Mark McGwire had one of the most prolific home run hitting careers in Major League Baseball history. As a player who broke records and captivated fans in the late 1980s through early 2000s, McGwire’s baseball cards are some of the most recognizable and valuable from that era. Let’s take an in-depth look at McGwire’s career, some of his notable baseball cards, and what different versions are currently worth on the collecting market.

McGwire played in the majors from 1986-2001 for four different teams – the Oakland A’s, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, and Los Angeles Dodgers. It was his time with the A’s and Cardinals where he had the most success and notoriety. With Oakland, McGwire established himself as one of baseball’s premier power hitters by leading the league in home runs three times and helping the A’s win the World Series in 1989.

Then in 1998, McGwire made history by hitting a then single-season record 70 home runs, surpassing Roger Maris’ longstanding mark of 61 set in 1961. The home run chase between McGwire and the Chicago Cubs’ Sammy Sosa captivated the nation and helped revive interest in baseball that had been waning. Their pursuit of Maris was extensively covered in sports media at the time.

McGwire’s accomplishments, especially in 1998, made him one of the most famous players in baseball during the late 90s boom. As a result, his rookie and early career cards increased greatly in value as collectors sought pieces of cardboard tied to his record-breaking seasons. Some of McGwire’s notable rookie and early career cards include:

1987 Topps rookie card – One of the most iconic and valuable rookie cards in the sport. High grade PSA/BGS 10 examples have sold for over $10,000. Even lower graded copies in PSA 8 or Beckett 8 condition can fetch $1,000+.

1988 Fleer Update #U-86 – Features McGwire’s first major update card in action. Prices range from $150-$500 depending on condition.

1992 Bowman #79 – Shows McGwire in his A’s uniform during his early prime years. PSA 10 “gem mint” copies have sold for over $1,000.

1995 Bowman’s Best Refractors #81 – Features McGwire in a refracting parallel set design during his chase of Maris. BGS/PSA 10 examples have sold for $2,000+.

1996 Fleer #291 – Depicts McGwire right before his record-breaking 1998 season. Near-mint copies in PSA 8 or Beckett 8 grade sell for $300-$500.

It is McGwire’s 1998 record-setting season for the St. Louis Cardinals that his cards are most tied to and valuable from. Naturally, rookie cards from that year skyrocketed in demand:

1998 Bowman’s Best #107 – Considered one of his best modern rookie cards. High-end PSA 10 “gem mint” copies have reached $5,000+ at auction.

1998 Donruss Elite #107 – Another top McGwire rookie from ’98. Near-mint PSA 8 copies sell for $1,000-2,000.

1998 Finest #107 – Premium rookie insert set. PSA 10 examples have sold for over $4,000.

1998 Leaf Limited #107 – Ultra-high end parallel rookie. BGS/PSA 10 “black label” copies have reached $10,000+.

Beyond rookies, McGwire’s main 1998 Cardinals update and base cards also soared in value due to the record chase:

1998 Bowman #296 – Common base card but iconic of the season. Even lower graded PSA 6 copies sell for $100+.

1998 Donruss Champions #CM4 – Premium insert parallel. Near-mint PSA 8 copies reach $300-500.

1998 Fleer Tradition #369 – Popular brand during the 90s boom. PSA 8 copies sell in the $150-300 range.

So in summary, Mark McGwire’s baseball cards tied to his record-breaking 70 home run season with the Cardinals in 1998 are by far his most valuable. But rookie cards and pieces from his other prolific seasons with Oakland also hold significant collector value, especially in top grades. As one of the most famous power hitters in baseball history, McGwire’s cardboard will remain a staple in the hobby for years to come.