But rather than hanging them up after the season, Yastrzemski got to work. 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. Not bad for an 11th round pick (#250 overall) in the 1975 MLB Draft. #6. He was named Player of the Decade by The Sporting News at the end of his career. Let's be honest, it didn't matter what jersey Ryan wore or what style it was, he was going throw major heat regardless. With the first card in the checklist, Topps paid tribute to both Lou Brock and Carl Yastrzemski crossing the 3,000 career hits mark that would put them in exclusive baseball company forever. Unfortunately, the Kansas City Royals would slam the door on any hopes that Jackson and the Yankees had for a World Series ring when they swept them in the 1980 ALCS. Donruss wasted no time breaking into the hobby as they spent huge marketing dollars, targeted key dealers across the nation, and filled their checklist with some of the game's biggest names to grab collector attention. Beginning with the 1977-78 NCAA Basketball season, Ainge starred for Brigham Young University and capped things off in 1981 by being named a first-team All-American and winning the John Wooden Award as the nation's best player. Like his base card, his All-Star card is just as tough to find in PSA 10 condition and also carries a large price tag. But what Bench lacks in cardboard variations, he more than makes up for in NL MVP awards, Big Red Machine savvy, and greatest-catcher-ever swagger. And ever since his induction into the Hall of Fame, his 1981 Donruss rookie card has enjoyed a nice bump in value. The most expensive baseball card in history just sold for $12.6 million By Zoe Sottile, . After nearly a decade-and-a-half as the standard for MLB catchers, Cincinnati Reds Hall-of-Famer Johnny Bench changed positions for the 1981 season. Its nice design and classic pose have helped make it one of the most recognizable cards in the hobby, not just from the 1980s. For example, in November, 2018 you could find one in PSA 10 grade for around $100 but after he was voted into the Hall they started selling for north of $600 and continue to climb today. $29. This bad boy sold for $18,500 on eBay auctions in May 2021. The following season, Seaver was as sharp as ever as he finished with an incredible .875 winning percentage after going 14-2 on the mound. He was the clear choice for National League MVP and also picked up a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger. The card from 1981 features three outstanding baseball players who were kings in their lanes. 2017-18 Panini National Treasures Donovan Mitchell RC Auto Patch /99. Rookie Cards. On the right side were four rows of six . Raines showed the world that Rickey Henderson wasn't the only guy who could light up the basepaths as he led the Majors with 71 stolen bases while slashing .304/.391.438. Get my weekly newsletter with the latest hobby updates delivered straight to your inbox! From the 1983 season on, he was selected to the All-Star game every year until he retired after the 2001 season. 1981 Topps card list & price guide. 723 Bruce Bochte. Although his best days were clearly behind him, he still played well enough to earn a trip to the 1982 All-Star game. List by Card #, You own: 0 / 865 items It was a fitting punctuation mark for one of Ryan's best seasons on the mound. At least he was voted Rookie of the Year. 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. After all, Rickey Henderson is the greatest lead-off hitter of all time, whose records for runs scored (2,295) and stolen bases (1,406) may very well never be broken. And the difference lies on the reverse of the card, as one version will point collectors to see card #251 for more Rose highlights while the other will direct them to see card #371 for more. There are no scratches, bends, or folds. Most Valuable Baseball Cards of All Time . 204 Ron LeFlore / Rodney Scott Record Breaker - Expos. As their everyday first baseman, that put Rose on the opposite corner of the field as Phillies icon Mike Schmidt at third. Henderson was also top-notch on defense as he brought home his first-and-only Gold Glove. 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. Card Number: #595. In 2004 he was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame; in 2005 he was enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Seaver was great in Cincinnati, but he just wasn'tas greatas he was with the Mets up to that point. Murphy was often heralded as a five-tool superstar, but unfortunately, many felt his dominant play didn't last long enough to give him the type of resume worthy of Hall of Fame recognition. Price. In this guide, I will cover the 25 most valuable in the set. It was featured by the Boston Celtics in the 2 times NBA championship (1984 and 1986), NBA champion 2008 executive, NBA executive of the year 2008 is also a serial numbered card. A remarkable all-around . After the 1981 season, however, Ainge decided to call it quits with baseball. The current value of this baseball card is $199.99, it has the signature of Tim Raines. Had Fred Lynn (.333) not barely edged out Brett (.329) for the title in 1979, then they would've had all nine of them. $12.95. Baseball Cards. Are you selling sports cards that were produced from 1868 - 1975? 