The 1981 Topps baseball card set consist of 726 standard size cards that measure 2" by 3". Raines showed the world that Rickey Henderson wasn't the only guy who could light up the basepaths as he led the Majors with 71 stolen bases while slashing .304/.391.438. Throughout his career, Carter was known for his hitting and excellent defense, as well as his ability to handle pitchers. 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. Price: $299.99. . This bad boy sold for $18,500 on eBay auctions in May 2021. $15.00. By the time these Hall of Famers retired, Brett had three batting titles and Carew had an eye-popping seven. 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. 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. (Updated for 2022) SUBSCRIBE NOW! The Reds finished a half-game behind the Dodgers in the NL West in the first half. Baines also won a Silver Slugger in 1989 and led the American League in slugging percentage (.541) in 1984. Seaver was great in Cincinnati, but he just wasn'tas greatas he was with the Mets up to that point. 1952 Topps #1 Andy Pafko. 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. In total, Henderson led the league in stolen bases . 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. 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. Read our methodology. Download Price List, SportsCardsPro 2019-2023 Struggling through back issues and other accumulated aches and pains, Yastrzemski had the worst offensive season of his 21-year career thus far. 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. Premium: 1981 Topps Baseball Cards Which Are Most Valuable? - YouTube During this era, the Montreal Expos had yet to move south to become . 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. 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. This was limited to only 504 serial-numbered porcelain cards made and it has already been authenticated by Global Authentics (GAI). Currently, this 1981 Topps card is worth $79. 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. In 2004 he was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame; in 2005 he was enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame. At the time, everyone thought the Padres were getting the better end of the deal as Templeton was a much better hitter. 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. Star power: Robinson, a Hall of Famer, broke the MLB color barrier in 1947, becoming a social justice icon in the process. Back to the point at hand. 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. Most Watched Baseball Cards. 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. . Ryan dazzled on that fall afternoon in Houston, striking out eleven and walking just three. 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. 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. The 1981 season was the St. Louis Cardinals 100th season in St. Louis, Missouri, and their 90th year in the National League (NL). 1981 Topps Coke Team Sets Aurelio Lopez Autographed, 9. Tim Haines finished second in Rookie of the Year voting, 19th in MVP, and earned his first All-Star selection. He did his best, hitting .333 with a 1.095 in the final three games, but New York dropped all three and the series. But he is more famous for the accusations of gambling that led Major League Baseball to ban him from the sport in 1989. 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. 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. Estimated PSA 9 Mint Value: $120. Rod Carew Autographed 1981 Topps Squirt Card, 19. Enrique Romo Navarro is a former professional baseball relief pitcher. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. 1985 Fleer Kirby Puckett RC #286. His .758 OPS marked the first time he'd dropped under .817 since 1968. He was nicknamed Mex because his name suggested that he was of Mexican descent. And he was still very much a respectable pitcher during his time in Cincinnati from 1977 to 1982 as he'd win around 15 games regularly, made two All-Star teams and even finished second in the Cy Young vote for the 1981 season. Brett was one of the finest hitters in baseball history, but I think what is most impressive was his longevity as a top hitter, having won a batting title in three different decades (1976, 1980, and 1990). Are you selling sports cards that were produced from 1868 - 1975? Most Valuable Rookie Card in Every Topps Baseball Set, 1952-2020 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). 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 problem was that the 33-year-old Bench simply wasn't healthy. The most expensive baseball card in history just sold for $12.6 million By Zoe Sottile, . 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. 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. 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. 5 Underrated 1981 Donruss Baseball 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. In twin history, he is regarded as one the greatest contact hitters. As their everyday first baseman, that put Rose on the opposite corner of the field as Phillies icon Mike Schmidt at third. 29 Surprisingly Cheap: 1985 Mark McGwire Topps. 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. Immediately afterward, the price of his 1982 Topps rookie card in PSA 10 condition shot through the roof. Instead, he was more of a craftsman on the mound and outsmarted hitters to allow a career-low 6.5 hits per nine innings. A remarkable all-around . 25 Most Valuable 1981 Topps Baseball Cards - Old Sports Cards Read our methodology. 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. During his first year with the Angels, Jackson proved he still had plenty left in the tank and led the Majors with 39 home runs and finished sixth in the MVP vote. 1981 Topps Baseball Cards - Set Info and Best Cards - Sports Cards Rock This article breaks down the top 19 most valuable 1981 Topps Baseball Cards In the World, as well as how much each card is worth. 1909 T206 Sherry Magee (Error) Price: $660,000. The 1961 Topps All-Star Mays falls in line with the others in the semi-high-number subset. He struggled in 1980 (by his terms) with a career-worst 3.64 ERA and a career-low ten wins. 1956 Topps Mickey Mantle #135. This card is among the most valuable cards from the set, with PSA 10 cards of this type collecting several thousand dollars at best. 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. Coming off a 1980 season in which he finished runner-up for the AL MVP award, New York Yankees right fielder Reggie Jackson looked to keep the momentum going in 1981. Rookies - 1981 Topps Baseball | Trading Card Database 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. 1981 Topps #347 Harold Baines Rookie Card. However, regardless of what you might think of his legacy, it's surprising that this particular card isn't worth a little more. Click on any Donruss Set to see a full list of Cards and their current value. Most Watched 2022 Baseball Rookie Cards on eBay; Bowman Chrome Cards; Wander Franco Cards; . 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. Price. In this guide, I will cover the 25 most valuable in the set. Let's be honest, it didn't matter what jersey Ryan wore or what style it was, he was going throw major heat regardless. Ozzie Smith's 1979 Topps rookie card is also one of the last great rookie cards of the vintage era, but his second-year card isn't a bad consolation prize either. He also loves to write about the hobby and has written for Beckett, Topps, SABR and of course, this website. And he was still very much a respectable pitcher during his time in Cincinnati from 1977 to 1982 as he'd win around 15 games regularly, made . 1981 Topps Baseball 2nd Year Card Rickey Henderson. He also had a flair for the big hit and helped Philadelphia to a 34-21 record in the first half to secure a playoff spot for the Phillies halfway through the season. 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. 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. In 1981, Donruss and Fleer gave Topps some much-needed competition. 5 Cal Ripken Jr. 1982 Topps Traded #98T: Everybody wants to make such a big fuss about a 2,632-game playing streak when the real awe lies with the steadiness of this card's value. It has been authenticated and graded a 10 by Beckett Authentication Services. 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. 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. Before the season, Steinbrenner went to Jackson for his thoughts on the team's pursuit of free-agent slugger Dave Winfield. 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. This is a 1981 fleer rookie card with card number #418.

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