At 37 years old, "Hammerin' Hank Aaron" put together one of the best seasons of his legendary career in 1971. A look at Roger Clemens 1985 Topps rookie card is shown below as a reference of the regular set design. Upon retiring, Fitzmorris had logged a 77-59 record with a 3.65 ERA and 458 strikeouts in 1,277 innings pitched. But Topps took a different design approach for the USA Olympic Team subset, cards number #389 to #404. For the collector who likes oddball issues like these, this is one of the more rare and pricier ones you'll find. Collectors could find other big names of the era like Don Mattingly, Mark McGwire, Ryne Sandberg and others but the Griffey is by far and away the most valuable in the set. 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. Regan would play one more year in the Majors before hanging it up after the 1972 season. Most Valuable Frank Thomas Cards . They were distributed as singles in packages of Mother's Cookies and there are four different Griffey's to collect. Of all the cards in this set, I think Bonds' is one of the best-looking and most memorable. It's not hard to find but it does land a higher value than his other Score issues on this list. But it still might be surprising why his 1986 Topps card in PSA 10 condition may be worth more than guys like Nolan Ryan and Rickey Henderson. As the Reds unseated the Oakland A's at the top of the baseball mountain, Bench also dealt with a very bright public spotlight on what ended up as a doomed marriage. 1978 Topps #36 Eddie Murray Rookie Card. Offered for sale at $2,500, the seller accepted a lower offer. This exceptionally rare baseball card was from the 1989 Heads Up series. The design is exactly the same as the base card but the card stock itself is higher quality with a glossy look and feel. 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. And it is in mint condition, graded 10 out of 10 by the Professional Sports Authenticator. Of all the Topps sets of the 1970s, you may not often hear from collectors that the 1976 Topps baseball card set is their favorite of the decade. When he wasn't, the strike zone was the size of a postage stamp. Topps released this unusual test issue in 1989 that is a die-cut Griffey Jr. head that was meant to be stuck to a flat surface of your choice for display. All card images courtesy of TCDB, while pricing data is pulled from recent eBay sales as of Thursday morning. On the rare occasion these come up for sale, they can sell for huge money. His only rookie cards are in the 1995 Bowman and Bowman's Best sets, as Bowman Chrome would not be introduced until two years later. 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. Below you'll see the Tiffany version on the left and the regular version on the right: The reverse sides of the cards are also drastically different. Bobby Murcer played 17 seasons in MLB from 1965 to 1983, spending the bulk of his time in New York Yankees pinstripes. But some older cards can look quite normal on the surface, while being highly prized by collectors. Like the 1992 Donruss, Fleer, Score, Topps and Upper Deck sets, large print runs saturated the market with these cards, driving down their values.. A young Griffey Jr. poses with a rather serious look, kneeling in his Mariners uniform. 5. But, Eckersley's mere presence on the bump was a reason for optimism for Cleveland's beleaguered faithful. Estimated PSA 9 Mint Value: $2,000. Or, feel free to call/text me at 305-684-6680! Well, in that case it achieved $8,600 in spite of suffering from an obvious scuff. The final price paid by one determined bidder was $1,656. Given a much-needed offseason to rest and recuperate, the native Texan returned to form in 1976. 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. Rose publicly confronted the Cincinnati front office to request a massive pay raise during the offseason. And the reverse carried key details of his life and career, including his complete major and minor league batting record. The blue borders of that set are instantly recognizable. He also established career-highs in batting average (.333) and slugging percentage (.543), with his career-highs in OBP (.427), OPS (.969), and OPS+ (181) being tops in the league. 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. It was card number 116 in the series. And this particular card was a test, issued before the main series went to the printers. Like his boyhood idol, Mickey Mantle, Murcer was born in Oklahoma and was originally scouted and signed by Tom Greenwade, the same Yankees scout who had signed Mantle years before. The three-time batting champion always seemed a lock to hit over .300 and he was always a tough out. 2000 Playoff Contenders Tom Brady #144 Championship Rookie Ticket Autograph #/100 (BGS 9/Auto 10) - $2.4 million. Now that we got that out of the way, let's take a look at the top ten: Usually I prefer my Nolan Ryan cards to feature an image of the flame thrower blazing one towards home plate. MORE PSA LISTS. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. A PSA 10 would easily fetch five figures. Long the overlooked stepchild of the main Topps line, O-Pee-Chee baseball cards offer the same overall look. This is another card produced by Topps very recently. In 30 appearances (26 starts) for the Mets in 1971, Ryan finished 10-14 with a 3.97 ERA in 152 innings pitched. Only eight examples of his 1986 Topps card have been given the PSA 10 stamp which does help boost its value a bit more than usual. And on May 30th, he passed Stan Musial to become baseball's all-time leading run-scorer at 1,950. After rewriting baseball's record books in his 3,298 games as a player, he retired shortly after that. Only 51 made it into a PSA 10 cases of those submitted. Now a recent explosion of riches (since 2020, 23 of the top 30 cards have changed hands) will shape the sports card market moving forward. 