His career was far from over at that point, but Schmidt's play showed the baseball world that they were already witnessing the greatest third baseman of all-time in the making. Willie Stargell was 103 years old (or something like that) when the We Are Family Pittsburgh Pirates shocked the earth to win the 1979 World Series. The rarity of the Bo Jackson Highlights in White rookie card is quite impressive. The 25 Most Valuable Baseball Cards from the 1980s The 1984 American League batting championship race came down to the final game of the season, with Don Mattingly edging teammate Dave Winfield to win the title. That's part of it but more important are the cards' legacy. It wasnt just that Palmer won 20 games eight times in nine seasons from 1970 through 1978 , Or that he won three Cy Young awards and finished in the top 3 three other times . Furthermore, he is the only pitcher in major league history to record over 350 wins and strike out over 4,500 batters. More. However, the Bo Jackson football cards have reached prices upwards of $1,500. It all helped solidify Dawsons cards as hobby favorites, and this 1980 Topps is among his more popular early issues. And its Tiffany version is easily the most expensive of them all. This is one of his most sought-after rookie cards and is one of the most valuable baseball cards from the 1980s. Tris Speaker and Eddie Collins did it in 1925. He didnt have much left in the tank after that but did manage another 15 dingers in 1979 and a final Topps card in 1980 (two, actually, thanks to a record-breaker for most homers by an NL left-hander). His cardboard has resided near the top of the price list for just about every set he appears in for nearly three decades now, so its not surprising that he checks in with a solid showing here, too. The 1985 Topps Tiffany is Roger Clemenss most valuable rookie card. While Brett would undoubtedly be on this list anyway, this is an example of where a special season for a player can make his card stand out even more than it may have otherwise. This is because they had less distribution than regular-issue Topps cards. 1980 Topps #223 Bob Sykes (Cardinals) [NEAR MINT to NM/MINT] $ 0.39: 1980 Topps #224 Willie Montanez (Rangers) [NEAR MINT to NM/MINT] Ultimately, Winfield decided to play baseball for the San Diego Padres beginning in 1973. When found in gem mint condition, these sell for $1,500, on average. At age 34, Reggie Jackson entered the 1980 season as one of the most celebrated postseason performers of all time, but also three years removed from his last 30-homer season and five years out from his most recent dinger title. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. 1980 Topps Baseball Cards 30 Most Valuable - YouTube But, fortunately, Clemens made it into the checklist with Puckett. Fleer may have a shorter history than some in the hobby, but they produced some real zingers during their run. The 1980 season would be Winfield's last with the Padres as the Yankees signed him to a ten-year, $23 million contract making him the game's highest-paid player at the time. 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. The same design of this card also appeared in the Nestle and O-Pee-Chee sets that year and all three cards are worth around $250-300 in top grade. Brock crossed the mark with a single on August 13, 1979 while Yaz hit a single of his own on September 12, 1979 to join the club. As you can imagine, finding PSA 10 examples of a given O-Pee-Chee card is substantially more difficult than finding a Topps example in the same condition. SEE THE CARD HERE! In case youre wondering, Hall of Famer Jack Morris comes in at 27.9. He also loves to write about the hobby and has written for Beckett, Topps, SABR and of course, this website. So far, PSA has graded 265 of the Platinum, with only 17 making the PSA 10 grade. When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 10 Most Valuable 1980s Baseball Cards - Sports Card Investor Being the Canadian cousin to Donruss, you can see that there isn't much different about the Leaf design overall except for the green leaf logo in the upper-left and the French text and Leaf trademark data on the reverse. And the Ken Griffey Jr. can be worth thousands of dollars in any grade: Now that we got that out of the way, let's take a look at the list: Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $120,000. A couple years later, Rice began a three-year run of power dominance that produced 39, 46, and 39 home runs, the 1978 AL MVP award, and a rare 400-total-base performance that same summer. 