Shortcuts: 1 Nolan Ryan #400: By the time this card came out, Ryan was in . 6 Don Mattingly 1984 Donruss #248: One of the most . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. He wasnt nearly as fast on the basepaths or quick with his bat. With only one PSA 10, the value is essentially set by the market. San Diegos lack of consistency doomed them in the end in 1997. At $10,100, it is by far the most valuable 1997 Topps baseball card. Griffey was a cut above in a season full of fantastic individual-hitting performances, becoming just the ninth-ever unanimous AL MVP. 1952 Topps Willie Mays RC #261. The voting for AL Rookie of the Year wasn't nearly as close as the MVP vote and Ichiro easily took top honors in his rookie class with 138 vote points. Rivera converted his next 12 saves and landed his first All-Star Game appearance, a contest in which he recorded yet another save. With the departure of closer John Wetteland in free agency, the Mariano Rivera era officially began in the Bronx in 1997. Veteran stars such as Albert Pujols, Alex Rodriguez, and Vladimir Guerrero are also included among many others stars. With Gwynn out of the picture, the Padres embraced a full-scale rebuild. Subsets for the 2006 Topps Baseball Card Set includes Manager Cards, Team Cards, Future Stars, Gold Glove Winners, League Leaders, MVPs, Rookies of The Year and Combo Cards. Focusing nearly exclusively on hitting, Ortiz flourished, hitting .272 with new career highs in OPS (.900), total bases (206), home runs (20), and RBIs (75). As a result, Pujols hit just 32 home runs with 103 RBI, the lowest and second-lowest totals of his first stint in St. Louis. At that point, if it wasn't clear to the Dodgers that they'd made a huge mistake, it was immediately clear the following season in 1997. Combine all that, and it's easy to see how Jones was able to belt 29 home runs and eclipse both the 100 runs scored (108) and 100 RBI (102) plateaus for the final time in his career. Second-year base cards of Albert Pujols and Ichiro were also big attractions for hobbyists and Topps sprinkled those guys into several subsets as well. Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? Guerrero earned a starting job after four years in the team's farm system, putting his incredible raw athleticism to good use. Despite those drawbacks, some desirable inserts and base cards can fetch decent prices in top condition in today's market. It was a massiverun, a game-tying opposite-field solo shot by Sandy Alomar Jr. in Game 4 that set the stage for a season-saving Cleveland win. Read our methodology . Here's a quick recap of the 10 most expensive baseball cards in the world: Honus Wagner 1909-1911 ATC T206 - $3 Million. Unfortunately, they fell five games short of the Philadelphia Phillies for first place in the NL East to miss the playoffs for the second year in a row. Most Valuable Baseball Cards From the 1960s Read More After missing two-and-a-half months with a wrist fracture in 2001, Ortiz's left knee started to bother him early in the '02 campaign. He has had 11 All-Star appearances, won 7 Silver Slugger Awards, was named the American League Batting Champion . It's also one of the sets that soon followed the MLB strike in 1994 and the hobby bubble burst that occurred around the same time. As for Griffey, he was at the peak of his baseball powers. . Found a few in a Legends LLC buyback package from Bam! PriceIt Game | Beginning in 2006, card #7 in the Topps base set (which had been previously "retired") would feature Mantle. And the Yankees continued their dominant run atop the AL East in '02, finishing at 103-58 and securing their fifth-straight division title. We are user supported. In the early days of Pedro Martinez's Hall of Fame career, it wasn't so clear that he had the size or control that would allow him to develop into the dominant force he would eventually become. Most Expensive 2020 Topps Baseball Cards. The back of the card includes player . The most valuable card in 2006 Topps Baseball wasn't supposed to be in the set. Read our methodology. Being such an important year, the most valuable 1952 baseball cards carry a lot of importance and prestige. Though he was undoubtedly one of the most talented and productive players in MLB history, A-Rod's legacy will unfortunately always be tarnished by his ties to PEDs. On April 7th versus the Montreal Expos, Griffey ripped his right patella tendon in the middle of a rundown between third base and home plate. One