1981 topps baseball cards most valuable 1981 topps baseball cards most valuable

Jackson green-lighted the eventual signing but expected Steinbrenner to offer him a new deal as well. This card is super tough to find in high grade, hence the huge price tag that might shock you. They finished the season with a .546 winning percentage in front of 1,060,379 fans who saw them play. The reverse of the card mentions that over the last nine seasons dating back to 1972, Brett (2) and Carew (6) had combined to win eight batting titles. In 25 postseason plate appearances (22 at-bats), Henderson hit .273 with two doubles, one triple, one RBI, three runs scored, and four stolen bases. 1989 Donruss The Rookies Ken Griffey Jr. #3. In twin history, he is regarded as one the greatest contact hitters. 1981 Pete Rose Baseball Card. Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $2,000. He played in Major League Baseball between 1977 and 1982 for the Seattle Mariners and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Top 10 Most Valuable: 1981 Topps Basketball. However, his production was never quite the same from 1988 until he finished his career with the Colorado Rockies in 1993. This card once was worth upwards of $50, and until Jose Canseco came along, it was the most valuable regular-issue 1980s card in the book. Tim Raines & Ramos Autographed 1981 Topps Rookie Card, 12. 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. Set Links - Overview - Checklist - Teams - Errors / Variations - Hall of Famers - Rookies . However, once he was in San Diego, Templeton's hitting declined drastically and he'd never bat over .300 again. The course of Seaver's career would take a significant turn at the trading deadline in 1977, though, when he was involved in "the Midnight Massacre" that sent him to the Reds. Although his best days were clearly behind him, he still played well enough to earn a trip to the 1982 All-Star game. Rose collected 140 hits in 1981, slashing .325/.391/.390 in his third year with the Philadelphia Phillies. 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. Despite this seemingly unjustified absence from more "Midsummer Classics," Yount is considered to be the greatest Milwaukee Brewer in the franchise's history. 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. Our hunt for the 80s most valuable baseball cards includes Don Mattingly, Cal Ripken Jr., Nolan Ryan, Ricky Henderson. 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. Raw: $20 PSA 9: $100 PSA 10: $900 One of the most popular players of his era, Vladimir Guerrero was the No. 1981 Topps Project 70 Card Wade Boggs by Efdot FOIL, 8. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The last sale's most valuable Topps Nolan Ryan baseball card is the 1974 Topps Nolan Ryan baseball card number #20. Click on any Donruss Set to see a full list of Cards and their current value. Struggling through back issues and other accumulated aches and pains, Yastrzemski had the worst offensive season of his 21-year career thus far. 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. 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. Murray was one of the greatest first basemen to ever play the game but his cards seem to be a bit overlooked at times. On his 1982 Topps card, Ripken is sandwiched between Bob Bonner and Jeff Schneider as part of the "Future Stars" subset with the Baltimore Orioles. Boggs reached 3,000 hits during his career and became the 23rd player to do so. 1981 Topps Baseball Card Checklist. And in this guide, I'll run through the ten most valuable. After a complete-game victory in Game 1, Ryan allowed three runs (two earned) in six innings in the deciding Game 5. Let's be clear:most of the cards from this set do not have any value these days. Grade. But, this will always be the set that got their foot into the red-hot market of the 1980s. In the process, Schmidt led the league and set career highs in home runs (48), RBI (121) and total bases (342). Boggs was a perennial contender for American League batting titles during the 1980s and 1990s. Hold on to it. In 1981, the Boston Red Sox played 108 games during the regular season and won 59 of those games, losing 49. That just shows you what kind of effect being a Hall of Famer can have on baseball card prices. Grade: PSA 10. 1981 Topps #347 Harold Baines Rookie Card. Although Riley wasnt very popular, he was a Major League Baseball pitcher. This is the rookie card for Bronco's QB great John Elway. 1909 T206 Sherry Magee (Error) Price: $660,000. 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. 390 during the 1980 season. Though it may be light on key rookie cards, this set is certainly not light on stars and Hall of Famers. His struggles didn't last long, though, and maybe it was seeing Mike Schmidt win back-to-back MVPs in 1980 and 1981 because, by the following year, Murphy's production skyrocketed as he'd go on to win back-to-back MVPs of his own in 1982 and 1983. #9. Tim Haines finished second in Rookie of the Year voting, 19th in MVP, and earned his first All-Star selection. Jackson slumped out of the gates in 1981, prompting Steinbrenner to invoke a clause in his contract that forced him to undergo a full physical examination. $12.95. The card is currently worth $189.99. Previous Article. 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. Most Valuable Baseball Cards of All Time . His combination of speed and power was simply some of the greatest the game has ever seen. List; Gallery; Gallery - 6 Cards per Page; Gallery - 8 Cards per Page; Gallery - 9 Cards per Page; Contents hide. . 