Moreover, the Mathewson Portrait is one of the toughest HOF portraits in the entire set. So, here is my list of Junk Wax Era gems based on rarity and price alone not in order, 1. Conditions of these cards are not very good but even a PSA 4 is expected to bring in roughly $900,000. Today, his 1990 Leaf rookie card bears just a trace of the good times, checking in at about $5 in PSA 9 condition. For about $15, you can ponder the backstory from the comfort of your own PSA 9 copy. We messed it up-But after all is said and done look at what you have today- Only the well to do kids and adults can even buy this stuff-Its a rich collectors hobby now. 25 Most Valuable 1990 NBA Hoops Cards. T205 Gold Border Ty Cobb. I have been trying to find some individual packs to sell, but I cant. Both are not cheap but it is this version that is the more desirable and expensive of the two. The Say Hey Kidwas arguably the greatest all-around player to step on the field. The cards were sleek, featuring great photography, and at least purportedly quite limited. Sound off in the comment section. Issued by the Mayo and Brother Tobacco Works of Richmond, VA, the set contains 48 different cards overall but Anson's is undoubtedly the most coveted. For him it wont matter right now everyone will be important. The product was only available to hobby dealers and a few. I truly enjoyed looking through this list of cards. The #336 Ken Griffey Jr. card is probably the most popular and collectible card of the 1990 Topps set. With the odds rated at approximately 1:5000 packs for an autograph version, I hope you have someone that will gladly purchase all of the commons you end up with during your search! This just may be the most famous baseball card of the 1990s, and it remains one of the most popular. The E106 cards feature identical artwork on their fronts as the E90-1 and E92 caramel issues but differ by the advertising on their backs. Cracker Jacks cards are wildly popular and the serious-looking Cobb is one of the keys to this set. A real parallel foil or border foil card will sell more in the realm of $10,000-$20,000, depending on its condition. Who knows what a high grade example of this card would go for? So its no wonder that his 1948 Leaf rookie card is such and important piece of the hobby. Buy on: Beckett Marketplace eBay 98. This isnt the most popular of Thomas rookie cards, but it still fetches around $15 in PSA 9 condition. Estimated PSA 10 Value: $20 Check Prices On: Amazon The blue and yellow borders on this card matched up perfectly with the Mariners uniforms back then. As a result, there werent manyJoe Jackson baseball cardsproduced. However, #160 is the more difficult of the two to find in high grade so it generally fetches higher prices. 1995 Vladimir Guerrero Bowmans Best Ref. 3)Many high number cards were famously dumped into the ocean leaving even less of them in existence. NzEyZWI5ZjJhMDIyOTZmNTU0MzgxYmZmMDEzN2UzNjNhYTQ3NzM3YTI4N2Jj I was a kid, and one of only a handful in my entire school who collected cards and memorabilia. While the "Cobb Back" T206 may be his most expensive card, this one is arguably his most popular among high-end collectors. Especially his American Caramel E90-1 rookie card on which he is shown leaning on his bat against a purple backdrop. He would finish in the top five in Cy Young balloting a total of seven times in his career, and he was undoubtedly one of the elite pitchers of his generation. The Flying Dutchman, played for the Louisville Colonels and the Pittsburgh Pirates between 1897 and 1917. There are 30 cards in total and each includes seven different possible color backs. Steroids and controversy are a common theme among many of the top Junk Wax Era cards. 1993 Finest Nolan Ryan Promo Refractor Price: $33,100. 1985 Donruss Roger Clemens Baseball Card Rookie (RC) #273 Red Sox Mid-Grade $199.99 1987 Topps Barry Bonds Rookie (RC) #320 Pirates Graded FGA 10 Gem Mint O/C $107.58 Sammy Sosa 1990 Bowman ROOKIE Card #312 WHITE SOX - Error Card - Wrong DOB $129.00 (20) 1987 Topps Traded Gref Maddux XRC #70T $219.99 NDFmODE3YjAwMDQwNTI2N2U0OGM2NDZkNWQzZGRiMTFiNWY2NGJhMjJiN2Y3 It is definitely on a hot streak now. dXJlIjoiOTljMTJkODBmOGVkZDQ1ODhjOTIyMDUwZDE2ZmRhNGM2NjJlOTVm Ty Cobb and Honus Wagner also appear in this set but Jacksons card is easily the most important and most valuable card in the set. This is the first Topps card to feature Willie Mays, putting it high on Mays collectors wish lists and making it a key card in the hobby overall. Its not particularly glamorous but its a key card from a classic set. Collectors