1981 Topps Traded Expos Tim Raines Card. 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. The cards featured in this list represent the most coveted and desired of all 1981 Topps Baseball cards. Murray was one of the greatest first basemen to ever play the game but his cards seem to be a bit overlooked at times. The defending AL champions were a mess early, though. Contact him at [emailprotected]. Having earned the right to produce baseball cards in a court case with Topps, the 1981 Donruss set became the company's first baseball offering. 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. Baseballs hit king, Pete Rose, led all of baseball in total hits on seven different occasions. 1983 Donruss. Although his best days were clearly behind him, he still played well enough to earn a trip to the 1982 All-Star game. For example, in November, 2018 you could find one in PSA 10 grade for around $100 but after he was voted into the Hall they started selling for north of $600 and continue to climb today. The NL Rookie of the Year Award was close, with Raines receiving 85 vote points to Valenzuela's 107, but the Expos and all of baseball knew that Raines was something special. Jackson's time in New York wasn't exactly smooth as he occasionally clashed with teammates, manager Billy Martin and owner George Steinbrenner, contributing to an environment that earned the team the nickname "The Bronx Zoo.". When graded gem mint 10 by PSA, the value has gone as high as $180,000. 1981 Topps Gary Carter Autograph Card, 25 Most Valuable 1981 Fleer Baseball Cards In The World, 19 Most Valuable 1976 Topps Baseball Cards In The World, 25 Most Valuable 1987 Topps Baseball Cards In The World, 29 Most Valuable 1991 Topps Baseball Cards In the World, 25 Most Valuable 1988 Topps Baseball Cards In The World, 29 Most Valuable 1989 Topps Baseball Cards In the World, 25 Rarest and Most Valuable Quarters Worth Money, 24 Rarest and Most Valuable State Quarters Worth Money, 25 Rare 50 Dollar Bills: Value And Price Chart, 26 Rarest And Most Valuable Pennies Worth Money, 15 Rarest and Most Valuable Sacagawea Coins Worth Money, Rarest and Most Valuable Charizard Pokemon Cards, 29 Most Valuable Shaq Rookie Cards Ever Sold, 29 Most Valuable Frank Thomas Cards Youd Find On eBay, 29 Most Valuable 1992 Topps Baseball Cards, 29 Most Valuable 1992 Leaf Baseball Cards in the World, 29 Most Valuable 1991 Upper Deck Baseball Cards Worth Money, 29 Most Valuable 1991 Skybox Basketball Cards For Collectors. On the right side were four rows of six . 1989 Donruss The Rookies Ken Griffey Jr. #3. It was also the first Topps set to feature a monster 792-card checklist. During Dawson's first year with the Cubs in 1987, he would lead the league in home runs (49) and RBI (137) to win MVP honors, and the fans at Wrigley instantly fell in love with "the Hawk.". Thats why everyone is constantly asking the question: What are the most valuable 1981 Topps baseball cards?. Prices are updated daily based upon 1981 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. Ryan dazzled on that fall afternoon in Houston, striking out eleven and walking just three. He played in Major League Baseball between 1977 and 1982 for the Seattle Mariners and the Pittsburgh Pirates. . Premium: This was limited to only 504 serial-numbered porcelain cards made and it has already been authenticated by Global Authentics (GAI). 1985 Fleer Kirby Puckett RC #286. Although Riley wasnt very popular, he was a Major League Baseball pitcher. That means the card needs to be flawless. He was the clear choice for National League MVP and also picked up a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger. Immediately afterward, the price of his 1982 Topps rookie card in PSA 10 condition shot through the roof. Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? Price: $299.75 Grade: PSA 10. After a decades-long stranglehold on the market, Topps lost a key court battle with Fleer that allowed other companies to produce sets of their own. Grade: PSA 10. He was named Player of the Decade by The Sporting News at the end of his career. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 by Old Sports Cards, LLC. 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. 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. 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. From the 1983 season on, he was selected to the All-Star game every year until he retired after the 2001 season. . SportsCardsPro Index: 1982 Topps. 1982 Donruss. 6 Don Mattingly 1984 Donruss #248: One of the most . Murphy struggled a bit during the 1981 split season as his batting average fell to a paltry .247 and his slugging percentage plunged to .390 from .510 the year before. At the time, two Major League Baseball clubs, the Montreal Expos, and the Toronto Blue Jays played in Canada, where . 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. During the 1977 season, Andre Dawson batted .282 with 19 home runs and 65 RBI, which earned him NL Rookie of the Year honors. It has been authenticated and graded a 10 by Beckett Authentication Services. I absolutely love this card as it captures Rickey about to do what he did best: steal a base. He was named Rolaids Relief Man of the Year four times and led the major leagues in saves three times. . 724 Lou Piniella. The record-breaking card is from his rookie season and was produced by trading card giant Topps. 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. $9.99. 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. While it's not known for any iconic cards like some of the other sets of the era, the 1981 Donruss baseball card set is iconic itself for one reason: collectors now had an alternative choice to Topps for the first time in years. And while Rose hit no home runs in 1981 and drove in just 33, he was a fantastic table-setter for the Phillies. In this guide, I will cover the 25 most valuable in the set. 1952 Topps #1 Andy Pafko. He also led all of baseball with 89 runs scored and led the American League in stolen bases (56) and hits (135). #5. Philadelphia fell in five games to the Montreal Expos in an entertaining National League Division Series. 1909 T206 Sherry Magee (Error) Price: $660,000. And none of his Rookie Cards is bigger than . Mattingly's Donruss rookie was produced in smaller quantities than his Topps rookie, so it's worth more. JB's 1981 Fleer card is a $5 (or so) buy in PSA 9 condition. 