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Many people often wonder if there are baseball cards from the 80's that are worth money.
Most people know that during the hobby madness of the time, rampant overproduction led to a bubble that finally burst.
Card values plummeted, and many collectors now refer to this part of the hobby as the "junk era."
So it might be shocking to find some baseball cards from the 1980scan be five or six digits...
You see, not every card has fallen victim to overproduction.
And the introduction of sorting into the hobby has resulted in some collectors having to payLots of moneyfor certain cards deemed to be in pristine condition.
So, despite the common misconception, some cards from that infamous hobbyist era still have value.
And in this guide, we're going to look at the 25 most valuable baseball cards from the 1980s.
Let's get in right away!
Ross Uitts - owner
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Before we begin, I just wanted to clarify a few "rules" that I used to create this list.
First, I didn't add any college or minor league maps and just stuck with the maps that showed a specific player when he was in the majors.
For example, I didn't include Charlotte O's 1980 team issue cards for Cal Ripken Jr., although the blue variant can approach $10,000 in mint condition, and the rarer orange variant fetches five figures in almost any condition can:
Second, I only included cards made by mainstream companies and avoided the various "weird" problems that arose in the 1980s.
Since the sports card market exploded in the 1980s, many food brands, toy manufacturers and local businesses have jumped into the market.
And many of these weren't even licensed by Major League Baseball.
So I stuck to big-name companies like Topps, Fleer, Donruss, Upper Deck, and others when compiling this list.
Last,I did not include test editions from these mainstream companies.
For example, the 1989 Topps Heads Up set turned out to be a test edition that the company released to expand its reach in the hot market.
Fewer than 200 of these "cards" have ever gone through PSA's grading facilities, so they're quite rare.
And the Ken Griffey Jr. can be worth thousands of dollars in any quality:
Now that we've got that out of the way, let's take a look at the list:
1980 Topps #482 Rickey Henderson Rookie Card
Estimated value of the PSA 10 Gem Mint: $120,000
Since most collectors in this hobby tend to draw the line with the "vintage era" circa 1980's, many take that into considerationRickey Henderson Rookie-Karteto be the last great vintage rookie.
And while its value pales in comparison to other well-known vintage rookies like Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Roberto Clemente to name a few, its price has increased dramatically during the recent sports card boom.
I remember a few years ago you could easily find this card in a PSA 9 holder for around $400 which made it underpriced even then.
However, in early 2021, PSA 9 examples of this card were often selling for $4,000-$5,000 or more.
Recently, the price of a PSA 9 has steadily dropped to around $2,000 or less.
But PSA 10 examples of this card can be soldsix digits.
Regardless of its market value at any given point in time, the importance of this rookie card cannot be overstated because again it is1980 Topps-Setheralded the end of the vintage era.
Donruss and Fleer would hit the market in 1981 and this competition would help ignite the spark for the 1980s hobby craze.
1989 Bowman Tiffany #220 Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card
Estimated value of the PSA 10 Gem Mint: $13,000
Bowman hadn't released a set since 1955, after they were bought out by their biggest competitor, Topps.
But in order to capitalize as much as possible on the hype surrounding a young phenomenon called The Kid, Topps brought the iconic brand back when they released theirs1989 Bowman-Set.
The cards were larger than normal, measuring 2 1/2" x 3 3/4" and featured color photographs and facsimile signatures of the players.
The Ken Griffey Jr. hype proved well placed as the legendary slugger embarked on a Hall of Fame career.
Because of this, his card is by far the most desirable in the set, worth around $250 in a PSA 10 holder.
But the "Tiffany" version of this card is worth thousands of dollars.
From 1984 to 1991, Topps released a limited number of high quality, premium versions of their base sets, which they referred to as the Topps Tiffany line.
And in 1989 and 1990 they also produced Bowman Tiffany sets.
Due to their relative scarcity compared to the base Bowman version, these areGriffey newbiescan achieve enormous prices in top condition.
1987 O-Pee-Chee #320 Barry Bonds Rookie-Karte
Estimated value of the PSA 10 Gem Mint: $12,000
O-Pee-Chee played the role of Topps' counterpart in the Canadian market for decades.
Each year, an O-Pee-Chee card is usually distinguished from its Topps cousin by the O-Pee-Chee trademark appearing on the front or back of the card.
And the back of O-Pee-Chee cards usually prints text in both English and French due to its role as a major player in the Canadian market.
Like the Bowman Tiffany line of products mentioned above, the O-Pee-Chee cards were typically made in far smaller quantities.
But unlike the Tiffany cards, O-Pee Chee cards weren't necessarily of premium quality.
You can usually find them on low-quality card stock or with rough, jagged cuts.
As you can imagine, finding PSA 10 examples of a specific O-Pee Chee card is significantly more difficult than finding a Topps example in the same condition.
