1981 topps baseball cards most valuable

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. But, hey, that's the kind of excitement that he brought to the game: you never knew if he were going to bury one over the fence or get sent right back to the dugout. 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. While it may not be one of the most popular sets of the era, the 1982 Topps baseball card set packed plenty of star power and two key Hall of Fame rookie cards. Most Watched Baseball Cards. 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. 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. The most valuable baseball card from the 1980s is Rickey Henderson's 1980 Topps rookie card. Boggs was a perennial contender for American League batting titles during the 1980s and 1990s. During the rush to market, they also ended up with many errors and variations in their debut set, but that was to be expected. . Immediately afterward, the price of his 1982 Topps rookie card in PSA 10 condition shot through the roof. The right card could make you rich. Or, feel free to call/text me at 305-684-6680! Gary Carter, nicknamed Kid and The Kid, was a professional baseball player whose 19-year career in Major League Baseball was spent primarily with the Montreal Expos and New York Mets. Prices for 1982 Topps Baseball Cards 1982 Topps card list & price guide. 29 Surprisingly Cheap: 1985 Mark McGwire Topps. They didn't call him "Steady Eddie" for nothing. 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. 1981 Topps card list & price guide. During his career, Rose was known for his all-around ability and enthusiasm. . Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. A right-hander, he threw and batted right-handed. 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. 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. Baines also won a Silver Slugger in 1989 and led the American League in slugging percentage (.541) in 1984. During this era, the Montreal Expos had yet to move south to become . In other years, Seaver used his overpowering stuff to outduel hitters but in 1981, he wasn't quite the fireballer as he struck out only 4.7 batters per nine innings, the second-lowest rate of his career. And some of those players appeared on multiple cards. Estimated PSA 9 Mint Value: $120. Mattingly's Donruss rookie was produced in smaller quantities than his Topps rookie, so it's worth more. Read our methodology . Ungraded & graded values for all '82 Topps Baseball Cards. This card features the professional baseball player Danny Ainge. $195. 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. 1981 Fleer Rickey Henderson #351, #574. Heck, he even dated "Miss New York" Debra Sue Maurice from the Miss USA Beauty Pageant. 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. 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. We are user supported. Like Roger Clemens, Kirby Puckett has a 1984 Fleer Update XRC. And, over the years, it's started to grow on collectors more and more after nostalgia for that era has increased and many collectors have a newfound appreciation for hobby history. This Nolan Ryan card is another fantastic example of Topps capturing the style and vibe of the 1980s. Roberto Ramos in the middle who was an amazing catcher during his prime and the beloved Bobby Pate who commanded respect in the outfield. Read our methodology. 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. 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. He also led the National League in runs scored (78) and walks (73). The three-time MVP would smash 548 home runs over his career as he led the league in that category an amazing 8 times. At least he was voted Rookie of the Year. But, I'm a big fan of this set regardless. All told, Bench played in just 52 of Cincinnati's 108 games. 1981 Topps. 1 Rickey Henderson #119. 205 Pete Rose Record Breaker - Phillies. The 1981 O-Pee-Chee features the Canadian version of the 1981 Topps set, where it is uncommon to see French on an MLB card. While this set may be slightly overlooked in the history of the hobby, it still delivers a great checklist. While Pete Rose set records elsewhere in the Phillies lineup, third baseman Mike Schmidt set the National League ablaze. It was the only time in his career where he batted .300, and he also led the league in home runs with 41 round-trippers. The 1981 season was the seventh and final time. 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. 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. Rose collected 140 hits in 1981, slashing .325/.391/.390 in his third year with the Philadelphia Phillies. Grade: PSA 10. While some of the game's big names struggled with the split-season, Schmidt held things together all year to lead the Majors in home runs (31), RBI (91), OBP (.435), slugging percentage (.644), OPS (1.080), OPS + (198), and total bases (228). Enrique Romo Navarro is a former professional baseball relief pitcher. After all, Rickey Henderson is the greatest lead-off hitter of all time, whose records for runs scored (2,295) and stolen bases (1,406) may very well never be broken. He also paced the Majors in ERA+ (195) and hits per 9 innings (6.0). 