who take on the challenge of completing this set are no doubt in for an extremely tough challenge. NzNiYWI1M2IwYjA2ZWEzZTJjZTc3MjE1YjRhNTYxYjRkYjlkMjBmMjkwMzMy The T206 set is special for many reasons but one of them is no doubt the numerous brand advertisements on the backs16 different backs in total. The set is one of if not the most condition sensitive of the early E class era. Despite hitting .322/.390/.511 with 34 doubles, 18 home runs and 93 RBI at Single-A in 1996, only the Fleer company had the foresight to put David Ortiz in its 1997 products, meaning the 1997 Fleer and premium 1997 Ultra sets contain the only two rookie cards of one of the marquee players of his generation. I never went thru them, instead, I have been throwing a bunch of them in Freebie Bags, along with some candy, gum, small toys like rubber balls, etc. Biggio was more a model of prolonged consistency. Theres only one single PSA 10 copy currently in circulation, however, which makes it extremely difficult to find even if you have that kind of money to spend. Today, it sells for $5-10 in graded MINT condition. Player stats culled from Baseball-Reference.com. His only rookie card is part of the last Topps Traded box sets to come with USA Baseball players. These are our picks for the top 100 baseball cards of the 1980s. N2YxNzY5NzhlYjczNGY4MTVhNDg2ZTBmN2MyOWNjM2JjYTFjOGYwZmU2Yjdi You Pick to Complete Your Set. This is the second most desirable card in the famed T206 set and the only pose of the HOF pitcher. Yeah, it was young Big Hurt, fresh off a 109-game run with the Triple-A Birmingham Barons that yielded a .323/18 HR/71 RBI, with an amazing 112 walks and 1.068 OPS. The hobby has never been more popular, while sets were expanding into crazy territory. The fancy gold borders that surround Walter Johnsons black and white portrait are a thing of beauty. 1990 Hoops #358 Michael Jordan. Here are the B-R pages for players not already linked above: Ken Griffey Jr., Bo Jackson, Greg Maddux. While some of the cards listed below have long seen their glory days wither away and their values evaporate along with it, they still hold their place in hobby history. By the way, some of those wax packs did give these kids some of the above cards in this article, and they are always excited to get one. Jackson dominated the minors that year and the Naps called him up late in the 1910 season. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, The 100 Most Expensive Baseball Cards Sold on eBay in the Last 30 Days. They may take them and distribute them. 100 Most Valuable Baseball Cards: The All-Time Dream List The most valuable baseball cards in the hobby can easily fetch six and seven figure price levels these days. But the value between the two isnt affected. 100 Most expensive baseball cards sold on eBay from 01/23/2023 through 02/21/2023 1) PSA 9 1963 TOPPS #200 MICKEY MANTLE PSA 9 MINT Only 2 Higher Graded In World There are only a handful of known copies of this card in the hobby making it a rare and highly demanded issue. Whether you can find one in high grade or not, though, its a superb card for any collector to own. 1993 SP Michael Jordan Holoview Red Babe Ruth rookie cardsare also part of the 1916 M101-4 Sporting News set that is believed to have been printed shortly after the M101-5 set. The second toughest of the four 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth cards, the #149 Red Ruth is every bit as appealing as the #53 Yellow Ruth. Not many people outside of the baseball card hobby know who Joe Doyle is. Pitchers with 300 Wins and Their Baseball Cards. And thats where were going to glean our hard numbers. It has a nice balance of design and affordability. Even if I can find some to sell I will continue to give the older ones away. Yeah, Sammys run on our list continues here with his own entry in the 1990 Topps 1989 MLB Debut confusion. But whats not up for debate is whether its one of his most important. And their continued popularity and demand prove that baseball cards still do hold great value. Not to mention, it damages the Hobby as a whole when kids are only interested in Hitting a BIG card. But what most usually don't realize is that many pre-War and even high grade post-War vintagebaseball card valuescan be astronomical. For years, the real story behind the 1989 Fleer Billy Ripken was a mystery. His aggressive play on the field and his generous ways off the field made him a special individual. Even in poor condition, they routinely sell for over $1 million. The 1932 U.S. Caramel set is one of the most desirable and challenging prewar sets in the hobby. The famous Pittsburg Pirate shortstop is shown ready at the bat with his name Hans along the bottom border of the card. No one ever accused 1990 Fleer baseball cards of being anything other than a nuisance species, but the big cards from the set still make some waves (or at least ripples) from time to time. As an adult I joined PSA and have had thousands of my cards graded. 