This card is super tough to find in high grade, hence the huge price tag that might shock you. Ungraded. 1980 Topps Rickey Henderson RC #482. When Bench managed to stay healthy enough to be in the lineup, he was quite productive. Henderson posted a brilliant 1.144 OPS against New York, but the rest of the Oakland lineup went dead silent. In those 108 games, they played at Fenway Park where they had a record of 56-52. 1 1980 Batting Leaders - George Brett / Bill Buckner 2 1980 Home Run Leaders - Reggie Jackson / Ben Oglivie / Mike Schmidt . Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? Tom Seaver came within a handful of votes of winning his fourth Cy Young on the 1981 season with an incredible pitching display that saw him lead the Majors in wins (14) and winning percentage (.875). His .758 OPS marked the first time he'd dropped under .817 since 1968. Featured here is a 1981 Topps Coca Cola baseball card signed by Aurelio Lopez. Rookie Cards. In 1981, the 6'5 monster recorded his second straight 1000-yard season and led all of football with 88 catches. In 25 postseason plate appearances (22 at-bats), Henderson hit .273 with two doubles, one triple, one RBI, three runs scored, and four stolen bases. Average . 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. 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. After a complete-game victory in Game 1, Ryan allowed three runs (two earned) in six innings in the deciding Game 5. Over his long and storied career, Henderson broke many records and helped transform the lead-off position. 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. 1989 Donruss The Rookies Ken Griffey Jr. #3. So, for the cards on this list to be worth much, they'll have to be graded by PSA to be in perfect, gem mint condition. After his release by the Brewers, he was offered a contract by Pete Rose to play for the Cincinnati Reds in 1986. And unlike Brett, Schmidt followed up his 1980 MVP campaign with another one during the 1981 season. 1983 Donruss. Track your collection for free. Cards #1-6 in the set feature different highlights that several different players achieved during the 1979 season. | Compare vs. 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. Cheapest, 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. Or, feel free to call/text me at 305-684-6680! 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. He is the younger brother of Vicente Romo, who also pitched in the majors. Boggs was a perennial contender for American League batting titles during the 1980s and 1990s. Most Watched 2022 Baseball Rookie Cards on eBay; Bowman Chrome Cards; Wander Franco Cards; . Getting hands on a card like this is pretty difficult. Total Cards: 726. 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. 722 Joe Niekro. Ozzie was always one of my favorite players to watch as a kid as his acrobatic defensive play left fans in awe time after time as he went on to collect 13 Gold Glove awards. 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. So, for the cards on this list to be worth much, they'll have to be graded by PSA to be in perfect, gem mint condition. These are the result of decades of collecting and dealing for many companies, dealers, and collectors across America. Back to the point at hand. 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. The Padres also had some great retro jerseys during the 1980s but Ozzie really topped things off with those sideburns. Contact him at [emailprotected]. You can almost feel the tension in this card as he's poised and just waiting for the perfect moment to break for second. The wrist band, the glasses.and that awesome stache You just don't see that kind of stuff in today's game so this card perfectly captures the style of the era and that's the great thing about baseball cards in general. Jackson green-lighted the eventual signing but expected Steinbrenner to offer him a new deal as well. 25 Most Valuable 1980 Topps Baseball Cards - Old Sports Cards $68.95. 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. As a result, Topps created this monster 792-card checklist and loaded it with subsets to try and keep collector interestand collector eyeballsaway from Donruss and Fleer. buy stuff after clicking links on our site And they didn't know it at the time, but they also missed out on producing big-name rookie cards for Fernando Valenzuela, Harold Baines, and Kirk Gibson. After sixteen seasons and two World Series titles with the Cincinnati Reds, Pete Rose left the "Big Red Machine" behind and signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1979. 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. Fans and media began to take note of his incredible defensive talent, giving him the nickname "The Wizard.". 1981 Topps. Download Price List, SportsCardsPro 2019-2023 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. Owchinko played baseball for Eastern Michigan University. Prices are updated daily based upon 1981 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. And in this guide, I'll run through the ten most valuable. Unlike George Brett's MVP card, Schmidt's featured an altogether different image than that of his base card. He played in Major League Baseball between 1977 and 1982 for the Seattle Mariners and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Like the 1981 Fleer and Topps sets, large print runs saturated the market with these cards, driving down their values. 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. Wilson was incredibly speedy and was the Mets' career stolen base leader before Jose Reyes eventually broke his record many years later. He was named Rolaids Relief Man of the Year four times and led the major leagues in saves three times. 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. The season was noted for the change in playoff format, which created the first-ever Divisional Series with a qualification variant that existed only for that season; and the players strike, which truncated the regular season. He was a member of the Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, and Detroit Tigers. Rod Carew and George Brett were not only two of the greatest hitters of their era but of all time, so seeing them both on the same card is quite a treat. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. This on-card autograph card is much rarer than the typically signed cards of this all-time great as it has been likely inscribed with an 81 HRC inscription commemorating this player being tied as the 1981 American League home run champion! Boston missed the playoffs by 1.5 games in the second-half AL East race. This is a 1981 fleer rookie card with card number #418. *TIM RAINES* 1981 Topps Traded #816 *CGS 9* RC Rookie Card. 1984 Topps Football Cards: Most Valuable (Top Picks) - All Vintage Cards It was also the first Topps set to feature a monster 792-card checklist. 