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. 1. Brett's performance at the plate put him well above Milwaukee's Cecil Cooper and his own impressive .352 average to earn his second of three career batting titles. 207 Ozzie Smith Record Breaker - Padres. Baines also won a Silver Slugger in 1989 and led the American League in slugging percentage (.541) in 1984. Within it, there were also several different subsets, including: For those collectors on the lookout for great Hall of Famers of the era or just a large checklist to complete, this set has it all. 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. While Pete Rose set records elsewhere in the Phillies lineup, third baseman Mike Schmidt set the National League ablaze. 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. Read our methodology. Cal Ripken Jr. Part of the explanation is that Yount was quietly consistent and playing in small-market Milwaukee certainly didn't help. Jackie Robinson | Card Sold For: $392,400. A right-hander, he threw and batted right-handed. . The current worth of this card is $195. 1983 Topps #482 Tony Gwynn Rookie Card. 1985 Fleer Kirby Puckett RC #286. During his first year with the Angels, Jackson proved he still had plenty left in the tank and led the Majors with 39 home runs and finished sixth in the MVP vote. Roberto Ramos in the middle who was an amazing catcher during his prime and the beloved Bobby Pate who commanded respect in the outfield. 1989 Donruss The Rookies Ken Griffey Jr. #3. Murphy struggled a bit during the 1981 split season as his batting average fell to a paltry .247 and his slugging percentage plunged to .390 from .510 the year before. This is a rare Topps card from 1981 containing his signature. If so, then please fill out the form below and I'll be in touch right away. Philadelphia fell in five games to the Montreal Expos in an entertaining National League Division Series. After the Royals split their first twenty games of the second half, he was fired, and former Yankees manager Dick Howser took the reins. This card is among the most valuable cards from the set, with PSA 10 cards of this type collecting several thousand dollars at best. There's no questioning the significance of 1980 Topps baseball cards in hobby history. Cards like this tend to have more value than regular ones. (Updated for 2022) SUBSCRIBE NOW! Every collector knows that theres some serious money to be made off certain cards. As you can see, some of the game's biggest legends of all time can be found within the 726-card checklist. Read our methodology . The 1981 O-Pee-Chee features the Canadian version of the 1981 Topps set, where it is uncommon to see French on an MLB card. Jackson green-lighted the eventual signing but expected Steinbrenner to offer him a new deal as well. Its one thing to have an expos future stars card signed by one of the 3 players, however, the value and rarity goes all the way up when you have the signatures of two players on one card. Keith was a baseball first baseman. Premium: Card Number: #418. No. He was a two-sport star in baseball and basketball for the Minnesota Golden Gophers, so it wasn't too shocking that the Atlanta Hawks (NBA), Utah Stars (ABA) and San Diego Padres (MLB) each drafted him. Price: $299.99. Players include Hank Aaron, Nolan Ryan & Mike Trout. While they used to be a bit overlooked, it's nice to see the 1980 Topps baseball set getting more love in recent years. Description Card Number NM-MT 8 MT 9 GEM-MT 10; Larry Bird (HOF) Shop with Affiliates 4: 185+ 770+ 21,500+ Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (HOF) Shop with Affiliates 20: 45: 135+ 1,400-Magic Johnson (HOF) Shop with Affiliates 21: 170-850 Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Although the 1980 season would mark the first of a nine-year stint for Nolan Ryan with the Houston Astros, Topps still had to show him as a member of the California Angels because of the timing of their print run for their 1980 Topps set. 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. Featured here is a rare rookie card from 1989 with an authenticated signature of Steve Avery. A rare 1980/81 baseball card. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. 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. George Riley Autographed 1981 Topps Rookie Card, 14. The Boston Celtics drafted Ainge in the 1981 NBA Draft and bought his contract from the Blue Jays and the rest was history. But he is more famous for the accusations of gambling that led Major League Baseball to ban him from the sport in 1989. Bench was also known for the long ball as he led the league in home runs twice and finished his career with 389. 1. In 665 at-bats for Toronto, Ainge batted .220, hit two home runs, scored 57 runs, drove in another 37 and stole 12 bases. After a complete-game victory in Game 1, Ryan allowed three runs (two earned) in six innings in the deciding Game 5. #8. 9 Roger Clemens #530. He also finished fourth in the NL with a .316 batting average, narrowly missing out on a Triple Crown. Featured here is a 1981 Topps Coca Cola baseball card signed by Aurelio Lopez. Unlike Smith, Cal Ripken's chances at the Hall of Fame were never in doubt. 