day later, Guerrero crushed his first MLB home run off San Diego's Sterling Hitchcock in a 9-3 Montreal win. Download Price List, SportsCardsPro 2019-2023 Premium: He made the Padres relevant even during the lean years and helped garner the public support necessary to greenlight the Petco Park project. At just 17 years old, Cabrera was a raw talent worth noticing. David Ortiz's final year with the Minnesota Twins began with bad injury luck. The key rookie cards for this set include #641 Justin Verlander, #355 Jonathan Papelbon, #617 Ryan Zimmerman, and #639 Prince Fielder. As usual, there were of course many other big-name Hall of Famers such as Rickey Henderson, Tony Gwynn, Derek Jeter, Ken Griffey Jr. and others that can go for decent money in top condition these days. 1909 T-206 Honus Wagner: $7.25 million. National Baseball Card Day Inserts 3 Cards Set. Like Ichiro, Pujols put up one of MLB's most incredible rookie campaigns. We are user supported. Many often criticized Jeter as being a below-average shortstop and argued that he did not deserve this Gold Glove or any of them. He also led the Majors with 13 complete games and worked a career-high 241.1 innings as the Expos took everything he could give them. No More Secrets Puzzle Game, Larry Bird [Lefty Shot w, Bernard King] #33, Larry Bird [Close Up, No Mustache Green Jersey] #33, Larry Bird [Collecting to Shoot White Jersey] #33, Larry Bird [Defending w, Bill Walton] #33, Larry Bird [FT Cocked Position Green Jersey] #33, Larry Bird [Sideline Jumper Green Jersey] #33. Regardless of everyone's opinions, Derek Jeter still won the award, and Topps included him in their Gold Glove Winners subset along with the rest of the winners in 2006. As for Jeter himself, he indeed lived up to the hype of being one of the best in baseball during the 2007 season as he earned his eighth All-Star appearance and second Silver Slugger. 2006 Topps card list & price guide. | Compare vs. At the age of 37, Griffey's best days were behind him, and by mid-season in 2008, the Reds would trade him to the Chicago White Sox to bring his days in Cincinnatti to a close. Cheapest, In short, he was a one-man wrecking crew at the plate that year and, despite some controversy in the way he handled negotiations, resulted in a new, ten-year, $275 million contract with the Yankees after the season. It wasn't much money - various sources suggest a player got $250 to $500 a year. In hopes of returning at some point during the seasons second half, Junior opted for rehab instead of season-ending surgery. It would be Ichiro's first and only MVP of his Hall of Fame career and given how phenomenal he was, he'd finish in the top ten just three other times. Second-year base cards of Albert Pujols and Ichiro were also big attractions for hobbyists and Topps sprinkled those guys into several subsets as well. After the season, the Yankees traded Kenny Rogers to the Oakland Athletics for third baseman Scott Brosius. Baseball Cards. Gone were the days of Thomas contending for a batting title as his .277 average was well below his career .301 average, but he still managed to bring a good amount of pop with his bat. 2006 Topps card list & price guide. Add 35 home runs and 125 RBIs, and you have the recipe for yet another marquee year for the Georgia native. The following offseason was a tricky one. When Jackie Robinson stepped onto the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, it marked a turning point for Major League Baseball and the entire country. 2006 Topps is a 659-card set was issued over two series. After three disappointing years, Griffey was the subject of intense trade rumors. Read our methodology. The Crazy Train left the station in 1997, and it was a big hit in Atlantas new digs. Justin Verlander, Prince Fielder, Ryan Zimmerman and Matt Cain are among the "rookies" in 2006 Topps Baseball whose official rookie cards came in 2005 or before. No More Secrets Puzzle Game. September 17, 2022 Ryan from Ballcard Genius Best of the Set, Boxes and Packs . 2. You'll also find several limited parallel versions of the base cards, including red backs, gold, copper, platinum, printing plates, and first editions, but we'll stick with the base cards for this write-up. Standard Cards. Each of those stats turned out to be career bests for A-Rod, and when the season wrapped up, he earned his ninth Silver Slugger and third MVP awards. None of this would have been possible without Gwynn's contributions to the franchise. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. That ended things for the San Diego Padres legend with a mind-boggling active streak of 19 seasons with an average of .300 or better. But, his 3,000th hit during a home game against the Colorado Rockies on April 23, 2022, only served to cement his legacy as one of the greatest players of all time. And, again, on defense he was incredible, too. For Barry Bonds, the 2007 season was all about trying to break Hank Aaron's all-time home run record. The vast majority of players appeared in fully licensed base sets in previous years. It was an impressive yet frustrating rookie year for one of the generation's most talented sluggers. 0% Get my weekly newsletter with the latest hobby updates delivered straight to your inbox! For a Topps flagship release, 2022 Series 1 was just about as good as it gets. From 1997 to 2001, Henderson played with five different teams in six different stints. No matter your opinion, the move had the desired effect of spiking the interest of both collectors and non-collectors alike. The most expensive Topps card of all time was a Mickey Mantle baseball rookie card. To be a big fan of this set, it really comes down to having to like the controversial design. We are user supported. Soon after, Sandberg started to slump and things snapped into focus. On June 17, in a game against the Washington Nationals, Thomas snapped Edgar Martinez's then-record of 243 home runs as a DH when he hit the 244th of his career. At the age of 43, he was ready and willing to play beyond the 2007 season, but no MLB team would sign him during the 2008 or 2009 seasons. The 38-year-old outfielder started the year in San Diego and ended about 100 miles north in Anaheim by the season's end. Considering he was the oldest active player in the American League, it made sense. For Barry Bonds, the 2007 season was all about trying to break Hank Aaron's all-time home run record. The Most Expensive Cars. 3. Topps eventually corrected this mistake, but this error does not significantly increase the value of this card. On August 2nd, Sandberg announced that he would retire for good at the end of the 1997 campaign. Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $200. Mickey Mantle 1952 Topps - $2.8 Million. Most Expensive Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. bookstore after rediscovering my love for this hobby after a 15 year hiatus. Prices are updated daily based upon 2023 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. While Jeter's peripheral numbers were good to great, his 125 strikeouts marked the highest single-season total of his 20-year career. However, Topps still decided to produce an Alex Gordon card for Series One of their 2006 flagship release, perhaps assuming he would make the Kansas City Royals roster anyway, given how great he was expected to be. During their free-agent pursuit of All-Star third baseman Vinny Castilla during the offseason, the Braves front office approached Jones about a potential positional shift. After the success of their set in 2001, Topps wasn't necessarily expected to meet or surpass it but their 2002 set was a nice one in its own right. And Bonds was the catalyst for San Franciscos storybook postseason return. Yet, as you can see, there are still plenty of big-name stars and Hall of Famers of the era to be found inside. The Giants ran into a buzzsaw in the NL Wild Card Florida Marlins, losing back-to-back one-run games to start the best-of-5 NLDS before falling 6-2 at home in Game 3 to complete the sweep. That was the end of Henderson's brief time in an Angels uniform. Not that he would've had a hard time getting in without 3,000 hits anyway, seeing as how he is an eleven-time All-Star, seven-time Silver Slugger, two-time MVP, four-time batting champion, 2003 World Series champion and Triple Crown winner (2012). Still, this card is one of the strangest Canseco cards, in my opinion. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2008-2023 The Cardboard Connection. | Compare vs. In that year, 90 cards were put into the base sets and separated into Rows. Track your collection for free. When you ask collectors in this hobby what their favorite baseball set from the 1990s is, it's unlikely that many would pick the 1997 Topps baseball cards set. Unfortunately, after testing positive for amphetamines before the season started, Bonds' entire legacy rested under a cloud of doubt and distrust from that point on. The 2006 Topps Baseball Card Set features 659 standard size cards. You have the excitement of a new year of baseball mixed with one of the most-hyped rookies of recent memory, and the rest is history. . 