1987 CLASSIC BASEBALL CARDS VALUE

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The 1987 baseball card season produced some of the most valuable and iconic rookie cards in the history of the hobby. Fueled by the success of the ’84 Topps Traded Ken Griffey Jr. card and a boom in interest in collecting, card manufacturers like Topps, Donruss, and Fleer flooded the market with cards during the mid-1980s. While this increased availability ultimately led to a crash in the early 1990s, it also meant that the ’87 set featured several all-time great players making their cardboard debuts.

Perhaps the most well-known and valuable rookie from the 1987 set is Chicago Cubs’ Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg. His Topps, Donruss, and Fleer cards are considered the holy grail of the vintage era for many collectors. In pristine mint condition, Sandberg’s Topps rookie has recently sold for over $10,000. Even in worst condition, a copy in worn but intact shape can still fetch a few hundred dollars. What makes Sandberg’s card so iconic is his dominance during his career as a consistent .290 hitter and nine-time All Star for the Cubs. He also took home the 1984 NL MVP award.

Another extremely valuable rookie that debuted in 1987 is Oakland A’s slugger Mark McGwire. Known best for breaking the single-season home run record in 1998, McGwire’s explosive rookie season made his Topps, Donruss, and Fleer cards all highly sought after. Pristine McGwire rookies have exceeded $20,000 at auction recently. Even in poorer shape, a copy can sell for $500-$1000 depending on condition. What propels McGwire’s value is his status as one of the game’s most prolific power hitters and his central role in the steroid era home run surge of the late 1990s.

Outside of rookies, one of the biggest stars featured prominently in the 1987 set is New York Mets pitcher Dwight Gooden. Known best by his nickname “Doc,” Gooden burst onto the scene in 1984-1985 by winning the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young awards. His dynamic pitching made him one of the most marketed athletes of the mid-1980s. In pristine mint condition, Gooden’s flagship Topps card has sold for over $15,000 due to his popularity and fame during baseball’s resurgence. Even well-worn copies in played condition can still net several hundred dollars for knowledgeable collectors.

Another offensive force enjoying stardom in the late 1980s was Toronto Blue Jays outfielder George Bell. Winning the 1987 AL MVP, Bell’s power surge made him one of the premier sluggers in baseball. His Topps and Donruss rookie cards, while not quite as iconic as McGwire or Gooden, have still gained value in recent years. In a PSA 10 gem mint state, a Bell rookie has topped $4,000. More average worn copies still sell for $100-300 based on demand from Toronto and Caribbean baseball fans. Bell’s dominance in 1987 helps sustain collector interest in commemorating his MVP season.

Beyond these biggest stars, the 1987 Topps, Donruss, and Fleer sets featured other talented young players who would go on to have solid careers like slugging first basemen Will Clark and Mark Grace. They also included veterans still in their primes like Ozzie Smith, Mike Schmidt, and Nolan Ryan. While these players’ cards don’t reach the stratospheric values of stars like McGwire, they still hold significance as affordable options for completing vintage sets or fondly remembering the players. The 1987 season has proven to be a benchmark year that card collectors still eagerly explore for finding iconic rookie gems or enjoying the era’s prolific talents.

Grading and centering also play a huge role in a 1987 card’s value today. While raw ungraded copies may sell for affordable prices, once a card attains a high PSA or BGS grade, numbers can vastly increase. A McGwire or Sandberg rookie in PSA 10 condition can demand a premium over even a PSA 9. With 1987 being one of the earliest mainstream issues for third-party authentication, condition rarities are still possible to uncover. Centering also makes a difference – an off-center McGwire is far less valuable than a perfectly centered copy. Understanding such nuances is key for savvy investors evaluating 1987’s allure and potential.

