Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? The continued adoption of Sabermetrics no doubt helped push him across the finish line and into Cooperstown. When collectors think back to the junk wax era, one of the first sets to jump into minds is 1987 Topps Baseball. Tune in as Mrs. Wax Pack Gods reads 1982 Topps Baseball Cards - 17 Most Valuable . The 1984 Topps Football set is THE landmark football card set of the 1980s. In 665 at-bats for Toronto, Ainge batted .220, hit two home runs, scored 57 runs, drove in another 37 and stole 12 bases. Read our methodology . Reggie was furious and blasted The Boss in the media. Despite not being a Hall of Famer, Rose's legacy as one of the game's greatest hitters of all time keeps his cards in high demand throughout the hobby. Unfortunately, his production fizzled out in the 1990s, so he didn't quite finish off a career worthy of Cooperstown. | Compare vs. These are the result of decades of collecting and dealing for many companies, dealers, and collectors across America. I remember several years ago you could find this card in a PSA 9 holder quite easily for $400 or so, which made it undervalued even back then. Rose collected 140 hits in 1981, slashing .325/.391/.390 in his third year with the Philadelphia Phillies. Unlike George Brett's MVP card, Schmidt's featured an altogether different image than that of his base card. And, if you look back at his stats for his rookie campaign in the 1982 season, there really was no reason he shouldn't have made the All-Star team that year, too. And some of those players appeared on multiple cards. I absolutely love this card as it captures Rickey about to do what he did best: steal a base. On the other hand, Ozzie's bat did nothing but improve and combined with the amazing glove he already had, he'd deliver Hall of Fame-caliber play for years in St. Louis. He struggled in 1980 (by his terms) with a career-worst 3.64 ERA and a career-low ten wins. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. In his seventh season in the Majors, Yount broke out in a big way in 1980 as he led the league in doubles (49) while scoring 121 runs, driving in 87 RBI, and hitting 23 home runs to earn his first trip to the All-Star Game. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. I know the game is played differently these days but even if it weren't, I'd be stunned if anyone in the future ever meets or bests his 130 stolen bases in a season. That just shows you what kind of effect being a Hall of Famer can have on baseball card prices. But, I'm a big fan of this set regardless. Rose hit .300 (6-for-20) with two RBI and a run scored in the losing effort. 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. Currently, this 1981 Topps card is worth $79. Wade Boggs is an American former baseball player who retired as a third baseman after 18 seasons of Major League Baseball. One of the most beloved New York Mets in franchise history, Mookie Wilson finished seventh in the 1981 NL Rookie of the Year race and went on to a very successful career until he retired in 1991. For his regular-season efforts, Rose earned the only Silver Slugger Award of his career, his 15th All-Star selection, and a tenth-place finish on the NL MVP ballot. His career was far from over at that point, but Schmidt's play showed the baseball world that they were already witnessing the greatest third baseman of all-time in the making. The Padres also had some great retro jerseys during the 1980s but Ozzie really topped things off with those sideburns. Things weren't all rosy for Smith, however, as his relationship with Padres owner Ray Kroc and his wife Joan became publicly sour. In the teams first game back following the players strike, the 40-year-old recorded hit number 3,631, passing Stan Musial as the National Leagues all-time hits leader. 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 . 726 cards. 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. 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. 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. Many thought his career was slowly but surely coming to an end. . 1981 Topps #347 Harold Baines Rookie Card. At the time, everyone thought the Padres were getting the better end of the deal as Templeton was a much better hitter. Although Riley wasnt very popular, he was a Major League Baseball pitcher. List; Gallery; Gallery - 6 Cards per Page; Gallery - 8 Cards per Page; Gallery - 9 Cards per Page; Their scarcity is a result of several situations that can apply to baseball card collecting. However, when do you do it? For the longest time it seemed like Smith would not quite garner enough votes to earn a trip to the Hall of Fame. 1985 Fleer Kirby Puckett RC #286. During the 1977 season, Andre Dawson batted .282 with 19 home runs and 65 RBI, which earned him NL Rookie of the Year honors. Ryan went 1-1 in two starts with a 1.80 ERA in the team's five-game NLDS loss to the Dodgers, striking out 