1980 Topps #482 Rickey Henderson Rookie Card. You can't help but think Topps was trying to produce as many cards as possible to keep collectors interested and to try and keep Donruss and Fleer, who had joined the scene in 1981, at bay. 1983 Topps #482 Tony Gwynn Rookie Card. 8. Carew's career batting average ended up at .328, while his best single-season average was .388 in 1977. And he struck fear into opposing pitchers at the plate, especially when Joe Morgan and Pete Rose got on base ahead of him, as he was an RBI machine, leading the league three times. This set marked the end of an era in which Topps was the only mainstream company with the MLB's blessing to print baseball cards. His struggles didn't last long, though, and maybe it was seeing Mike Schmidt win back-to-back MVPs in 1980 and 1981 because, by the following year, Murphy's production skyrocketed as he'd go on to win back-to-back MVPs of his own in 1982 and 1983. In his first full season in the big leagues in 1981, Tim Haines batted .304 with 71 stolen bases in a strike-shortened seasonmaking an instant impression on fans with his ability to make players look foolish on the base paths. While it may not be one of the most popular sets of the era, the 1982 Topps baseball card set packed plenty of star power and two key Hall of Fame rookie cards. 25 Most Valuable 1987 Topps Baseball Cards In The World In the team's NLDS loss to the Expos, Schmidt hit .250 (4-for-16) with one home run, two RBI, and four walks. Rickey Henderson, an American retired professional baseball player who played his entire 24-year career in Major League Baseball, helped break the sports color barrier. He was nicknamed Mex because his name suggested that he was of Mexican descent. As his time with the Yankees had come to a close, Jackson packed his bag and headed back to the West Coast, signing to play for the California Angels. Most valuable baseball cards of the 1980s Murray's first three seasons in the Majors were incredibly productive, but he kicked things up a notch in 1980 as he batted .300, belted 32 home runs, scored 100 runs and drove in another 116. It has been certified authentic by Beckett Authentication (BAS) and comes encapsulated in their tamper-proof holder. He was named Rolaids Relief Man of the Year four times and led the major leagues in saves three times. Reggie Jackson played five seasons as a member of the New York Yankees from 1977 to 1981, and the 1980 season turned out to be his best in pinstripes. Who doesnt enjoy looking through their packs of cards whenever they find themselves in a fabled card shop. He earned four varsity letters, two for college and two for the major leagues. 1981 Topps Expos Future Card Tim Haines Auto. Shortcuts: 29 Surprisingly Cheap: 1985 Mark McGwire Topps. . 1981 Topps Baseball Cards - The Cardboard Connection 25 Most Valuable 1981 Fleer Baseball Cards In The World He finished the year with the best winning percentage of any starter in baseball (.875), notched his 3000th career strikeout on April 12th, and earned his twelfth-and-final All-Star appearance after a two-year absence. Only Tony Gwynn had come closer to batting .400 or better since Ted Williams last did it in 1941 when Gwynn batted .394 in 110 games during the strike-shortened 1994 season. Year sold: 2018. . $260. However, his relationship with the San Diego Padres ownership continued to sour and by season's end, both were looking to move on from each other. "I've learned to stay within myself, not be afraid to fail.". 3. You are looking at a 1981 Topps Rookie Card hand-signed by George Riley. And, yes, it would've been nice to see rookie cards of Fernando Valenzuela, Harold Baines and Kirk Gibson as well. 21 Most Valuable 1981 Donruss Baseball Cards The Phillies had won the NL East for three straight seasons from 1976-1978, so Rose was supposed to be the guy who would finally put them over the top. One of the most interesting things about Dave Winfield, and a sign of his incredible athletic ability, was that four professional teams across three different sports drafted him. In the second half, they finished 1.5 games behind the Astros to miss the playoffs entirely. 1982 Topps Baseball Cards - 17 Most Valuable - Wax Pack Gods Brett was one of the finest hitters in baseball history, but I think what is most impressive was his longevity as a top hitter, having won a batting title in three different decades (1976, 1980, and 1990). Many thought his career was slowly but surely coming to an end. Rose hit .300 (6-for-20) with two RBI and a run scored in the losing effort. 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. Previous Article. Yes, the checklist is quite messy at times with the errors and variations. 