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. MWIzNzI4ZjIwMDNlNGRjMjBhYWUyYzUifQ== The overwhelming supply and eventually fleeting demand created a perfect storm for the crash that followed. Each of the 30 unnumbered cards in the set feature an artist rendering of players atop colored backgrounds. 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. Its connection to a long-standing brand also helps. It's a novel card and extremely rare so it has a decent value. How much are YOUR cards worth? The list of the most wanted baseball cards from 1990 (below) is a bit of a history lesson in itself at least if you use hard numbers to do your research. Beltre is viewedas a likely first-ballot Hall of Famer when he is eligible for the first time in 2024, andthis is a card that still has some room to grow in value. We wouldn't have really said this a couple years ago. He made his MLB debut the following year after continuing to rake in the upper levels of the minors and then took the league by storm with one of the best rookie seasons of all time in 1993. 1989 Topps Heads Up Ken Griffey Jr. It's never going to rebound to its highs of 1998 when the slugger made a run at the single-season home run record. The card in question shows an ad for Marlboro cigarettes on the scoreboard. ZWEzYTBmNDFhYWRmMTkwYzdkODdmNTUzZTY2NDM2NzFiOTBlMTM0YzdmZTNj But he spent several seasons as an All-Star first baseman and cut a hulking figure on the bag, even if his glove tended to be more of a liability than an asset. I remember seeing one of these in abaseball card shop near where I grew up and I would just stare in awe. Napoleon Lajoie was considered the best defensive second baseman of his day and won three batting titles, had 3,242 total hits and a .338 average. Collectors go wild for it. After spending 1908 and 1909 with the Philadelphia Athletics, they quickly gave up on him and traded him to the Cleveland Naps for the 1910 season. Still known as David Arias when his rookie cards were printed, it wasn't until he made his MLB debut late in the 1997 season that he informed the Twins that he preferred David Ortiz. Also, many of the known examples are found with poor centering from top to bottom. The checklist also contains rookie cards of Jeff Kent and Tim Wakefield. Recommended Reading: Baseball Practice Plans For 10 Year Olds Vs The Lebron James Refractor There are now only a handful of these cards on the market. One of the most popular 1930s sets, the 1933 Sport Kings R333 set consists of 48 cards in total. While the early movers in 1990 Leaf included John Olerud, Larry Walker, and Frank Thomas, it was Sosa who fueled interest in the resurrected brand later in the decade thanks to his home run battles with Mark McGwire (and Roger Maris!). Along the way, he built a reputation for being about as cantankerous a player as weve seen in the last 70 years or so. Predating his other MLB cards by a year, the 1984 Fleer Update Roger Clemens is legitimately rare in top condition. This is the keyJackie Robinson baseball card you should add to your collection. The 48-card 1915 American Caramel E106 shows some nice artistic renderings of players of the National, American and Federal Leagues. And it can be tough to find in high grade, too. OGExNmI0YjYwNGI3ZmIzNjMzNzBlMGVmMjM4MzQzMDFlOGY0ZDJjMThmNTVj There came a time in the history of the trading card hobby that mainstream manufacturers like Topps, Donruss, Fleer, and Upper Deck were shipping cards as fast as they could print them. 22. I would also say that if it isnt included because of the scarcity of finding one in packs then the 1990 Thomas RC NNOF shouldnt be included as well, as these are likely more scarce and were only issued in (from what I have read on forums) jumbo packs in the Northeastern united states. Find out for yourself with our FREE checklist to guide you step-by-step. With so many greats, how do you choose between them? Add to that the fact that the 20-card "Premiere Prospects" subset that Jeter is included in has a foil design that shows any and all imperfections, and it's virtually impossible to find a gem mint version of the card. If you remember, during Game 3 of the 1932 World Series against