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. We may earn an affiliate commission if you 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. 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. Kansas City went 20-30 in the season's first half and started the second half slowly, with Manager Jim Frey taking the heat. 1981 Fleer Rickey Henderson #351, #574. Ungraded & graded values for all '81 Topps Baseball Cards. During this era, the Montreal Expos had yet to move south to become . 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. Now that we got that out of the way, let's take a look at the list: Lee Smith was one of the greatest relief pitchers to ever step on the mound and is currently a distant number three on the all-time saves list with 478 behind Mariano Rivera (652) and Trevor Hoffman (601). The 1982 season saw Henderson set a single-season best for stolen bases as he swiped a ridiculous 130 bases in total. It was also the first Topps set to feature a monster 792-card checklist. 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. 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. He spent eleven seasons with four teams in Major League Baseball the majority of it spent with the Detroit Tigers. 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. Despite not being a Hall of Famer, Rose's legacy as one of the game's greatest hitters of all time keeps his cards in high demand throughout the hobby. The 1981 season was the St. Louis Cardinals 100th season in St. Louis, Missouri, and their 90th year in the National League (NL). Baseball Cards. The Padres also had some great retro jerseys during the 1980s but Ozzie really topped things off with those sideburns. 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. $29. The Boston Celtics drafted Ainge in the 1981 NBA Draft and bought his contract from the Blue Jays and the rest was history. Average ungraded base card value (excludes parallels) for 1981 Topps 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. 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. PriceIt Game | 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. The 1981 Topps baseball card set consist of 726 standard size cards that measure 2" by 3". In total, Henderson led the league in stolen bases . Players include Hank Aaron, Nolan Ryan & Mike Trout. Click on any Donruss Set to see a full list of Cards and their current value. After the 1986 season, Dawson left Montreal as a free agent for the Chicago Cubs, where he would become their everyday right fielder on a much more knee-friendly grass field. Ken Griffey Jr. He was nicknamed Mex because his name suggested that he was of Mexican descent. 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. For one more year, at least, Topps was the only game in town in 1980. Are you selling sports cards that were produced from 1868 - 1975? 1981 Topps Kirk Gibson RC #315. . Before Danny Ainge found success at the professional level in basketball as a player, coach and executive, he made his professional sports debut for the Toronto Blue Jays in 1979while he was still in college. Valenzuela won both the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards, and the Dodgers made it all the way to the World Series. They didn't call him "Steady Eddie" for nothing. 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. 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. Contact him at [emailprotected]. And in this guide, I'll run through the ten most valuable. 10. In this guide, I will cover the 25 most valuable in the set. 1981 Fleer card list & price guide. However, on December 9, 2018 he and Harold Baines were voted in by the Today's Game Era Committe. Murray's first three seasons in the Majors were incredibly productive, but he kicked things up a notch in 1980 as he batted .300, belted 32 home runs, scored 100 runs and drove in another 116. It didn't happen and Jackson played the 1981 campaign as a free agent. 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. It has been certified authentic by Beckett Authentication (BAS) and comes encapsulated in their tamper-proof holder. 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. 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. While George Brett lit up the AL in 1980, Mike Schmidt was doing the same in the NL and would take home his first of three career MVP Awards for his efforts. $195. Owchinko played baseball for Eastern Michigan University. After the 1981 season, however, Ainge decided to call it quits with baseball. Mike Schmidt was arguably the best third baseman in baseball history and will always be remembered for both his power and his glove. At the time, everyone thought the Padres were getting the better end of the deal as Templeton was a much better hitter. While Pete Rose set records elsewhere in the Phillies lineup, third baseman Mike Schmidt set the National League ablaze. 1 Rickey Henderson #119. He won the World Series with the Yankees in 1996. Topps has dominated the baseball card scene for the past six decades, issuing a set in every year . The card features St. Louise Cardinals Batter Ted Simmons and is worth $49.45. Total Cards: 726. 