1980 Topps Rickey Henderson Rookie Card 2. In 1984, the young slugger put on a clinic that cemented his spot and won the hearts of Yankees fans the world over. Only Tony Gwynn had come closer to batting .400 or better since Ted Williams last did it in 1941 when Gwynn batted .394 in 110 games during the strike-shortened 1994 season. 834 have been submitted to PSA, and only 54 were declared gem mint 10. He'd go on to win 7 Silver Sluggers over his career. Still one of the few relievers to make it to Cooperstown, Gossage is also the only one on this list. But they went for a tremendous batting shot when it came time to showcase the greatest catcher who has ever played the game. Sports Cards: 10 Most Valuable Baseball Rookie Cards of the 1990s That's what we're here to find out, with the help of the PSA Auction Prices Realized (APR) tool. Rickey Henderson's 1980 rookie card is a thing of beauty, no doubt. If you scan through the 1982 Topps base set checklist, you'll quickly remember that Cal Ripken Jr. first appeared alongside Bob Bonner and Jeff Schneider as part of the "Baltimore Orioles Future Stars" card. After tallying 138 wins and 2,416 strikeouts over eight seasons with the California Angles, Nolan Ryan signed a $4.5 million four-year deal with the Houston Astros during the 1979 offseason. But, we'll just have to wait and see if voters will ever end up giving a pass to guys like Clemens, Barry Bonds, etc. However, he and Lee Smith both received the nod to Cooperstown when the Today's Game Era Committee selected them as part of the Hall of Fame Class of 2019. Combine the low supply with the fact that this is an error card of one of Baseballs most legendary players, and you get the recipe for a highly collectible. Yes, Ripken was great; Puckett outstanding, Griffey Jr. a GOAT in his own right. A first-time All-Star and fifth-place finisher in the AL's MVP race, Mattingly's time as the face of the Yankees was here. Whether you think he got a raw deal or is just a mess of a person not necessarily mutually exclusive viewpoints there is no denying that Pete Rose lit up the baseball diamond like few others for the better part of 30 years. Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? In any given year, an O-Pee-Chee card is usually distinguished from its Topps cousin because of the O-Pee-Chee trademark appearing on the front or back of the card. The same thing that had people rushing to see Ready Player One, or even, for some reason, wanting to relive the horror of It. A rundown of 1980 Topps Baseball Cards - 30 Most Valuable (Updated for 2022). Making it much more collectible and valuable. Let's dig in Had that trend held, it would've easily made this list. 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. Many consider this card not only to be the most iconic card of the 1980s but one of the most important in the hobby in general. Ungraded & graded values for all '80 Topps Baseball Cards. One of the most interesting things about Dave Winfield, and a sign of his incredible athletic ability, was that four professional teams across three different sports drafted him. His combination of speed and power was simply some of the greatest the game has ever seen. A decade or so later, salaries had escalated considerably, and Ryan had turned into a bona fide legend as he headed across the Lone Star state to the Texas Rangers. Get the best deals on 1980 Topps Baseball Cards when you shop the largest online selection at eBay.com. Recently, the price of a PSA 9 has continued to steadily fall to around $2,000 or less. Collectors scramble over each other to obtain the most centered and flawless example whenever they hit the market. Interestingly, Ryan's highest single-season strikeout total in nine years with the Houston Astros was only 270 in 1987, a year in which he also led the NL with a 2.76 ERA. I mean, how often do you see two players reach the 3000-hit plateau in the same season? My next move was to go diving through my cards to see if I had one. Brett was one of the finest hitters in baseball history, but I think what is most impressive was his longevity as a top hitter, having won a batting title in three different decades (1976, 1980, and 1990). Best Baseball Cards of the 1980s | Ballcard Genius Lets take a look a the population report. At just 24 years old entering the 1980 season, Eddie Murray had established himself as a solid run producer with 20-plus-homer power and seemed poised for even bigger things ahead. Any Johnny Bench card is worth owning, and this beauty is definitely no exception. This example looks similar to his far less valuable 1987 Topps rookie card; however, this is the O-Pee-Chee version. The value goes through the roof when found in PSA 10, gem mint condition. The 1980 Topps set was absolutely loaded with great catcher cards, and most of them showed the tools of ignorance to great effect. But when it comes to the catchers themselves, there werent many better than Fisk as the 1980 season dawned. Parker was among the most glamorous stars of the late 1970s, and his 1978 season yielded a second straight National League batting title, along with the Senior Circuits MVP award. 