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. Schmidt was, arguably, the game's best player for the second-straight season. The card features famous baseball player Reggie Jackson and is worth $75. 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 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. 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. Despite missing the call to the Hall, Murphy was a hero to many kids who collected during his brilliant run in the 1980s, and today those kids are adult collectors with money to spare, keeping his cards in decent demand. 1 1980 Batting Leaders - George Brett / Bill Buckner 2 1980 Home Run Leaders - Reggie Jackson / Ben Oglivie / Mike Schmidt . Canadian baseball cards printed in the French language are uncommon, which shows on this baseball card as it is bi-lingual. Rod Carew and George Brett were not only two of the greatest hitters of their era but of all time, so seeing them both on the same card is quite a treat. Heck, he even dated "Miss New York" Debra Sue Maurice from the Miss USA Beauty Pageant. Things weren't all rosy for Smith, however, as his relationship with Padres owner Ray Kroc and his wife Joan became publicly sour. Grade. Rookie Cards. Total Cards: 726. Houston went just 28-29 in the first half but won the NL West's second half at 33-20. 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. However, due to market conditions, values fluctuate. 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. . Plus Bonus Listings! Like Roger Clemens, Kirby Puckett has a 1984 Fleer Update XRC. 1981 Fleer card list & price guide. 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. For 15 seasons from 1982 to 1996, Smith was a key cog in the Cardinals lineup as he went on to win 11 more Gold Gloves and appear in 14 more All-Star Games. 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. One year removed from his Rookie of the Year-winning season, this Ripken card is still a hobby favorite because it shows the Orioles third baseman's timeless swing and a close-up of his youthful mug all on one important card. 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. Prices are updated daily based upon 1981 Fleer listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. Its one thing to have an expos future stars card signed by one of the 3 players, however, the value and rarity goes all the way up when you have the signatures of two players on one card. Ungraded & graded values for all '81 Topps Baseball Cards. 1981 Topps card list & price guide. Most Expensive 1981 Topps card list & price guide. 1981 Topps Expos Future Card Tim Haines Auto. Ungraded. 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. If so, then please fill out the form below and I'll be in touch right away. Value: $300-325. 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. Known as the Man of Steal, he is widely considered to have been baseballs greatest leadoff hitter and baserunner. But rather than hanging them up after the season, Yastrzemski got to work. 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. Donruss would take the experience with this set and continue to churn out many improved and memorable sets for years to come. Previous Article. He earned four varsity letters, two for college and two for the major leagues. . "I've learned to stay within myself, not be afraid to fail.". Baseball; Sets; 1981; Overview; 1981 Topps. 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. 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. He was even the first player to collect 100 hits from both sides of the plate. When Bench managed to stay healthy enough to be in the lineup, he was quite productive. List; Gallery; Gallery - 6 Cards per Page; Gallery - 8 Cards per Page; Gallery - 9 Cards per Page; They were the fourteenth and fifteenth players to achieve the incredible milestone. List by Card #, You own: 0 / 865 items While Pete Rose set records elsewhere in the Phillies lineup, third baseman Mike Schmidt set the National League ablaze. 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. Today only a graded high-condition example gets that kind of money. 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. 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. 1981 Topps Baseball 2nd Year Card Rickey Henderson, 3. The 1981 season was the St. Louis Cardinals 100th season in St. Louis, Missouri, and their 90th year in the National League (NL). In 1981, Schmidt became the eighth player in MLB history to do just that. However, regardless of what you might think of his legacy, it's surprising that this particular card isn't worth a little more. 10. #9. He played in Major League Baseball between 1977 and 1982 for the Seattle Mariners and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Most Valuable Baseball Cards of All Time . Read our methodology. 