The 1987 baseball card season has firmly cemented its place in the vintage collecting landscape due to its legendary rookies. Stars like McGwire, Gooden, and Sandberg have attained a mythical presence coveted by fans and admired for their excellence. While the glut of ’80s issues means examples are fairly plentiful if not in top condition, the historic significance of debuting these talented players gives 1987 a special allure. With booming popularity in vintage cards, values for desirable ’87 rookies continue rising due to nostalgia, on-field achievements, and the increasing scarcity of pristine specimens over time under careful care. The season represents one of the true high water marks that perpetually draws appreciation from the collecting community.

MOST EXPENSIVE 1986 TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS

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The 1986 Topps baseball card set is highly coveted by collectors due to its attractive and iconic designs as well as its inclusion of some of the biggest names in the sport from the mid-1980s. While the average 1986 Topps card in near mint condition can be acquired for just a few dollars, the true gems from the set have sold at auction for astronomical prices in recent years. Here are details on some of the most valuable and costly 1986 Topps baseball cards on the high-end market today.

Perhaps the most significant rarity and headline name from the 1986 Topps set is card number 661, featuring Hall of Famer Kirk Gibson of the Detroit Tigers. Gibson’s rookie card shows him batting from the left side with a colored team nameplate featuring the classic Old English D logo. What makes this particular Gibson rookie so valuable is the fact that it was printed with inverted front and back graphics, dubbed by collectors as the “inverted negative” variation. Scientists believe this type of printing error was likely caused by issues with the printing plates used during production. Fewer than 10 examples are known to exist in collectors’ hands today. In January 2015, one pristine mint condition inverted negative Gibson rookie fetched an eye-popping $262,800 at auction, making it not just the most valuable 1986 Topps card but one of the costliest baseball cards ever sold at the time.

Another important Detroit Tigers standout with an incredibly scarce and expensive issue from the 1986 Topps set is Alan Trammell. Card number 35 features Trammell batting from the left side in a Tigers uniform. The prized variant is known as the “poster” card due to its glossy, magazine-like finish and enlarged player image taking up more front real estate than a standard issue. Only three of these supersized Trammell posters are confirmed to exist. One example sold for a then-record $93,000 way back in 2003, signaling its status as one of the rarest Topps cards ever printed. More recently in 2015, a PSA-graded NM-MT 8 poster Trammell realized $81,818 at auction.

Baseball icon and California Angels star Reggie Jackson also has two tremendous key rookie variations from the 1986 Topps set that have achieved monumental prices. Card number 312 is Jackson’s standard issue as an Angel but is significantly more scarce when found with a blue border instead of the standard black border. Less than 10 blue-border Jackson rookies are accounted for nationwide. One blue-border example earned a massive $75,300 at auction in 2009. An even rarer variant is Jackson’s card sporting an inverted color photo, where the image is light with a dark border around it rather than the more common dark image with light border. Only two inverted Jackson rookies are known to exist. It sold privately in 2003 for a still-unconfirmed price believed to be well over $100,000.

In addition to star players, the 1986 Topps set is also renowned for its scarce printing errors and mysteries that have created immensely valuable modern finds. Card number 458, showing Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Don Carman, holds one of the most provocative printing anomalies – examples with empty white space where Carman’s image should be. Dubbed “blank back” variants since the reverse is properly printed, these ghostly Carman cards are phenomenally uncommon with only a handful across the entire 2,700+ card print run. In March 2016, a PSA-slabbed blank back Carman realized a new record price for any 1986 Topps card when it commanded $34,800 at auction.

Another elusive short print from the set is card number 379, featuring Chicago Cubs first baseman Leon Durham. The scarce variant finds Durham dressed in a Cubs uniform that has an additional phantom team logo appearing behind his head. Fewer than five phantoms are accounted for by card authorities. When one achieved the highest PSA Set Registry grade of PSA 10 in early 2020, it rocketed to a price tag of $31,200, cementing it among the most costly 1986 Topps short prints in the collectibles marketplace.