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. To be fair, though, his innings pitched totals in Houston weren't as steep as those during his time in California, and his 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings in 1987 was the highest mark of his career. 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. How would you like for your favorite team to feature the top two strikeout pitchers in the game at the top of their rotation? Sure, Gwynn was one of the greatest hitters who ever played with 8 batting titles to his name, but why are collectors willing to pay so much for this card in top grade? Ozzie Smith owns the best rookie card in the 1979 Topps set and has for more than 40 years now. With just 26 making the PSA 10 grade, they are scarce in said condition. In fact, this card predates Griffey's rise to fame, as he became one of the sport's most beloved figures in the 90s. The total Topps count is at 13,308! And 5 to 10 of each in blank back proof. Lets look at the population report and see just how rare the Frank Thomas cards are. If you do the math on those 2,416 strikeouts he accumulated during his time with the Angels, that meant heaveraged302 strikeouts per season, a mark many pitchers would be lucky to reach even once during their careers. And they delivered a great set with many stars and Hall of Famersand one of the biggest rookie cards of the 1980s. Regardless of its market value at any given point in time, the significance of this rookie card cannot be overstated as it's one of the most expensive cards from the 1980s. I think Id have a problem with a guy like that, but maybe Im just small. The course of Seaver's career would take a significant turn at the trading deadline in 1977, though, when he was involved in "the Midnight Massacre" that sent him to the Reds. But, value aside, I wanted to highlight it as it's impossible to talk about 1980s baseball cards without mentioning this card. His best year was 1989, with his effort earning him All-Star status. And, like the 1980 Topps set that preceded it, the centering and print quality challenges with the 1981 Topps set didn't improve all that much and only boost its value in high grade even more. 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. 29 Most Valuable 1980 Topps Baseball Cards In the World A PSA 10 example price is through the roof with a meager supply and very high demand. Smith earned the first of those Gold Gloves during the 1980 season when he also set the single-season record for most assists by a shortstop with an astronomical total of 621. When graded gem mint 10 by PSA, the value has gone as high as $180,000. Today, Murphys 1980 Topps card stands as a hunk of hobby and MLB history, listing the Atlanta legend at C-1B even as he was on his way to a Gold Glove future on the grass. Recently, the price of a PSA 9 has continued to steadily fall to around $2,000 or less. For example, as of this writing, there are just under 700 examples of Gwynn's Topps rookie card that achieved PSA 10 grade status, while there are over 13,000 examples of Ken Griffey Jr.'s 1989 Topps Traded rookie graded in PSA 10 holders. The legal system would clear the way for Donruss and Fleer to enter the market in 1981, sparking a ramp-up in competition that led to an overheated decade of baseball card production. Nolan Ryan is arguably one of the best pitchers the MLB has ever seen. Top 25 Most Valuable Baseball Cards from the 1990's - Rookie Cards Only. The 1977 AL Rookie of the Year, Eddie Murray made his cardboard debut in the 1978 Topps set, making his rookie card one of the most iconic of the 1970s. These sets were given to card shops as limited edition sets and not sold in stores. 