1981 topps baseball cards most valuable

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. He also led all of baseball with 89 runs scored and led the American League in stolen bases (56) and hits (135). At the time, everyone thought the Padres were getting the better end of the deal as Templeton was a much better hitter. The problem was that the 33-year-old Bench simply wasn't healthy. 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. Donovan Mitchell was one of the standouts in a loaded 2017-18 NBA rookie class. 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. Now that we got that out of the way, let's take a look at the list: The 1981 American League MVP race came down to two men, Oakland Athletics left fielder Rickey Henderson and former As closer Rollie Fingers. "I had hit .300 before, but I couldn't hold it," he said. 3. However, during early 2021, PSA 9 examples of this card frequently sold for $4,000 - $5,000 or more. The 1981 Topps baseball card set consist of 726 standard size cards that measure 2" by 3". PSA Price Guide for 1982 Donruss Baseball Card Values - Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) & PSA/DNA Authentication Services Services "I've learned to stay within myself, not be afraid to fail.". 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. Their scarcity is a result of several situations that can apply to baseball card collecting. 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. Although this one isn't worth as much as it might . 1955 Topps #164 Roberto Clemente RC. A rare 1980/81 baseball card. Had Los Angeles's Fernando Valenzuela's not been so dominant in 1981, dousing the baseball world in "Fernandomania," Seaver would have earned his fourth Cy Young as he finished runner-up. 1952 Topps #1 Andy Pafko. Although Riley wasnt very popular, he was a Major League Baseball pitcher. Tim Haines finished second in Rookie of the Year voting, 19th in MVP, and earned his first All-Star selection. At 41 years of age, it seemed time had finally caught up to Boston Red Sox designated hitter/first baseman Carl Yastrzemski in 1981. He was even the first player to collect 100 hits from both sides of the plate. 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. That means the card needs to be flawless. No. While this set may be slightly overlooked in the history of the hobby, it still delivers a great checklist. Perhaps Wilson's finest point of his career came during one of the most memorable at-bats in baseball history that lasted ten pitches, sent Mets fans soaring, and broke Red Sox fans' hearts. The Reds put him at first base for the first time as he dealt with nagging injuries. 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. The current value of this baseball card is $199.99, it has the signature of Tim Raines. This card is among the most valuable cards from the set, with PSA 10 cards of this type collecting several thousand dollars at best. But rather than hanging them up after the season, Yastrzemski got to work. Cards. Roberto Ramos in the middle who was an amazing catcher during his prime and the beloved Bobby Pate who commanded respect in the outfield. 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. We may earn an affiliate commission if you Now anchoring the back of the Brewers bullpen, Fingers won by a mere eleven points. In the second half, they finished 1.5 games behind the Astros to miss the playoffs entirely. Prices are updated daily based upon 1981 Fleer listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. 1981 Topps Traded MLB Baseball Trading Cards Pick From List #727-#858. 1981 Fleer Rickey Henderson #351, #574. One thing I always found a bit strange about Yount's career was that he was a two-time MVP but appeared in just three All-Star games, the lowest amount of any Hall of Famer since the game's inception. 1982 Donruss. He played most of his career with the St Louis Cardinals and New York Mets. $12.95. 1981 Topps card list & price guide. 1981 Pete Rose Baseball Card. 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. George Riley Autographed 1981 Topps Rookie Card, 14. The 1961 Topps All-Star Mays falls in line with the others in the semi-high-number subset. He played parts of four seasons in the MLB between 1979 and 1986, with the Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, and Montreal Expos. Most Watched 2022 Baseball Rookie Cards on eBay; Bowman Chrome Cards; Wander Franco Cards; . Boggs reached 3,000 hits during his career and became the 23rd player to do so. The record-breaking card is from his rookie season and was produced by trading card giant Topps. Ken Griffey Jr. Reggie Jackson was one of the game's greatest power hitters and was known for taking huge rips at the ball on his way to racking up 563 career home runs. Placing Mark McGwire's 1985 Topps card in this category may seem a little unfair considering its current $650 price tag. The move worked as the Royals responded by winning 20 of their last 33 to make the playoffs. Grade: PSA 10. The card has been authenticated by the famous Beckett grading service. 1989 Donruss The Rookies Ken Griffey Jr. #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. . Despite the ups and downs, there isplentyto enjoy about this set. 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. Mike Schmidt was arguably the best third baseman in baseball history and will always be remembered for both his power and his glove. The card features St. Louise Cardinals Batter Ted Simmons and is worth $49.45. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 by Old Sports Cards, LLC. 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. Right around that same time, the relationship between the St. Louis Cardinals and their shortstop, Garry Templeton, wasn't going well either. Steven Thomas Avery is an American left-handed former pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). 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. 