1981 Donruss. Price. After nearly a decade-and-a-half as the standard for MLB catchers, Cincinnati Reds Hall-of-Famer Johnny Bench changed positions for the 1981 season. He played in Major League Baseball between 1977 and 1982 for the Seattle Mariners and the Pittsburgh Pirates. So for our purpose, the most expensive Nolan Ryan rookie card is the 1969 Topps RC which is valued at $20,000, give or take a thousand. 9 of the Most Valuable Baseball Cards in History - HISTORY 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. 1981 Topps Baseball 2nd Year Card Rickey Henderson. 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 . 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. 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. This is a 1981 fleer rookie card with card number #418. Wilson was incredibly speedy and was the Mets' career stolen base leader before Jose Reyes eventually broke his record many years later. Tim Raines first became eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2008 but wasn't elected until 2017 when he received a convincing 86% of the vote. And, over the next twenty-two years, he would develop into one of the greatest players of his era with twelve All-Star selections, seven Gold Gloves and six Silver Sluggers to his name. Owchinko played baseball for Eastern Michigan University. 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. This card is super tough to find in high grade, hence the huge price tag that might shock you. 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. And they delivered a great set with many stars and Hall of Famersand one of the biggest rookie cards of the 1980s. I remember several years ago you could find this card in a PSA 9 holder quite easily for $400 or so, which made it undervalued even back then. 1961 Topps Baseball Cards - 16 Most Valuable - Wax Pack Gods 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. . 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. | Compare vs. Aurelio Alejandro Lpez Rios was a Mexican professional baseball player. The Padres also had some great retro jerseys during the 1980s but Ozzie really topped things off with those sideburns. 726 cards. In 1980, Kansas City Royals third baseman George Brett graduated from All-Star to crossover superstar. Prices are updated daily based upon 1981 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. The 10 Most Valuable Basketball Cards from the 1980s. Most Valuable Rookie Card in Every Topps Baseball Set, 1952-2020 The problem was that the 33-year-old Bench simply wasn't healthy. That means the card needs to be flawless. While eligible for induction, Murphy peaked at 23% of the vote in 2000, falling well short of the 75% needed for entry. 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. 25 Most Valuable 1983 Topps Baseball Cards - Old Sports Cards Featured here is a 1981 Topps Coca Cola baseball card signed by Aurelio Lopez. 1981 Topps #347 Harold Baines Rookie Card. 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. "I had hit .300 before, but I couldn't hold it," he said. Placing Mark McGwire's 1985 Topps card in this category may seem a little unfair considering its current $650 price tag. 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. Most Expensive 1981 Topps card list & price guide. Beginning with the 1977-78 NCAA Basketball season, Ainge starred for Brigham Young University and capped things off in 1981 by being named a first-team All-American and winning the John Wooden Award as the nation's best player. Rickey Henderson, an American retired professional baseball player who played his entire 24-year career in Major League Baseball, helped break the sports color barrier. The last sale's most valuable Topps Nolan Ryan baseball card is the 1974 Topps Nolan Ryan baseball card number #20. And in this guide, I'll run through the ten most valuable. Most Expensive, 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. Click on a Card detail page to see historic prices and values for all different grades. In total, Henderson led the league in stolen bases . Top 15 Most Expensive Nolan Ryan Cards - Thrillpack Cards 25 Most Valuable 1981 Fleer Baseball Cards In The World 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. Only Tony Gwynn had come closer to batting .400 or better since Ted Williams last did it in 1941 when Gwynn batted .394 in 110 games during the strike-shortened 1994 season. It would have been nice to see an action shot of Seaver on his 1982 Topps card but this is still a good-looking card overall. 1981 Topps Scratch-Offs. For its 1980-81 basketball set, Topps mixed things up by releasing an entire set in which each card had three panels, each . 1954 Topps #128 Hank Aaron RC. Despite the ups and downs, there isplentyto enjoy about this set. Smith felt more welcomed by the Cardinals ownership and management and settled in quite nicely to be one of the franchise's most beloved players in team history. Jackson found a groove in the team's ALDS victory over the Milwaukee Brewers, hitting .300 with a .933 OPS, two home runs, and four RBI. Unfortunately, the strike-shortened season and growing tensions with Yankees owner George Steinbrenner got in the way. 9 Roger Clemens #530. He also loves to write about the hobby and has written for Beckett, Topps, SABR and of course, this website. Cincinnati finished second in both halves of the 1981 split-season but ended the year with the best overall record in the National League. Ungraded. 