1981 Topps Expos Future Card Tim Haines Auto. 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. And, in this guide, we look at the 25 most valuable. He also loves to write about the hobby and has written for Beckett, Topps, SABR and of course, this website. . 1981 Topps Kellen Winslow Rookie Card (#150) Winslow took the big-bodied, good-hands tight end model that Newsome brought to the fore and ran with it (after the catch!). The 1981 season was the seventh and final time. That means the card needs to be flawless. You love collecting baseball cards, right? 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. 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. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1993. When collectors think back to the junk wax era, one of the first sets to jump into minds is 1987 Topps Baseball. He finished the year with the best winning percentage of any starter in baseball (.875), notched his 3000th career strikeout on April 12th, and earned his twelfth-and-final All-Star appearance after a two-year absence. 1981 Topps Coke Team Sets Aurelio Lopez Autographed, 9. 10. 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. Owchinko played baseball for Eastern Michigan University. He is the younger brother of Vicente Romo, who also pitched in the majors. 5 Cal Ripken Jr. #183. 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. Let's be clear:most of the cards from this set do not have any value these days. The card is currently worth $189.99. While some of the game's big names struggled with the split-season, Schmidt held things together all year to lead the Majors in home runs (31), RBI (91), OBP (.435), slugging percentage (.644), OPS (1.080), OPS + (198), and total bases (228). 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. 1955 Topps Sandy Koufax #123. Here we see Yaz staring off into the distance almost as if he's thinking back on his careeror maybe he's just watching a teammate take batting practice. Like the 1981 Fleer and Topps sets, large print runs saturated the market with these cards, driving down their values. Shortcuts: Most Expensive, Cheapest, List by Card # Click on a Card detail page to see historic prices and values for all different grades. Most Expensive 1981 Topps card list & price guide. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. Not only is it fun, but its good quality material for a future family reunion. Aurelio Alejandro Lpez Rios was a Mexican professional baseball player. 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. Schmidt was, arguably, the game's best player for the second-straight season. The move worked as the Royals responded by winning 20 of their last 33 to make the playoffs. The reverse of this card is just one of the many quirks found inside Donruss's debut set. Ryan dazzled on that fall afternoon in Houston, striking out eleven and walking just three. After a decades-long stranglehold on the market, Topps lost a key court battle with Fleer that allowed other companies to produce sets of their own. Heres an amazing baseball card that in my opinion should be worth more than it currently is. However, on December 9, 2018 he and Harold Baines were voted in by the Today's Game Era Committe. Let's be clear:most of the cards from this set do not have any value these days. #9. 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. The 10 Most Valuable Basketball Cards from the 1980s. They were the fourteenth and fifteenth players to achieve the incredible milestone. 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. 1981 Topps Baseball Set Checklist. Later, his stretch from 1982 to 1987 was one of the most dominant in Major League Baseball as he was twice voted MVP, made six-straight All-Star teams while winning five Gold Gloves and four Silver Sluggers. 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, Hank Aaron, and Roberto Clemente, to . I absolutely love this card as it captures Rickey about to do what he did best: steal a base. SEE THE CARD HERE! Mookie came up big for the Mets again in Game 7, going 1 for 3 with a run scored to help the Mets beat the Red Sox 8-5 to win the title. 1981 Topps Kirk Gibson RC #315. . Rookie Cards: Options . And while Rose hit no home runs in 1981 and drove in just 33, he was a fantastic table-setter for the Phillies. The 1990 American League Most Valuable Player, Henderson also was the lead-off hitter for two World Series championship teams, the 1989 Oakland Athletics and the 1993 Toronto Blue Jays. 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. Cincinnati finished second in both halves of the 1981 split-season but ended the year with the best overall record in the National League. There were tons of errors, collation inside boxes was hit and miss (mostly miss) and the . 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. 