1987 Topps #366 Mark McGwire Rookie Card. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. When he finally put on an Orioles uniform, he was out of shape and visibly uninspired. Bo Jackson washuge when I was a kid and his popularity is still quite high to this day. I always loved the Rated Rookie callout on Donruss cards of that era. However, throughout the 1976 season, Bench played through severe cramps in his back. And the most valuable ones can be worth millions of dollars. 1951 Topps Red Back Yogi Berra (#1) The year this card was issued, Berra won the first of his three American League MVP awards, with the others coming in 1954 and 1955. It's not his rookie card. But that $2,000+ price tag is still not to be sniffed at! Contact him at [emailprotected]. 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. Thanks mostly to an unremarkable offense, the Reds scuffled to a 79-83 record, their only losing season during the 1970s. Estimated PSA 9 Mint Value: $600. If I had to form the perfect lineup in history, I'd probably want this guy to be my leadoff hitter. After finishing runner-up in the American League West the year before, seven games behind the Oakland Athletics, K.C. On the left, you'll see the Tiffany version, which depicts a much more lime green coloration. Many sports lovers enjoy collecting memorabilia. It's been one of my favorite Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards and one of my favorite cards of the "junk era" in general ever since I started collecting as a kid in the late 1980's. 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. It's a prime example of how baseball card values aren't always just based on the biggest names alone Ryne Sandberg is a Hall of Famer and former MVP so there's no questioning his status as one of the all-time greats. This 2020 baseball card is a serious catch for any collector. If it ended there, it would have been a befitting ending for one of the game's most lovable and durable players. As controversial as he is, Rose remains one of the game's greatest and most popular players in history. It shows Ken Griffey Jr in a full-length action shot, wearing his Seattle Mariners kit. As a football and baseball standout from Columbus High School in Columbus, Ohio, Frank Thomas was destined for greatness. Estimated PSA 10 Value: $150. Despite earning a handful of MVP votes and his fifth-straight All-Star nod, even the great Pete Rose posted a so-so 1971 season by his lofty standards. 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. Aaron appeared in just 85 games for the 66-96 Brewers, hitting a career-low ten home runs in 271 at-bats. 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. There were so many different ones produced by so many different companies that it was hard to pick a favorite. After retiring, Baylor later found success as an MLB manager leading the Colorado Rockies for six seasons and the Chicago Cubs for three, while being named Manager of the Year in 1995. Fleer has always been known for its unique designs but I was never really much of a fan of their 1989 layout. It remains to be seen if Major League Baseball will ever allow stars from that era in the Hall of Fame. Remember, the Tiffany versions were produced in much smaller quantities and were printed on premium card stock. As with many Topps cards, the reverse records key facts from the players life and career. The same card sold two years earlier for $2.8 million. The same head shot from the card of the year before makes a comeback but Topps mixed in a nice action shot of Clemente making a leaping catch. 1956 Topps #33. And, the 1976 set doesn't pack any blockbuster rookie cards outside of the Dennis Eckersley rookie. The two divorced shortly after the season. Remember the 1955 Bowman set with its television set design? This particular example was purchased by entrepreneur Rob Gough, who we had a chance to sit down and talk with shortly after the sale. This oddball item is not really a true baseball card but collectors go wild for them. 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. A one-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger, Baylor was also named MVP in 1979 when he led the league in runs scored (120) and RBI (139) to go along with his 36 home runs. On August 14, 1971, Simmons was on duty behind the plate helping the legendary fireballer, Bob Gibson, throw the first no-hitter of his career as the Cardinals destroyed the Pirates 11-0 that day. His home run power didn't return during the 1976 season, but his contact-hitting stroke sure did. Estimated PSA 8 Value: $2,000. It was offered for sale in 2022 in perfect condition graded 10 by the Professional Sports Authenticator. A dynamic power-speed threat early in his career, he eventually settled in as more of a middle-of-the-order run producer. With the help of a young Reggie Jackson, things changed. It definitely isnt worth what it used to be. You can find this card in the standard 1989 Bowman set but the Tiffany version is much more 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. Boston took a step back as a team in 1976, falling to 83-79 and third in the AL East. The card came framed and in mint condition. Griffey is shown following