2023, 1948 to In addition to winning his first Cy Young, Martinez became the first right-hander since Walter Johnson in 1912 to throw more than 300 strikeouts (305) with a sub-2.00 ERA (1.90). Thats why the Boston Red Sox took a flyer on Henderson in 2002, signing the 43-year-old outfielder to a minor-league deal. He finished the year slashing .302/.350/.483 with 11 home runs and 40 RBIs in 90 games for a 78-84 Expos squad that finished fourth in the NL East. In fact, the most expensive baseball card ever sold went for more than $12 million at an auction on Aug. 22, 2022. Pete Rose, 1963 Topps - $717,000. But, remember, Canseco was one of the biggest names in the hobby during the late 80s and early 90s. That means the card needs to be flawless. But with age finally creeping up on Boggs in his sixteenth season, he began to share time at the hot corner with Charlie Hayes and saw an uptick in usage as a DH. Further examination revealed bone chips in the joint, leading to surgery and a 22-game absence for the 26-year-old slugger. of 622 products. He played in 70 games in total, hitting .264 with a ho-hum .784 OPS, eight home runs, and 23 RBIs in just 197 at-bats. This site contains links to affiliate websites, and we may receive an affiliate commission for any purchases made on the affiliate website using such links. Contact him at [emailprotected]. At the time, Jeter had a long way to go toward becoming one of the most famous Yankees legends of all time. Since his MLB debut in 2001, Ichiro Suzuki eclipsed the 200 hits mark for the seventh straight season during the 2007 campaign with an incredible MLB-best 238 base hits. Fittingly, Topps included an action sequence of Robinson stealing home against the New York Yankees in the 1955 World Series, one of the most iconic moments of his career. His 504th and last home run came in an Angels uni off Minnesota Twins hurler Bob Tewksbury on May 30th, 1997. Still, he made it to his sixth All-Star Game and finished ninth in the NL MVP race, his lowest finish in the vote during his first round as a Cardinal. Although the Gordon card exists, most consider that a set doesn't require one. After back-to-back years in the NL West cellar, the Giants broke through in 1997, holding off the Los Angeles Dodgers to capture the franchises first division title (and playoff berth) since winning the NL pennant in 1989. Overall, I think this is a decent set with a unique design and enough stars and Hall of Famers inside to keep things interesting. So, for the cards on this list to be worth much, they'll have to be graded by PSA to be in perfect, gem mint condition. He also added his fifth Silver Slugger, eighth All-Star nod, and eighth Gold Glove Award. With the acquisition of Mike Bordick in the offseason, Baltimore Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr. officially moved from shortstop to third base. His 26 home runs and 95 RBI weren't the monster numbers he had steadily produced during the 1990s but that level of output was some of his highest of the 2000s. However, Pujols "struggled" in 2007 as he put up arguably the worst of the first eleven seasons of his career as a St. Louis Cardinal. When the dust settled, Bonds had earned his seventh All-Star selection, seventh Silver Slugger Award, seventh Gold Glove and a fifth-place finish in the NL MVP race for his efforts. The Kid made the most of those 144 games as he belted 30 home runs, drove in 71 runs, and batted .277 while earning his thirteenth and final trip to the All-Star Game along the way. On August 7, with the count full during the bottom of the fifth inning of a home game against the Washington Nationals, Bonds blasted a pitch of Mike Bacsik into the outfield bleachers of AT&T Park that sent 43,154 fans into a frenzy. And his .402 OBP, .610 slugging percentage and 1.013 were equally as impressive. Players include Hank Aaron, Nolan Ryan & Mike Trout. . Ungraded & graded values for all '23 Topps Baseball Cards. The Kid put together a historic hot streak in April, setting a new record for the season's first month with 13 home runs. . So, while you won't find any really high . The 22-year-old phenom was a revelation for a balanced St. Louis squad, becoming the first MLB player to hit .300 or better with at least 100 runs scored, 100 RBIs, and 30 home runs in