1981 Topps Baseball Checklist, Team Set Lists and Details Ted Simmons St. Louis Cardinals 1981 Topps, 17. Cincinnati finished second in both halves of the 1981 split-season but ended the year with the best overall record in the National League. Seaver would play one more year for the Reds in 1982 when he posted a 5-13 record before heading back to the New York Mets the following year. 1981 Fleer Card Prices | PSA & Ungraded Values - SportsCardsPro Baseballs hit king, Pete Rose, led all of baseball in total hits on seven different occasions. While this set may be slightly overlooked in the history of the hobby, it still delivers a great checklist. But, you'll remember that by 1982, Topps was no longer the only major company producing baseball cards as both Donruss and Fleer had joined the scene the year prior. Most Valuable Rookie Card in Every Topps Baseball Set, 1952-2020 Reggie was furious and blasted The Boss in the media. He also led all of baseball with 89 runs scored and led the American League in stolen bases (56) and hits (135). By the time these Hall of Famers retired, Brett had three batting titles and Carew had an eye-popping seven. Shortcuts: Most Expensive, Cheapest, List by Card # Owchinko played baseball for Eastern Michigan University. In Game 4 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, he'd return with New York holding a 2-1 advantage to try and help the team across the finish line. 1982 Topps Baseball Cards - 17 Most Valuable Plus Bonus Listings! He was named Player of the Decade by The Sporting News at the end of his career. 29 Most Valuable 1989 Topps Baseball Cards In the World 203 Bill Gullickson Record Breaker - Expos. Price. The course of Seaver's career would take a significant turn at the trading deadline in 1977, though, when he was involved in "the Midnight Massacre" that sent him to the Reds. The Reds finished a half-game behind the Dodgers in the NL West in the first half. 1955 Topps Sandy Koufax #123. Like Roger Clemens, Kirby Puckett has a 1984 Fleer Update XRC. If not for Fernando Valenzuela's incredible rookie performance and "Fernandomania" taking the sport by storm, Raines would've easily won the 1981 NL Rookie of the Year Award. With the 22-year-old star setting the table, the As earned a playoff spot with a 37-23 first-half record and finished with the American Leagues best overall record at 64-45. Along with those of Wade Boggs and Ryne Sandberg, the 1983 Topps Tony Gwynn rookie card is one of the most important and iconic baseball cards of the 1980's.. Sure, Gwynn was one of the greatest hitters who ever played with 8 batting titles to his name, but why are collectors willing to pay so much for this card . Donruss wasted no time breaking into the hobby as they spent huge marketing dollars, targeted key dealers across the nation, and filled their checklist with some of the game's biggest names to grab collector attention. Dale Murphy enjoyed a bit of a breakout year in 1980 as he hit 33 home runs, scored 98 runs, had 89 RBI and made his first of seven career All-Star teams. Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $2,000. Throughout his career, Carter was known for his hitting and excellent defense, as well as his ability to handle pitchers. 25 Most Valuable 1981 Topps Baseball Cards - Old Sports Cards Here is a quick rundown of those most valuable 1982 Topps baseball cards, based on recent sales for copies graded PSA 9 and presented in numerical order. 1952 Topps #1 Andy Pafko. Despite the poor production, Jackson still earned a spot on the All-Star team for the eleventh time in his career. PSA Price Guide for 1982 Donruss Baseball Card Values - Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) & PSA/DNA Authentication Services Services In 1981, Donruss and Fleer gave Topps some much-needed competition. This card features the professional baseball player Danny Ainge. The 1980 Topps Rickey Henderson is such a beautiful card. He helped to redefine the value of relievers within baseball and ushered in the modern closer role. Most Expensive 1981 Topps card list & price guide. He was even the first player to collect 100 hits from both sides of the plate. Over eighteen seasons in MLB, all with the Philadelphia Phillies, Schmidt won three MVPs, made twelve All-Star teams, won six Silver Sluggers, snagged ten Gold Gloves, and led the league in home runs eight times. Somehow during all that success with college basketball, he also found the time to play for the Blue Jays from 1979 to 1981. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. That means the card needs to be flawless. 