through on a swing in a great action shot. There was a scuff on the front left side where part of the background color was missing. Packs will be from a variety of years. They also did it with the teammates Hal McRae and Brett battling it out for the league's batting title. Speaking of great hitters, next on our list is the game's all-time hits leader: Pete Rose. His 0.959 WHIP was the second-best mark of his Hall-of-Fame career. The lime green coloration scheme has 1980s written all over it. The design is much brighter than the flagship issue and features a great action shot of The Kid at the plate. $7,500, but the seller accepted a lower offer. Many of them have been found touched up with black marker to try and conceal edge and/or corner wear to the unsuspecting buyer. It also noted that, in 1990, he and his father became the first father-son duo ever to play together as teammates. 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. 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. Finishing fourth on the National Leagues Most Valuable Player ballot, you can make a convincing case that Rose was robbed of at least a top-three placement. 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.. 24-year-old righty Rollie Fingers was a big part of that, but not in the role he assumed he'd have. The 1966 season turned out to be the best of Regan's career as he earned his only All-Star selection that year while finishing as the league leader in games finished (48) and saves (21) to go along with his 14-1 record and blistering 1.62 ERA. The 1986 season was huge for the New York Mets as they would go on to win the World Series title that year. It features both Ken Griffey Jr and Micky Mantle. 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 also led the Majors in WHIP (0.946), strikeouts per 9 innings pitched (9.1), ERA+ (194), and FIP (1.93). And today there are few survivors. The purple shade is very rare which of course makes it very valuable. 1971 Topps #630 Roberto Clemente. The variation without the stadium light is one of the most challenging cards to find in high grade in the set with fewer than ten examples registered in PSA 8 holders, causing set builders to pay a heftier price tag than you might think. Estimated PSA 9 Mint Value: $2,250. But this example came to the market in near mint condition. Most Valuable Basketball Cards 1990s: Kobe Bryant . Thurman Munson cards have always been quite popular in this hobby, but this one, in particular, is often a collector favorite. 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. That remained the all-time career home run record for 28 years until Barry Bonds eclipsed the mark in 2004. Food issues are typically not as popular as mainstream cards since they were typically only released in certain regions. Judging by his statistics with the Olympic team, it wasn't his best outing. When - October 20, 2022; 2022 Topps Rip Baseball Cards Checklist and Odds; 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. 18. Number:This is card #401 in a huge set of 792 cards. Much like the Bowman and Topps Tiffany releases, Fleer also produced a premium version of their cards that year. With the death of the reserve clause and the opening salvos of free agency, Oakland Athletics owner Charlie Finley traded Jackson (and star pitcher Ken Holtzman) seven days before Opening Day. The Hall-of-Famer still holds the MLB record for most games played without a postseason appearance (2,538). Estimated PSA 9 Value: $1,800. This baseball card by Topps came up for auction on an online platform in 2022. 1976 Topps #98 Dennis Eckersley Rookie Card. It started with baseball cards, but now there's a market for all sports cards. When people think of Brett, many times that infamous "pine tar incident" during a game against the Yankees in 1983 comes to mind. So there you have it, the ten most valuable 1986 Topps baseball cards. It was issued as a short print run, designed to appeal to collectors. The Mets and Cubs finished with identical 83-79 records in 1971,14 games behind the NL East champion Philadelphia Phillies. After six seasons with the Detroit Tigers, where he mainly pitched in their starting rotation, Regan grew frustrated and found himself traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers heading into the 1966 season. At his peak, ungraded versions of his 1994 SP rookie card regularly sold for hundreds of dollars, though his eventual PED suspension and subsequent fall from grace took a significant bite out of their value. He provided exceptional range and great defense at all three outfield positions and hit just under .300 as a pinch hitter. Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Value (No Stadium Light Variation): $1,600, Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Value (With Stadium Light Variation): $400. Yet, each of those blasts was an event, including the final one, a crushed hanging slider by California Angels reliever Dick Drago on July 20th, which brought the Aaron career home run counter to 755. 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. Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? Like other premium versions from the other manufacturers, these cards are easily distinguished from their base versions by the glossy, sharper card stock. Rare 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. 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. Its a very highly sought-after card but it seems to hold its condition a lot better. 