Finding a 1987 O-Pee-Chee for this reasonBarry Bonds-Neulingin mint condition is quite a challenge, but when you do you'll see that they're selling for around $12,000 or so.
1985 Topps Tiffany #401 Mark McGwire Rookie-Karte
Estimated value of the PSA 10 Gem Mint: $11,000
If you experienced the card boom of the late 1980s and early 1990s, you will surely recognize this iconMark McGwire Rookie-Karte.
Part of a subset (Cards #389-404) that paid tribute to several members of the 1984 US Olympic team that won silver in Los Angeles that year, McGwire's card is clearly key.
For some reason, Topps didn't include every member of the team, as they left out players like Barry Larkin and Will Clark, among others.
Despite the controversy that will forever surround McGwire, the High Grade card can still be worth a lot of money, especially if it's the Tiffany version.
Not only does the Tiffany designation make it difficult to find in high quality, but another factor that contributed to this difficulty was its location on the press sheet.
Because it was on the left, you'll often find this card sliced to shed its left-to-right centering, preventing it from reaching Gem Mint status.
1985 Topps Tiffany #181 Roger Clemens Rookie-Karte
Estimated value of the PSA 10 Gem Mint: $11,000
Next on the list is the fireballer and pitching icon's rookie card,Roger Clemens.
Like McGwire, Clemens' legacy will forever hang under a cloud of controversy due to his involvement in the PED scandal.
However, there's no question how talented Clemens really was, as he was mowing down opposing thugs from the start of his career, well before the PED scandal took place.
With 354 career wins, 7 Cy Young Awards, and 4,672 strikeouts (to name just a few of his incredible accomplishments), he certainly has the numbers to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
But we'll just have to wait and see if voters will ever give the likes of Clemens, Barry Bonds etc a pass.
In today's market, expect to pay around $400 for the basic version of this card in mint gem condition and around $11,000 for the Tiffany version.
1983 O-Pee-Chee #143 Tony Gwynn Rookie-Karte
Estimated value of the PSA 10 Gem Mint: $10,000
Along with those of Wade Boggs and Ryne Sandberg, the Topps of 1983Tony Gwynn Rookie-Karteis one of the most famous baseball cards of the 1980s.
And by default, its O-Pee-Chee cousin is also an incredibly coveted baseball card, although it's a lot harder to find in top condition.
Almost 700 copies of Gwynn's Topps rookie card have achieved a PSA rating of 10, while only 32 of the O-Pee-Chee versions have.
So it's more than twenty times harder to find this card in a PSA-10 holder than it is in its Topps rookie.
And that's where the significant price premium between the two comes into play.
As an interesting side note, and perhaps a sad one for Wade Boggs fans, only Gwynn and Sandberg showed up in the smaller O-Pee Chee checklist, so unfortunately Boggs doesn't have an O-Pee Chee rookie.
1986 Topps tauschte Tiffany #50T Bo Jackson Rookie Card
Estimated value of the PSA 10 Gem Mint: $10,000
Bo Jackson was one of the biggest superstars in all of esports in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
From allhis rookie cards, the 1986 Topps Traded is the most coveted and expensive card you can find.
But the Tiffany version is even more expensive.
Keep in mind that the Tiffany versions were made in much smaller quantities and printed on premium cardstock.
It's much harder to find them in PSA 10 condition, hence the high price.
I've always loved this card and it's probably my favorite card in the set overall.
Bo Jackson wargiganticwhen I was a kid and its popularity is still quite high to this day.
1980 Topps Nr. 580 Nolan Ryan
Estimated value of the PSA 10 Gem Mint: $9,000
After 138 wins and 2,416 strikeouts in eight seasons with the California AnglesNolan Ryansigned a four-year, $4.5 million contract with the Houston Astros during the 1979 offseason.
If you tally up the 2,416 strikeouts he accumulated during his time with the Angels, that meant heaveraged302 strikeouts per season, a mark that many pitchers would happily reach only once in their careers.
Interestingly, Ryan's highest single-season strike total in nine years with the Houston Astros was just 270 in 1987, a year in which he also led the NL with a 2.76 ERA.
To be fair, his innings totals in Houston weren't as high as those during his time in California, and his 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings in 1987 was the highest mark of his career.
Although the 1980 season was Nolan Ryan's first of nine years with the Houston Astros, due to the timing of their circulation for their 1980 Topps set, Topps was still required to feature him as a member of the California Angels.
Finding a PSA 10 example of any card in the 1980 Topps set can be challenging due to the poor centering and other printing issues that plagued that set.
But when you add a name like Nolan Ryan (or Rickey Henderson above) to the mix, the price just skyrockets.