3. Get my weekly newsletter with the latest hobby updates delivered straight to your inbox! No. 726 cards. Aurelio Alejandro Lpez Rios was a Mexican professional baseball player. After Wilson dodged a wild pitch from Boston's Bob Stanley, Kevin Mitchell scored from third to tie the game. 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. At 41 years of age, it seemed time had finally caught up to Boston Red Sox designated hitter/first baseman Carl Yastrzemski in 1981. At least he was voted Rookie of the Year. 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. Reginald Martinez Jackson is a former American right fielder who spent the majority of his 21-year professional baseball career with the Kansas City and Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees, and ended his career with a two-year stint for the California Angels. Many thought his career was slowly but surely coming to an end. - http://bit.ly/W. 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. 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. 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. Most Expensive Just look at that awesome retro Astros jersey in all its striped glory! Tune in as Mrs. Wax Pack Gods reads 1982 Topps Baseball Cards - 17 Most Valuable . Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. Henderson was also top-notch on defense as he brought home his first-and-only Gold Glove. Wade Boggs is an American former baseball player who retired as a third baseman after 18 seasons of Major League Baseball. PriceIt Game | Greatest Topps Baseball Cards of All-Time. During the 1977 season, Andre Dawson batted .282 with 19 home runs and 65 RBI, which earned him NL Rookie of the Year honors. Many times, though, he'd fail to connect on those swings and would up earning himself a spot as the career leader in strikeouts with 2,597. 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. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. Get my weekly newsletter with the latest hobby updates delivered straight to your inbox! The current worth of this card is $195. 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. 1955 Topps Sandy Koufax #123. In his seventh season in the Majors, Yount broke out in a big way in 1980 as he led the league in doubles (49) while scoring 121 runs, driving in 87 RBI, and hitting 23 home runs to earn his first trip to the All-Star Game. 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 player who played the most games at first base in major league history was Eddie Murray, who amassed 2,413-lifetime games at the position along with nearly 600 more as a designated hitter. 202 Steve Carlton Record Breaker - Phillies. 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. Mike Schmidt was arguably the best third baseman in baseball history and will always be remembered for both his power and his glove. He also finished fourth in the NL with a .316 batting average, narrowly missing out on a Triple Crown. Enrique Romo Navarro is a former professional baseball relief pitcher. $260. Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? 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. Boggs reached 3,000 hits during his career and became the 23rd player to do so. And in this guide, I'll run through the ten most valuable. Are you selling sports cards that were produced from 1868 - 1975? He was a two-sport star in baseball and basketball for the Minnesota Golden Gophers, so it wasn't too shocking that the Atlanta Hawks (NBA), Utah Stars (ABA) and San Diego Padres (MLB) each drafted him. But, this will always be the set that got their foot into the red-hot market of the 1980s. 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. The 1981 Topps baseball card set consist of 726 standard size cards that measure 2" by 3". 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. 204 Ron LeFlore / Rodney Scott Record Breaker - Expos. , Dodgers Future Star [Perconte, Scioscia, Valenzuela] #302, Expos Future Stars [T. Raines, R. Ramos, B. And while Rose hit no home runs in 1981 and drove in just 33, he was a fantastic table-setter for the Phillies. The imagery on this card is some of the best on this list and in the set in general, as Topps perfectly captured Jackson taking a massive swing. He also led the National League in runs scored (78) and walks (73). 0% 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). Though it may be light on key rookie cards, this set is certainly not light on stars and Hall of Famers. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 by Old Sports Cards, LLC. In 665 at-bats for Toronto, Ainge batted .220, hit two home runs, scored 57 runs, drove in another 37 and stole 12 bases. It has full gloss and is slightly askew. However, when do you do it? And incredibly, hed come back with a vengeance. 