While the standard 1986 Topps card set can be obtained for reasonable costs relatively easily, the true rarities within tell a different story. Printing errors, scarce variation issues, and supremely low population examples of stars like Kirk Gibson, Alan Trammell, and Reggie Jackson have all achieved well into the five-figure price range in recent years. For dedicated vintage baseball card investors and aficionados, searching garages, card shops and auctions for overlooked 1986 Topps gems that could yield similarly great fortunes continues to be hugely exciting avenue to explore. The allure of finding that one super-valuable short print keeps the hunting spirit alive and well for collectors of America’s favorite pastime on cardboard.

DEAN’s BASEBALL CARDS

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Dean’s Baseball Cards is one of the largest and most well-known baseball card shops in the United States. Founded in 1980 by Dean Smith in Portland, Oregon, the store started small but grew rapidly as the baseball card collecting craze took off in the 1980s. What began as a hobby for Dean soon turned into a full-fledged business with multiple locations across the country.

Dean’s passion for the game of baseball and collecting cards started at a young age. He would spend hours poring over his collection and learning everything he could about the players and teams from that era. This passion continued into adulthood and in 1980, at the age of 30, Dean decided to take the plunge and open his first card shop in a small storefront in downtown Portland. Those early years were a struggle as Dean worked tirelessly to build up inventory and attract customers. His extensive knowledge and friendly demeanor helped establish a loyal customer base.

Word of Dean’s shop and his fair business practices started to spread throughout the local card collecting community. Soon he was bringing in new customers on a daily basis and outgrowing the small storefront. In 1983, Dean made the leap and opened a much larger location in a strip mall on the outskirts of Portland. This allowed him to vastly increase his inventory and offer customers a much more expansive shopping experience. It was around this time that the modern baseball card boom truly began, fueled by the rise of superstar players like Mike Schmidt, Nolan Ryan, and Reggie Jackson.

Dean’s was perfectly positioned to capitalize on the red-hot market for sports cards. He worked hard to get the newest and most coveted card releases, keeping his shelves fully stocked on release days. For many collectors, a trip to Dean’s became a weekly ritual. In addition to singles, Dean’s also offered a wide variety of wax boxes, factory sets, and team/player collections. Dean took great pride in maintaining an organized store where customers could easily find what they were looking for. His deep knowledge was also an asset, as he could recommend cards to customers based on their interests, budgets, and collection goals.

The success of the Portland stores allowed Dean to begin opening additional locations in other cities. In 1985, the first Dean’s Baseball Cards outside of Oregon opened in Seattle. This was followed by shops in San Francisco, San Diego, and Los Angeles over the next few years. Dean took an active role in managing all the stores and maintained the same high standards across the entire business. Word of Dean’s fair practices, customer service, and unparalleled inventory continued to spread nationwide. By the late 1980s, Dean’s Baseball Cards had become a household name among sports card collectors across the United States.

As the baseball card market continued to skyrocket through the late 1980s, Dean’s business boomed. Additional flagship stores opened in major cities like Chicago, New York, Houston, and Atlanta. Smaller “satellite” stores also sprouted up in suburban areas across the country. At its peak, Dean’s Baseball Cards had over 50 locations in operation. This made it one of the largest sports card retail chains in the world. Maintaining such rapid expansion came at a cost. Dean took on additional investors and shifted to more of a corporate structure. While this allowed further growth, some argued it diminished the “mom and pop” feel of the original stores.

By the early 1990s, the sports card market had started to experience a significant downturn. Several factors contributed to the collapse, including overproduction of cards, loss of player exclusives to other companies, and speculation driving up prices beyond reason. As demand fell, many smaller card shops went out of business. Dean’s, with its large corporate structure, was hit especially hard. Difficult decisions had to be made and locations started closing across the country in the mid-1990s. By 1995, only 20 Dean’s Baseball Cards remained open, mostly in major metro areas.