consecutive seasons to start a career. The set was originally to be issued at the more common 660 card set count, but Topps was forced to pull card #297 Alex Gordon very early in production due to new requirements put in place by the MLBPA regarding qualifications for releasing rookie cards. The edge of the picture is rounded off on one side of the card and is coupled with a team logo. Many felt that his popularity and the fact that he was the face of the Yankees played more of a role in the decision than it should have. 1955 Topps Sandy Koufax #123. Once a Cub and always a Cub, the ten-time All-Star, nine-time Gold Glover, and no-doubt Hall of Famer stayed in the organization for nine more years as a Spring Training instructor. The most valuable card in 2006 Topps Baseball wasn't supposed to be in the set. They sold for a combined total of $4.6 million back in 2006. His .327 batting average was as steady as ever, but his power dropped significantly as his slugging percentage fell to .568 versus his career-best .671 the year before. Thankfully, they didn't play in the same league as deciding on who to vote for Rookie of the Year would've been one of the toughest calls ever. Gordon batted a paltry .247 with 15 home runs, 60 runs scored and 60 RBI during his 2007 rookie campaign and from that point on, the hype surrounding him slowly wained. Suzuki was white-hot early in 2002 yet faded down the stretch. Most Expensive, Now that we got that out of the way, let's take a look at the list: Over two years away from playing in the Majors, Joe Mauer's impact on the Minnesota Twins organization was felt by fans and Twins employees alike all the way from Davenport, Iowa. After rounding the bases, a video of Hank Aaron congratulating Bonds played on the screen while Willie Mays joined him on the field before he addressed the crowd with a short speech. Unfortunately, the Twins were ultimately bounced five games later by the Anaheim Angels in the ALCS. List by Card #, You own: 0 / 853 items Rankings are based on data from the Beckett Baseball Card Database and Price Guide. 1959. Some of the earliest ones were cigarette package inserts, used both to promote the brand and prevent the star of the package, the cigarettes, from being crushed. 2006 Topps Baseball saw the return of Mickey Mantle to the company's cards. His 43 saves were the second-most in the Majors, two behind Randy Myers of the division-rival Orioles. 2006 marked the first year of new rookie card rules. The 2007 season turned out to be a career year for Alex Rodriguez, and much of that was due to his physical preparation and some adjustments he made to his batting approach. Premium: Speaking of autographs, the most significant thing this set is notorious for is the Derek Jeter commemorative Rookie of the Year autograph that collectors could chase in series two packs. Within the 661-card checklist, you'll find plenty of stars and Hall of Famers as well as a few decent rookie cards, most notably anchored by that of Alex Gordon. The season marked yet another efficient and productive performance in the future Hall of Famer's storied career. Ungraded & graded values for all '20 ToppsBaseball . National Baseball Card Day 5 Cards Set. Better photos could have been used for select players. At least that's the official word. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? Star power: Robinson, a Hall of Famer, broke the MLB color barrier in 1947, becoming a social justice icon in the process. The card was graded PSA 10 GEM MINT condition and sold in a private sale on Ebay. In fact, between June 2021 and May 2022, this Ripken collectible in a PSA 10 sold for under $4,000 just once. 1959, 1948 to Bonds later filed a grievance with MLB in 2015, stating that teams had colluded to not sign him after 2007, but the league ruled against him. Beginning with his rookie campaign in 2001, Pujols took the league by storm as a guy who could hit for both power and average. (Photo: psacard.com) Miguel Cabrera is another active player on our list. Download Price List, SportsCardsPro 2019-2023 As the Atlanta Braves' everyday third baseman from 1995-2001, Chipper Jones earned five All-Star nods and an NL MVP award in 1999. Cheapest, | Compare vs. "I used to spend so much mental preparation on defense, either working on it or worrying about it," Jones said. San Diego stumbled hard out of the gate and never recovered, losing 30 of their first 50 games and ending the year in the division cellar at 76-86. The Venezuelan-born slugger was a natural-born hitter with batters box . Regarding rookie cards, this set turned out to be a dud. Most Expensive of All-Time. A hometown hero, Junior now found himself facing an uncertain future in Cincy. Miguel Cabrera (2000 Topps Traded Chrome Rookie Card T40) - $1,750. 