Bo Jackson had one of the most unique and impressive athletic careers of all time. Though his baseball career was cut short due to injury, Jackson made his mark on both the baseball diamond and football field in the late 1980s and early 1990s. As one of the greatest athletes of his generation, Bo Jackson cards from his time playing professional baseball for the Kansas City Royals hold significant value for collectors. In this in-depth article, we will explore Bo Jackson baseball card prices and discuss some of his most valuable and sought after rookie cards on the market today.
Jackson was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the first overall pick in the 1986 NFL Draft after an impressive football and baseball career at Auburn University. He chose to sign with the Kansas City Royals instead of playing football professionally that year. Jackson made his MLB debut in 1986 and had a very promising rookie season, batting .276 with 5 home runs and 21 RBI in 87 games. This made his 1986 Topps, Donruss, and Fleer rookie cards highly coveted items upon their release. In near mint to mint condition, Jackson’s 1986 Topps rookie card in a PSA 10 gem mint grade can fetch over $15,000. His 1986 Donruss rookie in the same grade has sold for around $8,000, while the 1986 Fleer version has brought in $3,000-$5,000 at auction.
In 1987, Jackson had a breakout season with the Royals. He batted .276 with 32 home runs and 105 RBI and was selected to the All-Star game. He also stole 15 bases that year, showcasing his incredible speed and athleticism. Jackson’s 1987 cards are some of his most valuable, as it was his first full season in the majors. High grade copies of his 1987 Topps, Donruss, and Fleer cards can sell for significant money. A PSA 10 1987 Topps Jackson has sold for over $25,000 at auction. His 1987 Donruss and Fleer cards in the same grade have gone for $15,000-$20,000 each. These remain highly sought after rookie cards for serious baseball card collectors given Jackson’s breakout performance and rising star status that season.
In addition to his rookie cards, Jackson has several other desirable baseball cards from his time in the majors. His 1988 Donruss Major League Materials card, which contains an actual piece of his Royals jersey, has sold for over $10,000 in pristine condition. Jackson was selected to his second All-Star game in 1989 and cards from that season also hold value. His 1989 Topps Traded and Score Summit Series cards have each sold for $3,000-$5,000 in top grades. Tragically, Jackson’s promising baseball career was cut short in a freak injury during a playoff game in 1990 at the age of 28 after batting .256 with 16 home runs and 49 RBI that season. As a result, cards from 1990 and beyond that feature Jackson in a Royals uniform are also highly sought after.
While his baseball tenure was abbreviated, Jackson continued having success in the NFL. He rushed for over 1,000 yards in 1990 for the Los Angeles Raiders and made the Pro Bowl. Naturally, his football cards from this time hold value as well. A PSA 10 gem mint 1990 Fleer Bo Jackson football rookie card has sold for over $10,000. His 1990 Score Summit Series football card featuring him in Raiders uniform has also topped $5,000 in top condition. In 1991, Jackson memorably ran for 221 yards in a playoff game against the Bengals, the most rushing yards ever in a playoff game by a player who started out as a running back. His 1991 Upper Deck football card is another highly valuable piece, reaching $4,000 in pristine condition.
In summary, Bo Jackson’s combination of elite athletic ability in both baseball and football made him a true phenomenon and one of the most popular sports figures of the late 1980s and early 1990s. As a result, his rookie cards and key cards from his time with the Kansas City Royals hold tremendous value, especially in high grades. Jackson’s 1986, 1987, and 1988 Topps, Donruss, and Fleer baseball rookie cards are consistently some of the highest selling vintage cards on the market. Even cards from 1989-1990 prior to his injury have six figure auction prices when graded mint or better. Both his baseball and football cards remain must-have pieces for dedicated sports collectors given Jackson’s iconic status as one of the greatest pure athletes in modern sports history.