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. The three-time MVP would smash 548 home runs over his career as he led the league in that category an amazing 8 times. #5. 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. Ungraded & graded values for all '81 Fleer Baseball Cards. Here we see Yaz staring off into the distance almost as if he's thinking back on his careeror maybe he's just watching a teammate take batting practice. 725 Steve Rogers. 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. 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.". Contact him at [emailprotected]. He played most of his career with the St Louis Cardinals and New York Mets. JB's 1981 Fleer card is a $5 (or so) buy in PSA 9 condition. 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. Roland Glen Fingers was an American right-handed relief pitcher who played for three teams between 1968 and 1985. 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. 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. And, like Clemens, that might cut into the value and prestige of his 1985 Fleer Rookie Card to a . 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. Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? That means the card needs to be flawless. $68.95. Most Expensive Estimated PSA 9 Mint Value: $120. 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. During the 1977 season, Andre Dawson batted .282 with 19 home runs and 65 RBI, which earned him NL Rookie of the Year honors. 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. $195. In 1981, Schmidt became the eighth player in MLB history to do just that. 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. Prices for 1982 Topps Baseball Cards 1982 Topps card list & price guide. Heck, he even dated "Miss New York" Debra Sue Maurice from the Miss USA Beauty Pageant. 1981 Topps Kirk Gibson RC #315. . Not only is it fun, but its good quality material for a future family reunion. As you can see, some of the game's biggest legends of all time can be found within the 726-card checklist. 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. And the reason it's worth so much in PSA 10 condition? Get my weekly newsletter with the latest hobby updates delivered straight to your inbox! 1 1980 Batting Leaders - George Brett / Bill Buckner 2 1980 Home Run Leaders - Reggie Jackson / Ben Oglivie / Mike Schmidt . I absolutely love this card as it captures Rickey about to do what he did best: steal a base. The 1981 Topps Scratchoffs was a 108-card baseball set distributed on perforated three-card panels measuring 3-14" by 5-1/4". There were tons of errors, collation inside boxes was hit and miss (mostly miss) and the . Value: $300-325. He was even the first player to collect 100 hits from both sides of the plate. Premium: In the second half, they finished 1.5 games behind the Astros to miss the playoffs entirely. And the difference lies on the reverse of the card, as one version will point collectors to see card #251 for more Rose highlights while the other will direct them to see card #371 for more. $29. Price: $299.75 Grade: PSA 10. While Pete Rose set records elsewhere in the Phillies lineup, third baseman Mike Schmidt set the National League ablaze. Rose hit .300 (6-for-20) with two RBI and a run scored in the losing effort. Ungraded & graded values for all '81 Topps But, for the 1982 season, Smith would never actually suit up for the Padres as he was traded to St. Louis for another highly-regarded shortstop in Garry Templeton. 1981 Topps Expos Future Card Tim Haines Auto, 6. However, due to market conditions, values fluctuate. . 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. Bench is somewhat of an anomaly on this list, showing up with only one 1981 Fleer card, and all. The 1980 season would be Winfield's last with the Padres as the Yankees signed him to a ten-year, $23 million contract making him the game's highest-paid player at the time. 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.. And while its value pales in comparison to other big-name vintage rookies like Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Roberto Clemente, to . 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. 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. We may earn an affiliate commission if you He played parts of four seasons in the MLB between 1979 and 1986, with the Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, and Montreal Expos. Their scarcity is a result of several situations that can apply to baseball card collecting. Aurelio Alejandro Lpez Rios was a Mexican professional baseball player. The Boston Celtics drafted Ainge in the 1981 NBA Draft and bought his contract from the Blue Jays and the rest was history. 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. From the 1983 season on, he was selected to the All-Star game every year until he retired after the 2001 season. 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. Most Expensive 1981 Topps card list & price guide. Over eighteen seasons in MLB, all with the Philadelphia Phillies, Schmidt won three MVPs, made twelve All-Star teams, won six Silver Sluggers, snagged ten Gold Gloves, and led the league in home runs eight times. Later, his stretch from 1982 to 1987 was one of the most dominant in Major League Baseball as he was twice voted MVP, made six-straight All-Star teams while winning five Gold Gloves and four Silver Sluggers. The card features Pete Rose. 