14 batters in 15 innings while walking just three. This card once was worth upwards of $50, and until Jose Canseco came along, it was the most valuable regular-issue 1980s card in the book. The subsets in the 1981 Topps baseball cards include the league leaders (1-8), record breakers (201-208), and team cards with checklists on the back (661-686).The key rookie cards from this set include #315 Kirk Gibson, #347 Harold Baines, and #302 Fernando Valenzuela. His .246 batting average and .355 slugging percentage were also career lows. The first standalone Topps Traded set may belong to 1981, but the first card to really make the series a hobby burner belongs to 1982 and to Cal Ripken, Jr. . Still, as one of the game's greatest leadoff hitters and baserunners, he was overdue to get in anyway. The 10 Most Valuable Basketball Cards from the 1980s. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 by Old Sports Cards, LLC. 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. You can almost feel the tension in this card as he's poised and just waiting for the perfect moment to break for second. It is also (by a slight margin) the most valuable card in the 1984 Topps Football set. Rodney Cline Carew is a former Panamanian baseball player who played first baseman and second baseman in the MLB from 1967 to 1985, primarily for the California Angels. Now that we got that out of the way, let's take a look at the list: Lee Smith was one of the greatest relief pitchers to ever step on the mound and is currently a distant number three on the all-time saves list with 478 behind Mariano Rivera (652) and Trevor Hoffman (601). Schmidt was, arguably, the game's best player for the second-straight season. Contact him at [emailprotected]. While Pete Rose set records elsewhere in the Phillies lineup, third baseman Mike Schmidt set the National League ablaze. Bench was a complete catcher as he was dangerous with both the bat and glove and was a significant reason "The Big Red Machine" was so dominant throughout the 1970s. 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. Not only is it fun, but its good quality material for a future family reunion. To be fair, though, his innings pitched totals in Houston weren't as steep as those during his time in California, and his 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings in 1987 was the highest mark of his career. $29. PSA Price Guide for 1982 Donruss Baseball Card Values - Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) & PSA/DNA Authentication Services Services This Baseball card is in very good condition, with sharp corners and slight wear on the lower right corner. Had Fred Lynn (.333) not barely edged out Brett (.329) for the title in 1979, then they would've had all nine of them. Ungraded. 5 Cal Ripken Jr. #183. PSA 6. 1. 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. Like everyone else, the shortened season didn't help his overall output but some key indicators had fallen off noticeably. Let's be clear:most of the cards from this set do not have any value these days. Read our methodology. 1981 Donruss. The card has been authenticated by the famous Beckett grading service. He also loves to write about the hobby and has written for Beckett, Topps, SABR and of course, this website. Players include Hank Aaron, Nolan Ryan & Mike Trout. In twin history, he is regarded as one the greatest contact hitters. Most Valuable Baseball Cards of All Time . Kansas City went 20-30 in the season's first half and started the second half slowly, with Manager Jim Frey taking the heat. This Nolan Ryan card is another fantastic example of Topps capturing the style and vibe of the 1980s. Henderson was also top-notch on defense as he brought home his first-and-only Gold Glove. 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. In total, Henderson led the league in stolen bases . Henderson posted a brilliant 1.144 OPS against New York, but the rest of the Oakland lineup went dead silent. 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. He is the younger brother of Vicente Romo, who also pitched in the majors. Having earned the right to produce baseball cards in a court case with Topps, the 1981 Donruss set became the company's first baseball offering. This was limited to only 504 serial-numbered porcelain cards made and it has already been authenticated by Global Authentics (GAI). . 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. Ozzie Smith's 1979 Topps rookie card is also one of the last great rookie cards of the vintage era, but his second-year card isn't a bad consolation prize either. Tom Seaver came within a handful of votes of winning his fourth Cy Young on the 1981 season with an incredible pitching display that saw him lead the Majors in wins (14) and winning percentage (.875). Baseballs hit king, Pete Rose, led all of baseball in total hits on seven different occasions. Oakland swept three straight from the Kansas City Royals in the ALDS but, the tables turned in the ALCS when the Yankees eliminated them in three. During his career, Rose was known for his all-around ability and enthusiasm. Several of the game's biggest stars of the day appeared on two cards in this set, but I think Pete Rose was one of only two guys, along with Reggie Jackson, who appeared on three. The legal system would clear the way for Donruss and Fleer to enter the market in 1981, sparking a ramp-up in competition that led to an overheated decade of baseball card production. Read our methodology. That means the card needs to be flawless. 