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. Heading into Spring Training, Oliva was well aware that his days as an everyday player were probably over. It's one of a very few Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards to feature artwork of the rising start. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. 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. 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 orange version was the first of the two and is fairly straightforward in design. It shows Ken Griffey Jr with his bat over his shoulder and sporting a scar on his left elbow. And it was an exceptionally limited run. When I was a kid, I would often visit my grandparents on their farm, and one weekend, I saw a pile of maybe 300 or so vintage cards that spanned across the 1970, 1971, and 1972 Topps sets sitting on a bookcase. 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. While Dusty Baker and Don Baylor are the key names on this rookie card that the three players share, Tom Paciorek turned spent eighteen years in the league as a decent hitter and even made the All-Star Team in 1981 with the Mariners. Most Valuable Baseball Cards of the 80s and 90s. Philadelphias reward for its regular-season triumph was the unenviable task of derailing the Big Red Machine in the National League Championship Series. Theyre considered more scarce, hence the price bump. Aaron kept extending his record the rest of the season before finishing with 2,262. 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. To that point, only 59 of 16,753 that have been graded by PSA have come back with a PSA 10 grade. But what makes this one special is the color of his baseball cap. 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. In recent years, this card has soared to become one of the most valuable baseball cards of the 1980s. $6.00 New.1992 Upper Deck NFL football unopened. That identity crisis wouldn't last. We hope youve enjoyed learning more about these cards and celebrating a true icon of the game. However, the Red Sox still had work to do to get to the playoffs, as their 83-79 record was good enough for third place in the AL East but still 15.5 games behind the first-place New York Yankees. Like Donruss "The Rookies" and Topps Traded,Score also releasedthis smaller box set outside of their main release. Because a smaller amount of these were produced and because centering is a challenge, finding these in pristine condition can be tough. And Griffey's card, in particular, really captured his trademark swing in a unique format. Named the American League's Rookie Pitcher of the Year by theSporting News the year before, Cleveland Indians ace-in-waiting Dennis Eckersley came into the 1976 MLB season with sky-high expectations. Schmidt hit .308 with two doubles and two RBI in the brief series, but Cincy still steamrolled through Philadelphia for a convincing three-game sweep. 2. The 1986 Topps Traded Bo Jackson rookie card is his most desirable and most expensive card you can find. He also loves to write about the hobby and has written for Beckett, Topps, SABR and of course, this website. It would probably have changed hands for a higher sum in years gone by. Guidry did receive a roster spot for the team's ALCS showdown with the Kansas City Royals, but he was only used once in Game 4 and as a pinch-runner nonetheless. Since most collectors in this hobby tend to draw the line on the "vintage era" at 1980, many consider the Rickey Henderson rookie card to be the last big-name vintage rookie.. And while its value pales in comparison to other big-name vintage rookies like Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, 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. Ahead, we've taken a closer look at the 10 most valuable rookie cards of the 1990s. 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. This 2021 baseball card is another thats valuable, despite being made only recently. Based on our research, this is the nicest looking 1952 Topps Mantle PSA And it was spearheaded by one of the greatest hitters of his or any era, 35-year-old star third baseman Pete Rose. The seller was originally asking $5,000 but settled for a lower offer. Unfortunately, we cant say for sure. And some collectors may even debate if they're truly rookie "cards" or not since they're actually magnets. Each has 1,000 copies. Their values have since skyrocketed since his Hall of Fame induction in 2016. Estimated PSA 8 NM-MT Value: $65. Basketball Card Sets; 22T. What makes this card so valuable in high grade is that it can appear in two variations: one with the stadium lights visible next to his ear and one with the lights appearing faint and hardly visible. And in large part, thanks to Schmidts MLB-best 38 home runs and Gold Glove defense at third, they finished the year with 101 wins, nine games clear of the Pittsburgh Phillies as the NL East champs. This set was a monster and contained a 792 card checklist in total. His ERA took a step back from his breakthrough rookie campaign, but his confidence in his devastating fastball/sinker combination seemed to grow from start to start. The All-Star right fielder finished the season fifth in NL MVP voting, posting a robust .341/.370/.502 For most modern baseball cards to be really valuable, they need to have something special about them. Unlike modern day collectables that are produced in tiny numbers, this one wasnt expensive when it first came on sale. 