Currently, this 1981 Topps card is worth $79. On our list is an ungraded card featuring the 1981 Boston Red Sox, it was probably signed by the manager for the team, it is currently worth $72. Topps has dominated the baseball card scene for the past six decades, issuing a set in every year . The 1981 season was the St. Louis Cardinals 100th season in St. Louis, Missouri, and their 90th year in the National League (NL). Baines also won a Silver Slugger in 1989 and led the American League in slugging percentage (.541) in 1984. However, what raised eyebrows was that the Minnesota Vikings selected him in the 17th round of the NFL Draft despite having never played college football. 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 . And incredibly, hed come back with a vengeance. 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. Now that we got that out of the way, let's take a look at the list: Lee Smith was one of the greatest relief pitchers to ever step on the mound and is currently a distant number three on the all-time saves list with 478 behind Mariano Rivera (652) and Trevor Hoffman (601). The 1981 Topps Scratchoffs was a 108-card baseball set distributed on perforated three-card panels measuring 3-14" by 5-1/4". Local card shops, department stores and gas stations-- to say boxes of these cards were everywhere might be the understatement of the decade. #5. Premium: And none of his Rookie Cards is bigger than . 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. Henderson posted a brilliant 1.144 OPS against New York, but the rest of the Oakland lineup went dead silent. 9 Roger Clemens #530. 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. The 1981 season was the seventh and final time. When Bench managed to stay healthy enough to be in the lineup, he was quite productive. 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. But rather than hanging them up after the season, Yastrzemski got to work. . To commemorate Brett's 1980 MVP Award, Donruss basically changed the borders from green to red on his base card and slapped the "MVP" logo at the bottom while removing the team name and position. 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. Tune in as Mrs. Wax Pack Gods reads about 1981 Topps Baseball Cards.When 1981 Topps baseball cards hit store shelves that spring, they were playing in a brav. He also paced the Majors in ERA+ (195) and hits per 9 innings (6.0). In the process, Schmidt led the league and set career highs in home runs (48), RBI (121) and total bases (342). 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. Ungraded & graded values for all '81 Topps Baseball Cards. Average ungraded base card value (excludes parallels) for 1981 Topps Mattingly's Donruss rookie was produced in smaller quantities than his Topps rookie, so it's worth more. 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. 0% It was a fitting punctuation mark for one of Ryan's best seasons on the mound. The subsets in the 1981 Topps baseball cards include the league leaders (1-8), record breakers (201-208), and team cards with checklists on the back (661-686).The key rookie cards from this set include #315 Kirk Gibson, #347 Harold Baines, and #302 Fernando Valenzuela. Tim Haines finished second in Rookie of the Year voting, 19th in MVP, and earned his first All-Star selection. 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. When collectors think back to the junk wax era, one of the first sets to jump into minds is 1987 Topps Baseball. 207 Ozzie Smith Record Breaker - Padres. Click on a Card detail page to see historic prices and values for all different grades. 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. Read our methodology . Tom Seaver came within a handful of votes of winning his fourth Cy Young on the 1981 season with an incredible pitching display that saw him lead the Majors in wins (14) and winning percentage (.875). In 2004 he was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame; in 2005 he was enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame. $260. The Boston Celtics drafted Ainge in the 1981 NBA Draft and bought his contract from the Blue Jays and the rest was history. Greatest Topps Baseball Cards of All-Time. As their everyday first baseman, that put Rose on the opposite corner of the field as Phillies icon Mike Schmidt at third. 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. That season was the first time batted .300 or better, crossed the 30 home run mark, scored 100 runs or more and drove in 100 or more RBI. Seaver was great in Cincinnati, but he just wasn'tas greatas he was with the Mets up to that point. 1 Rickey Henderson #119. 