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. Rose hit .300 (6-for-20) with two RBI and a run scored in the losing effort. Shortcuts: Most Expensive, Cheapest, List by Card # You own: 0 / 1202 items 0% Track your collection for free. The reverse of the card mentions that over the last nine seasons dating back to 1972, Brett (2) and Carew (6) had combined to win eight batting titles. This bad boy sold for $18,500 on eBay auctions in May 2021. During this era, the Montreal Expos had yet to move south to become . Shortcuts: Most Expensive, Cheapest, List by Card # 29 Most Valuable 1989 Topps Baseball Cards In the World Wade Boggs is an American former baseball player who retired as a third baseman after 18 seasons of Major League Baseball. If so, then please fill out the form below and I'll be in touch right away. The subsets in the 1981 Topps baseball cards include the league leaders (1-8), record breakers (201-208), and team cards with checklists on the back (661-686).The key rookie cards from this set include #315 Kirk Gibson, #347 Harold Baines, and #302 Fernando Valenzuela. Reggie was furious and blasted The Boss in the media. In the team's NLDS loss to the Expos, Schmidt hit .250 (4-for-16) with one home run, two RBI, and four walks. 1982 Topps Card Prices | PSA & Ungraded Values - SportsCardsPro Not bad for an 11th round pick (#250 overall) in the 1975 MLB Draft. It's no wonder why, considering how Henderson's a beloved figure in the sport whose '81 campaign included a .319 batting average, a league-leading 56 stolen bases and a second-place MVP . I absolutely love this card as it captures Rickey about to do what he did best: steal a base. Given how consistently great Murray was for so many years, it just seems unimaginable that he didn't lead in one of those two categories at least one other time. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. The nerve! In 390 plate appearances (338 at-bats), Yastrzemski posted a .246/.338/.355 slash line with a career-low seven home runs and 53 RBI. Still, his popularity continues today, and his cards remain in high demand by kids now turned adults who grew up idolizing him. He played parts of four seasons in the MLB between 1979 and 1986, with the Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, and Montreal Expos. During Dawson's first year with the Cubs in 1987, he would lead the league in home runs (49) and RBI (137) to win MVP honors, and the fans at Wrigley instantly fell in love with "the Hawk.". Ungraded & graded values for all '82 Topps Baseball Cards. At the time, two Major League Baseball clubs, the Montreal Expos, and the Toronto Blue Jays played in Canada, where . 1981 Topps Traded Baseball Cards - The Cardboard Connection Unlike Smith, Cal Ripken's chances at the Hall of Fame were never in doubt. 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. A remarkable all-around . PriceIt Game | Year sold: 2018. . 1982 Topps Baseball Cards - 17 Most Valuable Plus Bonus Listings! 1981 Topps Traded Expos Tim Raines Card, 4. We may earn an affiliate commission if you The Atlanta Braves had used Dale Murphy at first base and catcher during his early years in the 1970s, but in 1980 they moved him to the outfield. And the reason it's worth so much in PSA 10 condition? Not only is it fun, but its good quality material for a future family reunion. Previous Article. 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. 19 Most Valuable 1981 Topps Baseball Cards In the World 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. 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. 10 Greatest Topps Baseball Cards To Buy Now In 2023 - Gold Card Auctions 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. 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. A right-hander, he threw and batted right-handed. Hold on to it. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. 10. Seaver was nothing short of incredible for the Reds that season but Los Angeles's Fernando Valenzuela was just a bit better and out-pointed Seaver in the Cy Young vote 70 to 67. By the time these Hall of Famers retired, Brett had three batting titles and Carew had an eye-popping seven. The Reds put him at first base for the first time as he dealt with nagging injuries. It didn't happen and Jackson played the 1981 campaign as a free agent. Each 1-13/16" by 3-1/4" card featured a small full-color portrait of the player with his name printed below his image on the left side of the card. Struggling through back issues and other accumulated aches and pains, Yastrzemski had the worst offensive season of his 21-year career thus far. Players include Hank Aaron, Nolan Ryan & Mike Trout. It would have been nice to see an action shot of Seaver on his 1982 Topps card but this is still a good-looking card overall. Currently, this 1981 Topps card is worth $79. 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. #6. To make things even stranger, you could even say that Rose appeared on fourcards in this set because this one comes in two variations. Like the 1982 Donruss and Fleer sets, large print runs saturated the market with these cards, driving down their values. 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. In 1980, Kansas City Royals third baseman George Brett graduated from All-Star to crossover superstar. 1981 Topps Traded Fernando Valenzuela, 16. 1981 Topps Kirk Gibson RC #315. . The 1981 Canadian version of the 1981 Nolan Ryan Topps baseball card came from O-Pee-Chee at a time when there were two Canadian teams registered in MLB. And he was still very much a respectable pitcher during his time in Cincinnati from 1977 to 1982 as he'd win around 15 games regularly, made two All-Star teams and even finished second in the Cy Young vote for the 1981 season. Ultimately, the Padres and Cardinals would complete a multi-player trade before the 1982 season that sent Templeton to San Diego and Smith to St. Louis, where he would play the next fifteen years and become a Cardinals icon. Somehow during all that success with college basketball, he also found the time to play for the Blue Jays from 1979 to 1981. Clocking in at 605 cards in total, this set made history when it first debuted. 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. Like Roger Clemens, Kirby Puckett has a 1984 Fleer Update XRC. 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. The most expensive baseball card in history just sold for $12.6 million By Zoe Sottile, . Cincinnati finished second in both halves of the 1981 split-season but ended the year with the best overall record in the National League. 1981 Topps Scratch-Offs. . 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.