the pack-pulled Rookie Cards during Juniors rookie season, but it comes with a tough blend of purple and black border. This means only 6% of the population is in near-perfect conditions. The vintage baseball cards are some of the most collectible and highest-selling cards f. Well, PSA has graded and authenticated a mere 134 to date. If you've made it down this far on the list, I want to thank you for taking the time to read through it. by ; 28 kwietnia 2023 So far, 2,378 of the Tiffany Bonds rookie cards have been submitted to PSA, which is not very low but not very high. The most valuable baseball card from the 1980s is Rickey Hendersons 1980 Topps rookie card. The heavy gloss and stark white borders have proven to be the obstacles that have made Gem Mint examples like this so challenging. Don Mattingly is a legendary player for the New York Yankees, and his rookie cards are some of the most expensive of 80s baseball cards. Bo warned the Bucs not to select him, but they did anyway. But, given its popularity, it became one of the most frequently-submitted cards to third-party grading companies like PSA as collectors sought to capitalize on the high values. In today's market, expect to pay around $400 for the base version of this card in gem mint condition and around $11,000 for the Tiffany version. Another valuable card from the 1985 Topps Tiffany set is the Roger Clemens rookie card #181. Cant have that. For that reason, his card is easily the most desirable in the set and is worth around $250 or so in a PSA 10 holder. There were other significant cards when 1986 Topps Traded sets dropped Bo Jackson, Will Clark and Wally Joyner to name just a few but the companys first Canseco card did move the needle in the secondary market, even though Donruss and Fleer had included the youngster in their regular sets that year. Carter was class. An underappreciated card for much of Robbies career, it did gain some momentum as fans and followers began looking at his career as a whole and how good he was at second base. DD either sports a full noggin or that hat is about three stories too high. Other times you will find versions that look like they were just pulled from a pack. . 4,700 versions of Henderson's 1980 rookie card have been put forward for grading by the BVG and of those only one has been graded as a 10 giving it a worth well into the thousands. . In 1984, the young slugger put on a clinic that cemented his spot and won the hearts of Yankees fans the world over. As Ripkens greatness played out on the field, this became a must-have for any collector who understood what they were seeing. The cards were designed and produced by Classic with a full license, and were well received, perhaps none more than this auburn shot of Bo with the baseball/football theme. You want the Rookie Card of the major leagues all-time runs scored and stolen base leader? Not a bad career for the kid who attended Cincinnatis Moeller High School, the same school that later graduated Ken Griffey Jr. Back before his 3,000 hits and 500 home runs, and back before Raffys life became complicated, there was this. And so they parted with a 20-year-old Michigan native named Smoltz, trading him to the Braves for 36-year-old veteran Doyle Alexander. He would lend his bat to several teams, including the White Sox, Orioles, A's, Rangers, and Indians, as he bounced around quite a bit. Surprisingly, over 7,000 Don Mattingly rookie cards have been submitted to PSA. Near-perfect card of a near-perfect hitter. Not only does the Tiffany distinction make it tough to find in high grade but another contributing factor to that difficulty was its position on the printing sheet. These sets were given to card shops as limited edition sets and not sold in stores. Like Roger Clemens, Kirby Puckett has a 1984 Fleer Update XRC. These "Fleer Glossy" cards were printed on higher quality cardboard and contained a much glossier finish on them. With over 5,000 submitted to PSA, getting a gem mint copy of the actual FF error card is simple, but what about the four variations? Making them one of his most valuable baseball cards from the 1980s. Chances are, the buyers are either investors to sell them in the distant future or Tony Gwynn collectors with no intention of selling at all. And it did. Four straight Cy Youngs. Furthermore, he holds the record for most consecutive games played, 2,632, surpassing Lou Gehrigs streak of 2,130, which