203 Bill Gullickson Record Breaker - Expos. As you can see, some of the game's biggest legends of all time can be found within the 726-card checklist. While George Brett lit up the AL in 1980, Mike Schmidt was doing the same in the NL and would take home his first of three career MVP Awards for his efforts. Bench is somewhat of an anomaly on this list, showing up with only one 1981 Fleer card, and all. 1981 Topps Baseball Card Checklist. He also loves to write about the hobby and has written for Beckett, Topps, SABR and of course, this website. 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. In those 108 games, they played at Fenway Park where they had a record of 56-52. To top it all off, he earned his sixth All-Star selection, sixth Gold Glove, and second Silver Slugger award. Value: $300-325. This was limited to only 504 serial-numbered porcelain cards made and it has already been authenticated by Global Authentics (GAI). Grade. 723 Bruce Bochte. 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. However, when do you do it? 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. Although his best days were clearly behind him, he still played well enough to earn a trip to the 1982 All-Star game. 1981 Reggie Jackson Topps Project 70 Card, 10. 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. 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. With the 22-year-old star setting the table, the As earned a playoff spot with a 37-23 first-half record and finished with the American Leagues best overall record at 64-45. During his career, Rose was known for his all-around ability and enthusiasm. Prices are updated daily based upon 1981 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. SportsCardsPro Index: 1982 Topps. And the reason it's worth so much in PSA 10 condition? Ken Griffey Jr. He spent eleven seasons with four teams in Major League Baseball the majority of it spent with the Detroit Tigers. PSA/DNA Certified. 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. 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. 722 Joe Niekro. Part of the explanation is that Yount was quietly consistent and playing in small-market Milwaukee certainly didn't help. PSA 6. Most Watched 2022 Baseball Rookie Cards on eBay; Bowman Chrome Cards; Wander Franco Cards; . It was the only time in his career where he batted .300, and he also led the league in home runs with 41 round-trippers. Contents hide. 1981 Topps Enrique Romo Signed Pittsburgh Pirates, 15. Ryan dazzled on that fall afternoon in Houston, striking out eleven and walking just three. At 41 years of age, it seemed time had finally caught up to Boston Red Sox designated hitter/first baseman Carl Yastrzemski in 1981. Cards. At Eastern Michigan he had a 29-9 career win-loss record with a 2.15 ERA. For example, his .693 OPS was the worst of his career by nearly 40 points (.721, 1961), and it was almost 150 points less than his career mark of .841. 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. Rating: 7.5 (174 votes) Click here to Rate. Like everyone else, the shortened season didn't help his overall output but some key indicators had fallen off noticeably. 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. Rod Carew Autographed 1981 Topps Squirt Card, 19. 1981 Pete Rose Baseball Card. In 1980, Kansas City Royals third baseman George Brett graduated from All-Star to crossover superstar. And, in this guide, we look at the 25 most valuable. No. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. Estimated PSA 9 Mint Value: $120. To make things even stranger, you could even say that Rose appeared on fourcards in this set because this one comes in two variations. 6. 1981 Topps Baseball 2nd Year Card Rickey Henderson, 1981 Topps Expos Future Card Tim Haines Auto, 1981 Topps Project 70 Card Wade Boggs by Efdot FOIL, 1981 Topps Coke Team Sets Aurelio Lopez Autographed, 1981 Reggie Jackson Topps Project 70 Card, Tim Raines & Ramos Autographed 1981 Topps Rookie Card, George Riley Autographed 1981 Topps Rookie Card, 1981 Topps Enrique Romo Signed Pittsburgh Pirates, Ted Simmons St. Louis Cardinals 1981 Topps, Rod Carew Autographed 1981 Topps Squirt Card, 29 Most Valuable 1989 Donruss Baseball Cards In The World, 25 Most Valuable Joe Montana Cards Worth Thousands, 29 Most Valuable 1980 Topps Baseball Cards In the World, 19 Most Valuable 1981 Topps Baseball Cards Price List, 1. He was the clear choice for National League MVP and also picked up a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger. Read our methodology. While they used to be a bit overlooked, it's nice to see the 1980 Topps baseball set getting more love in recent years. But, this will always be the set that got their foot into the red-hot market of the 1980s. It didn't happen and Jackson played the 1981 campaign as a free agent. The 1961 Topps All-Star Mays falls in line with the others in the semi-high-number subset. Fans and media began to take note of his incredible defensive talent, giving him the nickname "The Wizard.". 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. That means the card needs to be flawless. 