1997 Bowman Chrome #182 Adrian Beltre Buy on eBay #10. Although Jeff Schneider and Bob Bonner didnt have much of a career in the Major Leagues, the player centered in the middle sure did. 1992 Fleer Update #U-92 Mike Piazza Buy on eBay . Regardless of its market value at any given point in time, the significance of this rookie card cannot be overstated as, again, the 1980 Topps set signaled the end of the vintage era. 1980 Topps Baseball Cards for sale | eBay Even though some baseball cards might not necessarily be iconic, they can stick out in your memory for simpler reasons, and Henderson's second-year card is one of those in my case. So the 1980 Topps set is historic because it was the last issue of Topps (original) monopoly. So, many collectors dont even know they exist. This makes the PSA 10 population just 4% of the entire graded population. If you continue to use this site, we'll assume you're OK with that. The 1985 Leaf set was much smaller than its Donruss counterpart as it included only 264 cards instead of 660. Top players include Cal Ripken Jr., Ken Griffey Jr., Greg Maddux, Randy Johnson, Tony Gwynn, Dwight Gooden, Rickey Henderson, Don Mattingly, Kirby Puckett, Roger Clemens, Ryne Sandberg, Barry Bonds, Wade Boggs and Mark McGwire. 25 Most Valuable 1984 Topps Baseball Cards - Old Sports Cards It took less than a month for Mattingly to convince Berra otherwise. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. This is why the 1980 Topps card sold for an impressive $2,400. This drives the $2,000 price tag behind this legendary players card. - http://bit.ly/WaxPackGodsYTSubhttps://WaxPackGods.comhttps://w. 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. Adjusting from the American League to the National League may have been the root cause for the drop-off. Considered by many to be the best defensive shortstop of all time, Smith won an incredible thirteen Gold Gloves over nineteen seasons in Major League Baseball. With 76 in population, the Frank Thomas card owns 37% of the report for the entire set. The young, bearded lefty poses in his White Sox uniform on his 1981 Topps rookie card, which has received a nice boost in price ever since his Hall of Fame induction. Overall, he had a solid professional baseball career, but he didn't quite put up the kind of Hall of Fame resum needed for induction when he was first eligible in 2007. In 1989, Jackson ranked fourth in the American League in both home runs, with 32, and RBI, 105. That effort would place him sixth in MVP voting and solidify his reputation for similar, consistent production over the rest of his Hall of Fame career. Nolan Ryan made his debut with the Houston Astros in 1980 and that season was a bit unusual for him for one glaring reason:he did not lead the league in strikeouts. Most Valuable Baseball Cards from the 1980s Price Guide & Values Lets look at how many reside in a PSA case. Along with those of Wade Boggs and Ryne Sandberg, the 1983 ToppsTony Gwynn rookie card is one of the most iconic baseball cards of the 1980s. Finishing with 33 home runs, the young center fielder even picked up some down-ballot MVP votes, foreshadowing the dual hardware hed win in 1982 and 1983. It was the only time in his career where he batted .300, and he also led the league in home runs with 41 round-trippers. There is a lot of speculation about how it hit the market with no definitive answers. For the true Bo Jackson collector, this card is a must-have for your collection. I love how Ryan's orange Houston Astros cap and the cartoon hat in the lower-left corner work in unison to give this card some fantastic visual pop. Of all his rookie cards, the 1986 Topps Traded is the most desirable and expensive card you can find. With the bright orange curved borders and team and player names, the design of the card pairs up nicely with the Orioles team colors. 20 Most Valuable Topps Baseball Rookie Cards Of The 1970s Because, after J.R. Richard led the National League with 313 Ks in 1979, the Stros signed Nolan Ryan as a free agent that offseason and The Express had topped the Junior Circuit with 223 punchouts in his last year with the Angels. More. The hype surrounding Ken Griffey Jr. turned out to be well-placed as the legendary slugger went on to a Hall of Fame career. In addition to the low population, Pete Rose cards are highly collectible, and the set design for the 81 Topps cards has a nice early baseball card touch. Are you selling sports cards that were produced from 1868 - 1975? Either way, they are pretty rare and valuable. After two years of bouncing back and forth from Triple-A Columbus and the Bronx, first baseman/outfielder Don Mattingly was relieved when Yankees manager Yogi Berra declared intentions to keep him with the big club for all of 1984. No wonder his rookie card has led the way for the 1980 Topps set in terms