lasted for 56 years and that many deemed unbreakable. For some reason, Topps did not include every member of the team as they notably left out players like Barry Larkin and Will Clark, among others. The one shown here is the Platinum version which has a gray border. This was a really fun read and great for this time in particular. In addition to the enormous submission number, whats even more shocking is that only 517 have been given the prestigious PSA 10 grade. Produce an Opening Day box set, they said. This Topps RC may have been slightly overlooked upon its release, but took center stage as Hershiser pitched the Dodgers to the 1988 World Series title. They were based in Passaic, New Jersey. So, the supply is meager. Dimensions: 4-1/2 x 6. Who knew that the Donruss presses would be rolling with 1988 product from late 1987 until, presumably, the early part of the George H. W. Bush presidency in early 1989? An RC of one of the games greatest, this one isnt winning any beauty contests. So they made sure they cleared that up with several variations ranging from black scribble, to red and green-tinted cover to complete blackout of the sign. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network and Amazon. This means less than 4% of the population are in gem mint condition cases. 1980 Rickey Henderson Topps RC #482 (buy on eBay) The most popular rookie card of one of the greatest ever baseball players. One of the true highlights of the 1980s. Like Topps Tiffany cards, O-Pee-Chee cards are relatively difficult to come across. Because he played for four different MLB teams, including the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, and Houston Astros, hes a highly collectible player. Five hundred thirtyhave been found in gem mint 10 condition, which means only 10% of the population has reached the highest grade, making them relatively rare. Topps Tiffany cards have glossy surfaces on the front and white card stock on the back. He finished his career with 2,866 hits, 384 HR and an OPS of .820. New companies, new technologies and a booming marketplace all brought the hobby into the mainstream. One of the higher-end rookies is the 1984 Topps Tiffany #8 card. PSA 9s sell for considerably less in the $300 $400 price range. So they printed the cards with the words F**k Face. PSA graded 1,600 of them, with 48 grading gem mint 10. Donruss sold a lot of 86 Donruss packs for this Canseco card alone. So, despite the common misconception, some cards from that infamous hobby era still have value. And, in 1989 and 1990, they also produced Bowman Tiffany sets. Fleer was the only company that included a Kittle RC in its regular set, as Donruss and Topps passed. Puckett died of a stroke at age 45, becoming the second-youngest man to pass away after already being enshrined in Cooperstown. Consider Michael Jordan's buzzer-beater over Craig Ehlo during the 1989 Playoffs that sent the Cavaliers packing. And many of those weren't even licensed by Major League Baseball. Rookie Cards were so valuable to collectors in 1989, that if Oprah had been involved in baseball cards, she would have been saying to her studio guests, You get a Griffey Jr. RC! Even so lets just say the Braves won the trade. Five years after that he was named the 1995 NL Most Valuable Player and in 2012, the Baseball Writers Association of America elected him to the Baseball Hall of Fame. This is Lee Smiths most valuable rookie card and one of the more expensive baseball cards from the 80s. This, however, is a piece of art worthy of this list. His cards populate the majority of the rest, with about 100 submitted. The weather looked great in Winter Haven, and young Roger Clemens was smiling. . Perceived to be printed in smaller quantities than the Topps Traded release (and maybe the Donruss The Rookies release, too), the image is classic Bonds bat in hand ready to uncoil. But, it's not always the case. This drives the $2,000 price tag behind this legendary players card. The value goes through the roof when found in PSA 10, gem mint condition. When it comes to rookie season debuts, the Dodgers have developed a reputation for some of the finest on record. Star Babe Ruths pre rookie card has an astronomical price tag with only ten copies in existence. Furthermore, he is the only pitcher in major league history to record over 350 wins and strike out over 4,500 batters. Great ballplayer for much of the decade. He won 10 