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. They didn't call him "Steady Eddie" for nothing. Clocking in at 605 cards in total, this set made history when it first debuted. The 1990 American League Most Valuable Player, Henderson also was the lead-off hitter for two World Series championship teams, the 1989 Oakland Athletics and the 1993 Toronto Blue Jays. Jackie Robinson | Card Sold For: $392,400. Star power: Robinson, a Hall of Famer, broke the MLB color barrier in 1947, becoming a social justice icon in the process. However, regardless of what you might think of his legacy, it's surprising that this particular card isn't worth a little more. 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. Somehow during all that success with college basketball, he also found the time to play for the Blue Jays from 1979 to 1981. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 by Old Sports Cards, LLC. Previous Article. 5 Underrated 1981 Donruss Baseball Cards. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. #9. Click on any Donruss Set to see a full list of Cards and their current value. List by Card #, You own: 0 / 865 items 1981 Reggie Jackson Topps Project 70 Card, 10. Rose hit .300 (6-for-20) with two RBI and a run scored in the losing effort. Roland Glen Fingers was an American right-handed relief pitcher who played for three teams between 1968 and 1985. 726 cards. In 21 starts, Ryan finished 11-5 with an MLB-best 1.69 ERA. 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. 1981 Topps Baseball 2nd Year Card Rickey Henderson, 3. It was featured by the Boston Celtics in the 2 times NBA championship (1984 and 1986), NBA champion 2008 executive, NBA executive of the year 2008 is also a serial numbered card. The continued adoption of Sabermetrics no doubt helped push him across the finish line and into Cooperstown. 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. Their scarcity is a result of several situations that can apply to baseball card collecting. Cards. This Baseball card is in very good condition, with sharp corners and slight wear on the lower right corner. During the rush to market, they also ended up with many errors and variations in their debut set, but that was to be expected. Shortcuts: Most Expensive, Cheapest, List by Card # 1981 Fleer card list & price guide. While eligible for induction, Murphy peaked at 23% of the vote in 2000, falling well short of the 75% needed for entry. 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. 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. Each 1-13/16" by 3-1/4" card featured a small full-color portrait of the player with his name printed below his image on the left side of the card. In 390 plate appearances (338 at-bats), Yastrzemski posted a .246/.338/.355 slash line with a career-low seven home runs and 53 RBI. 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. This card has been signed by him and is currently worth $49. 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. Average . 1981 Donruss. 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. 1981 Topps Expos Future Card Tim Haines Auto, 6. Topps has dominated the baseball card scene for the past six decades, issuing a set in every year . You are looking at a 1981 Topps Rookie Card hand-signed by George Riley. 6 Rickey Henderson #180. Year-by-year ranking of the most valuable Topps Baseball Rookie Cards from 1952 to 2020. Description Card Number NM-MT 8 MT 9 GEM-MT 10; Larry Bird (HOF) Shop with Affiliates 4: 185+ 770+ 21,500+ Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (HOF) Shop with Affiliates 20: 45: 135+ 1,400-Magic Johnson (HOF) Shop with Affiliates 21: 170-850 Cheapest, The 1981 season was the St. Louis Cardinals 100th season in St. Louis, Missouri, and their 90th year in the National League (NL). Featured here is a rare rookie card from 1989 with an authenticated signature of Steve Avery. Despite this seemingly unjustified absence from more "Midsummer Classics," Yount is considered to be the greatest Milwaukee Brewer in the franchise's history. After his release by the Brewers, he was offered a contract by Pete Rose to play for the Cincinnati Reds in 1986. Download Price List, SportsCardsPro 2019-2023 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. After a complete-game victory in Game 1, Ryan allowed three runs (two earned) in six innings in the deciding Game 5. Hold on to it. 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. . This trading card has been authenticated by PSA, it has the signature of Rollie fingers on the obverse. He did his best, hitting .333 with a 1.095 in the final three games, but New York dropped all three and the series. The 1981 season was the seventh and final time. 1981 Topps card list & price guide. The 1980 season turned out to be historic for George Brett as he won the only MVP of his legendary career and fell just short of batting .400 on the year with an eye-popping .390 average. Fans and media began to take note of his incredible defensive talent, giving him the nickname "The Wizard.". 1981 Topps Expos Future Card Tim Haines Auto. This card features the professional baseball player Danny Ainge. 722 Joe Niekro. 5 Cal Ripken Jr. #183. In the process, Schmidt led the league and set career highs in home runs (48), RBI (121) and total bases (342). Before the season, Steinbrenner went to Jackson for his thoughts on the team's pursuit of free-agent slugger Dave Winfield. Our hunt for the 80s most valuable baseball cards includes Don Mattingly, Cal Ripken Jr., Nolan Ryan, Ricky Henderson. | Compare vs. He struggled in 1980 (by his terms) with a career-worst 3.64 ERA and a career-low ten wins. This card is super tough to find in high grade, hence the huge price tag that might shock you. $29. In 196 plate appearances (178 at-bats), he slashed .309/.369/.489 with eight home runs and 25 RBI. A rare 1980/81 baseball card. 206 Mike Schmidt Record Breaker - Phillies. His .758 OPS marked the first time he'd dropped under .817 since 1968. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Tim Raines was one of the most successful stealers in baseball history and can be seen on the far left of the card.