1981 Topps No. 315 Kirk Gibson Rookie Card
Estimated value of the PSA 10 Gem Mint: $8,000
For whatever reason, some moments in the history of sport seem to touch people in such a way that they almost stick in their memories.
Consider Michael Jordan's buzzer-beater against Craig Ehlo during the 1989 playoffs that sent the Cavaliers out in force.
Or take Joe Montana's pass to Dwight Clark in the back of the end zone during the 1981 NFC Championship game against the Dallas Cowboys.
And then there was Kirk Gibson's walk-off home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series against the Oakland A's.
Gibson pumping his fist in the air in excitement as he rounded bases is one of the most memorable moments in baseball history.
The entire 1988 season was memorable for Gibson as that year saw him earn the only MVP and Silver Slugger awards of his career.
Now that he's forever a Los Angeles sports hero, Gibson's rookie card is a must.
And like the previous 1980 Topps set, the centering and print quality issues with the1981 Topps-Setdidn't improve all that much and only increased its value even more in High Grade.
1986 Topps Traded Tiffany #11T Barry Bonds Rookie Card
Estimated value of the PSA 10 Gem Mint: $6,000
The1986 ToppsThe traded Tiffany version of Barry Bond's legendary rookie can be worth a lot, up to $1,250 in PSA condition.
Of all the cards in this set, I think Bonds is one of the best looking.
The huge yellow lettering of the Pirates team name across the top coupled with the awesome retro style Pirates jersey and cap really make this card a head turner.
Bonds' legacy will forever be a source of controversy, but with or without PEDs, he was undoubtedly one of the game's most talented players to ever step onto the field.
Had he not been involved in PEDs he would undoubtedly be a Hall of Famer and this card would likely appear much higher up this list.
1982 Topps Traded #98T Cal Ripken Jr. Rookie Card
Estimated value of the PSA 10 Gem Mint: $5,000
If you scan through the1982 Topps Basic SetChecklist, you'll quickly recall that Cal Ripken Jr. made his first appearance alongside Bob Bonner and Jeff Schneider as part of the Baltimore Orioles Future Stars map.
Bonner and Schneider didn't have the careers of Cal Ripken Jr., and to say The Iron Man lived up to the Future Star tag would be an understatement.
Not only did Ripken break Lou Gehrig's consecutive-game winning streak, but he also left a legacy as arguably the greatest shortstop to ever play.
And luckily for the collector world, Topps gave it a standalone specimenbeginner cardwhen they included him in their Topps Traded set in 1982.
Ripken was one of my favorite players as a kid, and it's been nice to see this card gaining a lot more notoriety over time.
1985 Topps Tiffany #536 Kirby Puckett Beginner Card
Estimated value of the PSA 10 Gem Mint: $5,000
Kirby Puckettwas also one of my favorite players as a kid and this card was always at the top of my wish list as a young collector.
The ten-time All-Star, who could hit and catch with the best of him, and his charismatic personality made him a popular ballplayer not only among Twins fans but baseball fans in general.
There are many Hall of Famers in this set.
And there are several starter cards in this set.
However, Puckett is the only player to meet both of these criteria, making this the only rookie card in the Hall of Fame1985 Topps-Set.
Sadly, Puckett died of a stroke at the young age of 45, but collectors from across the hobby will always remember him and his rookie card as one of the very best.
And you guessed it, the Tiffany version is even more valuable in PSA-10 condition.
1987 Donruss Opening Day #163 Barry Bonds (Johnny Ray Error)
Estimated value of the PSA 10 Gem Mint: $5,000
I'll never forget looking up prices in a Beckett price guide that day as a kid long ago when I came across the 1987 Donruss opening day section...
I was stunned when I read the price next to the Barry Bonds error card.
My next step was to go through my cards to see if I had one.
No I haven't...
I didn't know it at the time, but these bugs only appeared in factory sets and all of my Donruss opening day cards had been pulled from packs.
Featuring Johny Ray on the front, this Barry Bonds card will go down in hobby history as one of the most famous bug cards ever produced.
And as you can see, its value has held up very well over time.
Even in the lower tier, they can still cost hundreds of dollars.
1984 Topps Tiffany #8 Don Mattingly Rookie-Karte
Estimated value of the PSA 10 Gem Mint: $4,500
Easily one of the most iconic 1980's baseball cards everDon Mattingly Rookie-Karteis the clear headliner of the1984 ToppsSentence.
The same design of this card also appeared in the Nestle and O-Pee Chee sets this year, and all three cards are worth between $250 and $300 at the top end.
So it's hard to say which of these is the most desirable of the three, although most hobbyists would probably side with the Topps problem.
And its Tiffany version is by far the most expensive of them all.
Mattingly cemented himself as a solid hitter during the 1984 season when he clinched the batting title that year after finishing with a .343 batting average.