205 Pete Rose Record Breaker - Phillies. Inc. This Baseball card is in very good condition, with sharp corners and slight wear on the lower right corner. Ultimately, the Padres and Cardinals would complete a multi-player trade before the 1982 season that sent Templeton to San Diego and Smith to St. Louis, where he would play the next fifteen years and become a Cardinals icon. Its nice design and classic pose have helped make it one of the most recognizable cards in the hobby, not just from the 1980s. At the time, everyone thought the Padres were getting the better end of the deal as Templeton was a much better hitter. At the time, two Major League Baseball clubs, the Montreal Expos, and the Toronto Blue Jays played in Canada, where . 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. Instead, he was more of a craftsman on the mound and outsmarted hitters to allow a career-low 6.5 hits per nine innings. It didn't matter, though, as the Reds missed out on the playoffs and a rejuvenated Tom Seaver was denied one last hurrah in October. Read our methodology. 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. SportsCardsPro Index: 1982 Topps. The card is currently worth $189.99. 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. Price. 1981 Topps Expos Future Card Tim Haines Auto, 6. But he is more famous for the accusations of gambling that led Major League Baseball to ban him from the sport in 1989. Featured here is a rare rookie card from 1989 with an authenticated signature of Steve Avery. Keith was a baseball first baseman. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Despite this seemingly unjustified absence from more "Midsummer Classics," Yount is considered to be the greatest Milwaukee Brewer in the franchise's history. Card Number: #418. 1. 29 Surprisingly Cheap: 1985 Mark McGwire Topps. Let's be clear:most of the cards from this set do not have any value these days. Although Riley wasnt very popular, he was a Major League Baseball pitcher. The record-breaking card is from his rookie season and was produced by trading card giant Topps. 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. However, his production was never quite the same from 1988 until he finished his career with the Colorado Rockies in 1993. In 196 plate appearances (178 at-bats), he slashed .309/.369/.489 with eight home runs and 25 RBI. He struggled in 1980 (by his terms) with a career-worst 3.64 ERA and a career-low ten wins. Estimated PSA 9 Mint Value: $120. 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. 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. 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. Year-by-year ranking of the most valuable Topps Baseball Rookie Cards from 1952 to 2020. The most valuable baseball card from the 1980s is Rickey Henderson's 1980 Topps rookie card. 1952 Topps Willie Mays RC #261. $29. (Updated for 2022) SUBSCRIBE NOW! At that point, Murphy looked like he was on a surefire trajectory to Cooperstown. They didn't call him "Steady Eddie" for nothing. 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. 10 Bo Jackson #600. Still, as one of the game's greatest leadoff hitters and baserunners, he was overdue to get in anyway. He also holds the schools record for most strikeouts in both a single season and total career strikeouts with 309 in 305 innings pitched. 1983 Topps #482 Tony Gwynn Rookie Card. In those 108 games, they played at Fenway Park where they had a record of 56-52. 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. Or, feel free to call/text me at 305-684-6680! His combination of speed and power was simply some of the greatest the game has ever seen. In total, Henderson led the league in stolen bases . He was the clear choice for National League MVP and also picked up a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger. Despite the poor production, Jackson still earned a spot on the All-Star team for the eleventh time in his career. Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $2,700. Shortcuts: Most Expensive, Cheapest, List by Card # In this guide, I will cover the 25 most valuable in the set. Hold on to it. And some of those players appeared on multiple cards. *TIM RAINES* 1981 Topps Traded #816 *CGS 9* RC Rookie Card. You are looking at a 1981 Topps Rookie Card hand-signed by George Riley. While this is considered one of his rookie cards, it doesn't command quite the price premium as his 1982 Topps Tradedrookie card which can sell for north of $5,000 in top condition. 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. Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? 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. There are no scratches, bends, or folds. $15.00. When graded gem mint 10 by PSA, the value has gone as high as $180,000. The 1980 Topps Rickey Henderson is such a beautiful card. 1909 T206 Sherry Magee (Error) Price: $660,000. In twin history, he is regarded as one the greatest contact hitters. Contact him at [emailprotected]. 