The 1971 season would be Claude Raymond's last in Major League Baseball for the reliever out of Quebec, Canada. Simmons hit for .300 or better in seven different seasons and finished with a career .285 batting average to go along with 2,472 hits. Perhaps it's just because they're a bit more fun to look at. Philadelphias reward for its regular-season triumph was the unenviable task of derailing the Big Red Machine in the National League Championship Series. Regan would play one more year in the Majors before hanging it up after the 1972 season. I have a Topps 40 Years Of Baseball All Star #790. And e responded with a .283 batting average, his best mark as a member of the Red Sox. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. This 1990 card from Topps, numbered 336, shows that baseball can be a tough game! He also loves to write about the hobby and has written for Beckett, Topps, SABR and of course, this website. It was card number 116 in the series. 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. Unlike modern day collectables that are produced in tiny numbers, this one wasnt expensive when it first came on sale. One of the most iconic baseball cards in the hobby, the 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card helped usher in a new era as the first card and face of this landmark set.. Like the Topps "Future Stars" and Donruss "Rated Rookies," Upper Deck wanted to include its own version of a It started with baseball cards, but now there's a market for all sports cards. This didn't win over Baltimore's fan base, nor did it sit well in the Orioles clubhouse. Boots Day spent six years in the Majors, playing the first two seasons in a limited role with the Cardinals and Cubs before landing with the Expos, where his playing time increased substantially. Brief disclaimer: most of the cards on this list will generally not be worth anything Much like their 1988 Donruss, Fleer, Score counterparts, so many of them were produced that their values really took a nosedive.. His is another case of where scarcity comes into play in a big way as there are currently only seven PSA 10 examples of this card in circulation. The same card sold two years earlier for $2.8 million. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Get breaking MLB Baseball News, our in-depth expert analysis, latest rumors and follow your favorite sports, leagues and teams with our live updates. But this one has done pretty well in holding its value. To that point, only 59 of 16,753 that have been graded by PSA have come back with a PSA 10 grade. His work behind the plate was steady as always, but that wasn't enough for Bench. But that $2,000+ price tag is still not to be sniffed at! Packs will be from a variety of years. Four of those dingers came in four consecutive at-bats during an April 17th road game in Chicago. In 1970, Cubs manager Leo Durocher relegated Banks to a backup role for the first time in "Mr. Cub's" career. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. 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.. It came up for sale via an online auction site in 2022, and there was lots of competition. The Griffeys, along with the Ripkens, Alomars and Stottlemyres were showcased in a modern (at that time) television set design. He played 16 seasons in the big leagues between the Oakland Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals. In 1976, the Cincinnati Reds defended their 1975 World Series title with arguably the most impressive return engagement in baseball history to kick the Big Red Machine into full gear. And in Game 2 of the 1971 World Series, Robinson reached base five times in Baltimores convincing 11-3 win over the Pirates. For the second-straight year, Rose led the Majors in runs scored and doubles. But in this case, Ken Griffey Jr doesnt share the limelight with anyone else. Subsets for the year include Season Highlights, Millennium Men, Draft Picks and NFL Europe Prospects. It comes in its own transparent plastic case for safe keeping. Its numbered DAP-KGJ4 and features a great portrait of the man himself laughing. Rose's 44 extra-base hits and 44 RBI also marked his worst outputs since his spotty sophomore campaign in 1964. Simply put, this is the hobby's most iconic card so we will allow it as the only card on the list mentioned twice. Joe Namaths rookie card may not be the most valuable in the hobby but its arguably the most popular of all football cards. In recent years, this card has soared to become one of the most valuable baseball cards of the 1980s. There are two versions of this card: the regular base version as well as the higher end Tiffany version that was printed on premium cardboard and distributed in a limited 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. 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. As with many Topps cards, the reverse records key facts from the players life and career. Ken Griffey Jr and Mike Trout are both pictured. This one is numbered 4 of 5. And this particular card was a test, issued before the main series went to the printers. With nearly 2,000 graded in top condition by PSA, but with a valuation of around $3,000 its clearly one of the most valuable football cards of the 1980s. And both sportsmen have signed the card. The fact that there are only two of them has helped increase demand, with the 1995 Bowman and 1995 Bowman's Best sets containing his only rookies. Number:This is card #401 in a huge set of 792 cards. 1989 Upper Deck #1 Ken Griffey Jr. Not only did the heavy printing and distribution of 1980s era cards lead to over supply and tanking values, but the steroids scandal of the late 1990s and early 2000s didnt help either. "It was the absolute worst year I ever had," Miller said. 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. 