Gold Glove awards, batted an even .300 over 17 years and finished less than 300 hits shy of 3,000. Both Donruss and Fleer produced Canseco Rookie Cards for their mainstream sets, but the choice of the masses was Donruss. And there are several rookie cards in this set. Apparently there were some concerns over Hatchers defensive abilities. And 5 to 10 of each in blank back proof. Owner of one of the most famous World Series home runs ever hit, and one of the nicest guys to ever grace the front of a baseball card. Ryan any chance you can do other decades? And, like the 1980 Topps set that preceded it, the centering and print quality challenges with the 1981 Topps set didn't improve all that much and only boost its value in high grade even more. So, it might be shocking to find that some baseball cards from the 1980scan be worth five and six figures You see, not every card fell victim to overproduction. Because there werent many produced, the market has not been flooded with these. Those are the kinds of memories that make this hobby so great. Kirby Puckett wasted no time in making his mark in Minnesota, batting .296 as a 24-year-old rookie in 1984. So its safe to say they are scarce. Making this example 1 of only 13 in existence. I grew up in the 80s and chased many of these cards and ripped hundreds of packs in my days. It used to be Billy Ripken was best known for being Cals younger brother. He also loves to write about the hobby and has written for Beckett, Topps, SABR and of course, this website. Yes, it was corrected but by then it had made industry headlines and the C Nettles was all anyone wanted. The dual-photo fronts remain a favorite with many collectors. From 1984 to 1991, Topps released a limited number of premium, higher-end versions of their base sets that they branded as the Topps Tiffany line. Get my weekly newsletter with the latest hobby updates delivered straight to your inbox! And that's where the substantial premium in price between the two comes into play. The headline: Strawberry Fields Forever. That said, there's no questioning how talented Clemens really was as he was mowing down opposing batters right from the beginning of his career well before the PED scandal took place. Nobody wants to look goofy while trying to make the all-important first impression and all. Among the most anticipated cards of the late-1986 releases were the first MLB-licensed cards of rookie sensation Wally Joyner. MT 9. The Cubs drafted him in 1982, but he left to play for eight different teams throughout his career. This is probably a team-issued shot, and considering Jackson only played in 25 games that first season, there would have not been a lot of options at the print deadline. However, he was openly disappointed with Berra's assertion in Spring Training that he'd open the season on the bench. Pucketts quick emergence brought this RC a lot of attention from the first day 85 packs began surfacing. 5. Mickey Mantle 1952 Topps #311 Psa 9. But 509 home runs and a National League batting title later, Sheffield stood on his own name. Of those 22 submitted, 14 were found in mint condition, with just 1 being gem mint. That kind of of success on that stage can get a card like this released later in the season noticed. And you get a Griffey Jr. RC! Bonner and Schneider didn't have the career that Cal Ripken Jr. did, and to say that "The Iron Man" lived up to the "Future Star" tag would be an understatement. It holds the #5 spot on this list by consistently reaching prices over $5,000 when found in PSA 10 conditions. 1989 Topps Traded #57T Randy Johnson. We got our first look at Barry Bonds when the 1986 Traded/Update/Rookie sets were released. "Fernandomania" still lives on with many collectors and they're willing to pay up for this card in PSA 10 condition. My only wish is that a clearer example of the Randy Johnson Marlboro card was shown in #29. PSA has graded just 610 of the Griffey Bowman Tiffany rookie cards. Baltimore News Babe Ruth Pre Rookie Card with yellow background. Along with those of Wade Boggs and Ryne Sandberg, the 1983 ToppsTony Gwynn rookie card is one of the most iconic baseball cards of the 1980s. Alexander went 9-0 from mid-August on. The USA Baseball subset in 1985 Topps introduced the program to the masses, and brought this slugging first basemans first licensed trading card to the forefront of the collectibles industry. But, value aside, I wanted to highlight