the Chicago Cubs, Babe Ruth made his famous Called Shot. NjJhNWM2MzY5MmVlNGJlNTMwNGJjZDNmN2RkOGUwMmE2ZTRmNTcxZDVkM2Zh Carlos Delgado is one of the most overlooked players of the 1990s and early part of the new millennium. When he burst onto the scene, his rookie cards were among the hottest sellers in the entire hobby. While there are other cards from the Junk Wax Era that still have some tangible worth, the above list is populated with rookie cards of current and future Hall of Famers, as well as those who, unfortunately, will be forever linked to baseball's ugly Steroid Era. The most prevalent theory is that the card suffered from a poor printing plate, resulting in many of the cards being destroyed since they could not pass quality control. The question is: where do you start on this list? MTc0NTVkMjM0NTUxNDJiMDdiNWMxY2MxNjBiMTYxZTNlZDRhOThmZTE2ZDJi This one was double-printed meaning there were more of them in circulation but its still surprisingly tougher to find in high grade than the #181 Green Ruth. Since its not his rookie card or his most scarce, the1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #53 isnt his most expensive card but it is arguably one of his most beautiful cards. And within some of those high series packs, the company randomly inserted any one of the 10-card Reggie Jackson Heroes insert set. The first of two Donruss cards on this list, this one features a headshot of the 1985 American League MVP, Don Mattingly. That means there are also many fakes out there, so considerPSA grading services or other reputable third party graders before buying or selling one of these. Its so rare that only a handful exist and not many collectors have even seen one in person. There is no doubt that this is one of Ty Cobbs most demanded and popular baseball cards. While the #144 Full Body Ruth was double-printed and isnt as scarce, it is harder to find in high-grade than the #181 Green Ruth. Usually, printing errors don't generate a lot of long-term excited. The 1912 Plows Candy E300 Mathewson features a large photographic image of the legendary pitcher of the Dead Ball Era framed by text reading. Those were the good old days. In 16 seasons, he hit .318/.379/.553 for a 140 OPS+ with 449 home runs, 1,496 RBI and 59.5 WAR, and he earned Hall of Fame induction in 2018. Cobb was known as a ferocious competitor who was determined to be the best day in and day out. 1994 SP Alex Rodgriguez Die Cut While this RC has never inspired poetry or lit fireworks in the hobby, its a great early card of a Hall of Famer. # 441-660. 17 overall pick in the 1995 draft, Roy Halladay debuted in 1998 and pitched well in a swingman role the following year, but he was shelled to the tune of a 10.64 ERA in 67.2 innings in 2000. You would end up with a lot more commons trying to dig up one of those than hitting a autographed 92 score card. And very nice houses at that. That meant more offerings than ever, with the old standbys starting to amp up their quality, at least in peripheral issues. The Bat On Shoulder and Bat Off Shoulder would then follow. Not coincidentally, the graded card industry was getting its feet under it at the same time Sosa was rocketing to superstardom, so its little wonder this card tops our list of most graded from the first year of the new decade. Top athletes from baseball, football, hockey, tennis, golf, boxing, swimming, horse racing and even dog sled racing are showcased in the set. lifetime kenai pro angler 100 GET SCOUTED. The 1989 Fleer Randy Johnson isn't nearly as infamous as another variation in the set, but the Marlboro version of the card is one of the best cards of one of the most dominant pitchers of the 1990s. However, it just isnt as often found in high grade as #53. Concerning the 1992 score Mantle/Yaz/Musial Auto, I would respectfully say that it should be included in the list regardless of how hard it is to pull. 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. Of course, by the time Leaf got in on the Thomas game, Topps had already been pumping out Big Hurt rookies for months. There are 11 different backside variations in total each with The George Close Co. printed on them. ZDRmZmY5MTUyNjRiYjdjNzdjOWZhZTA2MWNiOWVkNjU5NDk1MGIxZjE0NDY2 Unlike the other example that features cartoons in the background, DiMaggio is shown all by himself atop a blank background. Just so you guys know, the 1987 Donruss Opening Day issues was only released as a complete set, so the Barry Bonds / Johnny Ray error card is therefore NOT considered a junk wax issue. 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