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. They have the same look and design as the Donruss version but the Leaf logo is clearly visible in the top left. Aaron appeared in just 85 games for the 66-96 Brewers, hitting a career-low ten home runs in 271 at-bats. 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. A gap hitter with a patient eye and quick-twitch instincts, Brett looked like a veteran superstar at the tender age of 23. Estimated PSA 8 Value: $2,000. A PSA 10 would easily fetch five figures. If there is a face to football cards, this is probably it. And though the young catcher's offensive production regressed a bit, his stellar backstop work made up for it. This exceptionally rare baseball card was from the 1989 Heads Up series. 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. 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. However, that wasn't to be, as he'd last just 45 games into a dismal 1977 season before he was canned. 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. 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. But he was easily one of their most well-rounded and popular players and would go on to finish fourth in MVP voting that year. This is probably McGwires second most popular rookie card. 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. 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. 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. Card Description NM EX/NM EX VG GOOD; 2000 Topps Opening Day #1 Mark McGwire: $0.30: 2000 Topps Opening Day #2 Tony Gwynn: $0.34: 2000 Topps Opening Day #102 Lance Berkman|Corey Patterson|Roosevelt Brown: $0.29: 2000 Topps Opening Day #103 Bobby Bradley|Eric Munson: 1980 Topps Ozzie Smith Card. And much lower print runs. $7,500, but the seller accepted a lower offer. That gives these cards intrinsic rarity there are only so many patches you can cut from something like a baseball cap! 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. 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. This particular example was also in mint condition when it was offered for sale online in 2022. It's fitting, then, that his last MLB at-bat ended with an RBI. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 by Old Sports Cards, LLC, most valuable baseball cards of the 1980s. A few important parameters for our list before we get started: The No. Like the 1992 Donruss, Fleer, Score, Topps and Upper Deck sets, large print runs saturated the market with these cards, driving down their values.. 1971 Topps #630 Roberto Clemente. Munson allowed just nine passed balls as the primary starting catcher for a Yankees pitching staff that posted a better-than-MLB-average 3.43 ERA. While the rest of Minnesota's pitching staff flailed en route to the second-worst earned run average in the American League (3.81), Blyleven was a diamond in the rough with a 2.81 ERA, good enough for the fifth-best mark in the American League. In 1969, Chicago Cubs legend Ernie Banks earned his final All-Star Game appearance and finished 12th in the National League's MVP voting. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Notice the Leaf version is much more expensive than the Donruss version if you find them in PSA 10 condition. His signature written in blue ink in an elegant hand stretches across the top. 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. Donruss also released a "The Rookies" set in 1989 that was pretty much the same concept as Topps Traded. And in this guide I go over everything you need to know about collecting the 1985 Topps Mark McGwire rookie card. One of the game's all-time greats, I love seeing George Brett on this list. Do you remember that 1994 Upper Deck card we looked at earlier? It definitely isnt worth what it used to be. The reverse of the card gives some interesting projections for his different rookie cards and even shows an image of his Donruss rookie in the upper right corner. 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 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. To commemorate his achievement in 1975, Topps released this card and slotted it in the #1 position in the 1976 set checklist. It was sold via an online auction in 2022 for $8,600. His 0.959 WHIP was the second-best mark of his Hall-of-Fame career. Like the 1986 Donruss and Fleer sets, far too many of them were printed and the market is over-saturated with them. For the Olympic Team cards, Topps featured a baseball in the upper left corner with USA in bold alongside a titled banner that reads 1984 United States Baseball Team. If it hadn't been for the World Series, it would have been really bad for me that year, mentally and as a player.". The all-time leader in runs scored and stolen bases is definitely deserving of a spot on this list. 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. A young Griffey Jr. poses with a rather serious look, kneeling in his Mariners uniform. 1972 would be yet another watershed year for the Reds backstop, culminating in his 2nd NL MVP award in three seasons. Rookie Card. 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. If youve been wondering about the answers to those questions, youve come to the right place! Griffey is shown following through on a swing in a great action shot. Nevertheless, the autographs made this an important card for collectors. Bonds' legacy will forever be shadowed in controversy, but with or without PEDs there is no question he was one of the game's most talented players who ever stepped onto the field. Speaking of great hitters, next on our list is the game's all-time hits leader: Pete Rose. And it was an exceptionally limited run. Thurman Munson cards have always been quite popular in this hobby, but this one, in particular, is often a collector favorite. 