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. He earned four varsity letters, two for college and two for the major leagues. And, in this guide, we look at the 25 most valuable. During the first part of his career, Tom Seaver was absolutely dominant on the mound as he racked up 20-win seasons, Cy Young Awards, ERA Titles and Strikeout Titles like it was nothing. The record-breaking card is from his rookie season and was produced by trading card giant Topps. Valenzuela won both the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards, and the Dodgers made it all the way to the World Series. A rare 1980/81 baseball card. The 1981 Topps baseball card set consist of 726 standard size cards that measure 2" by 3". 1952 Topps #1 Andy Pafko. And ever since his induction into the Hall of Fame, his 1981 Donruss rookie card has enjoyed a nice bump in value. He was nicknamed Mex because his name suggested that he was of Mexican descent. , Dodgers Future Star [Perconte, Scioscia, Valenzuela] #302, Expos Future Stars [T. Raines, R. Ramos, B. Despite this seemingly unjustified absence from more "Midsummer Classics," Yount is considered to be the greatest Milwaukee Brewer in the franchise's history. 1981 Pete Rose Baseball Card. At the time, two Major League Baseball clubs, the Montreal Expos, and the Toronto Blue Jays played in Canada, where . To top it all off, he earned his sixth All-Star selection, sixth Gold Glove, and second Silver Slugger award. 2 prospect in baseball at the start of the 1997 season after hitting . These are the result of decades of collecting and dealing for many companies, dealers, and collectors across America. Greatest Topps Baseball Cards of All-Time. 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. 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. 1981 Topps Project 70 Card Wade Boggs by Efdot FOIL, 8. Bench is somewhat of an anomaly on this list, showing up with only one 1981 Fleer card, and all. In 1981, the Boston Red Sox played 108 games during the regular season and won 59 of those games, losing 49. 1981 Topps Scratch-Offs. 9 Roger Clemens #530. Cincinnati finished the year with the best composite record in all of baseball but the nature of the strike-shortened season's playoff format bit them in the backside. The 1981 season was the St. Louis Cardinals 100th season in St. Louis, Missouri, and their 90th year in the National League (NL). 723 Bruce Bochte. Like his base card, his All-Star card is just as tough to find in PSA 10 condition and also carries a large price tag. Bench was also known for the long ball as he led the league in home runs twice and finished his career with 389. And, if you look back at his stats for his rookie campaign in the 1982 season, there really was no reason he shouldn't have made the All-Star team that year, too. Boston missed the playoffs by 1.5 games in the second-half AL East race. 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). 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 . 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. Let's be clear:most of the cards from this set do not have any value these days. A remarkable all-around . However, when do you do it? The card features St. Louise Cardinals Batter Ted Simmons and is worth $49.45. The problem was that the 33-year-old Bench simply wasn't healthy. Contents hide. There's no questioning the significance of 1980 Topps baseball cards in hobby history. 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. 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. Yes, the checklist is quite messy at times with the errors and variations. The continued adoption of Sabermetrics no doubt helped push him across the finish line and into Cooperstown. 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. 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. 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 6 Don Mattingly 1984 Donruss #248: One of the most . 1981 Topps Expos Future Card Tim Haines Auto, 6. 1981 Topps Kirk Gibson RC #315. . . 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. 722 Joe Niekro. Grade. Here are the top 15 Most Expensive Nolan Ryan Cards: #15 1978 Topps Nolan Ryan #400 Recent sale: $898 . Let's be clear:most of the cards from this set do not have any value these days. 1989 Donruss The Rookies Ken Griffey Jr. #3. Ryan went 1-1 in two starts with a 1.80 ERA in the team's five-game NLDS loss to the Dodgers, striking out 14 batters in 15 innings while walking just three. 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. 1952 Topps Willie Mays RC #261. Fans and media began to take note of his incredible defensive talent, giving him the nickname "The Wizard.". 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. And while Rose hit no home runs in 1981 and drove in just 33, he was a fantastic table-setter for the Phillies. For one more year, at least, Topps was the only game in town in 1980. At Eastern Michigan he had a 29-9 career win-loss record with a 2.15 ERA. 1981 Topps card list & price guide. 