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. The Boston Celtics drafted Ainge in the 1981 NBA Draft and bought his contract from the Blue Jays and the rest was history. It has full gloss and is slightly askew. 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. Read our methodology. Although his best days were clearly behind him, he still played well enough to earn a trip to the 1982 All-Star game. 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. Over eighteen seasons in MLB, all with the Philadelphia Phillies, Schmidt won three MVPs, made twelve All-Star teams, won six Silver Sluggers, snagged ten Gold Gloves, and led the league in home runs eight times. Valenzuela won both the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards, and the Dodgers made it all the way to the World Series. There are only 7 examples of this card in circulation at the time of this writing that have achieved that gradeso they're very scarce. 1980 Topps Rickey Henderson RC #482. 1981, 1985, 1989), 11-time MLB strikeout leader (1972-74, 1976-79, 1987-90), two-time NL leader (1981, 1987), MLB All-Century Team. Total Cards: 726. 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. PSA 9 examples have sold for upwards of $6,000. Things screeched to a halt, though, when Jackson injured his calf running the bases in Game 2 of the ALCS against Oakland. Checklist Top. But, you'll remember that by 1982, Topps was no longer the only major company producing baseball cards as both Donruss and Fleer had joined the scene the year prior. 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. Today only a graded high-condition example gets that kind of money. 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. Things weren't always rocky during Jackson's time in New York, though, as they did win back-to-back World Series titles in 1977 and 1978. He earned four varsity letters, two for college and two for the major leagues. 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. 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. In 1981, Schmidt became the eighth player in MLB history to do just that. 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. Along with those of Wade Boggs and Ryne Sandberg, the 1983 Topps Tony Gwynn rookie card is one of the most important and iconic baseball cards of the 1980's.. 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 . 1981 Topps Traded Tim Raines Rookie Baseball Card #816 NM-MT FREE SHIPPING. 1956 Topps Mickey Mantle #135. Average ungraded base card value (excludes parallels) for 1981 Topps After a complete-game victory in Game 1, Ryan allowed three runs (two earned) in six innings in the deciding Game 5. Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $2,700. And they delivered a great set with many stars and Hall of Famersand one of the biggest rookie cards of the 1980s. Oakland swept three straight from the Kansas City Royals in the ALDS but, the tables turned in the ALCS when the Yankees eliminated them in three. 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. Read our methodology. He helped to redefine the value of relievers within baseball and ushered in the modern closer role. In those 108 games, they played at Fenway Park where they had a record of 56-52. 1980 Topps #482 Rickey Henderson Rookie Card. 1981 Topps. His combination of speed and power was simply some of the greatest the game has ever seen. 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. 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. The 1981 Topps Scratchoffs was a 108-card baseball set distributed on perforated three-card panels measuring 3-14" by 5-1/4". 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. After his release by the Brewers, he was offered a contract by Pete Rose to play for the Cincinnati Reds in 1986. During the offseason, the Padres and Cardinals worked a multi-player deal headlined by sending Smith to St. Louis and Garry Templeton to San Diego. You love collecting baseball cards, right? Henderson has two cards in the 1981 Fleer which feature photographs that appear to be taken just seconds apart. Pate] #479. In a similar theme, Larry Bird is featured in a card from the 1981 Topps set. Had Fred Lynn (.333) not barely edged out Brett (.329) for the title in 1979, then they would've had all nine of them. However, when do you do it? On the right side were four rows of six . PSA/DNA Certified. Jackson green-lighted the eventual signing but expected Steinbrenner to offer him a new deal as well. 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. 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. 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. In other years, Seaver used his overpowering stuff to outduel hitters but in 1981, he wasn't quite the fireballer as he struck out only 4.7 batters per nine innings, the second-lowest rate of his career. Read our methodology. Ozzie Smith was given the name Wizard of Oz After an amazing record for the most assists at shortstop thus establishing a new record in that era. 50. Tags 1981 Topps Baseball. Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? Growing up in Central Indiana surrounded by Cubs fans, I would hear about Dawson constantly as fans absolutely loved the guy, and rightly so. The card features Pete Rose. It has been authenticated and graded a 10 by Beckett Authentication Services. Value: $300-325. Incredibly consistent and productive during his 21 years in the Big Leagues, Murray ended his Hall of Fame career with 3,255 hits, 504 home runs, 1,917 RBI and set the all-time record for sacrifice flies with 128. The 1984 Topps Football set is THE landmark football card set of the 1980s. Plus Bonus Listings! $9.99. Jackson slumped out of the gates in 1981, prompting Steinbrenner to invoke a clause in his contract that forced him to undergo a full physical examination. However, on December 9, 2018 he and Harold Baines were voted in by the Today's Game Era Committe. 1981 Topps Traded Fernando Valenzuela, 16. Sure, the 1981 Topps set has the Montana rookie card, . Greatest Topps Baseball Cards of All-Time. 10 Bo Jackson #600. His .758 OPS marked the first time he'd dropped under .817 since 1968. Not only is it fun, but its good quality material for a future family reunion. 