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. Ungraded & graded values for all '06 Topps Baseball Cards. The truth was that Hendersons prime days were long since behind him. Sandberg re-signed in 1997 with hopes of continuing his late-career resurgence. One looks completely normal. However, the good vibes didn't carry over to the postseason. Griffey was kept off-balance all series long in the ALDS against the Baltimore Orioles, hitting just .133 in a 3-1 series loss. Not only that, but the Seattle Mariners were coming off a historic 116-win season, a record-tying team performance that ended with a thud in a five-game loss to the New York Yankees in the ALCS. His career started in 2003 in Florida and he moved to his current team, Detroit, in 2008. There is also a 1996-style card as Mantle appeared in 1996 Topps Baseball on a special tribute card. 1978 TOPPS #707 Paul Molitor Alan Trammell Rookie RC PSA 9 MINT. Despite a career-best 32 stolen bases, '02 was a down year for Jeter as he hit under .300 (.297) and posted an OPS under .800 (.794) for the first time since 1997. Most Expensive, Out of all the. At one point, it was going for four figures. 50 Most Valuable Baseball Cards of All Time. After the season, Ichiro placed eighth in the MVP race while earning his seventh-straight Gold Glove and second Silver Slugger. #5. Fortunately for hobbyists lucky enough to find one of those cards, Jeter exceeded expectations and became a baseball icon. As a result, a complete set is considered to be 659 cards, without a card 297. Ungraded & graded values for all '06 Topps Chrome 1954 Topps #128 Hank Aaron RC. After finishing the 2006 season with his career home run count resting at 734, Bonds entered the year needing to hit 21 to tie Aaron's record of 755 and 22 to break it. #6. The Most Expensive Watches. Subsets for the 2005 Topps baseball cards include First year cards, Prospects, Managers, League Leaders, AL All-Stars, NL All-Stars, Post-Season, Award Winners, Team Cards and World Series Cards. 1957 Topps Football #119 Bart Starr Rookie Card PSA 8: Sold in April 2022 on Robert Edward Auctions for $29,400. Let's be clear:most of the cards from this set do not have any value these days. Need Help? His arrangement with the Red Sox came to a close at the end of the 2002 season. Bonds was a non-factor in his first playoff trip with the Giants, hitting .250 with two doubles, no walks, three strikeouts, and an uncharacteristic .647 OPS, nearly 400 points lower than his regular-season mark. They stated a player must make the team's roster before they can have a base card. 1. And kids who grew up collecting him are now adults full of nostalgia for that era. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 by Old Sports Cards, LLC. Like the 2007 Bowman, Fleer and Upper Deck sets, large print runs saturated the market with these cards, driving down their values. With the size and skills that many were comparing to legends like Cal Ripken Jr., Derek Jeter, and even Alex Rodriguez, the Rockies had high hopes for their young shortstop. The Twins made good on the promise of their 85-win season in 2001, capturing the AL Central at 94-67 and earning the franchise's first playoff berth since winning the World Series in 1991. The 2005 Topps baseball card set includes 733 standard size cards that were issued in two series of 366 cards. He also loves to write about the hobby and has written for Beckett, Topps, SABR and of course, this website. It worked wonders for the Os as Baltimore raced ahead in the AL East early, winning 42 of their first 60 games. Honus Wagner is known as "The Flying Dutchman" of the baseball era and one of the best baseball players. Jones was hesitant but decided to make the switch for the team's benefit and his hitting approach. He made just nine plate appearances as a pinch hitter for Los Angeles, going 2-for-7 with a couple of walks. However, he still had a nose for the home run and RBI, finishing with 28 home runs and 92 RBIs, proving he was still very much an offensive asset for the White Sox. 1973 Topps Mike Schmidt Rookie Card. . Between 1997 and 2005, flagship Topps sets had retired number 7 in honor of Mantle.