206 Mike Schmidt Record Breaker - Phillies. Valenzuela won both the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards, and the Dodgers made it all the way to the World Series. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. I absolutely love this card as it captures Rickey about to do what he did best: steal a base. 9 Roger Clemens #530. This is a rare Topps card from 1981 containing his signature. Shortcuts: Most Expensive, Cheapest, List by Card # Price: $299.75 Grade: PSA 10. By the time these Hall of Famers retired, Brett had three batting titles and Carew had an eye-popping seven. 203 Bill Gullickson Record Breaker - Expos. Average . Let's be clear:most of the cards from this set do not have any value these days. 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. No More Secrets Puzzle Game, Ungraded In fact, between June 2021 and May 2022, this Ripken collectible in a PSA 10 sold for under $4,000 just once. Brett's performance at the plate put him well above Milwaukee's Cecil Cooper and his own impressive .352 average to earn his second of three career batting titles. 5 Cal Ripken Jr. #183. 1981 Topps Traded MLB Baseball Trading Cards Pick From List #727-#858. Not only is it fun, but its good quality material for a future family reunion. Set Links - Overview - Checklist - Teams - Errors / Variations - Hall of Famers - Rookies . The Padres also had some great retro jerseys during the 1980s but Ozzie really topped things off with those sideburns. Players include Hank Aaron, Nolan Ryan & Mike Trout. Carew's career batting average ended up at .328, while his best single-season average was .388 in 1977. Dale Murphy enjoyed a bit of a breakout year in 1980 as he hit 33 home runs, scored 98 runs, had 89 RBI and made his first of seven career All-Star teams. The defending AL champions were a mess early, though. Every collector knows that theres some serious money to be made off certain cards. . 1981 Topps Baseball Set Checklist. 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. 1981 Topps Traded Expos Tim Raines Card, 4. 1981, 1985, 1989), 11-time MLB strikeout leader (1972-74, 1976-79, 1987-90), two-time NL leader (1981, 1987), MLB All-Century Team. 1981 Fleer Rickey Henderson #351, #574. It has been certified authentic by Beckett Authentication (BAS) and comes encapsulated in their tamper-proof holder. Rookie Cards: Options . 1981 Topps Kirk Gibson RC #315. . 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. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 by Old Sports Cards, LLC. 722 Joe Niekro. In 493 plate appearances (423 at-bats), Henderson posted a robust .319/.408/.437 slash line with nine home runs and 53 RBI while winning his first of three Silver Sluggers. 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. #5. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. He also led all of baseball with 89 runs scored and led the American League in stolen bases (56) and hits (135). 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. Things screeched to a halt, though, when Jackson injured his calf running the bases in Game 2 of the ALCS against Oakland. The 1981 Topps Scratchoffs was a 108-card baseball set distributed on perforated three-card panels measuring 3-14" by 5-1/4". 390 during the 1980 season. To top it all off, he earned his sixth All-Star selection, sixth Gold Glove, and second Silver Slugger award. Murray was one of the greatest first basemen to ever play the game but his cards seem to be a bit overlooked at times. In the team's NLDS loss to the Expos, Schmidt hit .250 (4-for-16) with one home run, two RBI, and four walks. He finished the year with the best winning percentage of any starter in baseball (.875), notched his 3000th career strikeout on April 12th, and earned his twelfth-and-final All-Star appearance after a two-year absence. Ted Simmons St. Louis Cardinals 1981 Topps, 17. 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. 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. When it comes to Rookie Cards, 1981 Topps is one . 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 . 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. 1981 Topps Scratch-Offs. 6. His .246 batting average and .355 slugging percentage were also career lows. During this era, the Montreal Expos had yet to move south to become . 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. Ozzie was always one of my favorite players to watch as a kid as his acrobatic defensive play left fans in awe time after time as he went on to collect 13 Gold Glove awards. This Nolan Ryan card is another fantastic example of Topps capturing the style and vibe of the 1980s. Despite the ups and downs, there isplentyto enjoy about this set. 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.