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. Mike Schmidt was arguably the best third baseman in baseball history and will always be remembered for both his power and his glove. The Five Most Expensive Houston Astros Baseball Cards Throughout his career, Carter was known for his hitting and excellent defense, as well as his ability to handle pitchers. The defending AL champions were a mess early, though. The current worth of this card is $195. Reggie Jackson played five seasons as a member of the New York Yankees from 1977 to 1981, and the 1980 season turned out to be his best in pinstripes. I used to collect baseball cards as a kid and loved pulling out a pack of 1981 Topps Coca Cola cardstheir design was so much better than the regular issue and their limited print run made them seem much more valuable. The 1981 season was the seventh and final time. In 1981, Schmidt became the eighth player in MLB history to do just that. 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. 21 Most Valuable 1981 Donruss Baseball Cards 1981 Topps Baseball 2nd Year Card Rickey Henderson, 3. Henderson has two cards in the 1981 Fleer which feature photographs that appear to be taken just seconds apart. Rose collected 140 hits in 1981, slashing .325/.391/.390 in his third year with the Philadelphia Phillies. A right-hander, he threw and batted right-handed. 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. List by Card #, You own: 0 / 865 items And none of his Rookie Cards is bigger than . Growing up in Central Indiana surrounded by Cubs fans, I would hear about Dawson constantly as fans absolutely loved the guy, and rightly so. Rating: 7.5 (174 votes) Click here to Rate. In this guide, I will cover the 25 most valuable in the set. After the 1981 season, however, Ainge decided to call it quits with baseball. 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. 10 Bo Jackson #600. 1981 Topps Card Prices | PSA & Ungraded Values - SportsCardsPro At 41 years of age, it seemed time had finally caught up to Boston Red Sox designated hitter/first baseman Carl Yastrzemski in 1981. 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. 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. Tim Raines was one of the most successful stealers in baseball history and can be seen on the far left of the card. Topps has dominated the baseball card scene for the past six decades, issuing a set in every year . Kansas City went 20-30 in the season's first half and started the second half slowly, with Manager Jim Frey taking the heat. Given how consistently great Murray was for so many years, it just seems unimaginable that he didn't lead in one of those two categories at least one other time. As his time with the Yankees had come to a close, Jackson packed his bag and headed back to the West Coast, signing to play for the California Angels. Known as the Man of Steal, he is widely considered to have been baseballs greatest leadoff hitter and baserunner. 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. This is a rare Topps card from 1981 containing his signature. In 2004 he was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame; in 2005 he was enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Sure, the 1981 Topps set has the Montana rookie card, . It was a fitting punctuation mark for one of Ryan's best seasons on the mound. 19 Most Valuable 1981 Topps Baseball Cards In the World 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! Greatest Topps Baseball Cards of All-Time. The 1984 Topps Football set is THE landmark football card set of the 1980s. After sixteen seasons and two World Series titles with the Cincinnati Reds, Pete Rose left the "Big Red Machine" behind and signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1979. 10 Greatest Topps Baseball Cards To Buy Now In 2023 - Gold Card Auctions Donovan Mitchell was one of the standouts in a loaded 2017-18 NBA rookie class. In 196 plate appearances (178 at-bats), he slashed .309/.369/.489 with eight home runs and 25 RBI. 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. No More Secrets Puzzle Game, Ungraded 1981 Reggie Jackson Topps Project 70 Card, 10. Raw: $20 PSA 9: $100 PSA 10: $900 One of the most popular players of his era, Vladimir Guerrero was the No. 1981 Fleer card list & price guide. Immediately afterward, the price of his 1982 Topps rookie card in PSA 10 condition shot through the roof. Wilson hit a weak grounder towards Boston's Bill Buckner at first base, and the ball squeaked by him, allowing Wilson to reach first base safely while Ray Knight scored the winning run. Murphy was outstanding during the 1980s as he racked up two MVPs, seven All-Star selections, five Gold Gloves, and four Silver Sluggers on his way to becoming one of the most popular players in baseball. And while its value pales in comparison to other big-name vintage rookies like Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Roberto Clemente, to name a few, its price soared dramatically during the recent sports card boom. 1981 Topps Baseball Cards - The Cardboard Connection