But he was even better with the gauntlet as he would win 9 gold gauntlets over the course of his storied career, so fittingly we get a nice shot of him on defense on this map.
1981 Topps Nr. 240 Nolan Ryan
Estimated value of the PSA 10 Gem Mint: $4,000
Nolan Ryan made his Houston Astros debut in 1980, and that season was a bit unusual for him for one glaring reason:He didn't lead the league in strikeouts.
After leading the league up and down in strikes in seven of his last eight seasons with the Angels, almost everyone expected him to be at the top every year.
The move from the American League to the National League may have been the primary cause of the dropout.
Whatever the reason, outside of his final season in 1993, Ryan had the second-lowest K/9 ratio of his career (7.7).
Interestingly, he bounced back in 1981 not to dominate in strikeouts but by posting an incredible 1.69 ERA with a .688 win ratio, both career bests while finishing fourth in the Cy Young vote.
I love how Ryan's orange Houston Astros cap and cartoon hat in the lower left corner work together to give this card some awesome visual pop.
Nolan Ryan cards, especially the high quality ones, continue to be incredibly popular with hobbyists.
1981 Topps Nr. 180 Pete Rose
Estimated value of the PSA 10 Gem Mint: $3,500
Pete Rose led the league in hits (140) for the seventh and final time in his illustrious career during the shortened 1981 season.
He also picked up his only Silver Slugger Award and was named his fifteenth Game All-Star, which at this point in his career seemed a surefire way to the Hall of Fame.
However, years later, in 1989, the baseball world was stunned when claims surfaced that Rose had played baseball for the Reds from 1985-1987 as a player and manager.
As a result of the court case, Rose accepted his placement on baseball's permanently ineligible list, which would ban him from the game and from Cooperstown for life.
Some hope that baseball will one day forgive him and induct the all-time hit leader into the Hall of Fame, but it still seems highly unlikely.
Despite its complicated legacyPete Rose Cardsalso remain some of the most sought after in the hobby.
1983 O-Pee-Chee #83 Ryne Sandberg Rookie-Karte
Estimated value of the PSA 10 Gem Mint: $3,500
The third major Hall of Famer rookie card in the iconic 1983 Topps set belongs to Chicago Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg.
And like Tony Gwynn, Sandberg appeared in the 1983 O-Pee-Chee set.
Sandberg, who grew up in central Indiana, was one of the players I watched most, and I remember being amazed at his ability to hit for power as a second baseman.
He would win 7 Silver Sluggers over the course of his career.
And he was a fantastic outfield player too, having won 9 consecutive Gold Gloves during one phase of his career.
Sandberg's status as a Hall of Famer and one of the most popular Cubs of all time keeps demand for high quality copies of his rookie card at high prices.
1984 Donruss #248 Don Mattingly rookie card
Estimated value of the PSA 10 Gem Mint: $3,500
After two years of bouncing back and forth between Triple-A Columbus and the Bronx, first baseman/outfielder Don Mattingly was relieved when Yankees manager Yogi Berra announced his intention to keep him at the big club for all of 1984.
However, he was openly disappointed by Berra's claim in spring training that he would open the season on the bench.
It took Mattingly less than a month to convince Berra otherwise.
The 22-year-old future Hall of Famer put on a show in the days following the manager's announcement, winning over Berra with his impact bat and top-notch field instinct.
In 1984, the young thug set up a clinic that cemented his place and won the hearts of Yankees fans around the world.
As New York slipped away from September's post-season racing, Mattingly held the city in suspense for the ages with a batting crown race.
Heading into the final weekend of the season, Mattingly held an AL-best .342 average while teammate Dave Winfield sat in second place with a .341. Mattingly struggled on Friday and Saturday but wrested the title from Winfield with a 4-on-5 championship on the final day of the season.
The fans roared their approval and Winfield shook his hand with a knowing look. A first-time All-Star and fifth in the AL MVP race, Mattingly's time as the face of the Yankees was here.
Not only isMattingly's beginner cardthe face of this set, but it's also one of the most iconic of the 1980s.
1989 Fleer Glossy #548 Ken Griffey Jr. Beginner Card
Estimated value of the PSA 10 Gem Mint: $3,500
Much like the Bowman and Topps Tiffany releases, Fleer also produced a premium version of their cards to go with theirs that year1989 Fleer Basic Set.
These Fleer Glossy cards were printed on higher quality card stock and contained a much glossier finish.
Otherwise, the design is exactly the same as the base map.
As these were produced in a small quantity and centering is a challenge, finding them in pristine condition can be difficult.