1981 Donruss. Philadelphia fell in five games to the Montreal Expos in an entertaining National League Division Series. 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. And finally, we're down to none other than Rickey Henderson, one of the greatest baseball icons of the 1980s and the game's greatest speedster to ever play. Carew's career batting average ended up at .328, while his best single-season average was .388 in 1977. 206 Mike Schmidt Record Breaker - Phillies. 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. The greatest catcher of all time, Johnny Bench played in seventeen seasons with the Cincinnati Reds from 1967 to 1983, and in 2011 the team erected a statue in his honor at Great American Ballpark. 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. 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. This card is worth $45 but could go higher. 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. 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. #10. Boggs was a perennial contender for American League batting titles during the 1980s and 1990s. We are user supported. 724 Lou Piniella. 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 Topps Baseball Cards. "I've learned to stay within myself, not be afraid to fail.". 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. This on-card autograph card is much rarer than the typically signed cards of this all-time great as it has been likely inscribed with an 81 HRC inscription commemorating this player being tied as the 1981 American League home run champion! 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. The card features Pete Rose. Ted Simmons St. Louis Cardinals 1981 Topps, 17. Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? That just shows you what kind of effect being a Hall of Famer can have on baseball card prices. Most of Tom Seaver's pitching brilliance occurred during his first eleven seasons in the Majors with the New York Mets as he was named 1967 Rookie of the Year and won three Cy Youngs (1969, 1973, and 1975) during that time. Sure, the 1981 Topps set has the Montana rookie card, . 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. Known as the Man of Steal, he is widely considered to have been baseballs greatest leadoff hitter and baserunner. Sandwiched in between the "normal", if limp 1979 issue, and that 1981 set is another oddity. 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. Still, his popularity continues today, and his cards remain in high demand by kids now turned adults who grew up idolizing him. Ryan dazzled on that fall afternoon in Houston, striking out eleven and walking just three. Somehow during all that success with college basketball, he also found the time to play for the Blue Jays from 1979 to 1981. 726 Rick Monday. But he is more famous for the accusations of gambling that led Major League Baseball to ban him from the sport in 1989. 6 Rickey Henderson #180. And he struck fear into opposing pitchers at the plate, especially when Joe Morgan and Pete Rose got on base ahead of him, as he was an RBI machine, leading the league three times. However, during early 2021, PSA 9 examples of this card frequently sold for $4,000 - $5,000 or more. 1985 Fleer Kirby Puckett RC #286. Players include Hank Aaron, Nolan Ryan & Mike Trout. Price. 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. In twin history, he is regarded as one the greatest contact hitters. The nerve! Its $300 PSA 10 price tag is no mistake. 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. Within the set were also several different subsets, including: The colorful design and decent photography give this set an overall great look and feel, with many cards having fantastic eye appeal. Cincinnati finished the year with the best composite record in all of baseball but the nature of the strike-shortened season's playoff format bit them in the backside. This Nolan Ryan card is another fantastic example of Topps capturing the style and vibe of the 1980s. Year sold: 2018. . 1955 Topps #164 Roberto Clemente RC. Jackie Robinson | Card Sold For: $392,400. 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. 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. They didn't call him "Steady Eddie" for nothing. There are no scratches, bends, or folds. There were tons of errors, collation inside boxes was hit and miss (mostly miss) and the . This bad boy sold for $18,500 on eBay auctions in May 2021. 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. 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). 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. The 1981 Canadian version of the 1981 Nolan Ryan Topps baseball card came from O-Pee-Chee at a time when there were two Canadian teams registered in MLB. In 1981, Schmidt became the eighth player in MLB history to do just that. Even more impressive, his 1982 Topps issue wasn't his last card as he also made it into the 1983 Topps set. PriceIt Game | Cal Ripken Jr. Unlike George Brett's MVP card, Schmidt's featured an altogether different image than that of his base card. 1981 Topps Traded MLB Baseball Trading Cards Pick From List #727-#858. 