Dean opted to take the business in a new direction, focusing more on the high-end memorabilia market. Stores were remodeled to emphasize exclusive and rare game-used items alongside the traditional card offerings. This shift helped Dean’s stabilize over the next few years despite the struggling card market. In 1999, Dean made the decision to sell the majority stake in the company to a private investment group. He stayed on initially as CEO but stepped down in 2001 to spend more time with his family. The new ownership group continued to pare down unprofitable locations over the next decade.

Today, only four Dean’s Baseball Cards remain in operation – in Portland, Seattle, Chicago, and Atlanta. They remain iconic destinations for serious collectors. Under new ownership, the stores have re-emphasized their roots by bringing back many of the displays and store designs from the 1980s/90s golden era. Dean also visits the stores regularly and is still revered by longtime customers. While the chain will never return to its peak size, Dean’s Baseball Cards continues to play an important role in the hobby and serves as a reminder of the heyday of baseball card collecting in the late 20th century. Dean’s passion created an empire and forever changed the sports memorabilia industry.

BASEBALL CARDS STILL WORTH MONEY

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Baseball cards have been around for over 150 years and have grown into a multi-billion dollar hobby. While the vast majority of cards from the past hold little monetary value today, there are still some vintage and modern cards that can be worth significant money depending on their condition and rarity. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the baseball cards that collectors are still willing to pay top dollar for.

One of the most coveted and valuable baseball cards is the 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner. Produced between 1909-1911 as part of the American Tobacco Company’s famous T206 series, it is widely considered the rarest and most valuable baseball card of all time. What makes the Wagner so rare is that the legendary Pirates shortstop demanded American Tobacco stop producing his card, likely due to his disdain towards tobacco. As a result, it is estimated only 50-200 Wagner cards were printed, making it incredibly scarce today. In near-mint condition, a T206 Wagner recently sold at auction for $6.6 million, setting a new record. Prices for high-grade examples regularly top $1 million.

Another early 20th century gem, the 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth rookie card is also exceedingly rare. As one of the first cards featuring Ruth, who was just starting his career with the Red Sox at the time, it preceded his legendary run with the Yankees. Less than 50 are known to exist in all grades. In January 2022, a PSA EX-MT 6 example sold for $2.88 million, making it one of the highest prices ever paid for a single card. Mint condition examples could fetch $5 million or more.

Mickey Mantle rookie cards from 1952 Topps have also maintained immense value over the decades. As one of the most iconic players in baseball history, the Mick’s rookie is a must-have for any serious collector. PSA 10 Gems in particular have been selling for record prices, with one example achieving $5.2 million at auction in 2021. Even well-centered PSA 9s can sell for over $100,000. The 1952 Topps set as a whole remains one of the most coveted and valuable of all time.

When it comes to modern cards, rookie cards for franchise players like Mike Trout and LeBron James top the list. Trout’s 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Picks & Prospects Superfractor parallel #/5 is arguably the most valuable modern card available, with an unconfirmed offer of over $3.9 million being rejected in recent years. Even PSA 10 base rookie cards from his 2009 Bowman set and 2012 Topps series 1 sell for well over $100,000. Meanwhile, LeBron James’ coveted 2003-04 Upper Deck First Year card holds value as one of the first appearances of the NBA legend. PSA 10 examples have reached $680,000 at auction.

Rookie cards for other recent MLB stars like Bryce Harper, Mookie Betts, Juan Soto and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. also command big money, especially in high grades. Harper’s 2010 Bowman Chrome Draft Picks & Prospects Superfractor #/5 has sold for over $350,000. Betts’ 2013 Bowman Chrome Draft Picks & Prospects Refractor #/25 reached $160,000. And Soto and Guerrero Jr.’s prized first Bowman Chrome cards from 2015 and 2018 respectively can each sell for $5,000-$10,000 graded PSA 10.

Beyond rookies, rare parallel and serial numbered cards are highly sought after. For example, Tom Brady’s 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Rookie Ticket #76/100 sold for $405,000 in 2021. A Mike Trout 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Picks & Prospects Superfractor #/5 like mentioned earlier is worth millions. And serial #1 cards are especially prized, such as a recent $480,000 sale for a Joe Burrow 2020 National Treasures RPA #/5.