of value for more than 30 years. PSA has seen just 516 of the O-Pee-Chee Barry Bonds rookie cards. In today's market, expect to pay around $400 for the base version of this card in gem mint condition and around $11,000 for the Tiffany version. With over 2,200 George Brett cards graded by PSA, most will agree they are highly collectible. Schmidt was already a three-time home run champ as the 1980 season dawned, but his profile as a big-strikeout slugger entering his 30s had a history of not aging all that well. Because there are only 25 gem mints, the next one could fetch even more. By the time Rose passed the Georgia Peach on September 11, 1985, his cards were the hottest in the hobby, and theyve stayed near the top of every set since. All Mr. October did that summer was pace the American League with 41 home runs, lead the Yankees to another AL East title, and finish second in MVP voting. Not bad for an 11th round pick (#250 overall) in the 1975 MLB Draft. This is one of Cal Ripkens most valuable baseball cards and of the most valuable from the 80s. Otherwise, if found in PSA 9 condition, it would have sold considerably less at around $90. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. For some reason, Topps did not include every member of the team as they notably left out players like Barry Larkin and Will Clark, among others. This is the sole reason it fetched a $1,740 auction price. Another valuable card from the 1985 Topps Tiffany set is the Roger Clemens rookie card #181. 5 Most Valuable Baseball Cards 1980s: Including Henderson And Ripken Jr. By Duane Beckett November 30, 2022 The hunt for the most valuable baseball cards. 25 Most Valuable 1989 Topps Baseball Cards - Old Sports Cards They are selling for over $1,500 today, which means they have tripled in value. Part of the explanation is that Yount was quietly consistent and playing in small-market Milwaukee certainly didn't help. From stabbing a ball in the air with a catchers mitt to gunning down a would-be base stealer to staring down an unseen umpire or willful pitcher, Topps caught it all in this set. I was stunned when I read the price next to the Barry Bonds error card. When Murph turned up the heat even more in 1980, though, he garnered enough attention to make his first All-Star Game. The last PSA 10 sold for more than $76,000. Collectors find rookie cards are some of the most valuable baseball cards to collect from any player. The young speedster was brilliant on offense as he batted .319 (nearly a career-high) and led the league in runs scored (89), hits (135), and stolen bases (56). Can you guess which pitcher recorded the most Wins Above Replacement (WAR) in the 1980s? Jackson's time in New York wasn't exactly smooth as he occasionally clashed with teammates, manager Billy Martin and owner George Steinbrenner, contributing to an environment that earned the team the nickname "The Bronx Zoo.". However, 1,098 were submitted and graded, with just 47 making the gem mint 10 grade. However, he was openly disappointed with Berra's assertion in Spring Training that he'd open the season on the bench. Essentially, collectors are buying the grade of the card. Murray was one of the greatest first basemen to ever play the game but his cards seem to be a bit overlooked at times. In the end, Mullet landed at .390, but it was good enough to cop the AL MVP award and solidify his status as an all-timer and to make this 1980 Topps card a stone-cold classic. Because this error card has a lot of humor, collectors naturally want it in their collection. The baseball card hobby changed forever in 1981 when both Fleer and Donruss began producing little swatches of cardboard with athletes on the front, finally putting a stop to Topps monopoly. Due to the low print run of the letters in white variation, they are much more valuable than the copies with yellow text. Learn more in this look at the 25 most valuable! Of the many Barry Bonds rookie cards, his 1986 Topps Traded Tiffany rookie card is one of the most valuable. This is, hands down, his best rookie card to date. Pitchers with 300 Wins and Their Baseball Cards. Or that he and his Baltimore Orioles were, like, always in or winning the World Series. Furthermore, there have only been 6 found in gem mint conditions. Like anything in life, demand couldn't keep up with that increasing supply. The greatest catcher of all time, Johnny Bench played in seventeen seasons with the Cincinnati Reds from 1967 to 1983, and in 2011 the team erected a statue in his honor at Great American Ballpark. Of those submitted, 271 have