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. Boston missed the playoffs by 1.5 games in the second-half AL East race. 724 Lou Piniella. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 by Old Sports Cards, LLC. Cal Ripken Jr. The 1977 AL Rookie of the Year, Eddie Murray made his cardboard debut in the 1978 Topps set, making his rookie card one of the most iconic of the 1970s. In 665 at-bats for Toronto, Ainge batted .220, hit two home runs, scored 57 runs, drove in another 37 and stole 12 bases. In total, Henderson led the league in stolen bases . 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. 721 Toby Harrah. Back to the point at hand. 2022 Topps Heritage Baseball Most Valuable Cards and Checklist; These 10 GOATS . Mike Schmidt was arguably the best third baseman in baseball history and will always be remembered for both his power and his glove. But he is more famous for the accusations of gambling that led Major League Baseball to ban him from the sport in 1989. 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. | Compare vs. 1952 Topps Willie Mays RC #261. 1955 Topps Sandy Koufax #123. Although this one isn't worth as much as it might . The card has been authenticated by the famous Beckett grading service. 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. There are only 7 examples of this card in circulation at the time of this writing that have achieved that gradeso they're very scarce. PSA/DNA Certified. He spent eleven seasons with four teams in Major League Baseball the majority of it spent with the Detroit Tigers. 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. He was named Player of the Decade by The Sporting News at the end of his career. There's a shot of the player in Celtics training gear, staring off-camera with his hands hidden behind the green border. Philadelphia fell in five games to the Montreal Expos in an entertaining National League Division Series. 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 . Most Expensive of All-Time. Carew's career batting average ended up at .328, while his best single-season average was .388 in 1977. 1952 Topps #1 Andy Pafko. 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. $260. 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. Murphy was often heralded as a five-tool superstar, but unfortunately, many felt his dominant play didn't last long enough to give him the type of resume worthy of Hall of Fame recognition. Somehow during all that success with college basketball, he also found the time to play for the Blue Jays from 1979 to 1981. Placing Mark McGwire's 1985 Topps card in this category may seem a little unfair considering its current $650 price tag. The card features St. Louise Cardinals Batter Ted Simmons and is worth $49.45. 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. Despite the poor production, Jackson still earned a spot on the All-Star team for the eleventh time in his career. That means the card needs to be flawless. His career was far from over at that point, but Schmidt's play showed the baseball world that they were already witnessing the greatest third baseman of all-time in the making. Clocking in at 605 cards in total, this set made history when it first debuted. Rookie Cards. Seaver was great in Cincinnati, but he just wasn'tas greatas he was with the Mets up to that point. Steven Thomas Avery is an American left-handed former pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). Every collector knows that theres some serious money to be made off certain cards. He also holds the schools record for most strikeouts in both a single season and total career strikeouts with 309 in 305 innings pitched. buy stuff after clicking links on our site 1981 Topps card list & price guide. Over his long and storied career, Henderson broke many records and helped transform the lead-off position. The record-breaking card is from his rookie season and was produced by trading card giant Topps. 1981 Donruss. Featured here is a rare rookie card from 1989 with an authenticated signature of Steve Avery. 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. Ungraded & graded values for all '81 Topps Baseball Cards. And, in this guide, we look at the 25 most valuable. 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. Local card shops, department stores and gas stations-- to say boxes of these cards were everywhere might be the understatement of the decade. To be fair, though, his innings pitched totals in Houston weren't as steep as those during his time in California, and his 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings in 1987 was the highest mark of his career. 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. 1981 Fleer card list & price guide. Now anchoring the back of the Brewers bullpen, Fingers won by a mere eleven points. Contact him at [emailprotected]. Unfortunately, his production fizzled out in the 1990s, so he didn't quite finish off a career worthy of Cooperstown. List by Card #, You own: 0 / 865 items 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. 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. Unfortunately, the strike-shortened season and growing tensions with Yankees owner George Steinbrenner got in the way. 10. 