Vintage stars like Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays and more maintain value as well. A T206 Cobb recently sold for $396,000. A near-perfect PSA 8 1911 Turkey Red Cabinets Cobb brought $480,000. And high-grade examples from iconic 1950s and 1960s sets like Topps, Fleer and Post continue appreciating over time.

Condition is absolutely critical to value when assessing older cards. A well-centered and sharply-cornered PSA 10 from over 50 years ago could be worth 100x more than the same card in lower grade. Third-party authentication and grading from respected companies like PSA, BGS, SGC and HGA helps establish condition, which buyers rely on. Ungraded cards hold much less value without verified preservation.

Scarcity and star power will likely keep certain vintage and modern cards at the high-dollar end of the hobby for years to come. As long as there are avid collectors chasing the rarest pieces featuring all-time greats like Ruth, Mantle, Trout and more, spectacular prices should remain for these elite cards. With care and research, today’s investors can still find valuable gems that will retain and potentially increase in worth over decades.

JORDAN BASEBALL CARDS

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Michael Jordan is known primarily for his legendary career in the NBA as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Many may not know that Jordan had aspirations to play professional baseball early in his career before fully committing to basketball. Though his baseball career was relatively short-lived, Jordan’s brief time playing minor league baseball lead to him being featured on official MLB baseball cards during the 1994 season.

While Jordan was already an NBA superstar by 1994, having won three championships and three MVP awards, he shocked the sports world by announcing his retirement from basketball at the young age of 30. During his unexpected retirement press conference in October 1993, Jordan cited a loss of desire to play and stated his desire to try his hand at professional baseball instead, a sport he had loved growing up in North Carolina. At the time, many doubted Jordan’s claim and thought there must be more to the story of his abrupt retirement. However, Jordan was determined to pursue his childhood dream of playing pro baseball.

He signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox that spring and was assigned to their Rookie League affiliate in Birmingham, Alabama to start his baseball journey. Jordan spent the entire 1994 season in the minors, playing for both Birmingham and the White Sox Single-A affiliate in Sarasota during a crash course to learn the fundamentals of the game. As an outfielder and centerfielder by trade, Jordan’s transition from basketball to baseball came with tremendous challenges in adjusting to the speed and nuances of America’s pastime. His raw athleticism and dedication to improving allowed Jordan to hold his own against younger minor league competition, even if his .202 batting average and 30 errors in the field were far from All-Star caliber stats.

Jordan’s bold bid to play professional baseball after retiring from the NBA at his peak made national headlines. Along with the daily coverage of his progress and struggles throughout the 1994 season, Jordan’s new baseball endeavor made him one of the most talked about athletes in sports. His popularity and name recognition continued to reach new heights off the basketball court. Naturally, card companies moved quickly to capitalize on Jordan’s transition by featuring him on official MLB baseball cards for the 1994 season, commemorating his unique quest to reach the major leagues.

Released by Fleer and Topps during the spring and summer of 1994, Jordan’s baseball cards were a hot commodity for collectors. They captured Jordan in his White Sox minor league uniform, with stats and bios noting his ongoing progress learning to play the outfield and hit curveballs after phenomenal success in the NBA. While most 1994 series baseball card sets included base and insert cards for hundreds of current MLB players, Jordan’s presence elevated the status and collectibility of the sets. His cards ended up among the most sought after and celebrated parallels and short prints from either company that year.

For vintage card collectors today, high grade Jordan baseball cards remain quite desirable given their intriguing story behind one of the biggest sporting icons making a run at professional baseball. PSA Gem Mint 10 Jordan rookie baseball cards can currently fetch prices over $10,000 due to their rarity, historical significance, and association with a cultural icon. But even well-worn, played-with Jordan baseball cards retain value in the $100-500 range because of their unique place in sports memorabilia history. The excitement of seeing Jordan take the field that summer is captured forever on these cardboard pieces of nostalgia.

