In 1981, Donruss and Fleer gave Topps some much-needed competition. For his regular-season efforts, Rose earned the only Silver Slugger Award of his career, his 15th All-Star selection, and a tenth-place finish on the NL MVP ballot. 1981 Topps Baseball 2nd Year Card Rickey Henderson. Sandwiched in between the "normal", if limp 1979 issue, and that 1981 set is another oddity. Today only a graded high-condition example gets that kind of money. 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. It was also the first Topps set to feature a monster 792-card checklist. He was even the first player to collect 100 hits from both sides of the plate. He also led all of baseball with 89 runs scored and led the American League in stolen bases (56) and hits (135). Now anchoring the back of the Brewers bullpen, Fingers won by a mere eleven points. 1981 Reggie Jackson Topps Project 70 Card, 10. Heck, he even dated "Miss New York" Debra Sue Maurice from the Miss USA Beauty Pageant. Year-by-year ranking of the most valuable Topps Baseball Rookie Cards from 1952 to 2020. This bad boy sold for $18,500 on eBay auctions in May 2021. Tune in as Mrs. Wax Pack Gods reads 1982 Topps Baseball Cards - 17 Most Valuable . 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. In the tenth inning of Game 6 of the 1986 World Series, Wilson stepped up to the plate with runners on first and third with his team trailing 5-4. He was a member of the Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, and Detroit Tigers. 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. 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. 1981 Topps card list & price guide. 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 . Boston missed the playoffs by 1.5 games in the second-half AL East race. The Reds put him at first base for the first time as he dealt with nagging injuries. Price: $299.99. 206 Mike Schmidt Record Breaker - Phillies. Boggs was a perennial contender for American League batting titles during the 1980s and 1990s. Shortcuts: Most Expensive, Cheapest, List by Card # 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. Thats why everyone is constantly asking the question: What are the most valuable 1981 Topps baseball cards?. Henderson has two cards in the 1981 Fleer which feature photographs that appear to be taken just seconds apart. In twin history, he is regarded as one the greatest contact hitters. Read our methodology. His combination of speed and power was simply some of the greatest the game has ever seen. 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 card is currently worth $189.99. Somehow during all that success with college basketball, he also found the time to play for the Blue Jays from 1979 to 1981. Card Number: #595. George Riley Autographed 1981 Topps Rookie Card, 14. He played in Major League Baseball between 1977 and 1982 for the Seattle Mariners and the Pittsburgh Pirates. 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. 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. Shortcuts: Most Expensive, Cheapest, List by Card # You own: 0 / 1202 items 0% Track your collection for free. 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. Let's be honest, it didn't matter what jersey Ryan wore or what style it was, he was going throw major heat regardless. The 1981 season stands out for Eddie Murray in a unique way: somehow, it was the only season where he managed to lead the American League in home runs (22) and RBI (78). His 94 runs scored and 111 RBI were also high marks for Jackson during his time in the Bronx, and by season's end, he would collect his first of two career Silver Slugger awards and finished second in MVP voting. Get my weekly newsletter with the latest hobby updates delivered straight to your inbox! Although this one isn't worth as much as it might . 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. And unlike Brett, Schmidt followed up his 1980 MVP campaign with another one during the 1981 season. Ungraded & graded values for all '81 Topps This Nolan Ryan card is another fantastic example of Topps capturing the style and vibe of the 1980s. Greatest Topps Baseball Cards of All-Time. 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). #7. Although his best days were clearly behind him, he still played well enough to earn a trip to the 1982 All-Star game. Cincinnati finished second in both halves of the 1981 split-season but ended the year with the best overall record in the National League. He also loves to write about the hobby and has written for Beckett, Topps, SABR and of course, this website. This card has been signed by him and is currently worth $49. 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. Despite the ups and downs, there isplentyto enjoy about this set. Bench is somewhat of an anomaly on this list, showing up with only one 1981 Fleer card, and all. Ungraded & graded values for all '81 Fleer Baseball Cards. For one more year, at least, Topps was the only game in town in 1980. 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. Every collector knows that theres some serious money to be made off certain cards. 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. Fans and media began to take note of his incredible defensive talent, giving him the nickname "The Wizard.". Wilson was incredibly speedy and was the Mets' career stolen base leader before Jose Reyes eventually broke his record many years later. 