2 prospect in baseball at the start of the 1997 season after hitting . Sandwiched in between the "normal", if limp 1979 issue, and that 1981 set is another oddity. The right card could make you rich. That effort would place him sixth in MVP voting and solidify his reputation for similar, consistent production over the rest of his Hall of Fame career. Before Danny Ainge found success at the professional level in basketball as a player, coach and executive, he made his professional sports debut for the Toronto Blue Jays in 1979while he was still in college. 1981, 1985, 1989), 11-time MLB strikeout leader (1972-74, 1976-79, 1987-90), two-time NL leader (1981, 1987), MLB All-Century Team. List; Gallery; Gallery - 6 Cards per Page; Gallery - 8 Cards per Page; Gallery - 9 Cards per Page; Like his base card, his All-Star card is just as tough to find in PSA 10 condition and also carries a large price tag. When collectors think back to the junk wax era, one of the first sets to jump into minds is 1987 Topps Baseball. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The greatest catcher of all time, Johnny Bench played in seventeen seasons with the Cincinnati Reds from 1967 to 1983, and in 2011 the team erected a statue in his honor at Great American Ballpark. 9 of the Most Valuable Baseball Cards in History - HISTORY It's no wonder why, considering how Henderson's a beloved figure in the sport whose '81 campaign included a .319 batting average, a league-leading 56 stolen bases and a second-place MVP . However, during early 2021, PSA 9 examples of this card frequently sold for $4,000 - $5,000 or more. *TIM RAINES* 1981 Topps Traded #816 *CGS 9* RC Rookie Card. 1981 Topps. Top 15 Most Expensive Nolan Ryan Cards - Thrillpack Cards The Reds put him at first base for the first time as he dealt with nagging injuries. Incredibly consistent and productive during his 21 years in the Big Leagues, Murray ended his Hall of Fame career with 3,255 hits, 504 home runs, 1,917 RBI and set the all-time record for sacrifice flies with 128. On his 1982 Topps card, Ripken is sandwiched between Bob Bonner and Jeff Schneider as part of the "Future Stars" subset with the Baltimore Orioles. Each 1-13/16" by 3-1/4" card featured a small full-color portrait of the player with his name printed below his image on the left side of the card. Cheapest, Prices are updated daily based upon 1981 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. 1981 Topps Basketball Cards - PSA Price Guide Its $300 PSA 10 price tag is no mistake. Murray appeared in his second All-Star Game that season and finished things off with a fifth-place finish in the MVP vote, one of six times he finished in the top five in his storied career. 723 Bruce Bochte. This card is worth $45 but could go higher. So for our purpose, the most expensive Nolan Ryan rookie card is the 1969 Topps RC which is valued at $20,000, give or take a thousand. February 20, 2023; Super Bowl Delivers . Card Number: #595. While they used to be a bit overlooked, it's nice to see the 1980 Topps baseball set getting more love in recent years. Henderson has two cards in the 1981 Fleer which feature photographs that appear to be taken just seconds apart. He struggled in 1980 (by his terms) with a career-worst 3.64 ERA and a career-low ten wins. Ken Griffey Jr. For 15 seasons from 1982 to 1996, Smith was a key cog in the Cardinals lineup as he went on to win 11 more Gold Gloves and appear in 14 more All-Star Games. 10 Greatest Topps Baseball Cards To Buy Now In 2023 - Gold Card Auctions On September 26, 1981, Houston Astros ace Nolan Ryan passed Sandy Koufax with a record fifth no-hitter on national television against Koufax's old team, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Immediately afterward, the price of his 1982 Topps rookie card in PSA 10 condition shot through the roof. Rookie Cards were so valuable to collectors in 1989, that if Oprah had been involved in baseball cards, she would have been saying . Wilson hit a weak grounder towards Boston's Bill Buckner at first base, and the ball squeaked by him, allowing Wilson to reach first base safely while Ray Knight scored the winning run. Price: $299.75 Grade: PSA 10. Instead, he was more of a craftsman on the mound and outsmarted hitters to allow a career-low 6.5 hits per nine innings. Recently, the price of a PSA 9 has continued to steadily fall to around $2,000 or less. Heck, he even dated "Miss New York" Debra Sue Maurice from the Miss USA Beauty Pageant. Most Watched 2022 Baseball Rookie Cards on eBay; Bowman Chrome Cards; Wander Franco Cards; . Cal Ripken Jr. If you look closely, though, you'll notice the images are just slightly different as you can see two of his teammates in the background on his MVP card versus one (plus the arm of another) on his base card. He was a two-sport star in baseball