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. Donruss also had a Rookies set in 1987 and McGwire was card #1 on the list. That means the card needs to be basically flawless. Its importance to the hobby cannot be understated and it's arguable that this is the most important modern baseball card you can find. While his card is tough to find in PSA 8 condition, the fact that he was one of the most popular Yankees of his era also gives the card a boost in value. He went on to rack up 541 home runs, 1,769 RBI and three World Series rings on his way to first-ballot Hall of Famer status. Therefore a gem mint condition pops up a lot more often than some other cards from the era. With the help of a young Reggie Jackson, things changed. The 25-year-old right fielder bounced back from a down season in 1970 to secure his second of 14 All-Star Game selections. 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. 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. Boston took a step back as a team in 1976, falling to 83-79 and third in the AL East. And while Dusty Baker was no slouch on the field as a player, noted by his two All-Star selections, two Silver Sluggers, one Gold Glove, and a 1981 World Series ring, he later found even more success as a manager. In fact, his 1986 Topps Traded Tiffany card can be worth over $2,000 in PSA condition. 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. While it is certainly the most valuable jersey card on the market, it may well be the most significant. He entered 1971 with three, and that was one too many for opposing hitters. 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). Milwaukee manager Alex Grammas removed Aaron for a pinch-runner, sensing history at hand. His steady bat and all-world defense earned him his 12th-straight Gold Glove, 12th-straight All-Star appearance, and a fourth-place finish in the American Leagues MVP balloting. 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. Thanks to a three-month tear at the dish, he led the American League in slugging percentage and OPS+, picking up enough MVP votes for a 16th-place finish. 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. And, since his induction into the Hall of Fame in 2021, his cards have seen a nice uptick in value. Estimated PSA 9 Value: $1,800. The most valuable cards are worth millions. This card is also a short print, adding to its scarcity in high grade. 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. And it highlights that he was awarded Baseball Player of the Year twice in four years. The set contains 56 cards but Griffey's is by far the key. And in 1971, at the age of 40, his role was reduced even further as knee problems that plagued him his entire career started to zap his athleticism. Aaron kept extending his record the rest of the season before finishing with 2,262. And its accompanied by an authentic three-color patch from his kit, plus his autograph. 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. On the rare occasion these come up for sale, they can sell for huge money. 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. 1990 Score #101T Emmitt Smith Rookie Card. 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. The Giants fell in the NLCS to the Pirates, but Willie's legacy just grew and grew. Initially signed by the Chicago White Sox in 1966, Al Fitzmorris didn't make his MLB debut until the 1969 season after the Kansas City Royals took him with the 40th pick of the 1968 Draft. 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. 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. The 1997 Bowman set was one of the most popular of the late 1990s. Thanks mostly to an unremarkable offense, the Reds scuffled to a 79-83 record, their only losing season during the 1970s. Had he not been involved with PEDs, there's no doubt he would be a Hall of Famer. Nomar from 1997-2000, and the card peaked at $120 dollars. "Fred (Lynn) played all the time, Jim Rice played all the time. In recent years, this card has soared to become one of the most valuable baseball cards of the 1980s. I had only seen names like that as I skimmed through old Beckett price guides but never had I seen them up close. 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. The two divorced shortly after the season. It would probably have changed hands for a higher sum in years gone by. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. Simmons hit for .300 or better in seven different seasons, but the 1976 season wasn't one of them. And, the 1976 set doesn't pack any blockbuster rookie cards outside of the Dennis Eckersley rookie. Finding them in PSA 10 condition is much tougher, hence the high price tag. If it ended there, it would have been a befitting ending for one of the game's most lovable and durable players. The postseason, however, was a very different story as Bench sizzled, and the team went 7-for-7 in October, hitting .444 with three home runs in Cincinnati's sweeps of the Phillies and Yankees. They also did it with the teammates Hal McRae and Brett battling it out for the league's batting title. Blyleven finished with a misleading 16-15 record, with most of his losses due to uncharacteristically bad run support by an otherwise competent Twins attack. When it comes to picking Frank Thomas rookie cards, none are wildly valuable anymore. His .304/.373/.421 line in 709 plate appearances (632 at-bats) was hardly unimpressive, but it was a pronounced down year compared to most of his 24-year resume. "The Hawk" was one of the biggest names in baseball when I was a kid. Rookie Card. Get my weekly newsletter with the latest hobby updates delivered straight to your inbox! The cards were larger than normal, measuring in at 2 1/2" x 3 3/4", and featured full color photography and facsimile signatures of the players. 