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. If you do the math on those 2,416 strikeouts he accumulated during his time with the Angels, that meant he averaged302 strikeouts per season, a mark many pitchers would be lucky to reach even once during their careers. For its 1980-81 basketball set, Topps mixed things up by releasing an entire set in which each card had three panels, each . 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. He also paced the Majors in ERA+ (195) and hits per 9 innings (6.0). Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $2,000. Baseball Cards. Plus Bonus Listings! 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. . And ever since his induction into the Hall of Fame, his 1981 Donruss rookie card has enjoyed a nice bump in value. 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. He also loves to write about the hobby and has written for Beckett, Topps, SABR and of course, this website. 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. 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.". From there you can also add a Card to your collection or wishlist. 1981 Donruss. After a complete-game victory in Game 1, Ryan allowed three runs (two earned) in six innings in the deciding Game 5. 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. However, when do you do it? 1. Back to the point at hand. Most Watched Baseball Cards. Many thought his career was slowly but surely coming to an end. Carew's career batting average ended up at .328, while his best single-season average was .388 in 1977. Featured here is a rare rookie card from 1989 with an authenticated signature of Steve Avery. 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. It didn't happen and Jackson played the 1981 campaign as a free agent. 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. Contact him at [emailprotected]. Click on a Card detail page to see historic prices and values for all different grades. 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. 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. | Compare vs. 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. 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). However, Schmidt led baseball in multiple offensive categories, including home runs (31), RBI (91), OBP (.435), slugging percentage (.644), OPS (1.080), OPS+ (198), and total bases (228). However, during early 2021, PSA 9 examples of this card frequently sold for $4,000 - $5,000 or more. 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. 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. Rating: 7.5 (174 votes) Click here to Rate. 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. You can almost feel the tension in this card as he's poised and just waiting for the perfect moment to break for second. We may earn an affiliate commission if you Throughout his career, Carter was known for his hitting and excellent defense, as well as his ability to handle pitchers. Easily the most valuable gem mint in the set, this card from the Man of Steal garners between $600-900 on the secondary markets. Even more impressive, his 1982 Topps issue wasn't his last card as he also made it into the 1983 Topps set. 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. 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. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. 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 some of those players appeared on multiple cards. This was limited to only 504 serial-numbered porcelain cards made and it has already been authenticated by Global Authentics (GAI). 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 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. Year sold: 2018. . Cards. While the 1982 Topps baseball card set may not ever be known as the company's best-looking in terms of design, it did pack a lot of star power and two Hall of Fame rookie cards. 8. That means the card needs to be flawless. 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. Currently, this 1981 Topps card is worth $79. 3. Roland Glen Fingers was an American right-handed relief pitcher who played for three teams between 1968 and 1985. 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. All told, Bench played in just 52 of Cincinnati's 108 games. His .758 OPS marked the first time he'd dropped under .817 since 1968. 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. Roberto Ramos in the middle who was an amazing catcher during his prime and the beloved Bobby Pate who commanded respect in the outfield. He is ranked 33rd on the all-time list of career leaders for batting average among Major League Baseball players with at least 1,000 appearances at-bat. They were the fourteenth and fifteenth players to achieve the incredible milestone. When it comes to Rookie Cards, 1981 Topps is one . Bench was also known for the long ball as he led the league in home runs twice and finished his career with 389. 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. . During this era, the Montreal Expos had yet to move south to become . 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. 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. 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. Immediately afterward, the price of his 1982 Topps rookie card in PSA 10 condition shot through the roof. Smith continued his outstanding defensive work in 1981 by leading the National League in assists for the third straight year to pick up his second straight Gold Glove. 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. 