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. 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. In a similar theme, Larry Bird is featured in a card from the 1981 Topps set. Getting hands on a card like this is pretty difficult. The 1982 season saw Henderson set a single-season best for stolen bases as he swiped a ridiculous 130 bases in total. Raw: $20 PSA 9: $100 PSA 10: $900 One of the most popular players of his era, Vladimir Guerrero was the No. PSA 6. Year-by-year ranking of the most valuable Topps Baseball Rookie Cards from 1952 to 2020. (Updated for 2022) SUBSCRIBE NOW! The wrist band, the glasses.and that awesome stache You just don't see that kind of stuff in today's game so this card perfectly captures the style of the era and that's the great thing about baseball cards in general. Recently, the price of a PSA 9 has continued to steadily fall to around $2,000 or less. Download Price List, SportsCardsPro 2019-2023 Shortcuts: Most Expensive, Cheapest, List by Card # 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. Prices are updated daily based upon 1981 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. He was even the first player to collect 100 hits from both sides of the plate. 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. Currently, this 1981 Topps card is worth $79. 20 Most Valuable Topps Baseball Rookie Cards Of The 1970s. Mookie came up big for the Mets again in Game 7, going 1 for 3 with a run scored to help the Mets beat the Red Sox 8-5 to win the title. 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. In 665 at-bats for Toronto, Ainge batted .220, hit two home runs, scored 57 runs, drove in another 37 and stole 12 bases. 202 Steve Carlton Record Breaker - Phillies. List; Gallery; Gallery - 6 Cards per Page; Gallery - 8 Cards per Page; Gallery - 9 Cards per Page; Ungraded. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. February 20, 2023; Super Bowl Delivers . Baseball; Sets; 1981; Overview; 1981 Topps. Today only a graded high-condition example gets that kind of money. 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. When collectors think back to the junk wax era, one of the first sets to jump into minds is 1987 Topps Baseball. Jackie Robinson | Card Sold For: $392,400. 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. Not bad for an 11th round pick (#250 overall) in the 1975 MLB Draft. 1981 Reggie Jackson Topps Project 70 Card, 10. 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. No More Secrets Puzzle Game, Ungraded Donruss would take the experience with this set and continue to churn out many improved and memorable sets for years to come. He was named Rolaids Relief Man of the Year four times and led the major leagues in saves three times. "I've learned to stay within myself, not be afraid to fail.". Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? Reginald Martinez Jackson is a former American right fielder who spent the majority of his 21-year professional baseball career with the Kansas City and Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees, and ended his career with a two-year stint for the California Angels. $15.00. This set marked the end of an era in which Topps was the only mainstream company with the MLB's blessing to print baseball cards. 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. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 by Old Sports Cards, LLC. He is the younger brother of Vicente Romo, who also pitched in the majors. Along with those of Wade Boggs and Ryne Sandberg, the 1983 Topps Tony Gwynn rookie card is one of the most important and iconic baseball cards of the 1980's.. Sure, Gwynn was one of the greatest hitters who ever played with 8 batting titles to his name, but why are collectors willing to pay so much for this card . 1981 Topps Expos Future Card Tim Haines Auto. Star power: Robinson, a Hall of Famer, broke the MLB color barrier in 1947, becoming a social justice icon in the process. Now that we got that out of the way, let's take a look at the list: The 1981 American League MVP race came down to two men, Oakland Athletics left fielder Rickey Henderson and former As closer Rollie Fingers. 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. 1981 Topps Traded Tim Raines Rookie Baseball Card #816 NM-MT FREE SHIPPING. Ungraded & graded values for all '81 Fleer Baseball Cards. 5 Cal Ripken Jr. #183. 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). Ungraded & graded values for all '81 Topps For the longest time it seemed like Smith would not quite garner enough votes to earn a trip to the Hall of Fame. Hold on to it. But, this will always be the set that got their foot into the red-hot market of the 1980s. It has full gloss and is slightly askew. 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. No. 