Due to poor sales of the. You May Like: Baseball Tournaments In Southern California. Well, no, actually. Let's say you did some baseball card collecting during the 1990s, and now you're revisiting your old collection and wondering if anything you have is valuable. However, if you want to get real serious with Frank Thomas cards, it really doesnt get any better than this rare piece. Although Canseco batted just .182 (2-11) with one RBI in the AL Championship versus the Red Sox, the Athletics collectively played well enough to sweep Boston. Lower-grade cards can sell for around $1000 whilst a higher-grade edition went for $8,655 in 2018. Hes widely regarded as one of the best baseball players to come from the Dominican Republic and was a great all-round athlete who had a long-spanning career. Eight-time All-Star Roy Halladay was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019 and sadly passed away in 2017. Read the full disclosure here. We purchase sports cards as an alternative investment to stocks, bonds, and real estate. Is this the error card worth so much? How Much Should You Invest Annually In Sports Card. Its perhaps one of the most valuable cards of the 90s and definitely, one to be kept as its value is likely to continue to soar. Willie Mays Rookie Card. Things started to look up the next summer, though, as 24-year-old Sosa connected on 33 long balls, the first of 11 straight full seasons (he cracked 25 in strike-shortened 1994) when he hit 30 or more. The value of this card is $5 million. In 1989, Bo Jackson reached career highs in games played (135), home runs (32), and RBI (105), and he also stole 26 bases for the Kansas City Royals. A real parallel foil or border foil card will sell more in the realm of $10,000-$20,000, depending on its condition. Pitchers with 300 Wins and Their Baseball Cards. Members of the millennial generation will remember the 90s with fondness and as a decade of massive cultural importance. Of the six Kevin Maas Rookies, its the 1990 Upper Deck that resonates most. He had surpassed Bobby Bonds (35) that April. It was made in a limited set of 50 and this card that sold at a Goldin auction was #50/50. Autographed Cards Population Totals. Then it was on to the Colorado Rockies, for whom Walker broke out, big time forever giving critics the yeah, but he did that in the thin air of Denver excuse to denigrate, or at least downplay, his performance. It wasnt often that a base card of an individual player landed card #1 back in those days, but Ryan was entering bonafide legend territory, and the following years would only solidify that standing and boost his card values across the board. In truth, MJ wasnt particularly good at baseball, but his RC is still worth adding to your personal collection if and when prices begin to slow down. Ahead, we've taken a closer look at the 10 most valuable rookie cards of the 1990s. Well, for Topps this was the one, and its still special more than 30 years on. Dont Miss: Baseball Cross Necklace For Men. All told, the sparkplug centerfielder pretty much held up his end of the bargain, playing for 17 years and accumulating 2251 hits, 227 home runs, 967 RBI, 429 stolen bases, and 1187 runs scored. The Most Valuable 1990s Baseball Cards: Summary, As well as rarity due to the small release, (estimated to be between 6,000 and 7,500), the majority had to get to an active war zone and back before being encased by the likes of, (Okay, we said that you wont find any of these cards hidden down the back of the couch, but this is the exception!). The impressive home run and RBI tallies would fade, causing Mattingly to be overlooked for any All-Star selections in the 1990s. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Card is perfect.. Hmmm where does Thomass name appear? There are clues that will help you tell which was an original dual and which was signed by Griffey after the fact, so be sure to check it out. There is also more demand for rookie cards due to the perceived value. GoldCardAuctions is a high-end investment-caliber trading card company and is the definitive source of sports card investing news and analysis. We all know of his association with the PED controversy. Sure, the dudes personality rubbed folks like a porcupine-grained sandpaper, and health issues sank his Hall of Fame hopes, but Belle managed to dominate in the batters box long enough to add some forever value to his rookie cards. Somewhat surprisingly, Griffey Jr.'s card is actually worth more than the Frank Thomas rookie (with his name on the front). Both of his rookies eclipsed $100 raw following his Hall of Fame announcement, but it's the Ultra version that sells for slightly higher in high-grade condition. An additional 420+ MLB taters followed, along with a couple of MVP awards and plenty of other accolades. Only two have achieved a BGS 9.5 grade, and it thoroughly deserves a place among the most valuable 90s options. Juan Gonzalez was already a solid prospect heading into the 1989 season, and his 21 home runs with Double-A Tulsa at just 19 years of age put him on the hobby radar. Its no surprise that it easily makes it onto the list, as one of the most important modern baseball cards ever produced. Though he may not have been MLB's hottest rookie in 1990, he certainly turned into one of the biggest superstars of his era. It includes a lot of minor players that you may not have heard the name of before. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 by Old Sports Cards, LLC, Now, this is what Thomas's rookie card is. A few important parameters for our list before we get started: The No. For many in the hobby, we have a shorthand when a young player starts hitting home runs at a rapid rate. It was an underwhelming season for the team overall and Ripkens numbers werent the greatest either as he batted just .250 with 21 home runs, 84 RBI, and 78 runs scored. (Note: The following sections contain affiliate links to eBay and Amazon listings for the cards being discussed. In todays market, a mint 1991 Chipper Jones could be worth somewhere around the $5k mark. The card is key for three main reasons: After belting 38 home runs and driving in 108 RBI during the regular season, McGwires power stroke was silent when it mattered most. #1: 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle An SGC 9.5 Example Sold in August 2022 for $12,600,000 Dimensions: 2-5/8" x 3-3/4" The most important post-war card in the hobby, price movements of the 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle baseball card are often seen as an indicator of the health of the sports card market overall. Another rare card with two of the best players to grace the field, this 1994 Upper Deck release features both Ken Griffey Jr. & Mickey Mantle. The fact that there are only two of them has helped increase demand, with the 1995 Bowman and 1995 Bowman's Best sets containing his only rookies. But Mickey Mantle? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Would anyone be interested in buying my Sports Card Collection. Usually, collectors will have a strong opinion one way or the other about 1990 Topps baseball cards: Either they love them or they hate them And it has everything to do with the multi-colored design. With Walter Johnson years in his rearview, Nolan Ryan sailed past 5000 strikeouts in 1989, on his way to baseball immortality. Shortcuts: Most Expensive, Cheapest, List by Card # You own: 0 / 833 items 0% Track your collection for free. Believe it or not, 1990 Topps baseball cards may be better than you think. His 1990 Topps rookie card has held up over the years with decent value. The issue is then corrected before production resumes. 1989 Star Jerome Walton Autographed Card #1 Signed Auto 1990 Donruss RC Error! While his 1992 Bowman rookie is one of the iconic cards of the 1990s, it's actually his 1992 Fleer Update card that earns a spot on this most valuable list. It includes a lot of minor players that you may not have heard the name of before. And, in case youre wondering, Rickey wasnt quite done by the time he retired, he had 81 leadoff dingers, way in front of runners-up Alfonso Soriano (54) and Craig Biggio (53). Due to poor sales of the previous Fleer Update sets, the print run was slashed for the 1992 release, making it one of the few hard-to-find sets of the Junk Wax Era. 1 overall in the 1993 draft, Alex Rodriguez debuted the following year and then set the card market ablaze when he hit .358/.414/.631 with 54 doubles, 36 home runs, 123 RBI and 141 runs scored in his age-20 season to finish runner-up in MVP voting and win the AL batting title. #8. On the card itself, Jordan is pictured during batting practice with the, The 1993 SP Jeter is one of the best cards from the 1990s, produced on a foil background that can be ruined by the faintest touch. As with the SP cards above, the player is outlined to help him to stand out, going so far as to put him above the border in places. Drafted in the 62nd round of the 1988 draft as a favor to Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, who was a family friend and the godfather of his younger brother, Mike Piazza went on to become the greatest offensive catcher in MLB history. Within that OBP stat was the remarkable fact that Henderson either walked or hit safely in 125 of the 136 games he played that season. Because of his accomplishment the year before of eclipsing the 5,000 strikeout mark, Topps placed him as the first card in their 1990 set. After winning American League Rookie of the Year and MVP honors in 1982 and 1983, respectively, Ripken had managed just 21 home runs and a .257 batting average in 1989, even as his Orioles rebounded from laughingstock (54-107) in 1988 to contender (87-75) the next summer under second-year manager Frank Robinson. This has to be one of the most significant baseball cards of the 1990s, if not all time. This card is a 1994 insert card or chase card released by Upper Deck in limited editions of 1,000 cards. Even if you werent born at the time, youve probably watched The Last Dance and know something about Michael Jordans hiatus from the Chicago Bulls in the early 90s. It took awhile for fans, and especially collectors, to warm up to Larry Walker and his talents. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. The "Topps All-Star Rookie" trophy symbol made this one stand out a bit more from other cards in this set, too. There are tons of Nolan Ryan collectors so demand is still decent for this card. Entering 1990, Barry Bonds was still mostly potential, flashing consistent tools across the board but never completely wowing in any one area of the game. Shortcuts: Most Expensive, Cheapest, List by Card # You own: 0 / 687 items 0% Track your collection for free. Wax Pack Gods, 100 Most Expensive Magic The Gathering Cards Sold on eBay in the Last 30 Days, 1989 Upper Deck Baseball Cards 28 Most Valuable Wax Pack Gods. Has there ever been a bigger revelation in the course of one baseball season than what Cecil Fielder wrought in 1990? A-Rod won the World Series with the Yankees in 2009. The Uribe error thats caused so much ruckus over the last couple of years is the 1990 Fleer same situation, and there is nothing special about that card. Juan Gonzalez kind of got lost in the shuffle of the home run barrage during the late 1990s and the early 2000s, and especially because he sort of flamed out in his early-to-mid 30s. Surprisingly, there are valuable cards from almost every year to look out for, including before, during, and after the junk wax era. . If theres a Holy Grail of all 1980s baseball cards, the 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. is it. This card and others like it are what make it seem like the whole blackless or NNOF phenomenon might just be a printing problem and not an actual design/release error (yeah, that might be a fine distinction, but Im making it anyway). As well as Derek Jeter, players like Alex Rodriguez, Despite the bad press, the list proves that the 1990s wasnt the worst time to begin, Justin Herbert Rookie Cards are still a sneaky good buy, Best 10 Frank Thomas Rookie Card Investments, Top 3 Jordan Lawlar Rookie Card Investments and Checklist, 3 Best 2015 Topps Update Rookie Cards To Consider, 10 Best 2023 Topps Series 1 Variations Baseball Cards To Buy, 10 Best 1989 Topps Baseball Cards To Buy Plus Error List, 2022 Topps Heritage Baseball Most Valuable Cards and Checklist, These 10 GOATS Rookie Cards Will Outperform Stocks Over Next 10 Years, Gold Card Auctions | Sports Card Investing. He is also currently leading in assists above Luka. Rickey led the AL in four major statistical categories beginning with runs scored (119), stolen bases (65), OPS (1.016), and OBP (.439). This is the holy grail of 1990s baseball cards. 1994 ALEX RODRIGUEZ ROOKIE CARD GRADED MINT 10 FLEER WAVE OF THE FUTURE 2. This Frank Thomas Topps rookie card is very notable for its mistake: the complete absence of Frank Thomass name! The checklist includes rookies of Larry Walker, Sammy Sosa, David Justice and John Olerud, along with a second-year card of Ken Griffey Jr., but the most sought-after card in the set without question is the Frank Thomas rookie card. In any case, they help to make the 1990 Topps set what it is, and they deserve some of our cardboard love, too. Don Mattingly could flat out playhe could hit for average and a bit of power while at the same time maintaining a solid glove at first base . Its a novel card and extremely rare so it has a decent value. His other rookie cards are in the 1997 Bowman and 1997 Bowman's Best sets, while his first Topps card was in the 1998 flagship set where he's pictured alongside fellow third base prospect Aaron Boone. By the time this card was issued, Cal Ripken was starting to draw heavy flak for his slipping performance at the plate. If its the former, its a wrong back and might have a small premium over a regular Ripken for collectors of one or both of the players. He has an exceptionally rare card from 1991 which is the first to make our list. By entering your email address you agree to receive email versions of the Baseball Card Market Report. By the time collectors started pulling his rookie card, enough of those guys Tim Raines, Andre Dawson, Tim Wallach, etc. Baseball cards were mass-produced in high volumes during the 90s so values of cards from this period tend not to peak too high. Its an error in the sense that it does not list his correct birthday, but there were several cards that listed that date. It seemed like Rickey Henderson showed up on a Record Breaker card just about every year during the 1980s and 1990s. I do have Chipper Jones, Ken Griffey, Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Barry Sanders, Barry Bonds. The combination of the two greats and a dual autograph is enough to drive interest, which is why it makes the list. In his first full season back in Oakland after a four-and-a-half-year stint with the Yankees, Rickey Henderson played lights out in 1990, to put it mildly. Rookie