The 1980s and 1990s were a magical time for baseball cards. Baseball itself was thriving, with superstars like Mike Schmidt, Wade Boggs, Roberto Clemente and Cal Ripken Jr. lighting up the diamond on a nightly basis. Meanwhile, the baseball card industry was booming with kids (and adults!) flocking to stores to rip open packs in search of their favorite players.

Thanks to the demand, many cards from this era have increased significantly in value over the past few decades. And while there are far too many valuable 80s and 90s baseball cards to list all of them, here are 15 of the most coveted and expensive specimens from that time period that still hold major financial worth today for collectors:

1909-1911 T206 Honus Wagner – This might be the most iconic and valuable baseball card of all time. The ultra-rare T206 Wagner is considered the holy grail for collectors. In near-mint condition, one of these classic cigarette cards can fetch over $3 million at auction. Even poorly conditioned versions still sell for six figures.

1952 Topps Mantle Rookie – Mickey Mantle was one of the first true baseball superstars and his iconic Topps rookie card is arguably the most sought-after of the post-war period. High grade examples have sold for well over $1 million.

1987 Fleer Michael Jordan RC – While not a true “baseball” card, Jordan’s NBA rookie played a major role in the trading card boom of the late 80s/early 90s. High-end PSA/BGS 10 Jordans have crossed the $400k mark.

1975 Topps Nolan Ryan – The “Ryan Express” piled up strikeouts like no other and his colorful 1975 Topps rookie is among the most valuable from the 70s. Near-mint copies can reach $100k.

1971 Topps Hank Aaron – Hammerin’ Hank’s Topps card from his 715th home run season remains hugely popular. Pristine PSA 10 versions have topped $50,000 at auction.

1972 Topps Johnny Bench – The Hall of Fame catcher’s iconic smiling rookie card from his back-to-back MVP seasons in the 70s. High-grade copies trade in the $20k range.

1964 Topps Bob Gibson – Considered one of the most intimidating pitchers ever, Gibson’s rookie card is universally recognized as one of the 60s standouts. Near-mint examples command $15k+.

2003 Bowman Chrome Mike Trout RC – Trout emerged as a true superstar and his prized Bowman Chrome rookie from over a decade ago has exploded in value. PSA 10s have crossed $400k.

1984 Donruss Wade Boggs RC – Hitting machine Boggs’ iconic first card remains a beloved piece for Red Sox collectors. Pristine copies change hands for $5k-10k.

1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. RC – The Kid was a can’t-miss prospect and his debut Upper Deck card became immensely popular. High-grade Griffeys still trade for $3k-5k.

1992 Leaf Ken Griffey Jr. Gold Refractor RC – Considered the pinnacle Griffey rookie, these extremely rare gold parallel refractor cards are true holy grails. Just a few have ever crossed $100k at auction.

1989 Bowman Barry Bonds RC – Before the controversy, Bonds was already a five-tool star in Pittsburgh. His popular Bowman rookie holds steady value of $1k-3k for top grades.

1988 Fleer Deion Sanders RC – Before he was “Prime Time,” Sanders was a budding baseball/football star. High-end copies of his challenging Fleer card reach $1,500+.

1991 Upper Deck Griffey Jr. Stadium Club Chrome Refractor RC – Ultra high-end parallel of one of the most iconic 90s rookies. Near-pristine versions change hands for $5k+.

1993 Finest Refractor Alex Rodriguez RC – The young A-Rod was already a phenom and his beautiful Finest Refractor rookie remains a blue chip investment card today worth $2k-4k.

This just grazes the surface of valuable baseball cards from the 1980s and 1990s. Many rookies, stars and even commons from this era appreciate steadily over time as more collectors join the hobby. With dedication and patience, building a complete rainbow set of any of these classic cards is certainly a worthwhile investment to enjoy for years to come. The cards themselves are pop culture artifacts preserving the history and legends of baseball.