1981 Topps #347 Harold Baines Beginner Chart
Estimated value of the PSA 10 Gem Mint: $3,250
In 22 seasons in Major League Baseball, Harold Baines appeared in six All-Star games, hit 384 home runs, had 1,628 RBI and hauled an additional 1,299 runs.
Baines also won a silver slugger in 1989 and led the 1984 American League in slugging percentage (.541).
He lent his racquet to several teams including the White Sox, Orioles, A's, Rangers and Indians as he bounced around quite a bit.
Overall, he's had a solid professional baseball career, but he hasn't quite produced the kind of Hall of Fame resume required for induction when he was first admitted in 2007.
His share of the total vote peaked in 2010 at 6.1% and he would walk out next year with just 4.8% of the vote.
However, he and Lee Smith both got the nod for Cooperstown when the Today's Game Era Committee selected them to be part of the Hall of Fame class of 2019.
The young, bearded left-hander poses in his White Sox uniform on his 1981 Topps rookie card, which has received a nice prize boost since his induction into the Hall of Fame.
1981 Topps Nr. 261 Rickey Henderson
Estimated value of the PSA 10 Gem Mint: $3,000
No positional player in the American League had a better all-around season than Rickey Henderson in 1981.
In addition to his only career Gold Glove, he also snagged his first Silver Slugger and finished second in the MVP pick for Milwaukee pitcher Rollie Fingers.
The young speedster excelled on offense as he batted a .319 (almost a career high) and led the league in runs made (89), hits (135) and stolen bases (56).
While some baseball cards aren't necessarily iconic, they can be remembered for simpler reasons, and Henderson's sophomore card is one of them in my case.
My older brother traded this card in when I was a kid and we both admired it at the time as it was one of the oldest cards in our collections.
And the fact that it was "almost his rookie card" made it even more special to us.
These are the memories that make this hobby so great.
1983 Topps #482 Tony Gwynn Rookie Card
Estimated value of the PSA 10 Gem Mint: $3,000
Sure, Gwynn was one of the best hitters to ever play 8-hit titles, but why are collectors willing to pay so much for this top-tier card?
The bubble in the baseball card market had already formed in 1983 when Donruss and Fleer both entered the market in 1981 and all three companies began ramping up production.
However, the print volumes of 1983 Topps were not at the same level as they were in the late '80s and early '90s.
Not that many pristine specimens have survived either, as centering and pressure blowing have always been difficult challenges with this set.
For example, as of this writing, there are just under 700 examples of Gwynn's Topps Rookie card that have achieved PSA 10-degree status, while there are over 13,000 examples of Ken Griffey Jr.'s 1989 Topps Traded Rookie that have achieved PSA 10 holders were classified.
Therefore, the market has responded by raising the price level of Gwynn's rookie in PSA 10 condition to the price level you see here.
1985 Sheet No. 107 Kirby Puckett Rookie Card
Estimated value of the PSA 10 Gem Mint: $3,000
After a 25-year hiatus, the 1985 Leaf set marked the brand's return to the hobby since they produced their last set in 1960.
As Donruss's Canadian cousin, you can see that the Leaf design isn't significantly different overall, except for the green Leaf logo on the top left and the French text and Leaf branding data on the back.
One thing is clear about this card, and the set in general, though: they're incredibly hard to find in top condition.
As in this case when comparing the quality of O-Pee-Chee cards to their Topps counterparts, the early Leaf cards' storage and print quality were not comparable to their Donruss cousins.
1985 sheet #99 Roger Clemens rookie card
Estimated value of the PSA 10 Gem Mint: $2,500
The 1985 Leaf set was much smaller than its Donruss counterpart, containing only 264 cards instead of 660.
Luckily, Clemens made it onto the checklist with Puckett.
You'll also notice that the numbering of the sets was different, since Clemens is card #99 in the Blatt set versus #273 in the Donruss set.
1981 Topps Traded #850 Fernando Valenzuela Rookie Card
Estimated value of the PSA 10 Gem Mint: $2,250
When it comes to rookie-season debuts, the Dodgers have earned a reputation for some of the best of all time.
Jackie Robinson, Mike Piazza, Hideo Nomo and, you guessed it, Fernando Valenzuela took the league by storm as soon as they stepped onto the field.
After Fernando started 8-0 with a 0.50 ERA with eight complete games and five shutouts in his first eight starts, "Fernandomania" swept across the country.
At the end of the season, Valenzuela was standing with a 13-7 record, 2.48 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 180 strikeouts, all good enough to earn him both Rookie of the Year and Cy Young honors.
Valenzuela remains the only rookie to ever win the Cy Young.
Valenzuela appeared alongside Joe Perconte and Mike Scioscia in the 1981 Topps set as the three "Dodgers Future Stars" on card #302.
But he also got his own standalone rookie in the 1981 Topps Traded set.