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. The Reds put him at first base for the first time as he dealt with nagging injuries. PSA Price Guide for 1982 Donruss Baseball Card Values - Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) & PSA/DNA Authentication Services Services During the 1977 season, Andre Dawson batted .282 with 19 home runs and 65 RBI, which earned him NL Rookie of the Year honors. Most Expensive 1981 Topps card list & price guide. *TIM RAINES* 1981 Topps Traded #816 *CGS 9* RC Rookie Card. The 1961 Topps All-Star Mays falls in line with the others in the semi-high-number subset. He was a member of the Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, and Detroit Tigers. And in this guide, I'll run through the ten most valuable. Throughout his career, Carter was known for his hitting and excellent defense, as well as his ability to handle pitchers. Cal Ripken Jr. 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. He struggled in 1980 (by his terms) with a career-worst 3.64 ERA and a career-low ten wins. Rookie Cards. 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. Ryan dazzled on that fall afternoon in Houston, striking out eleven and walking just three. When it comes to Rookie Cards, 1981 Topps is one . This card features Tim Maines, Roberto Ramos and Bobby Pate, all the players listed were stars in their prime. Still, his popularity continues today, and his cards remain in high demand by kids now turned adults who grew up idolizing him. But he is more famous for the accusations of gambling that led Major League Baseball to ban him from the sport in 1989. This is a rare Topps card from 1981 containing his signature. Pate] #479. Baseball Cards. Prices are updated daily based upon 1981 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. The Atlanta Braves had used Dale Murphy at first base and catcher during his early years in the 1970s, but in 1980 they moved him to the outfield. 721 Toby Harrah. The nerve! Unlike George Brett's MVP card, Schmidt's featured an altogether different image than that of his base card. Known as the Man of Steal, he is widely considered to have been baseballs greatest leadoff hitter and baserunner. 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. They were the fourteenth and fifteenth players to achieve the incredible milestone. Seaver was nothing short of incredible for the Reds that season but Los Angeles's Fernando Valenzuela was just a bit better and out-pointed Seaver in the Cy Young vote 70 to 67. PSA/DNA Certified. Even more impressive, his 1982 Topps issue wasn't his last card as he also made it into the 1983 Topps set. Tune in as Mrs. Wax Pack Gods reads 1982 Topps Baseball Cards - 17 Most Valuable . 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. Heres an amazing baseball card that in my opinion should be worth more than it currently is. 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. 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. 1956 Topps Mickey Mantle #135. 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 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. We may earn an affiliate commission if you 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 by Old Sports Cards, LLC. Because of his career accomplishments and his overpowering style, Ryan remains one of the game's most popular players to ever play and you'll see his name in just about every set's log of key cards. 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 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. 1983 Donruss. 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.". 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. Seaver was great in Cincinnati, but he just wasn'tas greatas he was with the Mets up to that point. The card has been authenticated by the famous Beckett grading service. 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. Sure, the 1981 Topps set has the Montana rookie card, . Brett's performance at the plate put him well above Milwaukee's Cecil Cooper and his own impressive .352 average to earn his second of three career batting titles. Easily the most valuable gem mint in the set, this card from the Man of Steal garners between $600-900 on the secondary markets. Yet, Bench's lousy injury luck was the real story. 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 his 1982 Topps card, Ripken is sandwiched between Bob Bonner and Jeff Schneider as part of the "Future Stars" subset with the Baltimore Orioles. 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. 1. 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. . 1981 Fleer card list & price guide. That means the card needs to be flawless. It didn't happen and Jackson played the 1981 campaign as a free agent. 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. Their scarcity is a result of several situations that can apply to baseball card collecting. 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. 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. Ryan dazzled on that fall afternoon in Houston, striking out eleven and walking just three. Donruss wasted no time breaking into the hobby as they spent huge marketing dollars, targeted key dealers across the nation, and filled their checklist with some of the game's biggest names to grab collector attention.