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. $15.00. Ken Griffey Jr. Contact him at [emailprotected]. Ungraded & graded values for all '81 Topps Baseball Cards. 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. Owchinko played baseball for Eastern Michigan University. 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. . However, during early 2021, PSA 9 examples of this card frequently sold for $4,000 - $5,000 or more. And finally, we're down to none other than Rickey Henderson, one of the greatest baseball icons of the 1980s and the game's greatest speedster to ever play. Shortcuts: Most Expensive, Cheapest, List by Card # You own: 0 / 1202 items 0% Track your collection for free. He also loves to write about the hobby and has written for Beckett, Topps, SABR and of course, this website. 1981 Fleer card list & price guide. 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. A right-hander, he threw and batted right-handed. 3. At that point, Murphy looked like he was on a surefire trajectory to Cooperstown. I love both of these cards not so much because it's Reggie Jackson we're talking about, but because of all the 1980's awesomeness on display. There's no questioning the significance of 1980 Topps baseball cards in hobby history. We may earn an affiliate commission if you After tallying 138 wins and 2,416 strikeouts over eight seasons with the California Angles, Nolan Ryan signed a $4.5 million four-year deal with the Houston Astros during the 1979 offseason. That season set the tone for a reputation that Dawson would carve out as a player with an incredible mix of speed and power as he was seemingly always a lock for 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases throughout his time in Montreal. Donovan Mitchell was one of the standouts in a loaded 2017-18 NBA rookie class. For example, his .693 OPS was the worst of his career by nearly 40 points (.721, 1961), and it was almost 150 points less than his career mark of .841. Prices are updated daily based upon 1981 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. While it's not known for any iconic cards like some of the other sets of the era, the 1981 Donruss baseball card set is iconic itself for one reason: collectors now had an alternative choice to Topps for the first time in years. Shortcuts: Most Expensive, Cheapest, List by Card # Getting hands on a card like this is pretty difficult. 206 Mike Schmidt Record Breaker - Phillies. 1981 Topps Gary Carter Autograph Card, 25 Most Valuable 1981 Fleer Baseball Cards In The World, 19 Most Valuable 1976 Topps Baseball Cards In The World, 25 Most Valuable 1987 Topps Baseball Cards In The World, 29 Most Valuable 1991 Topps Baseball Cards In the World, 25 Most Valuable 1988 Topps Baseball Cards In The World, 29 Most Valuable 1989 Topps Baseball Cards In the World, 25 Rarest and Most Valuable Quarters Worth Money, 24 Rarest and Most Valuable State Quarters Worth Money, 25 Rare 50 Dollar Bills: Value And Price Chart, 26 Rarest And Most Valuable Pennies Worth Money, 15 Rarest and Most Valuable Sacagawea Coins Worth Money, Rarest and Most Valuable Charizard Pokemon Cards, 29 Most Valuable Shaq Rookie Cards Ever Sold, 29 Most Valuable Frank Thomas Cards Youd Find On eBay, 29 Most Valuable 1992 Topps Baseball Cards, 29 Most Valuable 1992 Leaf Baseball Cards in the World, 29 Most Valuable 1991 Upper Deck Baseball Cards Worth Money, 29 Most Valuable 1991 Skybox Basketball Cards For Collectors. Cincinnati finished the year with the best composite record in all of baseball but the nature of the strike-shortened season's playoff format bit them in the backside. During the rush to market, they also ended up with many errors and variations in their debut set, but that was to be expected. Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $2,000. 204 Ron LeFlore / Rodney Scott Record Breaker - Expos. The last sale's most valuable Topps Nolan Ryan baseball card is the 1974 Topps Nolan Ryan baseball card number #20. This card features Tim Maines, Roberto Ramos and Bobby Pate, all the players listed were stars in their prime. After the 1981 season, however, Ainge decided to call it quits with baseball. Roberto Ramos in the middle who was an amazing catcher during his prime and the beloved Bobby Pate who commanded respect in the outfield. The 1961 Topps All-Star Mays falls in line with the others in the semi-high-number subset. He also paced the Majors in ERA+ (195) and hits per 9 innings (6.0). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 by Old Sports Cards, LLC. In other years, Seaver used his overpowering stuff to outduel hitters but in 1981, he wasn't quite the fireballer as he struck out only 4.7 batters per nine innings, the second-lowest rate of his career. The reverse of this card is just one of the many quirks found inside Donruss's debut set. Prices are updated daily based upon 1981 Fleer listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. Top 10 Most Valuable: 1981 Topps Basketball. He was named Player of the Decade by The Sporting News at the end of his career. A rare 1980/81 baseball card. Accolades aside, Schmidt felt his best accomplishment was in one of the few offensive categories in which he didn't pace the Majors: batting average. 1981 Topps card list & price guide. Raw: $20 PSA 9: $100 PSA 10: $900 One of the most popular players of his era, Vladimir Guerrero was the No. 1981 Topps Bob Owchinko Baseball Card, 11. 6 Rickey Henderson #180. That season was the first time batted .300 or better, crossed the 30 home run mark, scored 100 runs or more and drove in 100 or more RBI. Download Price List, SportsCardsPro 2019-2023 Ungraded & graded values for all '81 Topps 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. And none of his Rookie Cards is bigger than . One thing I always found a bit strange about Yount's career was that he was a two-time MVP but appeared in just three All-Star games, the lowest amount of any Hall of Famer since the game's inception. And the reason it's worth so much in PSA 10 condition? He also led the National League in runs scored (78) and walks (73). The right card could make you rich. In 390 plate appearances (338 at-bats), Yastrzemski posted a .246/.338/.355 slash line with a career-low seven home runs and 53 RBI. Now anchoring the back of the Brewers bullpen, Fingers won by a mere eleven points. However, Schmidt led baseball in multiple offensive categories, including home runs (31), RBI (91), OBP (.435), slugging percentage (.644), OPS (1.080), OPS+ (198), and total bases (228). And they didn't know it at the time, but they also missed out on producing big-name rookie cards for Fernando Valenzuela, Harold Baines, and Kirk Gibson. February 20, 2023; Super Bowl Delivers . 1952 Topps #1 Andy Pafko. And that's when his career started to take off as he made his first of seven career All-Star Games during the 1980 season and would finish twelfth in the MVP vote. 1954 Topps #128 Hank Aaron RC. 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. Like Roger Clemens, Kirby Puckett has a 1984 Fleer Update XRC. . Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. 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. $195. Most Expensive 1981 Topps card list & price guide. Had Los Angeles's Fernando Valenzuela's not been so dominant in 1981, dousing the baseball world in "Fernandomania," Seaver would have earned his fourth Cy Young as he finished runner-up. 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. And unlike Brett, Schmidt followed up his 1980 MVP campaign with another one during the 1981 season. He won the American League MVP award with one of the best offensive seasons in league history, flirted with .400, and made his first World Series appearance. After his release by the Brewers, he was offered a contract by Pete Rose to play for the Cincinnati Reds in 1986. This is the rookie card for Bronco's QB great John Elway. 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. #9. He is ranked 33rd on the all-time list of career leaders for batting average among Major League Baseball players with at least 1,000 appearances at-bat. And, like Clemens, that might cut into the value and prestige of his 1985 Fleer Rookie Card to a . This card is super tough to find in high grade, hence the huge price tag that might shock you. The most valuable baseball card from the 1980s is Rickey Henderson's 1980 Topps rookie card. Things weren't always rocky during Jackson's time in New York, though, as they did win back-to-back World Series titles in 1977 and 1978. 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. To commemorate Brett's 1980 MVP Award, Donruss basically changed the borders from green to red on his base card and slapped the "MVP" logo at the bottom while removing the team name and position. The card from 1981 features three outstanding baseball players who were kings in their lanes. Sandwiched in between the "normal", if limp 1979 issue, and that 1981 set is another oddity. Over his long and storied career, Henderson broke many records and helped transform the lead-off position. Reginald Martinez Jackson is a former American right fielder who spent the majority of his 21-year professional baseball career with the Kansas City and Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees, and ended his career with a two-year stint for the California Angels.