I remember being in that late-80s baseball card collecting frenzy, and seeing the majority of these cards. The greatest lead-off hitter in the entirety of baseball history, Rickey Henderson finds no equal in the career rankings for both stolen bases and runs scored, keeping the spirit of the Dead Ball Era alive into the twenty-first century. If you've made it down this far on the list, I want to thank you for taking the time to read through it. Due to the low print run of the letters in white variation, they are much more valuable than the copies with yellow text. At the time, who could have known the highs and lows that would mark an amazing career on the field? 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. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. PSA has graded just 610 of the Griffey Bowman Tiffany rookie cards. Because he DHd for much of the second half of his 22-year career, people tend to forget what a great player Baines was through much of the 80s. 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. Of the players shown here, only one went on to set the major league record for consecutive games played, collect 3,184 hits, win two league MVP awards, play in 19 All-Star Games and earn a plaque in Cooperstown. When examining the bottom left corner, youll find the O-Pee-Chee logo instead of the Topps. 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. 1989 Topps #530 Nolan Ryan. 1989 Topps Traded #41T Ken Griffey Jr. 1989 Topps #647 Randy Johnson Rookie Card. 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. So, despite the common misconception, some cards from that infamous hobby era still have value. Fernandos 1981 Topps Traded appears elsewhere on this list, but this is Valenzuelas actual Topps RC. Surprisingly, over 7,000 Don Mattingly rookie cards have been submitted to PSA. BASEBALL CARD COLLECTOR INVESTOR DEALER (in that order)w/ Chris SewallCounting down the 25 most expensive baseball cards from the 1980s, using PSA 9 values.=. 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. Barry looks thrilled to be getting his picture taken. Sometimes youll find versions of these that look like they were hand-cut by a kid with plastic scissors and little use for even borders. Of those submitted, 271 have been declared PSA 10 gem mint condition. I love how Ryan's orange Houston Astros cap and the cartoon hat in the lower-left corner work in unison to give this card some fantastic visual pop. One of the true highlights of the 1980s. Bo Jackson has two cards, one for baseball and football. The blue border was susceptible to some chipping. But theres a freakin snake in this picture . There is a lot of speculation about how it hit the market with no definitive answers. Bo Jackson washuge when I was a kid and his popularity is still quite high to this day. Both Donruss and Fleer produced Canseco Rookie Cards for their mainstream sets, but the choice of the masses was Donruss. For whatever reason, some moments in sports history seem to resonate with people in such a way that they almost become locked in memory. Youve come to the right place. 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. @Joe The price guide can be accessed here (subscription required): https://www.beckett.com/opg, Who do i contact someone about old baseball cards and i also have old football cards. The rare variations are the scribbled out in white, and the whited out. New companies, new technologies and a booming marketplace all brought the hobby into the mainstream. He pointed out a 1980 Topps Rickey Henderson rookie card to his 11-year-old son, Gavin. 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. Surprisingly, only 565 of the Tiffany Traded Bo Jackson rookies have been graded by PSA so far. The heavy gloss and stark white borders have proven to be the obstacles that have made Gem Mint examples like this so challenging. One of the most important cards of the post-WWII era, ushering in a new, premium brand into the baseball card aisles and leading off that ground-breaking set with the Rookie Card of arguably the most impactful player of his era. Back in 1983, the bubble in the baseball card market had already started to form as Donruss and Fleer had both entered the market in 1981 and all three companies started to boost production. Additionally, the second-year Tiffany sets cards resemble regular-issue variety but feature a high-gloss finish. Topps manufactured a striking Pete Rose card in 1980, featuring an intense close-up shot of the player's face. In 1989, Jackson ranked fourth in the American League in both home runs, with 32, and RBI, 105. This is, hands down, his best rookie card to date. What makes 1980s baseball cards so great? Most know that during the hobby craze of that era, rampant overproduction led to a bubble that eventually burst. He'd go on to win 7 Silver Sluggers over his career. Alexander went 9-0 from mid-August on. Production seemed to multiply from 1984 numbers, and who could blame Donruss for not wanting to leave money on the table? You'll usually find them on lower-quality card stock or with rough, jagged cuts. The Cubs drafted him in 1982, but he left to play for eight different teams throughout his career. Not many 1981 Donruss cards can be called classic or important. None maybe. A big-shot hitter for USA Baseball and at Mississippi State, Clark was a highly anticipated rookie coming into the 1986 season. Adjusting from the American League to the National League may have been the root cause for the drop-off. Yet only seventeen examples have achieved the services highest honor, making it one hundred times as rare as Mint 9 representations. Lee Smith was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame on December 9, 2018, as part of the Todays Game Era Committee vote. If it looking for someone specifically. The other version has blue borders and is more populated than the Platinum. They were based in Passaic, New Jersey. This Topps RC was, and is, Rynos card of choice as he played a near-flawless second base throughout his Hall of Fame career on the North Side. This can be attributed to several things. . With such a small amount of these being found in gem mint condition, its no wonder they are one of the most valuable baseball cards of the 1980s. This set was printed by McDag Productions and features popular players at the time, including Bo Jackson and Frank Thomas. This is Lee Smiths most valuable rookie card and one of the more expensive baseball cards from the 80s. While some dealers broke box sets to sell singles, others chose not to. But, looking to capitalize as much as possible on the hype surrounding a young phenom known as "The Kid", Topps brought back the iconic brand when they released their 1989 Bowman set. It didnt take long for those busting 82 Fleer to realize that John Littlefields card featured a reverse negative, making the righthander a lefty on the card front. 