The 1984 Topps baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic and valuable of the modern era. Produced during a time of rising superstar players and booming interest in collecting sports memorabilia, many of the rookie cards and stars from the ‘84 Topps set have become enormously valuable over the decades. While many factors contribute to a card’s value such as condition, autographs or special variations, here are some of the most expensive and sought after 1984 Topps baseball cards:

Rickey Henderson Rookie Card (#163) – Widely considered the greatest leadoff hitter and base stealer of all time, Henderson’s rookie card from his breakout 1983 season with the A’s is the most valuable card from the ‘84 set. In mint condition, examples have sold for over $10,000. Even well-worn copies still command prices into the hundreds. Henderson went on to have a Hall of Fame career stealing over 1,400 bases.

Roger Clemens Rookie Card (#681) – The fiery Rocket’s rookie card is quite rare in high grade due to the off-center printing issues that plagued the latter half of the ‘84 set. A pristine mint copy sold at auction for $7,860 in 2015, while a PSA 10 can fetch over $5,000. Clemens went on to win 7 Cy Young Awards and pitch until he was nearly 45 years old.

Dwight Gooden Rookie Card (#159) – As one of the most anticipated rookie cards of the decade, Dr. K’s sophomore season issue is a highly sought after card. Gooden’s rockstar 1984 season where he won Rookie of the Year and led the Mets to the World Series added to the hype. A PSA 10 can sell for over $4,000.

Nolan Ryan (#234) – One of the most intimidating pitchers ever, Ryan’s card is valuable for collectors due to his iconic status and Hall of Fame Career. High graded examples have sold for around $1,200 due to his popularity and the shorter print run of star players’ cards that year.

Darryl Strawberry Rookie Card (#630) – Overshadowed by Gooden’s glory in ‘84, Strawberry’s stellar career still makes his rookie very desirable. Short prints of the set’s latter range from #601-#681 add scarcity. A PSA 10 recently sold for $1,630.

Don Mattingly (#17) – The 1984 Topps set predated “Donnie Baseball’s” breakout season the following year, but his young athleticism and good looks already made him a fan favorite. High graded copies around a PSA 9 have sold for over $900.

Ozzie Smith (#120) – The Wizard’s smooth defensive skills translated to big popularity among collectors. While not his true rookie season, the 1984 issue still carries value due to Smith’s iconic status achieving over 800 career stolen bases. A PSA 10 recently sold for $840.

Andre Dawson (#660) – Hawk’s intimidating demeanor and prodigious power numbers make him a favorite of ‘80s collectors. Short prints are more scarce adding to the card’s desirability. A high grade copy can fetch $650.

Ryne Sandberg (#40) – Before his MVP 1984 season cemented him as a superstar, the 1984 Topps set previewed Ryno’s talent. Short prints from the set’s challenging second half again boost value. Recently a PSA 10 sold on eBay for over $500.

While a fraction of the over 700 cards in the full 1984 Topps baseball set, these examples showcase some of the most famous players who became lasting legends. With the vintage appeal of ’80s designs and memorable rookie year issues, the investment potential for high quality copies continues to grow decades later. Along with the stars above, hall of famers like Dave Winfield and Jim Rice remain highly collectible from the iconic 1984 set as well.