it as it's impossible to talk about 1980s baseball cards without mentioning this card. Much like the Bowman and Topps Tiffany releases, Fleer also produced a premium version of their cards that year to go along with their 1989 Fleer base set. Many people often wonder if there are any 80s baseball cards worth money. Organize and price your collections as we offer instant access to the world's leading trading card and collectibles databases, including baseball cards, basketball cards, football cards, non-sports cards, gaming cards and more. Be cautious of reprints and fakes because there are a lot. This is why the 1980 Topps card sold for an impressive $2,400. Don Mattingly Donruss Rc #248. Donruss did, letting collectors believe Floyd Bannister was actually Tom Seaver in the first printing of 85 Donruss. Although the 1980 season would mark the first of a nine-year stint for Nolan Ryan with the Houston Astros, Topps still had to show him as a member of the California Angels because of the timing of their print run for their 1980 Topps set. Card values tanked and many collectors now refer to that part of the hobby as the "junk era." Easily one of the most iconic baseball cards of the 1980s, theDon Mattingly rookie card is the clear headliner of the 1984 Topps set. Bo Jackson was one of the biggest superstars in all of sports during the late 1980s and early 1990s. One of three mainstream Puckett Rookie Cards in 1985, this is actually the Hall of Famers second Fleer release. But, how difficult are they to find in PSA 10 condition? Bonds second Fleer card appeared the year after his inclusion in the 1986 Fleer Update Set, but this was the first pack-inserted card of the Pirates youngster and was highlighted as a key card from the first day of release. Free shipping for many products! Anyone hear from Bonner or Schneider lately? Another Boggs RC makes the list, and this Fleer was the only one of the three (Topps, Fleer, Donruss) with a non-action shot, providing a good look at the player who collected 3,010 hits, won five batting titles and hit better than .360 in four different seasons. So, it's tough to say which of them is the most desirable of the three, although most hobbyists would likely side with the Topps issue. If you were unaware, the holy grail of Mark McGwires rookie card is his 1985 Topps Tiffany Team USA #410 card. Those are some pretty good numbers considering these cards may have been thrown in a dumpster at one time. Or take Joe Montana's pass to Dwight Clark in the back of the end zone during the 1981 NFC Championship Game against the Dallas Cowboys. "I have like eight of those at . He pointed out a 1980 Topps Rickey Henderson rookie card to his 11-year-old son, Gavin. 1980 Topps Baseball Cards 30 Most Valuable. 1951 Mickey Mantle Bowman RC. Two thousand two hundred fifty were found in mint nine conditions, with the highest population. The third Clemens RC (and fourth card overall) hails from 1985 Donruss, a solid set that was met with a great deal of interest from buyers figuring that if 1984 Donruss was good, 1985 would be even better. My next move was to go diving through my cards to see if I had one. Hes the only American Leaguer in history to swipe one hundred bases in a season, a tally Henderson recorded three times, the first being the season that this necessary rookie card hit the shelves. Moreover, Henderson was ranked in the league's top 100 all-time home run hitters at the end of his last Major League game in 2003. So, if you want a copy in gem mint condition, prepare to dish out over $800. And he was also a fantastic fielder, as he won 9 consecutive Gold Gloves during one stretch of his career. However, he and Lee Smith both received the nod to Cooperstown when the Today's Game Era Committee selected them as part of the Hall of Fame Class of 2019. They are selling for over $1,500 today, which means they have tripled in value. At the time this card was pulled from packs of 1988 Topps, Glavine was en route to a 17-loss season as a rookie. In his eight baseball seasons, Jackson had a career batting average of .250, hit 141 home runs, and had 415 RBIs, with a slugging average of .474. Ask i may have it for sslr. Of all the cards in this set, I think Bonds' is one of the best-looking. Thank you! The third of Donnie Baseballs three 1984 Rookie Cards from the major manufacturers of the time. This set is one of the rarest Topps sets ever produced, with