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. Nobody seriously, nobody could have seen 305 wins and the Hall of Fame in his future. But, he also received his own standalone rookie in the 1981 Topps Traded set. Furthermore, there have only been 6 found in gem mint conditions. Read our methodology . Meanwhile, this might be the only time Johnny Ray was ever mistaken for Barry Bonds. There wasnt a lot to get excited about when the 1987 Fleer Update sets arrived, outside of the first Fleer card of A.L. This is one of the hobbys most iconic and recognizable error cards. the more valuable the card. I grew up in the 80s and chased many of these cards and ripped hundreds of packs in my days. And he was also a fantastic fielder, as he won 9 consecutive Gold Gloves during one stretch of his career. Lee Smith is recognized as one of the dominant closers in baseball history. The entire 1988 season was memorable for Gibson as he picked up the only MVP and Silver Slugger awards of his career that year. 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? Nolan Ryan made his debut with the Houston Astros in 1980 and that season was a bit unusual for him for one glaring reason:he did not lead the league in strikeouts. Despite his complicated legacy,Pete Rose cardsalso remain some of the most desirable in the hobby. This was a really fun read and great for this time in particular. Because of their relative scarcity compared to the base Bowman version, these Griffey rookies can fetch huge prices in top condition. Everybody wanted one. The young speedster was brilliant on offense as he batted .319 (nearly a career-high) and led the league in runs scored (89), hits (135), and stolen bases (56). When found in gem mint condition, these sell for $1,500, on average. He held the major league record for career saves from 1993 until 2006, when San Diego Padres relief pitcher Trevor Hoffman passed his final total of 478. This card of the 1980 AL Rookie of the Year is credited with making the Rookie Card a thing in the industry. With a print run of just an announced 6,000, this may well be the toughest rookie-year Griffey Jr. card to find. Wills was slow to forget the slight, not signing a deal with Topps until 1967. 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. And it did. Other than that, the design is exactly the same as the base card. For most players, their most valuable baseball cards will be their rookie card. Bo Jackson is regarded as one of the best athletes to play professional sports. Nothing spectacular about this Pete Rose card besides its very low PSA 10 population report. However, he was openly disappointed with Berra's assertion in Spring Training that he'd open the season on the bench. Nice touch making Pete the leadoff hitter in the DK lineup. These are our picks for the top 100 baseball cards of the 1980s. 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. However, you may wonder why one particular card didn't make the top 25. But, he was even better with the glove as he would go on to win 9 Gold Gloves over his storied career so, rather fittingly, we get a nice shot of him on defense on this card. PSA has seen just 728 copies of this specific Mattingly rookie card. Furthermore, the cardstock on the Tiffany cards is bright white instead of yellow or grey, making them much more appealing. And with every new season came some great and memorable cards. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 by Old Sports Cards, LLC. Growing up in central Indiana, Sandberg was one of the players I was able to watch most frequently and I remember being amazed at his ability to hit for power as a second baseman. The value for a PSA 10 has yet to be determined because PSA has not found any of the 68 theyve seen worthy. It was Johnson who fared better over his career, collecting five Cy Young awards including four in a row while winning 303 games and landing in Cooperstown. His 1984 Fleer Update XRC is by far his greatest card released during the 1984-85 era. And you were living large. Because a smaller amount of these were produced and because centering is a challenge, finding these in pristine condition can be tough. Also, this seems to be available in fewer quantities than Topps and Donruss Clemens efforts in 1985. In terms of errors, there are several greater than this. Not only are the Tiffany cards rare, but theyre also somewhat challenging to find in high grades. Starting off the list of most valuable baseball cards from the 1980s is the 1980 Topps George Brett base set card. Before playing for the Baltimore Orioles, Cal Ripken Jr. played for the Charlotte Os. Another thing that stands out is its deep checklist that is highlighted by rookie cards of Ryne Sandberg and Wade Boggs, and the second-year Cal Ripken Jr. These "Fleer Glossy" cards were printed on higher quality cardboard and contained a much glossier finish on them. But the key card of the set would be of a 20-year-old guy who posted a 2-4 mark and 5.56 ERA in 31 innings the year before. The dual-photo fronts remain a favorite with many collectors. Heres a vote to return to the yellow helmets full-time. We got our first look at Barry Bonds when the 1986 Traded/Update/Rookie sets were released. The third of Donnie Baseballs three 1984 Rookie Cards from the major manufacturers of the time. Iconic card: 1980 Topps #482, which sold for $180,100 in February 2021. Like the Bowman Tiffany product line mentioned above, the O-Pee-Chee cards were typically produced in far fewer quantities. Most Valuable Topps Baseball Cards: Record Sales Price: 1952 Mickey Mantle #311 : $12.6 million : 2011 Mike Trout "Platinum" ~$1.1 million : 1969 Reggie Jackson #260 : $1.005 million Using his fastball almost exclusively, he struck out the side, fanning Lance Parrish, Chet Lemon and Alvin Davis. For example, common 1909 T206 cards are worth something while many common cards printed in the 1980's are not. Thank you! Let that sink in for a moment. Produce an Opening Day box set, they said. Interestingly, Ryan's highest single-season strikeout total in nine years with the Houston Astros was only 270 in 1987, a year in which he also led the NL with a 2.76 ERA. 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. In any given year, an O-Pee-Chee card is usually distinguished from its Topps cousin because of the O-Pee-Chee trademark appearing on the front or back of the card. Baseball had two tall guys breaking in at about the same time: 6-foot-7 Ben McDonald and 6-foot-10 Randy Johnson. Of the two sets, his Bowman Tiffany is more valuable, by a long shot, selling for over $2,500 in PSA 10 condition. One of Ken Griffey Jrs biggest sleeper cards is his 1988 Best minor league cards. So, many collectors dont even know they exist. PSA 9 examples have sold for upwards of $6,000. And many of those weren't even licensed by Major League Baseball. 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.