8. List by Card #, You own: 0 / 865 items Ungraded & graded values for all '81 Fleer Baseball Cards. 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. Not only is it fun, but its good quality material for a future family reunion. He played parts of four seasons in the MLB between 1979 and 1986, with the Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, and Montreal Expos. 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. This Baseball card is in very good condition, with sharp corners and slight wear on the lower right corner. The card features St. Louise Cardinals Batter Ted Simmons and is worth $49.45. Aurelio Alejandro Lpez Rios was a Mexican professional baseball player. Ungraded & graded values for all '82 Topps Baseball Cards. Unfortunately, the Kansas City Royals would slam the door on any hopes that Jackson and the Yankees had for a World Series ring when they swept them in the 1980 ALCS. You are looking at a 1981 Topps Rookie Card hand-signed by George Riley. Star power: Robinson, a Hall of Famer, broke the MLB color barrier in 1947, becoming a social justice icon in the process. 3. Previous Article. There's a shot of the player in Celtics training gear, staring off-camera with his hands hidden behind the green border. He is the younger brother of Vicente Romo, who also pitched in the majors. 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. Plus Bonus Listings! Prices are updated daily based upon 1981 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. The Phillies had won the NL East for three straight seasons from 1976-1978, so Rose was supposed to be the guy who would finally put them over the top. Murray appeared in his second All-Star Game that season and finished things off with a fifth-place finish in the MVP vote, one of six times he finished in the top five in his storied career. Rookie Cards. 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. 4. Steven Thomas Avery is an American left-handed former pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). The card features famous baseball player Reggie Jackson and is worth $75. PSA 9 examples have sold for upwards of $6,000. Pate] #479. However, his production was never quite the same from 1988 until he finished his career with the Colorado Rockies in 1993. This trading card has been authenticated by PSA, it has the signature of Rollie fingers on the obverse. The 1984 Topps Football set is THE landmark football card set of the 1980s. 6 Don Mattingly 1984 Donruss #248: One of the most . It is also (by a slight margin) the most valuable card in the 1984 Topps Football set. Here are the top 15 Most Expensive Nolan Ryan Cards: #15 1978 Topps Nolan Ryan #400 Recent sale: $898 . In 665 at-bats for Toronto, Ainge batted .220, hit two home runs, scored 57 runs, drove in another 37 and stole 12 bases. Murray was one of the greatest first basemen to ever play the game but his cards seem to be a bit overlooked at times. 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. 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. For the longest time it seemed like Smith would not quite garner enough votes to earn a trip to the Hall of Fame. Today only a graded high-condition example gets that kind of money. Valenzuela won both the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards, and the Dodgers made it all the way to the 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. 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. And, if you look back at his stats for his rookie campaign in the 1982 season, there really was no reason he shouldn't have made the All-Star team that year, too. 5 Underrated 1981 Donruss Baseball Cards. Despite the poor production, Jackson still earned a spot on the All-Star team for the eleventh time in his career. At that point, Murphy looked like he was on a surefire trajectory to Cooperstown. #8. Before the season, Steinbrenner went to Jackson for his thoughts on the team's pursuit of free-agent slugger Dave Winfield. If you look closely, though, you'll notice the images are just slightly different as you can see two of his teammates in the background on his MVP card versus one (plus the arm of another) on his base card. After the Royals split their first twenty games of the second half, he was fired, and former Yankees manager Dick Howser took the reins. 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. 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. Still, as one of the game's greatest leadoff hitters and baserunners, he was overdue to get in anyway.

Lorenzo Gilyard Wife Jackie, Cancer Single Love Horoscope Tomorrow, 875 South Bundy Drive Floor Plan, Alex Bregman Reagan Howard Wedding, Articles OTHER