"Fernandomania" still lives on with many collectors willing to pay for this card in PSA 10 condition.
Award
If you've made it this far on the list, thank you for taking the time to read through it.
However, you may be wondering why a particular card didn't make the top 25.
Many consider this card not only the most iconic card of the 1980s, but one of the most important in the hobby.
It changed the game when it was first launched.
I'm talking, of course, about the 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie card:
During the recent hobbyist boom, prices of this card rose to over $5,000 in PSA 10 holders.
Had this trend continued, he would have easily made it onto this list.
However, due to its popularity, it became one of the most submitted cards to third-party retailers like PSA as collectors sought to capitalize on the high values.
Like everything in life, demand has not been able to keep up with this increasing supply.
Don't get me wrong, it's still an expensive card and you'll find them jumping between $1,700 and $2,000 these days.
But, value aside, I wanted to emphasize it since it's impossible to talk about 1980s baseball cards without mentioning this card.
FAQs
What 1980s baseball cards are worth the most? ›
1 Rickey Henderson 1980 Topps #482: Not only the most valuable card of the 1980s, this beautiful piece of cardboard capturing the Man of Steal's famed batting stance has proven to be one of the most important cards ever. The last PSA 10 sold for more than $76,000.
Which vintage baseball cards are worth money? ›- 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle: $12.6 million.
- 1909 T-206 Honus Wagner: $7.25 million.
- 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth: $4.212 million.
- 2009 Bowman Draft Mike Trout: $3.936 million.
- 1916 Sporting News Babe Ruth: $2.46 million.
- 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente: $1.107 million.
...
See which cards are in high demand and learn how you can add a Griffey card to your collection.
- 1989 Bowman Tiffany Ken Griffey Jr. ...
- 1989 Topps Heads Up Ken Griffey Jr. ...
- 1989 Upper Deck #1 Star Rookie card.
First on the list is the instantly recognizable Mark McGwire rookie card. Part of a subset (cards #389-404) that paid tribute to several members of the 1984 U.S. Olympic team that took silver in Los Angeles that year, McGwire's card is clearly the key.
Is there an app to scan baseball cards for value? ›CollX lets you scan the front and back of a card to reveal its value instantly. It works with all kinds of cards: baseball, basketball, football, hockey, soccer and wrestling sports cards. It also scans Pokémon, Magic, and Yu-Gi-Oh cards, too.
Are any baseball cards from the 80s worth any money? ›Card values tanked and many collectors now refer to that part of the hobby as the "junk era." So, it might be shocking to find that some baseball cards from the 1980s can be worth five and six figures... You see, not every card fell victim to overproduction.
What baseball cards are hot right now? ›- 2022 Bowman Baseball. Bowman is a big name when it comes to baseball cards, and their 2022 collection is in high demand. ...
- 2022 Topps Heritage. ...
- 2022 Topps Inception. ...
- 2022 Bowman First Edition. ...
- 2022 Topps Gypsy Queen. ...
- 2022 Topps Series 1. ...
- 2022 Topps Opening Day.
CollX (pronounced “collects”) is the fastest way to figure out what your cards are worth. Snap photos of them and instantly get the current market price. Add them to your collection and track your overall portfolio value. You can even buy, sell, grade, and trade your cards with other collectors.
What sports cards are collectors looking for? ›Rookie cards are the holy grail of sports card collecting and have been for a long time. But just because a card says "rookie" on it doesn't make it a rookie card. Often a rookie card will be from that player's rookie season, though not always. When in doubt, look up the card to verify.
What are the top sports cards to buy now? ›These are the five sports cards that deserve a spot in your investment portfolio: 2019 Lionel Messi Topps Living Champions League Card. 2021 Bowman Draft Marcelo Mayer Card. 2018 Juan Soto Topps Update Baseball Card.
Which brand of baseball cards are worth the most? ›
...
The Holy Grail: 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle
- Valuation: $25K–$4.25M.
- Highest sales price: $12.6 million (2022)
- Supply: 1,877.
- Dimensions: 2 ½ in. by 3 ½ in.
- 1989 Bowman (Tiffany) #220. Credit: eBay. Value: $13,756. By far, the most valuable of Griffey Jr. ...
- 1989 Topps Traded (Tiffany) #41T. Credit: eBay. Value: $3,668. ...
- 1989 Fleer Glossy #548. Credit: eBay. Value: $3,606. ...
- 1989 Upper Deck #1. Credit: eBay. Value: $1,763. ...
- 1989 Donruss Rated Rookie. Credit: eBay. Value: $320.
But in terms of modern cards it was way up there alongside the 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. McGwire was one of the most popular players playing for one of the most powerful teams in baseball. They aren't worth as much as they used to be, but in top condition they can still go for hundreds of dollars.