less than 100 of each card known today. However, the baseball world was stunned years later in 1989 when allegations surfaced that Rose gambled on baseball while a player and manager for the Reds from 1985-1987. A whopping 12,188 of these Ripken rookies have been submitted to PSA. 6. But that doesnt mean this true rookie-year glossy card of a Hall of Famer (he did pitch 31 innings in 1986, not enough for rookie status) doesnt have its place in collections. Finding them in PSA 10 condition is much tougher, hence the high price tag. Last,I didn't include any test issues from those mainstream companies. Website . A PSA Mint 9 card is worth $1.2 million, while a PSA NM-MT 8.5 card sells for $700,000. On August 17 in the 1980 baseball season, George Brett doubled to reach the .400 mark an amazing feat made even more spectacular considering he was batting just .259 after the first month of the season. I was stunned when I read the price next to the Barry Bonds error card. The 22-year-old future Hall-of-Famer put on a show in the days after the manager's announcement, winning Berra over with his impact bat and elite fielding instincts. This makes the PSA 10 population just 4% of the entire graded population. The 1984 Donruss baseball set features player portraits from the chest up. Not only isMattingly's rookie card the face of this set, but it's also one of the most iconic of the 1980s. Of those submitted, 271 have been declared PSA 10 gem mint condition. Sure, the same thing can be said about all eras, and each will feel different . With a print run of just an announced 6,000, this may well be the toughest rookie-year Griffey Jr. card to find. While others bought and sold lots of this XRC, smart buyers figured What the heck, and bought the limited edition glossy Tiffany version. Nothing spectacular about this Pete Rose card besides its very low PSA 10 population report. Since 1989, hes mostly been known for his penmanship. A big-shot hitter for USA Baseball and at Mississippi State, Clark was a highly anticipated rookie coming into the 1986 season. Oh, there were some highlights such as Steve Carlton looking uncomfortable in a Cleveland Indians uniform. One of Ken Griffey Jr.s most sought-after rookie cards is his 1989 Bowman Tiffany card #220. Which, is incredibly rare. In 1987, the Detroit Tigers were making one last attempt at a World Series appearance with the band that had gotten them a World Championship just three years before. Somehow, these cards managed to make it into the market by an employee or O-Pee-Chee themselves. Shop the 1986 Donruss Bo Jackson rookie card on eBay, Shop the 1980 Topps baseball cards on eBay, Shop the 1984 Fleer Update Roger Clemens rookie card on eBay, Shop the 1982 Topps Cal Ripken Jr. rookie card on eBay, 1982 Topps Orioles Future Stars base set card, Shop the 1982 Topps Lee Smith rookie card on eBay, Shop the 1989 Fleer Bill Ripken baseball card on eBay, Shop the 1984 Donruss Don Mattingly rookie card on eBay, Shop the 1981 Topps Pete Rose baseball card on eBay, Shop the 1982 Topps Trade Cal Ripken Jr. rookie card on eBay, Shop the 1985 Topps Tiffany Kirby Puckett rookie card on eBay, Shop the 1986 Topps Traded Tiffany Barry Bonds rookie cards on eBay, Shop the 1984 Topps Tiffany Don Mattingly rookie card on eBay, Shop the 1988 Best Ken Griffey Jr. minor league card on eBay, Shop the 1980 Topps Nolan Ryan baseball card on eBay, Shop the 1983 O-Pee-Chee Tony Gwynn rookie card on eBay, Shop the 1985 Topps Tiffany Mark McGwire rookie card on eBay, Shop the 1986 Topps Traded Tiffany Bo Jackson rookie card on eBay, 565 of the Tiffany Traded Bo Jackson rookies, Shop the 1989 Bowman Tiffany Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card on eBay, Shop the 1985 Topps Tiffany Roger Clemens rookie card on eBay, Shop the 1987 O-Pee-Chee Barry Bonds rookie card on eBay, Shop the 1987 Barry Bonds rookie card error on eBay, Shop the 1980 WBTV Cal Ripken Jr. minor league card on eBay, Shop the 1980 Topps Rickey Henderson rookie card on eBay, 8 Best Baseball Cards to Collect in 2022 Hall of Fame Potential, Best Chipper Jones rookie card & baseball card list. Some hold out hope that baseball will someday forgive him and allow the all-time hits leader into the Hall of Fame, but it still seems highly unlikely. It's not necessarily the most valuable cards of the decade. After Fernando started 8-0 with a 0.50 ERA with eight complete games and five shutouts in his first eight starts, "Fernandomania" swept across the country. A PSA 10 example price is through the roof with a meager supply and very high demand. 