Keith Hernandez had a distinguished career playing Major League Baseball from 1974-1990 for the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets. During his time in the MLB, Hernandez was known for his excellent fielding ability earning himself 11 Gold Glove Awards and five All-Star selections. He helped lead the Mets to a World Series championship in 1986. Hernandez’s success and longevity in baseball have made some of his trading cards highly valuable collectibles today. Here is a closer look at some of the most valuable and desirable Keith Hernandez baseball cards on the market.
1977 Topps Keith Hernandez Rookie Card #479 – Hernandez’s rookie card from his 1977 Topps set is one of the key cards for any collector of the former Mets star. In gem mint condition graded a PSA 10, this Hernandez rookie has sold for over $4,000 at auction. Even in raw near mint to mint condition, valuable examples can fetch $500 or more. The 1977 Topps set is one of the most iconic issues in the hobby and Hernandez’s debut card remains highly sought after by collectors both as an important rookie and for the acclaim he achieved throughout his career.
1986 Fleer Update #U-24 Keith Hernandez Gold Glove Award Leaders – Fleer released this fun insert card in 1986 highlighting Hernandez’s excellence in the field by that point in his career. It calls out his run as one of baseball’s top glove men, having won five consecutive Gold Glove Awards from 1978-1982. Only 1,500 copies of thiscard were printed, making it quite scarce and valuable for advanced Hernandez collectors. Top PSA 10 examples have sold for over $2,000. Even well-centered near mint copies in a lower grade can be worth a few hundred dollars.
1986 Topps Traded Keith Hernandez #T-79 – Hernandez was dealt from the Cardinals to the Mets during the 1985-1986 offseason. Topps captured the big trade with this special “Traded” subset included in the 1986 Topps set. The traded cards have long been some of the most popular and cherished in the modern era. Pristine PSA 10 Hernandez traded examples have reached almost $4,000 at auction. Raw copies in mint condition typically trade hands for $300-600 depending on centering and edges. This remains one of the definitive Hernandez cards for any all-star collection.
1991 Donruss Elite Series #42 Keith Hernandez – This premium 1991 Donruss issue featured dramatic black and white photography of major MLB stars. Hernandez’s superb defensive skills are on full display in the action shot used on this card. Very low print runs make 1991 Donruss Elite particularly valuable and sought after. High graded Hernandez examples in this elite parallel set have sold for over $1,500. Even raw near mint copies can be quite valuable at $300-500. This iconic ‘90s card captures Hernandez late in his career excelling as a fielder.
There are a few other notable high-end Keith Hernandez cards as well that often attract big prices amongst elite collectors. His 1979 and 1980 O-Pee-Chee cards are quite scarce in top condition and have reached over $1,000 each. Rare test prints or errors of his mainstream rookie and other early cards can exponentially increase in value. For example, a one-of-one 1985 Donruss Hobbies test issue sold for well over $10,000 in recent years.
In summary, Keith Hernandez enjoyed immense baseball success that translated well to the collecting hobby. His rookie card and noteworthy career accomplishments like gold gloves are highlighted in some of the costliest issues centered on the former Met. With a long and consistent major league tenure, Hernandez developed a large and devoted collector base over the decades. His best vintage and premium cards remain highly valuable commodities for knowledgeable investors and significant collections alike. With the lasting popularity of the sport and players from his generation, top Hernandez cards can be regarded as sound long term collectible assets.