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. The case has a noticeable scratch on one corner, but the card itself is in near mint condition. He hit his 512th and final home run on August 24th against Cincinnati's Jim McGlothin, tying him for eighth (at the time) on the all-time list with Eddie Mathews. A 1985 Topps Tiffany Mark McGwire rookie card can sell for thousands of dollars After all, most people think that baseball cards printed in the 1980's are worthless Well, this is clearly one of the exceptions. Card Description NM EX/NM EX VG GOOD; 2003 Topps Total #1 Brent Abernathy: $0.34: 2003 Topps Total #2 Bobby Hill: $0.34: 2003 Topps Total #3 Victor Martinez: $0.34: 2003 Topps Total #4 Chip Ambres: $0.34: 2003 Topps Total #5 Matt Anderson: $1.05: 2003 Topps Total #6 Ricardo Aramboles: 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. He also finished first in the AL with a 3.80 strikeouts-to-walk ratio and fourth in strikeouts (224). Brett won the crown thanks to a controversial inside-the-park home run in Game 162, finishing with a .333 average to McRae's .332. And he was still very much a respectable pitcher during his time in Cincinnati from 1977 to 1982 as he'd win The arrivals of Joe Morgan and Cesar Geronimo breathed life into the Big Red Machine the following offseason, though, and all the struggles of the 1971 campaign would be a distant memory before long. He entered 1971 with three, and that was one too many for opposing hitters. 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. But in this case, Ken Griffey Jr doesnt share the limelight with anyone else. The card was produced by Topps as part of their Project 70 series. The front showed Ken Griffey Jr in action at a game. Wed be willing to bet it was still north of $14k, though almost double the price of the card in poorer shape. 2000 Leaf Rookies & Stars Football has a Rookie subset thats 160-carrds deep. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. 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. Jackson held out for the first few weeks of the season, declining multiple contract offers from the Baltimore front office before agreeing to a deal. The back of the card explains that the signing took place in the presence of a Topps representative, guaranteeing authenticity. Along with the flagship Donruss set, Griffey also appeared in the smaller (336 cards in total) "Baseball's Best" box set that Donruss released through retail stores that year. 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. I had only seen names like that as I skimmed through old Beckett price guides but never had I seen them up close. shows a head and shoulders drawing of Ken Griffey Jr by DJ Skee. The Twins finished in fifth place in the AL West with a dismal 74-86 record, but Blyleven was undoubtedly a bright spot in an otherwise gray year in the Twin Cities. A young Griffey Jr. poses with a rather serious look, kneeling in his Mariners uniform. Nevertheless, the autographs made this an important card for collectors. And I think that the design of their 1987 cards were some of their best overall. 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. 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. Pitching for the Chicago Cubs in 1971, Regan went 5-5 with six saves, a 3.93 ERA, and 28 strikeouts in 73.1 innings pitched. Beltre is viewedas a likely first-ballot Hall of Famer when he is eligible for the first time in 2024, andthis is a card that still has some room to grow in value. Or, they'd need to be one of the Tiffany versions that were printed on premium quality stock and in much more limited numbers. And it highlights that he was awarded Baseball Player of the Year twice in four years. He did lead the league in intentional walks (19) for this first of consecutive seasons, so opposing pitchers still obviously respected him. Get my weekly newsletter with the latest hobby updates delivered straight to your inbox! This is the second card from Topps 2021 Dynasty series to make our list. Their tumultuous relationship was tabloid fodder, especially considering they had known each other for just four days before Bench proposed and married at the seven-week mark. Check Prices On: Amazon First on our list is Bo Jackson's 1986 Topps Traded rookie card.. Only five of these cards were ever produced, and this is number four. This Friday, were taking a look at Microsoft and Sonys increasingly bitter feud over Call of Duty and whether U.K. regulators are leaning toward torpedoing the Activision Blizzard deal. As I mentioned earlier, many collectors recognize some of his cards from 1987 as rookie cards as well. Some of his decline in production can be attributed to the Cardinals being lousy in 1976, as they finished 5th in the NL West with a 72-90 record. Tony Adame. His career had already been extended once by the institution of the Designated Hitter in the American League in 1973. 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. Nomar from 1997-2000, and the card peaked at $120 dollars. Under the managerial guidance of Joe Frazier, New York appeared to have a plan in place for a return to October glory. It was the franchise's first title of any kind since capturing the 1931 American League pennant as the Philadelphia Athletics. In the postseason, the Reds swept through the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees to complete what is still the only undefeated playoff run of the divisional era. The card itself is also in excellent condition it was graded near mint by the seller. Due to poor sales of the previous Fleer Update sets, the print run was slashed for the 1992 release, making it one of the few hard-to-find sets of the Junk Wax Era. 