1989 Topps #380 Rickey Henderson. PSA 9 examples have sold for upwards of $6,000. This Topps card features Henderson in action in yellow and white Oakland Athletics uniform, with the bench blurred in the background. Barry looks thrilled to be getting his picture taken. From 1986-90, Davis averaged 30 home runs and 90 RBI, and finished with a .900-plus OPS in three of those seasons. There are two versions of this card. Great article. Shortcuts: Most Expensive , Cheapest , List by Card # Lee Smith was primarily a relief pitcher during his 18-year career in the Major Leagues. Jackson was already a household name when his card appeared in the 1986 Topps Traded set. After two years of bouncing back and forth from Triple-A Columbus and the Bronx, first baseman/outfielder Don Mattingly was relieved when Yankees manager Yogi Berra declared intentions to keep him with the big club for all of 1984. Mickey Mantle is a name known even to . GEM-MT 10. With just over 1,500 graded by PSA and only 35 declared gem mint 10, they are scarce in near conditions. . He played for seven teams, but is best remembered as the glue of the back-to-back World Champion Toronto Blue Jays in 1992 and 93 when he batted a combined .347 over both Series. You just wish he had embraced it more. But how do you mistake a Hall of Fame righthander with a merely decent lefthander named Floyd Bannister? For most players, their most valuable baseball cards will be their rookie card. As the first sentence reads on the back of this card: Every year Pete Rose shatters another baseball record.. This is undoubtedly why a PSA 10 Tiffany example sells for over $1,900 consistently. And you get a Griffey Jr. RC! which would have made fun viewing. Seems surprising now, but Topps failed to include Griffey in its flagship release in 1989. While New York faded from the postseason race in September, Mattingly kept the city enraptured with a batting crown race for the ages. Furthermore, there have only been 6 found in gem mint conditions. With the hunter green borders, clip art of a baseball hat with team names, and the vintage Topps logo, this card screams, collect me! Allowing for one of the most valuable Don Mattingly rookie cards to stand out from the rest. In addition to the low population, this example graded out to be in PSA 10, gem mint condition. Well done. There is, however, a big market for older baseball cards and other sports cards (generally cards manufactured before 1980). Henderson is often regarded as the MLB's greatest lead-off hitter and base-runner. Rookie of the Year Mark McGwire. Because of their relative scarcity compared to the base Bowman version, these Griffey rookies can fetch huge prices in top condition. Since the sports card market exploded during the 1980s, many food brands, toy manufacturers, and regional companies jumped into the market. Only Lou Gehrig, at 37, was younger. Because of its rarity, this version is one of the most valuable baseball cards from the 1980s. And many collectors already have figured that out. These hardly ever pop up on eBay; when they do, they sell quickly. So when time came to include the 1962 NL MVP in its Kmart MVP box set, Topps did the only thing they could they produced a card that never was. Glenn Hubbard, he of the lifetime .244 batting average and .328 On-Base Percentage, wasnt one of the top 250 players of the 1980s. Being the Canadian cousin to Donruss, you can see that there isn't much different about the Leaf design overall except for the green leaf logo in the upper-left and the French text and Leaf trademark data on the reverse. For example, as of this writing, there are just under 700 examples of Gwynn's Topps rookie card that achieved PSA 10 grade status, while there are over 13,000 examples of Ken Griffey Jr.'s 1989 Topps Traded rookie graded in PSA 10 holders. Yep, looks like a 1989 Upper Deck card but its not. When examining the bottom left corner, youll find the O-Pee-Chee logo instead of the Topps. Since it was located along the left side, you'll often find this card cut in such a way that throws off its left-to-right centering, which prevents it from achieving gem mint status. So far, there have been just 22 submitted. 834 have been submitted to PSA, and only 54 were declared gem mint 10.