The Great Sports Card Search Begins – BOLO – What We Buy & Finding Value in 1980’s Baseball Card Guide

Presented is a simple guide to the best baseball cards of the 1980’s. These are the cards we are looking for as they are among the most desirable with collectors. With that said, condition is the most important variable in what we are looking for. This is because values are always determined by condition. All cards that come in go through a cursory evaluation process before being accepted.

Oftentimes, we recommend getting cards graded by one of three companies – PSA, Beckett or SGC.  Note, that ungraded (raw) cards do have value but have a lower value range.  Once a card is graded, it is more desirable and easier to determine the value according to the market.

As part of our auction service, we can provide assistance to those consigners who have eligible cards that need to be graded. The following list shows cards that are eligible to be consigned or sold through Memorabilia Expert.   Provided are photos of what these cards look like with many in the examples that have already been graded.

1980

1980 Topps – Rickey Henderson Rookie Card (RC) #482.
1980 WBTV Charlotte O’s – Cal Ripken, Jr. Minor League Rookie Card (RC) #16.

1981

1981 Rochester Red Wings – Cal Ripken, Jr. Minor League Rookie Card (RC) #WTF1.
1981 TCMA Rochester – Cal Ripken, Jr. Minor League Rookie Card (RC) #15.
1981 Nashville Sounds – Don Mattingly Minor League Rookie Card (RC) #8.
1981 Topps Squirt – Rickey Henderson Minor League Rookie Card.
1981 Topps Granny Goose – Rickey Henderson Minor League Rookie Card.

1982

1982 Topps Traded – Cal Ripken, Jr. Rookie Card (RC) #98T.
1982 Topps – Cal Ripken, Jr. Rookie Card (RC) #21.
1982 TCMA Oneta Yankees – John Elway Minor League Rookie Card (RC) #13.
1982 Red Lobster Cubs – Ryne Sandberg Minor League Rookie Card (RC) #23.
1982 Hawaii Islanders – Tony Gwynn Minor League Rookie Card (RC).

1983

1983 Fritsch Valley Oaks – Kirby Puckett Minor League Rookie Card (RC) #6.
1983 Thorn Apple Valley Cubs – Ryne Sandberg Minor League Rookie Card (RC) #23.

1984

1984 O-Pee-Chee OPC – Don Mattingly Rookie Card (RC) #8.
1984 Topps Nestle – Don Mattingly Rookie Card (RC) #8.
1984 Fleer Update – Roger Clemens Rookie Card (RC) #U-27.
1984 Fleer Update – Kirby Puckett Rookie Card (RC) #U-93.

1985

1985 O-Pee Chee OPC – Kirby Puckett Rookie Card (RC) #10.
1985 Topps Tiffany – Roger Clemens Rookie Card (RC) #181.
1985 Topps Tiffany USA Baseball Team – Mark McGwire Rookie Card (RC) #401.

1986

1986 Topps Traded Tiffany – Barry Bonds Rookie Card (RC) #11T.
1986 Topps Traded Tiffany – Bo Jackson Rookie Card (RC) #50T.
1986 ProCards Pittsfield Cubs – Greg Maddux Minor League Rookie Card (RC).

1987

1987 Bellingham Mariners – Ken Griffey, Jr. Minor League Rookie Card (RC) #15.
1987 ProCards West Palm Beach Expos – Jacksonfield – Randy Johnson Minor League Rookie Card (RC) #451.
1987 O-Pee-Chee OPC – Barry Bonds Rookie Card (RC) #320.
1987 Broder – Bo Jackson Rookie Card (RC) #4.
1987 Topps Traded Tiffany – Greg Maddux Rookie Card (RC) #70T.
1987 Fleer Hottest Stars – Barry Bonds Rookie Card (RC) #15.

1988

1988 Best Platinum San Beradino – Ken Griffey, Jr. Minor League Rookie Card (RC) #1.
1988 San Beradino Spirit  – Ken Griffey, Jr. Minor League Rookie Card (RC) #34.
1988 Star Nova – Ken Griffey, Jr. Minor League Rookie Card (RC) #123.
1988 Cape Cod Prospects Orleans – Frank Thomas Minor League Rookie Card (RC) #22.

1989

1989 Upper Deck – Ken Griffey, Jr. Rookie Card (RC) #1.
1989 Bowman Tiffany – Ken Griffey, Jr. Rookie Card (RC) #220.
1989 Topps Traded Tiffany – Ken Griffey, Jr. Rookie Card (RC) #41T.
1989 Star Company Nova Set – Ken Griffey, Jr. Rookie Card (RC).