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. The right card could make you rich. Valenzuela won both the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards, and the Dodgers made it all the way to the World Series. However, the turf at Olympic Stadium didn't do Dawson any favors resulting in knee problems that would hamper his speed later in his career. Like Roger Clemens, Kirby Puckett has a 1984 Fleer Update XRC. Rookie Card (1982 Topps - Card #21), $700 (Photo: Amazon.com) Here is another player who enjoyed a long MLB career, spending it all with the Baltimore Orioles starting in 1981. PriceIt Game | It has been authenticated and graded a 10 by Beckett Authentication Services. 1981 Fleer card list & price guide. Rating: 7.5 (174 votes) Click here to Rate. Baseball; Sets; 1981; Overview; 1981 Topps. Raw: $20 PSA 9: $100 PSA 10: $900 One of the most popular players of his era, Vladimir Guerrero was the No. 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. Grade. Tim Raines first became eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2008 but wasn't elected until 2017 when he received a convincing 86% of the vote. The continued adoption of Sabermetrics no doubt helped push him across the finish line and into Cooperstown. Here are the top 15 Most Expensive Nolan Ryan Cards: #15 1978 Topps Nolan Ryan #400 Recent sale: $898 . 721 Toby Harrah. 1981 Donruss. And while its value pales in comparison to other big-name vintage rookies like Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Roberto Clemente, to name a few, its price soared dramatically during the recent sports card boom. 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. The card has been authenticated by the famous Beckett grading service. For the longest time it seemed like Smith would not quite garner enough votes to earn a trip to the Hall of Fame. 6 Don Mattingly 1984 Donruss #248: One of the most . 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. 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. 6) 1981 Topps Traded Rollie Fingers (#761) This may be the most iconic 1981 baseball card of all, thanks to 1) Fingers signature mustache, 2) the old-school kneeling pose, 3) the Cy Young-MVP twofer Rollie pulled off in 1981, and the 1982 Topps Kmart set that immortalized the entire card in miniature. $9.99. Read our methodology. Known as the Man of Steal, he is widely considered to have been baseballs greatest leadoff hitter and baserunner. Unfortunately, they failed to make the playoffs during his first year in Philadelphia, but things changed for the better as the Phillies outlasted George Brett and the Kansas City Royals in six games to win the 1980 World Series. Most of Tom Seaver's pitching brilliance occurred during his first eleven seasons in the Majors with the New York Mets as he was named 1967 Rookie of the Year and won three Cy Youngs (1969, 1973, and 1975) during that time. He also holds the schools record for most strikeouts in both a single season and total career strikeouts with 309 in 305 innings pitched. 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. In Game 4 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, he'd return with New York holding a 2-1 advantage to try and help the team across the finish line. However, what raised eyebrows was that the Minnesota Vikings selected him in the 17th round of the NFL Draft despite having never played college football. 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. 1961 Topps Willie Mays All-Star (#579) Here is a case where card scarcity and an immortal of the game conspire to generate a value anomaly an All-Star card worth more than the base card of the same player. $68.95. Previous Article. 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. The NL Rookie of the Year Award was close, with Raines receiving 85 vote points to Valenzuela's 107, but the Expos and all of baseball knew that Raines was something special. Placing Mark McGwire's 1985 Topps card in this category may seem a little unfair considering its current $650 price tag. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The 1984 Topps Football set is THE landmark football card set of the 1980s. After rookie Fernando Valenzuela pitched a shutout on opening day, starting the craze that came to be known as Fernandomania, the 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers finished the season with a flourish. And he didn't lose any steam in the postseason, either, as he would end up leading the Phillies to the World Series title while batting .381, belting two home runs, driving in seven RBI, and scoring six runs. 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. Kansas City went 20-30 in the season's first half and started the second half slowly, with Manager Jim Frey taking the heat. Their scarcity is a result of several situations that can apply to baseball card collecting. 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. I used to collect baseball cards as a kid and loved pulling out a pack of 1981 Topps Coca Cola cardstheir design was so much better than the regular issue and their limited print run made them seem much more valuable. While George Brett lit up the AL in 1980, Mike Schmidt was doing the same in the NL and would take home his first of three career MVP Awards for his efforts. That just shows you what kind of effect being a Hall of Famer can have on baseball card prices.