1981 topps baseball cards most valuable 1981 topps baseball cards most valuable

1981 Topps Expos Future Card Tim Haines Auto. Greatest Topps Baseball Cards of All-Time. One of the most memorable cards in the '91 Topps set, this horizontal stunner shows Clemens posing in front of Fenway Park's famed scoreboard. 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. Unfortunately, the strike-shortened season and growing tensions with Yankees owner George Steinbrenner got in the way. 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. Top 10 Most Valuable: 1981 Topps Basketball. His full name is Peter Edward Rose and was a professional baseball player who managed to exceed Ty Cobbs record for the number of hits in a career. Tim Raines & Ramos Autographed 1981 Topps Rookie Card, 12. He played in Major League Baseball between 1977 and 1982 for the Seattle Mariners and the Pittsburgh Pirates. The defending AL champions were a mess early, though. Total Cards: 726. At least he was voted Rookie of the Year. They finished the season with a .546 winning percentage in front of 1,060,379 fans who saw them play. 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. . 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. 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. Shortcuts: Most Expensive, Cheapest, List by Card # You own: 0 / 1202 items 0% Track your collection for free. Baseball; Sets; 1981; Overview; 1981 Topps. And none of his Rookie Cards is bigger than . 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. 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. During the rush to market, they also ended up with many errors and variations in their debut set, but that was to be expected. An Enrique Romo Signed Baseball card that has been authenticated by a grading service is pretty hard to find. The nerve! Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. Now anchoring the back of the Brewers bullpen, Fingers won by a mere eleven points. 1981 Topps Bob Owchinko Baseball Card, 11. 1955 Topps #164 Roberto Clemente RC. Thats why everyone is constantly asking the question: What are the most valuable 1981 Topps baseball cards?. Fans and media began to take note of his incredible defensive talent, giving him the nickname "The Wizard.". 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. PSA 9 examples have sold for upwards of $6,000. And ever since his induction into the Hall of Fame, his 1981 Donruss rookie card has enjoyed a nice bump in value. Even though the image is kind of ghostly (see his right shoulder) on this card, it's my favorite of his three cards in this set given its an action shot. Ryan's stellar age-34 campaign earned him his sixth All-Star selection, a fourth-place finish in the National League's Cy Young race, and a 16th-place finish in the NL's MVP balloting. . But, hey, that's the kind of excitement that he brought to the game: you never knew if he were going to bury one over the fence or get sent right back to the dugout. 9 Roger Clemens #530. When it comes to Rookie Cards, 1981 Topps is one . 3. Instead, he was more of a craftsman on the mound and outsmarted hitters to allow a career-low 6.5 hits per nine innings. Like the 1981 Fleer and Topps sets, large print runs saturated the market with these cards, driving down their values. 1981 Reggie Jackson Topps Project 70 Card, 10. 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. You'd think a third baseman with that kind of power wouldn't have had the best defensive skills but no, Schmidt was amazing on defense as well as he'd go on to win 10 Gold Gloves. 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. 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. 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. In the second half, they finished 1.5 games behind the Astros to miss the playoffs entirely. 29 Surprisingly Cheap: 1985 Mark McGwire Topps. Baines also won a Silver Slugger in 1989 and led the American League in slugging percentage (.541) in 1984. While Pete Rose set records elsewhere in the Phillies lineup, third baseman Mike Schmidt set the National League ablaze. That just shows you what kind of effect being a Hall of Famer can have on baseball card prices. 3. But, this will always be the set that got their foot into the red-hot market of the 1980s. 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. 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. The Reds finished a half-game behind the Dodgers in the NL West in the first half. Sandwiched in between the "normal", if limp 1979 issue, and that 1981 set is another oddity. Pictured as a member of the New York Yankees, Jackson was actually traded to the California Angels for the 1982 season where he'd play for five seasons before heading back to Oakland for one final season. For a guy who had his rookie card debut in the 1960 Topps set, it's impressive that Yaz played long enough to be featured in this set as well. This card is worth $45 but could go higher. And in this guide, I'll run through the ten most valuable. Recently, the price of a PSA 9 has continued to steadily fall to around $2,000 or less. Brett's career batting average of .305 wasn't quite as good, but he did put up the better single-season effort when he batted. He also loves to write about the hobby and has written for Beckett, Topps, SABR and of course, this website. 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. Get my weekly newsletter with the latest hobby updates delivered straight to your inbox! His .758 OPS marked the first time he'd dropped under .817 since 1968. 204 Ron LeFlore / Rodney Scott Record Breaker - Expos. 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. Average ungraded base card value (excludes parallels) for 1981 Topps This is the rookie card for Bronco's QB great John Elway. 1. If not for Fernando Valenzuela's incredible rookie performance and "Fernandomania" taking the sport by storm, Raines would've easily won the 1981 NL Rookie of the Year Award. Ungraded & graded values for all '81 Fleer Baseball Cards. Roland Glen Fingers was an American right-handed relief pitcher who played for three teams between 1968 and 1985. Prices are updated daily based upon 1981 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. 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. 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. Most Valuable Baseball Cards of All Time . He struggled in 1980 (by his terms) with a career-worst 3.64 ERA and a career-low ten wins. It was also the first Topps set to feature a monster 792-card checklist. #6. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. Bench is somewhat of an anomaly on this list, showing up with only one 1981 Fleer card, and all. Still, his popularity continues today, and his cards remain in high demand by kids now turned adults who grew up idolizing him. Most Expensive He also led all of baseball with 89 runs scored and led the American League in stolen bases (56) and hits (135). But, I'm a big fan of this set regardless. Players include Hank Aaron, Nolan Ryan & Mike Trout. The 1984 Topps Football set is THE landmark football card set of the 1980s. On May 29th against the San Francisco Giants, Bench slid into second base, attempting to break up a double play but fractured his left ankle in the process. 206 Mike Schmidt Record Breaker - Phillies. However, when do you do it? Accolades aside, Schmidt felt his best accomplishment was in one of the few offensive categories in which he didn't pace the Majors: batting average. 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. This Baseball card is in very good condition, with sharp corners and slight wear on the lower right corner. List; Gallery; Gallery - 6 Cards per Page; Gallery - 8 Cards per Page; Gallery - 9 Cards per Page; Ungraded & graded values for all '82 Topps Baseball Cards. There were tons of errors, collation inside boxes was hit and miss (mostly miss) and the . Boggs was a perennial contender for American League batting titles during the 1980s and 1990s. In twin history, he is regarded as one the greatest contact hitters. Things screeched to a halt, though, when Jackson injured his calf running the bases in Game 2 of the ALCS against Oakland. Price. SportsCardsPro Index: 1982 Topps. Inc. In 196 plate appearances (178 at-bats), he slashed .309/.369/.489 with eight home runs and 25 RBI. However, on December 9, 2018 he and Harold Baines were voted in by the Today's Game Era Committe. 203 Bill Gullickson Record Breaker - Expos. 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. He also led the National League in runs scored (78) and walks (73). It has been certified authentic by Beckett Authentication (BAS) and comes encapsulated in their tamper-proof holder. Though it may be light on key rookie cards, this set is certainly not light on stars and Hall of Famers. buy stuff after clicking links on our site 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. 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. On the field, Jackson had his worst offensive season since his sophomore campaign as he slashed a modest .237/.330/.428 with 15 home runs and 54 RBI. In 1981, the Boston Red Sox played 108 games during the regular season and won 59 of those games, losing 49. 1981 Topps Baseball 2nd Year Card Rickey Henderson, 3. Before Danny Ainge found success at the professional level in basketball as a player, coach and executive, he made his professional sports debut for the Toronto Blue Jays in 1979while he was still in college. 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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. In 493 plate appearances (423 at-bats), Henderson posted a robust .319/.408/.437 slash line with nine home runs and 53 RBI while winning his first of three Silver Sluggers. 1983 Topps #482 Tony Gwynn Rookie Card. 0% From there you can also add a Card to your collection or wishlist. #5. Topps has dominated the baseball card scene for the past six decades, issuing a set in every year . You can't help but think Topps was trying to produce as many cards as possible to keep collectors interested and to try and keep Donruss and Fleer, who had joined the scene in 1981, at bay. He also had a flair for the big hit and helped Philadelphia to a 34-21 record in the first half to secure a playoff spot for the Phillies halfway through the season. Ken Griffey Jr. Throughout his career, Carter was known for his hitting and excellent defense, as well as his ability to handle pitchers. The reverse of this card is just one of the many quirks found inside Donruss's debut set. The three-time MVP would smash 548 home runs over his career as he led the league in that category an amazing 8 times. Gary Carter, nicknamed Kid and The Kid, was a professional baseball player whose 19-year career in Major League Baseball was spent primarily with the Montreal Expos and New York Mets. Year sold: 2018. . Price: $299.99. Houston went just 28-29 in the first half but won the NL West's second half at 33-20. However, his relationship with the San Diego Padres ownership continued to sour and by season's end, both were looking to move on from each other. Murphy was outstanding during the 1980s as he racked up two MVPs, seven All-Star selections, five Gold Gloves, and four Silver Sluggers on his way to becoming one of the most popular players in baseball. And incredibly, hed come back with a vengeance. 202 Steve Carlton Record Breaker - Phillies. Their scarcity is a result of several situations that can apply to baseball card collecting. Valenzuela won both the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards, and the Dodgers made it all the way to the World Series. After fifteen-straight All-Star appearances from 1965-79, Yastrzemski was left out of the Midsummer Classic for the second year in a row in 1981. However, due to market conditions, values fluctuate. He was named Rolaids Relief Man of the Year four times and led the major leagues in saves three times. Contact him at [emailprotected]. At the time, two Major League Baseball clubs, the Montreal Expos, and the Toronto Blue Jays played in Canada, where . You are looking at a 1981 Topps Rookie Card hand-signed by George Riley. There's a shot of the player in Celtics training gear, staring off-camera with his hands hidden behind the green border. 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. 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. Tags 1981 Topps Baseball. This is a 1981 fleer rookie card with card number #418. The most valuable baseball card from the 1980s is Rickey Henderson's 1980 Topps rookie card. It didn't happen and Jackson played the 1981 campaign as a free agent. 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. Every collector knows that theres some serious money to be made off certain cards. From the 1983 season on, he was selected to the All-Star game every year until he retired after the 2001 season. Back to the point at hand. 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. 1981 Topps Enrique Romo Signed Pittsburgh Pirates, 15. 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. 1981 Topps Traded 816 Tim Raines Montreal Expos Rookie Card. Coming off a 1980 season in which he finished runner-up for the AL MVP award, New York Yankees right fielder Reggie Jackson looked to keep the momentum going in 1981. While eligible for induction, Murphy peaked at 23% of the vote in 2000, falling well short of the 75% needed for entry. 1981 Fleer Rickey Henderson #351, #574. 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 . A right-hander, he threw and batted right-handed. Grade: PSA 10. At that point, Murphy looked like he was on a surefire trajectory to Cooperstown. 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.