and basketball for the Minnesota Golden Gophers, so it wasn't too shocking that the Atlanta Hawks (NBA), Utah Stars (ABA) and San Diego Padres (MLB) each drafted him. Over 22 seasons in Major League Baseball, Harold Baines appeared in six All-Star games, hit 384 home runs, tallied 1,628 RBI, and scored another 1,299 runs. . He also loves to write about the hobby and has written for Beckett, Topps, SABR and of course, this website. To make things even stranger, you could even say that Rose appeared on fourcards in this set because this one comes in two variations. In fact, between June 2021 and May 2022, this Ripken collectible in a PSA 10 sold for under $4,000 just once. 1981 Fleer card list & price guide. They didn't call him "Steady Eddie" for nothing. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. Estimated PSA 9 Mint Value: $120. No. With ten Gold Gloves to show for it, Bench was a monster on defense with a rifle for an arm and an ability to throw out would-be base stealers with extreme precision. Most Watched Baseball Cards. $29. At 41 years of age, it seemed time had finally caught up to Boston Red Sox designated hitter/first baseman Carl Yastrzemski in 1981. Smith felt more welcomed by the Cardinals ownership and management and settled in quite nicely to be one of the franchise's most beloved players in team history. Kansas City went 20-30 in the season's first half and started the second half slowly, with Manager Jim Frey taking the heat. The 10 Most Valuable 1983 Topps Baseball Cards This card is super tough to find in high grade, hence the huge price tag that might shock you. In 1981, the Boston Red Sox played 108 games during the regular season and won 59 of those games, losing 49. Placing Mark McGwire's 1985 Topps card in this category may seem a little unfair considering its current $650 price tag. 1981 Topps Enrique Romo Signed Pittsburgh Pirates, 15. In total, Henderson led the league in stolen bases . Reggie Jackson was one of the game's greatest power hitters and was known for taking huge rips at the ball on his way to racking up 563 career home runs. 10 Most Valuable 1981 Donruss Baseball Cards - Sports Card Investor There are no scratches, bends, or folds. However, once they got there, the Oakland Athletics promptly swept them in the ALDS as Brett went just 2-for-12 (.167) in the three games. But, for the 1982 season, Smith would never actually suit up for the Padres as he was traded to St. Louis for another highly-regarded shortstop in Garry Templeton. 2017-18 Panini National Treasures Donovan Mitchell RC Auto Patch /99. Tune in as Mrs. Wax Pack Gods reads 1982 Topps Baseball Cards - 17 Most Valuable . He played parts of four seasons in the MLB between 1979 and 1986, with the Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, and Montreal Expos. Plus Bonus Listings! Although his best days were clearly behind him, he still played well enough to earn a trip to the 1982 All-Star game. It has been authenticated and graded a 10 by Beckett Authentication Services. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 by Old Sports Cards, LLC. There were tons of errors, collation inside boxes was hit and miss (mostly miss) and the . Right around that same time, the relationship between the St. Louis Cardinals and their shortstop, Garry Templeton, wasn't going well either. And while his offensive numbers dropped in 1981, Brett's star was still quite bright. Now anchoring the back of the Brewers bullpen, Fingers won by a mere eleven points. For one more year, at least, Topps was the only game in town in 1980. This is the rookie card for Bronco's QB great John Elway. This trading card has been authenticated by PSA, it has the signature of Rollie fingers on the obverse. However, when do you do it? Rookie Cards. The imagery on this card is some of the best on this list and in the set in general, as Topps perfectly captured Jackson taking a massive swing. 2. 1981 Topps Kirk Gibson RC #315. . (Updated for 2022) SUBSCRIBE NOW! 6 Rickey Henderson #180. Their scarcity is a result of several situations that can apply to baseball card collecting. This bad boy sold for $18,500 on eBay auctions in May 2021. It was the only time in his career where he batted .300, and he also led the league in home runs with 41 round-trippers. 1. However, the turf at Olympic Stadium didn't do Dawson any favors resulting in knee problems that would hamper his speed later in his career. For the longest time it seemed like Smith would not quite garner enough votes to earn a trip to the Hall of Fame. He also loves to write about the hobby and has written for Beckett, Topps, SABR and of course, this website. Sports Cards: 10 Most Valuable Baseball Rookie Cards of the 1990s