What Bo Jackson cards are worth money? ›- Bo Jackson 1986 Topps Traded Tiffany Rookie PSA 10: $14,000. ...
- Bo Jackson/Mike Trout 2014 Topps Tribute Timeless Autographs /24 PSA 10: $7,200. ...
- Bo Jackson 2012 Fleer Retro Precious Metal Gems Green /10 PSA 8: $6,300.
This is a list of the highest known prices paid for sports cards. The current record price is the US$12.6 million paid for a 1952 Mickey Mantle baseball card (Topps; #311) on August 28, 2022, breaking all previous records.
How much does it cost to get old baseball cards graded? ›Third Party Grading Costs:
If you choose to have your cards professionally graded, expect to pay at least $15 per card --- not including shipping and handling fees. If a card is particularly valuable get ready to spend between $50 and $300 per card. Over $10,000 in declared value and you're looking at upwards of $700!
To get an appraisal, submit your card(s) for PSA grading and, once graded, submit them for appraisal services. Since the PSA will only appraise items that it has certified, the organization's authenticity and accuracy are valid in a court of law and for insurance purposes.
What is the best app to find the value of sports cards? ›- Loupe: Sports Trading Cards. Sports.
- Cardbase: Sports Cards Tracker. Sports.
- Sports Card Investor. Sports.
- Card Ladder. Sports.
- Market Movers. Sports.
- ALT: Buy & Sell Cards. Sports.
The only place that we know of to sell your post-1980 sports cards is that we know of is marketplaces like: Ebay or COMC.com. For the values of modern sports cards please see the free Tuff Stuff Price Guides.
Is it a good time to sell baseball cards? ›This is why selling and buying sports cards is challenging but also fun. For example, the best time to sell NFL football cards is during the months of September through January the next year. Then, best time to sell your MLB cards would be starting with April and up to October.
What baseball cards hold value? ›
- 1909-1911 American Tobacco Company Honus Wagner – $3.12 million.
- 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle – $1.3 million.
- 1916 Sporting News Babe Ruth – $717,000.
- 1909 American Caramel “Shoeless” Joe Jackson – $667,149.
- 1968 Topps Nolan Ryan/Jerry Koosman – $612,359.
- Spencer Torkelson, 1B, Tigers (age 22) ...
- Alek Thomas, OF, Diamondbacks (age 22) ...
- George Kirby, RHP, Mariners (age 24) ...
- Nick Lodolo, LHP, Reds (age 24) ...
- Jeremy Peña, SS, Astros (age 24) ...
- MacKenzie Gore, LHP, Nationals (age 23) ...
- The next 15:
- Joe Ryan, RHP, Minnesota Twins.
- Brendan Donovan, OF/IF, St. Louis Cardinals.
- Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Kansas City Royals.
- SS Jeremy Peña, Houston Astros.
- Julio Rodriguez, OF, Mariners.
- eBay, Mercari and Offer Up.
- Online Classifieds.
- Local Card and Hobby Shops.
- Flea and Farmer's Markets.
- Conventions and Events.
- Meetup Groups.
- Yard Sales and Classified Ads.
- Send Your Collection to Us!
- Beckett. Beckett is one of the best places to sell sports cards because it has pricing guides and checklists that are helpful for anyone looking to sell and trade cards. ...
- eBay. ...
- Dave & Adam's. ...
- StockX. ...
- OfferUp. ...
- Kruk Cards. ...
- Otia. ...
- TonyeTrade.
First, find out the player's name, the manufacturer's brand, and the year it was printed. Next, look up the card on an online marketplace or auction site like eBay. Finally, search by “sold for” to see some realistic estimates. This is the most straightforward way to know how much your sports cards are worth.
What sports cards are in demand? ›The Global Sports Trading Card Market is expected to grow by $ 6.71 bn during 2022-2026, accelerating at a CAGR of 13.36% during the forecast period. Global Sports Trading Card Market 2022-2026 The analyst has been monitoring the sports trading card market and it is poised to grow by $ 6.
What sports card makes most money? ›| Player | Card | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Mickey Mantle | 1952 Topps SGC 9.5 | $12.6 million |
| 2. Honus Wagner | T206 SGC 2 | $7.25 million |
| 3. Honus Wagner | T206 SGC 3 | $6.6 million |
| T4. Mickey Mantle | 1952 Topps PSA 9 | $5.2 million |
- 1993 Topps Derek Jeter RC #98. ...
- 1989 Fleer Billy Ripken F-Face #616. ...
- 1986 Donruss Jose Canseco RC #39. ...
- 1986 Topps Traded Barry Bonds RC #11T. ...
- 1993 SP Johnny Damon RC #273. ...
- 1990 Leaf Frank Thomas RC #300. ...