6) 1981 Topps Traded Rollie Fingers (#761) This may be the most iconic 1981 baseball card of all, thanks to 1) Fingers signature mustache, 2) the old-school kneeling pose, 3) the Cy Young-MVP twofer Rollie pulled off in 1981, and the 1982 Topps Kmart set that immortalized the entire card in miniature. This Nolan Ryan card is another fantastic example of Topps capturing the style and vibe of the 1980s. During this era, the Montreal Expos had yet to move south to become . Easily the most valuable gem mint in the set, this card from the Man of Steal garners between $600-900 on the secondary markets. Or, feel free to call/text me at 305-684-6680! $9.99. However, on December 9, 2018 he and Harold Baines were voted in by the Today's Game Era Committe. Ryan's stellar age-34 campaign earned him his sixth All-Star selection, a fourth-place finish in the National League's Cy Young race, and a 16th-place finish in the NL's MVP balloting. For the longest time it seemed like Smith would not quite garner enough votes to earn a trip to the Hall of Fame. 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. He also led all of baseball with 89 runs scored and led the American League in stolen bases (56) and hits (135). It was a fitting punctuation mark for one of Ryan's best seasons on the . Instead, he was more of a craftsman on the mound and outsmarted hitters to allow a career-low 6.5 hits per nine innings. However, regardless of what you might think of his legacy, it's surprising that this particular card isn't worth a little more. That season set the tone for a reputation that Dawson would carve out as a player with an incredible mix of speed and power as he was seemingly always a lock for 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases throughout his time in Montreal. The nerve! 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. An Enrique Romo Signed Baseball card that has been authenticated by a grading service is pretty hard to find. 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. In a similar theme, Larry Bird is featured in a card from the 1981 Topps set. Rookie Cards were so valuable to collectors in 1989, that if Oprah had been involved in baseball cards, she would have been saying . Pictured as a member of the New York Yankees, Jackson was actually traded to the California Angels for the 1982 season where he'd play for five seasons before heading back to Oakland for one final season. Prices are updated daily based upon 1981 Fleer listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. . It is also (by a slight margin) the most valuable card in the 1984 Topps Football set. 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. He also loves to write about the hobby and has written for Beckett, Topps, SABR and of course, this website. Still, as one of the game's greatest leadoff hitters and baserunners, he was overdue to get in anyway. George Riley Autographed 1981 Topps Rookie Card, 14. Here is a quick rundown of those most valuable 1982 Topps baseball cards, based on recent sales for copies graded PSA 9 and presented in numerical order. 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. Are you selling sports cards that were produced from 1868 - 1975? When graded gem mint 10 by PSA, the value has gone as high as $180,000. Getting hands on a card like this is pretty difficult. Wade Boggs is an American former baseball player who retired as a third baseman after 18 seasons of Major League Baseball. "I had hit .300 before, but I couldn't hold it," he said. But, I'm a big fan of this set regardless. 6. 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). 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. And they delivered a great set with many stars and Hall of Famersand one of the biggest rookie cards of the 1980s. The 1984 Topps Football set is THE landmark football card set of the 1980s. 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. 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. 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. 6 Rickey Henderson #180. 1982 Donruss. 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. Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $2,700. The 2-time MVP, 19-time All-Star and record holder for most consecutive games played easily goes down in history as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, shortstops to play the game. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. Players include Hank Aaron, Nolan Ryan & Mike Trout. Heres an amazing baseball card that in my opinion should be worth more than it currently is. The current value of this baseball card is $199.99, it has the signature of Tim Raines. This card features the professional baseball player Danny Ainge. On the field, Jackson had his worst offensive season since his sophomore campaign as he slashed a modest .237/.330/.428 with 15 home runs and 54 RBI. Star power: Robinson, a Hall of Famer, broke the MLB color barrier in 1947, becoming a social justice icon in the process. Baseballs hit king, Pete Rose, led all of baseball in total hits on seven different occasions. Even more impressive, his 1982 Topps issue wasn't his last card as he also made it into the 1983 Topps set. He struggled in 1980 (by his terms) with a career-worst 3.64 ERA and a career-low ten wins. Today only a graded high-condition example gets that kind of money. 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. Mattingly's Donruss rookie was produced in smaller quantities than his Topps rookie, so it's worth more. 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.