cards were typically harder to find compared to cards issued later in a players career, which makes them more valuable. He also topped 30 home runs for the first time and joined his father, Bobby Bonds, in the 30-30 club by adding 52 steals. Baseball in the 1990s was dominated by two teams. Despite not making his major league debut until June 29, Kevin Maas still managed to hit 21 home runs for the Yankees in his rookie season. With six straight All-Star appearances and one MVP during the 1980s, Mattingly seemed to be on a clear path towards the Hall of Fame. He was one of my favorite players to watch growing up as the guy could do it all. However, the following types of cards are likely to hold more value: Error cards are often more valuable when the manufacturer corrects the error. Ungraded & graded values for all '90 Fleer Baseball Cards. The only Rodriguez card to make the list, his 1994 SP is one of the flimsiest modern-era rookies in the hobby and is ridiculously hard to find in mint condition, just like the other SP Foil listed above. You might also enjoy our Ultimate Guide treatment of 1990 Topps baseball cards, right here. The card features Griffey, Jr. against a green background with a rainbow effect. This card was produced for US servicemen and women serving in Operation Desert Storm so imaginably, there arent many out there and even less in mint condition. Despite that tarnished reputation, his 1990 Topps rookie still has some value to it in high grade. The era was ended by the baseball players strike of 1994, and the hobby has never truly recovered in terms of national attention. Most likely, it was a report discrepancy (or a deliberate misstatement to make him seem like a better prospect). Trae Young is currently in 2021 leading the 2018 class with most career points at 3,549, right above Luka Doncic and Colin Sexton. The hype surrounding Arizona Diamondbacks slugger Travis Lee and Chicago Cubs phenom Kerry Wood helped drive interest initially, but it's Adrian Beltre who wound up having the most valuable rookie card in a set that also contains first-year cards of Roy Halladay, Aramis Ramirez, Miguel Tejada, Lance Berkman, Eric Chavez, Vernon Wells and many other notable 2000s standouts. The following cards either dont quite measure up to the biggies on our list, or they are oddball cases that you just dont see very often. Due to the availability of baseball cards from 1990 and the crash of the sports cards market in the 1990s, most of the standard cards are worth just a few dollars. The card has a large photo of a rookie A-Rod with a bat clasped in both hands, smiling towards the camera. Unlike many of the others on this list, its somewhat underpriced considering the above and could make for a good investment piece. While both cards sell for a similar price ungraded, the shiny foil nature of the Bowman's Best card makes it extremely difficult to find them in gem mint condition. The most expensive cards tend to be rare, and theyre often serial numbered. Like every other Topps Traded set in the 1980s and early 1990s, this one was a special treat to collectors one last shot of new baseball cards for the year as we headed into winter. His first Topps card didn't come until the 1998 flagship set. The action shot features a young Jeter primed to make a catch, with the player superimposed over the holofoil. Most Expensive 1990 Topps card list & price guide. Theres something for every budget, and thats only going to be good news for collectors. The 1993 SP Jeter is one of the best cards from the 1990s, produced on a foil background that can be ruined by the faintest touch. One of the most important cards of the post-WWII era, ushering in a new, premium brand into the baseball card aisles and leading off that ground-breaking set with the Rookie Card of. 1996 Sport Illustrated For Kids Tiger Woods II #536 ($250) Anything Topps Tiffany! You May Like: Red White And Blue Baseball Jersey. We love the '80s (and '90s) baseball cards: The top 15 sets of the era | Sporting News Astros +400 Dodgers +600 Mets +700 Yankees +700 Braves +900 Padres +1000 Phillies +1200 Blue Jays +1300. With six straight All-Star appearances and one MVP during the 1980s, Mattingly seemed to be on a clear path towards the Hall of Fame. Ungraded & graded values for all '90 Topps Baseball Cards. This time hes on his own, but its still a great option even without the help of Mickey Mantle. The only Leaf card to make the list, their 1996 set is one of the best the company ever released. These cards often sell for $50 to $75, depending on the popularity of the player. Common as dirt. Mike Trout is a generational talent, and his . Still, The Iron Man played well enough to earn his eighth straight trip to the All-Star game. His 1991 Topps Desert Shield was given the designation as it was a gift for US troops who were serving during Operation Desert Storm. The cheapest Jordan rookie by a significant margin, its a chance for collectors to own a bona fide piece of sporting history, even if the cards are slightly overpriced due to the latest influx of MJ fans and hype around his RC options. The price for a piece of Americas pastime keeps going up. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Mattingly was coming off a mild rebound year in 1989 after injuries sapped his power (18 home runs) in 1988, but things got even worse in 1990 as the Yankees superstar was limited to just 102 appearances. The record for the most expensive baseball card has changed twice in the last month. Disclaimer: Please note none this is meant as investment advice purely for entertainment and informational purposes only. While many cards from the 90s are effectively worthless, there are a number of solid options that have increased in value rapidly over the past decade. Manage Settings In the current market, Jordan cards from 91 are worth anything up to $400. The blue and yellow borders on this card matched up perfectly with the Mariners uniforms back then. Bo Jackson was an incredibly popular athlete during the late 80s and early 90s. (The same is true for almost every card were about to mention.). Though Bernie seldom truly wowed fans, he was always there at the end of the year with 20-30 home runs, 90-100 RBI, solid glove work in center, and, overall, another All-Star-level performance under his belt. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Its also seen as his ultimate rookie card, helping to further drive up prices. The Fleer Brilliants 24k Gold Ken Griffey Jr. card received a grade of EX 5 by the PSA, making it only one of two examples of this card to get that high. Read our methodology . 1996 Finest Gold Refractor Kobe Bryant #269 PSA 10 $500,000. While batting .318 with 32 home runs, 104 runs scored, and 109 RBI, Thomas also led the league in walks (138), OBP (.453), and OPS (1.006), helping to launch his reputation as a disciplined and well-rounded hitter. When he burst onto the scene, his rookie cards were among the hottest sellers in the entire hobby. Now, if that last sentence up there and that Donruss rookie card look a bit. This time, the team couldnt overcome the dip in production and fell quickly to the Reds, 4-0. But, because of Bonds popularity and legacy, it still holds decent value in top grade. The card companies came calling, and collectors were happy to scoop up rookie cards of the young slugger in 1990, especially when he bashed 29 long balls at Triple-A Oklahoma City that summer before connecting on four more in just 25 games for the Rangers in September. Fast forward a year and a half, though, and Thomas was one of the best hitters in baseball, well on his way to becoming the Big Hurt and, ultimately, a Cooperstown denizen. This card was produced in a limited edition of only 24 examples, with this one being #14/24. I've always liked the look of these cards, and as a kid, I loved ripping packs in search of rookies and star players. Sandberg reached 30 home runs (exactly) for the first time in 1989 as he helped the Cubs win their second division title, and first since 1984. Our list of the most valuable 90s baseball cards has a few surprising names, as well as a host of legends from the sport. launch monetization_on $4.99 08/28/2022. All-Stars Estimated PSA 10 Value: $25 1990 Fleer #3 Jose Canseco Estimated PSA 10 Value: $20 1990 Fleer #217 Darryl Strawberry Estimated PSA 10 Value: $20 1990 Fleer #297 Juan Gonzalez Rookie Card Estimated PSA 10 Value: $20 1990 Fleer #485 Albert Belle Rookie Card Estimated PSA 10 Value: $20 1990 Fleer Update #U-87 Frank Thomas Rookie Card Unfortunately, the 1990 season would be Jackson's last full season in baseball as a devastating hip injury during a football game in 1991 prevented him from ever playing at his All-Star level again. It all solidified Cal as an ironclad collector favorite, and we still love him today. It was a blistering campaign that launched the young superstars career into the stratosphere. 1992 Fleer Update #U-92 Mike Piazza Buy on eBay The Most Valuable 1990s Baseball Cards: Summary Even if it's not in pristine shape, it can still be worth thousands of dollars. An example that Beckett graded a 10 sold on Goldin for $57,600, giving it the top spot in this athletes card series. In 1994-95, baseball was rocked by a player strike which massively ate into the season resulting in a blow to the games public image. Its the 24k gold foil overlay that really makes this card stand out. Both players are shown side by side, wearing caps that help to denote the team they play for. Now that we got that out of the way, let's take a look at the top ten: 1990 Score #697 Bo Jackson Estimated PSA 10 Value: $70 Check Prices On: Amazon This card is arguably one of the most iconic cards of the "junk" era. Under manager Frank Robinson, the 1990 Baltimore Orioles finished fifth in the AL East with a 76-85 record. All baseball fans are familiar with the exploits of Derek Jeter hes a legend of the game, but what makes this card so special? However, injuries would catch up to him, and even though he still had a top-notch glove on defense and could still hit for average, his power wasnt nearly what it used to be. Of course, even the stoutest of the 90s will likely never rattle any bank accounts, not on the whole, and not to the extent that some of the hobbys big hitters do and will. At one time, this 1990 rookie card sat near the top of the new-card mountain and still pulls decent collector interest today. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Similar to Bo Jackson, even though Mattinglys career declined at the height of his prime, he was one of the hottest names in the hobby of that era, and collectors still love his cards today. Ken Griffey Jr. is back again, in one of the most important sets from the 1990s. That decision was one of the worst in baseball history. 1 prospect in baseball at the start of the 1996 and 1997 seasons, Andruw Jones is one of the most hyped minor leaguers of all time, and homering twice in Game 1 of the 1996 World Series when he was only 19 years old only fueled the fire. But, the Toronto Blue Jays did let him tryout and I guess that was good enough for Score to put him in their Traded series. Table of Contents. In all cases, you could also opt for the more limited, super glossy Tiffany version, which will generally set you back three to five times the cost of the corresponding base cards. Even though Griffey finished just third in 1989 American League Rookie of the Year balloting, those 16 home runs and 16 stolen bases he put up, along with stellar defense in center, had us all believing that something special was about to happen in Seattle. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Top 25 Most Valuable Baseball Cards from the 1990's - Rookie Cards Only . Only 373 of the 3,125 submitted to PSA have come back with a PSA 10 grade. It perfectly illustrates just what made Bo Jackson so special: His only rookie cards are in the 1995 Bowman and Bowman's Best sets, as Bowman Chrome would not be introduced until two years later. Seen as one of the key reasons behind their success, its all the more impressive considering he won his last World Series in 2009, 13 years after his maiden victory. Most Valuable Baseball Cards from the 1980s Price Guide & Values Baseball cards / By Matt Johnson #25 1986 Donruss Highlights "Highlights in White." Bo Jackson rookie card #43 PSA 10 sold for $360 Shop the 1986 Donruss Bo Jackson rookie card on eBay 1986 Donruss Highlights cards have two versions printed. Though the gridiron ultimately proved to be his primary passion and gift (hes in the Pro Football Hall of Fame), Sanders spent enough time on the diamond to rack up plenty of steals and runs over his nine-year career. What would be the value of a Topps Ripken card with Frank THomas name on it by mistake? This mint-condition autographed card is selling for $3,500, making it one of the most valuable baseball cards from the '90s. Technological advancements were on the rise but the world was yet to be completely changed by increased connectivity. Prices are updated daily based upon 1990 Classic listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. We use cookies to improve your experience. That 5000th strikeout that Ryan recorded in 1989 did wonders for his hobby profile, beginning right at the front of the 1990 Topps set. Over the years since this card was issued, NNOF has become a one-name wonder that lets collectors know right away what youre talking about, sort of like Uribe these days, but with the chops to back it up. Everyone wanted Don Mattingly cards when I was a kid. For his efforts, Canseco earned a trip to his fourth All-Star game and picked up the second Silver Slugger of his career at that point. Check prices on: Bo Jackson was an incredibly popular athlete during the late 80s and early 90s. But, Belle wasnt exactly known for playing cleanly either, although he was more known for using corked bats instead of PEDs. What seemed to start out as a sort of cheap attempted knockoff of the classic 1975 Topps set actually has some character of its own. This card is ungraded, has no autograph of him but is very valuable. He was consistently productive although he did have some seasons here and there shortened by injury. Today, even after the great slugger downfall of the 2010s, Sosas rookie cards maintain enough hobby swagger to appear on lists like this one. While most of the team struggled at the plate in the World Series that year, Henderson was one of the lone bright spots as he batted .333 (5-15) with an OBP of .444, an OPS of 1.111, two runs scored, and three stolen bases. Along with those of Wade Boggs and Ryne Sandberg, the 1983 Topps Tony Gwynn rookie card is one of the most iconic baseball cards of the 1980s. However, there are a few rare gems from this period that are exceptions to the rule. Basketball legend Michael Jordans ill-fated attempt to become a baseball star is generally meme-worthy, but his RC from 1991 is still one of the better cards from the decade.