10. There were tons of errors, collation inside boxes was hit and miss (mostly miss) and the . 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. 722 Joe Niekro. 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. 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. 1981 Topps Baseball 2nd Year Card Rickey Henderson, 3. In the team's NLDS loss to the Expos, Schmidt hit .250 (4-for-16) with one home run, two RBI, and four walks. 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. 723 Bruce Bochte. Although Riley wasnt very popular, he was a Major League Baseball pitcher. 29 Surprisingly Cheap: 1985 Mark McGwire Topps. 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. Yastrzemski played two more seasons in Boston before retiring, making All-Star appearances at the age of 42 and 43 during the 1982 and 1983 seasons, respectively. Unlike Smith, Cal Ripken's chances at the Hall of Fame were never in doubt. As their everyday first baseman, that put Rose on the opposite corner of the field as Phillies icon Mike Schmidt at third. #6. SEE THE CARD HERE! 1981 Topps Baseball Card Checklist. 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. 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. 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. However, regardless of what you might think of his legacy, it's surprising that this particular card isn't worth a little more. The 1981 Topps baseball card set consist of 726 standard size cards that measure 2" by 3". And incredibly, hed come back with a vengeance. And, like Clemens, that might cut into the value and prestige of his 1985 Fleer Rookie Card to a . Their scarcity is a result of several situations that can apply to baseball card collecting. Jackson found a groove in the team's ALDS victory over the Milwaukee Brewers, hitting .300 with a .933 OPS, two home runs, and four RBI. 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. Seaver would play one more year for the Reds in 1982 when he posted a 5-13 record before heading back to the New York Mets the following year. Murray was one of the greatest first basemen to ever play the game but his cards seem to be a bit overlooked at times. And while his offensive numbers dropped in 1981, Brett's star was still quite bright. The first standalone Topps Traded set may belong to 1981, but the first card to really make the series a hobby burner belongs to 1982 and to Cal Ripken, Jr. . Keith was a baseball first baseman. It is also (by a slight margin) the most valuable card in the 1984 Topps Football set. 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. Prices are updated daily based upon 1981 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. At Eastern Michigan he had a 29-9 career win-loss record with a 2.15 ERA. While they both made their MLB debuts in 1961, Brock would retire after the 1979 season with 3,023 hits while Yaz would stick around until 1983 and finished with 3,419 hits. At 41 years of age, it seemed time had finally caught up to Boston Red Sox designated hitter/first baseman Carl Yastrzemski in 1981. His struggles didn't last long, though, and maybe it was seeing Mike Schmidt win back-to-back MVPs in 1980 and 1981 because, by the following year, Murphy's production skyrocketed as he'd go on to win back-to-back MVPs of his own in 1982 and 1983. $68.95. #5. 1981 Topps Kirk Gibson RC #315. . Like the 1982 Donruss and Fleer sets, large print runs saturated the market with these cards, driving down their values. Yet, Bench's lousy injury luck was the real story. 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. While eligible for induction, Murphy peaked at 23% of the vote in 2000, falling well short of the 75% needed for entry. In 665 at-bats for Toronto, Ainge batted .220, hit two home runs, scored 57 runs, drove in another 37 and stole 12 bases. 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. Wilson hit a weak grounder towards Boston's Bill Buckner at first base, and the ball squeaked by him, allowing Wilson to reach first base safely while Ray Knight scored the winning run. At that point, Murphy looked like he was on a surefire trajectory to Cooperstown. 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. Right around that same time, the relationship between the St. Louis Cardinals and their shortstop, Garry Templeton, wasn't going well either. 1981 Topps Scratch-Offs. A right-hander, he threw and batted right-handed. 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. 1981 Topps Traded Tim Raines Rookie Baseball Card #816 NM-MT FREE SHIPPING. 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. 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. Most Expensive, Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Recently, the price of a PSA 9 has continued to steadily fall to around $2,000 or less. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. 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. He was nicknamed Mex because his name suggested that he was of Mexican descent. 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. Read our methodology. 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. Growing up in Central Indiana surrounded by Cubs fans, I would hear about Dawson constantly as fans absolutely loved the guy, and rightly so. And, over the years, it's started to grow on collectors more and more after nostalgia for that era has increased and many collectors have a newfound appreciation for hobby history.
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