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. Within the set were also several different inserts and subsets, including: Some collectors believe this set is one of the ugliest of any Topps ever produced. In fact, his 1986 Topps Traded Tiffany card can be worth over $2,000 in PSA condition. He didn't appear on his first Topps card until the 1995 Topps Traded set, following his MLB debut. Topps also mentions his accomplishments as a standout at USC and his notorious power hitting abilities. 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. Top 11 Wide Receiver Rookie Cards. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. Get my weekly newsletter with the latest hobby updates delivered straight to your inbox! Donruss wasn't the only mainstream card company in 1985 to have a Canadian cousin churning out cards for the Canadian market. This is the holy grail of 1990s baseball cards. 1987 Topps #366 Mark McGwire Rookie Card. However, he punched out 116 batters and credited Seaver for helping him to become less of a token hard thrower and more of a pitcher. Clean-looking raw versions regularly sell for over $1,000 on eBay, with buyers hoping to strike gold by getting it graded. Food issues are typically not as popular as mainstream cards since they were typically only released in certain regions. Rice kept on chugging, and by 1978, he would be crowned AL MVP. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 by Old Sports Cards, LLC. The 1976 MLB season was both a relief and a pain for future Hall-of-Fame catcher Johnny Bench. Cincinnati ran away with the NL West to finish ten games ahead of the second-place Los Angeles Dodgers. Perhaps his most significant honor, though, was his induction into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984. 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. Each has 1,000 copies. And just how much could they be worth? Contact him at [emailprotected]. His 1986 Topps card has strong eye appeal with the bright blue Royals team name at the top and that infamous baby blue Royals jersey that Brett is wearing. The most valuable Jerome Bettis rookie card is the 1993 SP Foil Jerome Bettis rookie card #6 and the 1993 Pinnacle Rookies Jerome Bettis rookie card #7. His career had already been extended once by the institution of the Designated Hitter in the American League in 1973. 2000 Topps Opening Day Baseball Card Values. 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). but he was shelled to the tune of a 10.64 ERA in 67.2 innings in 2000. 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. 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. He also led the Majors in WHIP (0.946), strikeouts per 9 innings pitched (9.1), ERA+ (194), and FIP (1.93). Regardless, these cards will always hold a special place in the hobby and some of them are surprisingly still worth quite a bit. Heading into Spring Training, Oliva was well aware that his days as an everyday player were probably over. When people think of Brett, many times that infamous "pine tar incident" during a game against the Yankees in 1983 comes to mind. The Mets and Cubs finished with identical 83-79 records in 1971,14 games behind the NL East champion Philadelphia Phillies. And he was still very much a respectable pitcher during his time in Cincinnati from 1977 to 1982 as he'd win Theyre considered more scarce, hence the price bump. This one is numbered 14 of 24. Upper Deck made headlines whenthey entered the card market in 1989with a more premium quality product. That brings us to the end of our look at 15 of the most valuable Ken Griffey Jr baseball cards. And they did it in the sweetest of fashions, holding off a late-season surge by the former Kansas City tenants to bring home the franchise's first division title in its eight-year history. Along with multi-player rookie cards, team cards, and checklists, there were also several different subsets, including: One note about those black borders: always be aware that doctoring has been an issue with these cards for years. The design is exactly the same as the base card but the card stock itself is higher quality with a glossy look and feel. 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. McGwire made it into Fleers Update set in 1987 and is shown following through on a swing with a bright smile on his face. That said, the condition-sensitive nature of the 1994 SP set's foil design makes high-grade versions difficult to find and therefore valuable. Of the three, Don Baylor was the best on the field as he collected 2,135 hits, knocked in 1,276 RBI, belted 338 home runs, and scored 1,236 runs during his 19-year career. The case has a noticeable scratch on one corner, but the card itself is in near mint condition. 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. Ryan was undoubtedly showing signs of promise and would need only one more year for a true breakout season. He provided exceptional range and great defense at all three outfield positions and hit just under .300 as a pinch hitter. Growing up in central Indiana, there were a ton of Cubs fans in the area and that gave him a huge boost in popularity. The 1971 season would be his best, as he batted .283 with 4 home runs, 33 RBI, and 53 runs scored. That means it meets one of the key criteria for baseball cards of Griffey or any player to grow in value: scarcity. 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. During a decade in which they dominated MLB, the 1971 season was a frustrating outlier for the Cincinnati Reds. 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. Classic produced two blister pack sets in 1989 that each featured Ken Griffey Jr. inside. 