1981 Topps card list & price guide. 203 Bill Gullickson Record Breaker - Expos. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Ryan went 1-1 in two starts with a 1.80 ERA in the team's five-game NLDS loss to the Dodgers, striking out 14 batters in 15 innings while walking just three. Still, as one of the game's greatest leadoff hitters and baserunners, he was overdue to get in anyway. Contents hide. 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. 1981 Topps Baseball 2nd Year Card Rickey Henderson. The card is currently worth $189.99. This Baseball card is in very good condition, with sharp corners and slight wear on the lower right corner. This card features the professional baseball player Danny Ainge. However, regardless of what you might think of his legacy, it's surprising that this particular card isn't worth a little more. 725 Steve Rogers. Many thought his career was slowly but surely coming to an end. In 379 plate appearances (347 at-bats), Brett slashed .314/.364/.484 with 24 home runs and 118 RBI to make his sixth-straight All-Star Game and finish 27th in the AL MVP race. And none of his Rookie Cards is bigger than . 2022 Topps Heritage Baseball Most Valuable Cards and Checklist; These 10 GOATS . Cincinnati finished second in both halves of the 1981 split-season but ended the year with the best overall record in the National League. One of the most beloved New York Mets in franchise history, Mookie Wilson finished seventh in the 1981 NL Rookie of the Year race and went on to a very successful career until he retired in 1991. As you can see, some of the game's biggest legends of all time can be found within the 726-card checklist. Immediately afterward, the price of his 1982 Topps rookie card in PSA 10 condition shot through the roof. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. 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. He was nicknamed Mex because his name suggested that he was of Mexican descent. 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. Shortcuts: Most Expensive, Cheapest, List by Card # #7. Shortcuts: Most Expensive, Cheapest, List by Card # You own: 0 / 1202 items 0% Track your collection for free. Ultimately, Winfield decided to play baseball for the San Diego Padres beginning in 1973. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. Because of his career accomplishments and his overpowering style, Ryan remains one of the game's most popular players to ever play and you'll see his name in just about every set's log of key cards. 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. The right card could make you rich. The 1980 Topps Rickey Henderson is such a beautiful card. 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. JB's 1981 Fleer card is a $5 (or so) buy in PSA 9 condition. 3. 390 during the 1980 season. No More Secrets Puzzle Game, Ungraded The continued adoption of Sabermetrics no doubt helped push him across the finish line and into Cooperstown. We are user supported. 6 Don Mattingly 1984 Donruss #248: One of the most . During the rush to market, they also ended up with many errors and variations in their debut set, but that was to be expected. 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. That means the card needs to be flawless. 1981 Topps Traded 816 Tim Raines Montreal Expos Rookie Card. For the longest time it seemed like Smith would not quite garner enough votes to earn a trip to the Hall of Fame. PSA 6. In his first full season in the big leagues in 1981, Tim Haines batted .304 with 71 stolen bases in a strike-shortened seasonmaking an instant impression on fans with his ability to make players look foolish on the base paths. I remember several years ago you could find this card in a PSA 9 holder quite easily for $400 or so, which made it undervalued even back then. (Updated for 2022) SUBSCRIBE NOW! Just look at that awesome retro Astros jersey in all its striped glory! 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. Top 10 Most Valuable: 1981 Topps Basketball. 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). The previous record which he broke was 601 assists by a shortstop was done by Glenn Wright of the pirates. 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. 1909 T206 Sherry Magee (Error) Price: $660,000. And, like Clemens, that might cut into the value and prestige of his 1985 Fleer Rookie Card to a . He was the clear choice for National League MVP and also picked up a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. 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 incredibly, hed come back with a vengeance. And ever since his induction into the Hall of Fame, his 1981 Donruss rookie card has enjoyed a nice bump in value. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 by Old Sports Cards, LLC. Like everyone else, the shortened season didn't help his overall output but some key indicators had fallen off noticeably. 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. Unlike George Brett's MVP card, Schmidt's featured an altogether different image than that of his base card. He was a member of the Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, and Detroit Tigers. 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. Ungraded & graded values for all '81 Topps Let's be honest, it didn't matter what jersey Ryan wore or what style it was, he was going throw major heat regardless. Back to the point at hand. Inc. For the 1980 season, Henderson raised eyebrows with his extraordinary speed as he led the league in stolen bases (100) for the first of twelve times in his legendary career. 1983 Topps #482 Tony Gwynn Rookie Card. 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. Estimated PSA 9 Mint Value: $120. Read our methodology. Unfortunately, the strike-shortened season and growing tensions with Yankees owner George Steinbrenner got in the way.

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