been declared PSA 10 gem mint condition. Checklist, information, prices & values on 1980 Topps vintage Baseball cards set and price guide. The most valuable baseball card from the 1980s is Rickey Hendersons 1980 Topps rookie card. Nicknamed 'The Rocket' for his superb fastball - which often reached 95 miles per hour - William Roger Clemens was another baseball hero of the 80s. So, if you want a copy in gem mint condition, prepare to dish out over $800. Over 22 seasons in Major League Baseball, Harold Baines appeared in six All-Star games, hit 384 home runs, tallied 1,628 RBI, and scored another 1,299 runs. The third key Hall of Fame rookie card in the iconic 1983 Topps set belongs to Chicago Cubs legend, Ryne Sandberg. (Note: This post contains affiliate links if you click one to go over to eBay or Amazon and buy something while youre there, well receive a small commission at no extra charge to you. His star only got brighter once he landed with the New York Yankees in 1978, and he steamrolled right on through the 1980s and into the 1990s as a fearsome competitor and fan favorite. By the time this card found its way into collectors hands, Ryan was gearing up for his run with the Houston Astros, thanks to a landmark contract. Gibson pumping his fist in excitement as he rounded the bases is one of the most memorable moments in baseball history. The highest priced PSA 10 condition card from the 1970 Topps baseball set is currently the Thurman Munson. The photographer and the entire Fleer printing team did not miss this. With 29,032 cards in the PSA pop report, the 1982 Topps Ripken rookie card has one of the highest population reports of all 1980s baseball cards. Despite this seemingly unjustified absence from more "Midsummer Classics," Yount is considered to be the greatest Milwaukee Brewer in the franchise's history. And there are several rookie cards in this set. 1986 Donruss Highlights cards have two versions printed. These hardly ever pop up on eBay; when they do, they sell quickly. From 1984 to 1991, Topps released a limited number of premium, higher-end versions of their base sets that they branded as the Topps Tiffany line. But you dont usually see the two guys on the same card, right? What follows, then, is a list of the 10 most valuable 1980 Topps baseball cards in PSA 9 NM-MT condition, according to APR. But, PSA 10 examples of this card can sell forsix figures. After the 1986 season, Dawson left Montreal as a free agent for the Chicago Cubs, where he would become their everyday right fielder on a much more knee-friendly grass field. 1980 Topps George Brett Card 4. It changed the game when it first hit the market. For fans who followed baseball in the 1970s and 1980s, its sort of hard to believe that Garvey fell short of Hall of Fame standards by most reckonings. 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. This is one of the hobbys most iconic and recognizable error cards. The 1980 season turned out to be historic for George Brett as he won the only MVP of his legendary career and fell just short of batting .400 on the year with an eye-popping .390 average. The availability of this set is much more limited than the regular issue Topps Traded set. 10 Most Valuable 1980s Baseball Cards - Wax Pack Gods Prices for 1980 Topps Baseball Cards 1980 Topps card list & price guide. Consider picking up a PSA mint 9 copy for far less. As the legend goes, Dave Winfield could play and excel at any sport that ever saw the light of day while he was in Minnesota, and he was given an opportunity to undertake most of them professionally. The Most Expensive PSA 10 Topps Baseball Cards of the 70s - Unopened packs What follows, then, is a list of the 10 most valuable 1980 Topps baseball cards in PSA 9 NM-MT condition, according to APR. This particular card was graded by PSA and found to be in gem mint 10 conditions. 9 of the Most Valuable Baseball Cards in History | HISTORY In case you forgot, Ryan signed a four-year, $4.5 million deal with the Astros in November 1979, and the baseball world was aghast at the thought of the first million-dollar-per-year player. For that reason, finding a 1987 O-Pee-Chee Barry Bonds rookie in pristine condition is quite challenging, but if you do, you'll see them sell for around $12,000 or so. Trammell was just 22 years old entering the 1980 season but had already established himself as the Tigers shortstop with two solid seasons under his belt. What is known as the Highlights in White version has white text, while the intended version has yellow letters, which have a much higher print run.