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. He returned in August, appearing in just six games before the season's end for the AL East champs. On a team that featured Darryl Strawberry and Gary Carter, Hernandez wasn't necessarily their most explosive or powerful hitter. His heroics that day lit a fire under his Phillies teammates as the team won 55 of its next 77 games leading up to the All-Star break. Estimated PSA 8 Value: $10. Entering his first full season as the San Francisco Giants manager, Charlie Fox tabbed 40-year-old superstar Willie Mays as a player/coach to help instruct the team's young outfielders. This one is numbered 14 of 24. But it commands a premium price today. 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. And as Brett ascended to prominence on the national stage, so did the Royals. Had he not been involved with PEDs, there's no doubt he would be a Hall of Famer. And in Game 2 of the 1971 World Series, Robinson reached base five times in Baltimores convincing 11-3 win over the Pirates. 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). The shock factor isn't quite as strong in this case compared to Eric Davis, however. Simmons hit for .300 or better in seven different seasons, but the 1976 season wasn't one of them. Yes, the franchise itself was only knee-deep in what would ultimately Aaron finished the season for the 82-80 Braves with a career-high 47 home runs, setting a new league record with his seventh season of 40 or more. Playoff and World Series Highlights (#461 - 462). Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. His work behind the plate was steady as always, but that wasn't enough for Bench. 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. But Griffey Jr. and the hype that surrounded him helped to immediately increase the popularity ofthis set. Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? Though it may seem like this set is sometimes overlooked, there is still plenty to enjoy within the 660-card checklist. But hobbyists still chase his 1985 Topps and Topps Tiffany card and consider it his most valuable and sought after of all his rookies. The 1987 Topps issue was the first time the company featured McGwire in an Oakland Athletics uniform and a card that many kids of that era chased feverishly. 1989 Topps Traded #83T Barry Sanders Rookie Card. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 15 Most Valuable Ken Griffey Jr Baseball Cards Worth Money, 17 Most Valuable Vintage Avon Bottles Worth Money, 17 Most Valuable Atlas Mason Jars Worth Money, 17 Most Valuable Vintage Marbles Worth Money, 17 Most Valuable Vintage Planters Peanut Jar Worth Money, 17 Most Valuable Lladro Figurines Worth Money, 19 Most Valuable Charizard Pokmon Cards Worth Money, 15 Most Valuable Antique Teapots Worth Money, 18 Most Valuable Sterling Silver Flatware Worth Money, Benrus Watch Value (Identification & Price Guides), Antique Blue Willow China Value (Identification & Price Guides), Antique Car Blue Book (Car Value & Identificatiron), Old Buttons Value (Identification & Price Guides), Skeleton Key Value (Identification & Price Guides). He also brought home his 11th-straight Gold Glove thanks to his usual outfield defensive mastery for the NL East champions. Perhaps his most significant honor, though, was his induction into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984. Some collectors consider the design to be a bit dark and bland overall. 186 Jake Burger, Chicago White Sox. The No. Another tough card to find in high grade would be the #634 Phil Regan, a thirteen-year veteran who found much of his success on the mound coming in relief. While many of the cards in this set feature a simple player pose, Munson's card is chock-full of action as he tags a runner at home plate, while the horizontal design and "Topps All-Star Rookie" trophy help distinguish it even more. They aren't worth as much as they used to be, but in top condition they can still go for hundreds of dollars. There is also a Topps Tiffany version of the Mark McGwire rookie card. 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. 20 Most Valuable X-Men Trading Cards 20. And if you know anything about the controversy surrounding the Billy Ripken card in this set, you'll realize this is the only set in which Griffey's card isn't the major highlight. Regardless, these cards will always hold a special place in the hobby and some of them are surprisingly still worth quite a bit. A few years ago, you could find these in PSA 10 condition for less than $50. The first thing most collectors want to know is: how much is a Mark McGwire rookie card worth? Different images of Ken in action grace the front and reverse of the card. 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. 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. It ended there, it would have been a befitting ending for one of the and! Come back with a 3.80 strikeouts-to-walk ratio and fourth in strikeouts ( 224 ) can! Seen if major League baseball will ever allow stars from that ERA a kid and his father became the thing. Fitzmorris had logged a 77-59 record with a 3.80 strikeouts-to-walk ratio and fourth MVP. An obvious scuff seller was originally asking $ 5,000 but settled for a return to October glory did n't during. The background color was missing middle-of-the-order run producer cards '' or not since they were distributed as singles in of... After the 1972 season the Bowman and Topps Tiffany card and consider it his desirable! 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