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. The 1977 MLB Rookie of the Year, Topps recognized Murray as one of their "All-Star Yet, Ryan's pitching performances were must-see stuff due to their all-or-nothing nature. Considered a lost season of sorts in his Hall-of-Fame career, superstar right fielder Reggie Jackson's one-year stint with the Baltimore Orioles in 1976 was a controversial case of a square peg in a round hole. Hello, and welcome to Protocol Entertainment, your guide to the business of the gaming and media industries. shows a head and shoulders drawing of Ken Griffey Jr by DJ Skee. After 46 bids the auction timed out. Within the 752-card checklist, there are several key rookie cards to chase along with many Hall of Famers and stars, offering collectors plenty to enjoy. 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. 3. Estimated PSA 10 Value: $2,000. 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. I've always liked the artwork of the 1989 Score Masters design. 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. 1982 Topps #30 Tom Seaver. Many of them have been found touched up with black marker to try and conceal edge and/or corner wear to the unsuspecting buyer. Though their black borders present a challenge when it comes to condition, the 1971 baseball card set is one of the most recognizable of the era. In 2017, one of these graded in PSA 9 condition sold for $4,651. Judging by his statistics with the Olympic team, it wasn't his best outing. Are you selling sports cards that were produced from 1868 - 1975? The Oakland Athletics organization entered the 1971 MLB season in a 40-year title drought. Similar to the Andruw Jones cards in the same set, high-grade versions of the Bowman's Best card command a premium price. Ryan was taken aback by the trade and used it as fuel for his first All-Star season in 1972. Because a smaller amount of these were produced and because centering is a challenge, finding these in pristine condition can be tough. 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. 5. Eckersley suffered through a lack of run support in many of his starts in 1976, finishing just a game over .500 despite completing nine of his 30 starts. Only five of these cards were ever produced, and this is number four. This set was a monster and contained a 792 card checklist in total. 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. And in this guide, I'll run through the twenty most valuable. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Nice shots of players in their USA team uniform dominate the middle and in small print along the bottom you can see the players name and position. It wasnt the most productive swan song on the field, but Olivas tutelage and team-oriented mindset helped the Twins finish with a very respectable 86-76 record. 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. The orange version was the first of the two and is fairly straightforward in design. The autographs were graded gem mint too. 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. 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. The A's bowed out of the postseason quickly, but they had found their closer for the next 15 years. 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. Heres a look at the most sought-after rookie cards of 10 such players. The following offseason, the Mets traded Ryan, outfielder Leroy Stanton, catcher Francisco Estrada, and fellow pitcher Don Rose to the California Angels for shortstop Jim Fregosi. The seller was a former employee of one of the four stores in Montgomery County where the test cards were released. 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. However, come 1976, Miller's role once again increased due to nagging injuries suffered by Lynn. Aaron simply produced, and he produced better in 1971 than in any of his 22 other years in the game. It was offered for sale at $14,900, but the seller accepted a lower offer. As with many Topps cards, the reverse records key facts from the players life and career. In 1978, New York Yankees left-hander Ron Guidry was the best pitcher in the Major Leagues. The 1986 Topps Traded Bo Jackson rookie card is his most desirable and most expensive card you can find. It sold for a staggering $13,000. The card features a great action shot of Smith, the NFL's all-time leading rusher, looking to break through the New York Giants 1. Unfortunately, it wasn't to be. 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. Get my weekly newsletter with the latest hobby updates delivered straight to your inbox! 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. It's not hard to find but it does land a higher value than his other Score issues on this list. 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. Or, they'd need to be one of the Tiffany versions that were printed on premium quality stock and in much more limited numbers. In my opinion, he was one of the most exciting players to watch. 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. If so, then please fill out the form below and I'll be in touch right away. Of all the cards in this set, I think Bonds' is one of the best-looking and most memorable. It shows Ken Griffey Jr with his bat over his shoulder and sporting a scar on his left elbow. Sure, there are others that are more expensive, but this card helped define an era of card collecting craziness during the late 1980's. It remains to be seen if Major League Baseball will ever allow stars from that era in the Hall of Fame. In 1971, the young core of the Athletics took center stage and gave the City of Oakland its first taste of postseason baseball. The design is simple and straightforward, especially compared to some of the Topps sets from 1970 to 1975 that were a lot more boisterous. 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. Contact him at [emailprotected]. And for baseball fans, cards featuring legendary player Ken Griffey Jr are a great find. 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