- 1987 Donruss Greg Maddux RC #36. ...
- 1990 Leaf Sammy Sosa RC #220.
There are currently 1556 Cards of Deion Sanders in our Database including 22 rookie Cards and 1380 variations Cards. The most valuable Card of Deion Sanders is currently 2021 Topps Project70 Gold Frame #793 Deion Sanders by Topps Project70 from 2021 with a worth of approx. $3150.0.
Are Nolan Ryan cards worth anything? ›
The value of Nolan Ryan Baseball-Cards has been decreasing for about -0.78% in the past 30 days and decreasing for about -20.48% in the past year. The most traded Card of Nolan Ryan in the past 30 days on ebay was for 1979 Topps #115 Nolan Ryan by Topps from 1979 with an average price of $9.51.
What is a Chipper Jones rookie card worth? ›Fair Market Value: According to the SportsCardsPro database, the gem mint 10 version of the Bowman Chipper Jones #569 costs around $116, and sales data throughout 2022 shows this price doesn't fluctuate much. For an ungraded version of this card, the database indicates you can grab one for as little as $3.50.
Are Darryl Strawberry cards worth anything? ›There are currently 3962 Cards of Darryl Strawberry in our Database including 1 rookie Cards and 3333 variations Cards. The most valuable Card of Darryl Strawberry is currently 1984 Topps Tiffany #182 Darryl Strawberry PSA 10 by Topps from 1984 with a worth of approx. $1200.0.
How much is a Jose Canseco card worth? ›Overall about 587 Cards of Jose Canseco have been traded in the last 30 days on ebay. The average price was $15.12. The price range was from $0.15 for 1992 Ultra #110 Jose Canseco by Ultra from 1992 to $546.75 for 1987 Topps Tiffany #620 Jose Canseco PSA 10 by Topps from 1987.
Are Sammy Sosa baseball cards valuable? ›The value of Sammy Sosa Baseball-Cards has been increasing for about 2.08% in the past 30 days and increasing for about 66.66% in the past year. The most traded Card of Sammy Sosa in the past 30 days on ebay was for 1990 Leaf #220 Sammy Sosa by Leaf from 1990 with an average price of $4.45.
What Bo Jackson baseball card is worth the most money? ›1. Bo Jackson 1986 Topps Traded Tiffany Rookie PSA 10: $14,000.
Are Joe Montana cards worth anything? ›Overall about 1158 Cards of Joe Montana have been traded in the last 30 days on ebay. The average price was $66.39. The price range was from $0.01 for 2022 Panini Absolute Draft Diamonds #DD-8 Joe Montana by Panini Absolute from 2022 to $3500.0 for 1981 Topps #216 Joe Montana PSA 9 by Topps from 1981.
Which Michael Jordan card is worth money? ›1986 Fleer Michael Jordan Rookie Card PSA 10: $840,000
It encapsulated the playstyle of the Bulls' budding star incredibly well. So, it's no surprise why this card is so sought after 36 years later. As a PSA 10, this slab currently sits as a POP 322. At its peak in 2021, it sold for $840,000 in a PWCC Premier auction.
These are the five sports cards that deserve a spot in your investment portfolio: 2019 Lionel Messi Topps Living Champions League Card. 2021 Bowman Draft Marcelo Mayer Card. 2018 Juan Soto Topps Update Baseball Card.
Are any baseball cards from the 80s worth anything? ›Card values tanked and many collectors now refer to that part of the hobby as the "junk era." So, it might be shocking to find that some baseball cards from the 1980s can be worth five and six figures... You see, not every card fell victim to overproduction.
What cards from the 80s are worth money? ›
- 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. ...
- 1984 Donruss Don Mattingly RC #248. ...
- 1982 Topps Traded Cal Ripken Jr. ...
- 1980 Topps Rickey Henderson RC #482. ...
- 1985 Topps Mark McGwire RC OLY #401. ...
- 1989 Fleer Bill Ripken F-FACE #616. ...
- 1984 Fleer Update Roger Clemens XRC #U-27. ...
- 1986 Donruss Jose Canseco RC #39.
1987 Topps #320 Barry Bonds Rookie Card
Many will actually point to this card as an example of how much his body transformed over the years from his alleged use of PED. A young Bonds is shown taking a huge cut and sending one soaring on this rookie card, a key to the set and the most valuable in the checklist.
To get an appraisal, submit your card(s) for PSA grading and, once graded, submit them for appraisal services. Since the PSA will only appraise items that it has certified, the organization's authenticity and accuracy are valid in a court of law and for insurance purposes.
Should I throw away my old baseball cards? ›One of the mistakes that card collectors make when they retire is that they throw away their old cards. Instead of doing this, you and other collectors can benefit if you decide to sell baseball cards rather than throw them away.