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. Murray was one of the greatest first basemen to ever play the game but his cards seem to be a bit overlooked at times. Contact him at [emailprotected]. 1981 Topps Traded 816 Tim Raines Montreal Expos Rookie Card. 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. 204 Ron LeFlore / Rodney Scott Record Breaker - Expos. This is a rare Topps card from 1981 containing his signature. . In Game 4 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, he'd return with New York holding a 2-1 advantage to try and help the team across the finish line. This card is worth $45 but could go higher. Despite this seemingly unjustified absence from more "Midsummer Classics," Yount is considered to be the greatest Milwaukee Brewer in the franchise's history. Tim Haines finished second in Rookie of the Year voting, 19th in MVP, and earned his first All-Star selection. Many times, though, he'd fail to connect on those swings and would up earning himself a spot as the career leader in strikeouts with 2,597. I know the game is played differently these days but even if it weren't, I'd be stunned if anyone in the future ever meets or bests his 130 stolen bases in a season. 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. He did his best, hitting .333 with a 1.095 in the final three games, but New York dropped all three and the series. The Phillies had won the NL East for three straight seasons from 1976-1978, so Rose was supposed to be the guy who would finally put them over the top. 1981 Topps Baseball Set Checklist. A remarkable all-around . 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. You can't help but think Topps was trying to produce as many cards as possible to keep collectors interested and to try and keep Donruss and Fleer, who had joined the scene in 1981, at bay. Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? 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. 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. Prices are updated daily based upon 1981 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. 203 Bill Gullickson Record Breaker - Expos. Seaver was great in Cincinnati, but he just wasn'tas greatas he was with the Mets up to that point. Despite the ups and downs, there isplentyto enjoy about this set. Read our methodology. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. February 20, 2023; Super Bowl Delivers . Shortcuts: Most Expensive, Cheapest, List by Card # You own: 0 / 1202 items 0% Track your collection for free. Rookie Cards. Things weren't all rosy for Smith, however, as his relationship with Padres owner Ray Kroc and his wife Joan became publicly sour. Yes, the checklist is quite messy at times with the errors and variations. Rod Carew Autographed 1981 Topps Squirt Card, 19. Heres an amazing baseball card that in my opinion should be worth more than it currently is. Canadian baseball cards printed in the French language are uncommon, which shows on this baseball card as it is bi-lingual. 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. That means the card needs to be flawless. 1981 Topps Scratch-Offs. 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). Tune in as Mrs. Wax Pack Gods reads 1982 Topps Baseball Cards - 17 Most Valuable . Things screeched to a halt, though, when Jackson injured his calf running the bases in Game 2 of the ALCS against Oakland. 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. This card is super tough to find in high grade, hence the huge price tag that might shock you. JB's 1981 Fleer card is a $5 (or so) buy in PSA 9 condition. In 1980, Kansas City Royals third baseman George Brett graduated from All-Star to crossover superstar. On the right side were four rows of six . He also finished fourth in the NL with a .316 batting average, narrowly missing out on a Triple Crown. Many thought his career was slowly but surely coming to an end. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. Pate] #479. 2 prospect in baseball at the start of the 1997 season after hitting . A rare 1980/81 baseball card. However, regardless of what you might think of his legacy, it's surprising that this particular card isn't worth a little more. No More Secrets Puzzle Game, Ungraded He also loves to write about the hobby and has written for Beckett, Topps, SABR and of course, this website. However, what raised eyebrows was that the Minnesota Vikings selected him in the 17th round of the NFL Draft despite having never played college football. Or, feel free to call/text me at 305-684-6680! There are no scratches, bends, or folds. The Reds finished a half-game behind the Dodgers in the NL West in the first half. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 by Old Sports Cards, LLC. Ultimately, the Padres and Cardinals would complete a multi-player trade before the 1982 season that sent Templeton to San Diego and Smith to St. Louis, where he would play the next fifteen years and become a Cardinals icon.