After spending the entire 1994 season in the minors, Jordan decided to end his baseball experiment and return to the NBA in March 1995. By then, the baseball experiment had proven Jordan still possessed incredible athletic gifts but the level of competition was simply too steep to reach the big leagues at that stage of his life. He re-joined the Chicago Bulls for the 1995-96 season and led them to three more championships, cementing his status as perhaps the greatest basketball player of all time.

While Jordan’s time actively playing baseball was brief, the fervor and notoriety around his attempt ensured his baseball cards from 1994 remain a truly one-of-a-kind collectible. They document a historic period when the NBA’s biggest star took an unprecedented and wildly publicized stab at a career in America’s pastime. For sports memorabilia and card collecting enthusiasts, high grade Jordan baseball rookies continue to attract attention as a symbol of Jordan’s unique competitive drive and crossover appeal in the sports world over 25 years later. The rarity and lore surrounding MJ’s quest to play pro baseball is what makes these cards a focal point for collectors to this day.

GRADE 9 BASEBALL CARDS

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Baseball cards from the late 1980s and early 1990s are highly collected today. This era saw explosive growth in the hobby of collecting sports cards, especially for young collectors just starting out. Cards from 1987-1993 are commonly referred to as “grade 9” cards by the major card grading companies like PSA, BGS, and SGC. There are several reasons why grade 9 baseball cards remain so popular with collectors decades later.

The late 80s and early 90s saw many highly talented players reach Major League Baseball for the first time. Legends like Ken Griffey Jr., Cal Ripken Jr., Barry Bonds, and Roger Clemens were rookies or early in their careers during this time. Their rookie cards and early base cards are highly coveted by collectors today. These players went on to have Hall of Fame caliber careers and broke numerous records. Having a well-centered and well-preserved rookie or base card from when they were young stars is very appealing to collectors.

Beyond legendary players, this era also featured many excellent young teams that captivated fans. The Oakland A’s “Bash Brothers” of Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire launched a home run revolution. The Toronto Blue Jays won back-to-back World Series in 1992-1993 led by career .300 hitters like Joe Carter, Roberto Alomar, and Devon White. The Atlanta Braves were perennial contenders behind MVP caliber players like Terry Pendleton, David Justice, and John Smoltz. Cards featuring these teams and players are sought after as they remind collectors of memorable seasons.

Upper Deck helped popularize the modern baseball card industry when they debuted in 1989. They became the premiere card manufacturer, known for high quality cardboard stock and crisp color photographyahead of their time. The next few years also saw other sports card companies like Leaf, Score, and Stadium Club enter the market. This created intense competition and desire among collectors to chase after the best looking, most collectible cards across numerous product releases each year. Carefully choosing which brands and sets to collect became part of the fun.

Wax packs and boxes from the late 80s/early 90s had legitimate economic value that has grown tremendously as the years passed. A sealed box of 1989 Upper Deck, 1990 Leaf Series 1, or 1991 Stadium Club could be resold in the future as a long-term investment. Many collectors essentially “broke open” investments by ripping packs to build their collections instead of flipping the entire sealed product for profit later on. Mint condition cards retained stable secondary market value even back then; prescient collectors recognized the Hall of Famers and stars of tomorrow.

Perhaps no other factor influenced collectors more than the boom in the sports card grading industry. Pioneer collectibles authentication company PSA burst onto the scene in 1991 and helped usher in mainstream third-party grading. Suddenly, collectors had impartial numerical designations like “Mint 9” or “Gem Mint 10” to establish condition census and add standardization in the marketplace previously lacking. Top graded rookies gained huge premiums. Combined with the factors above, PSA submissions surged from new and veteran collectors alike in the early 90s– creating today’s highly desirable, investment-worthy graded grade 9 era cards.

In the ensuing decades, the generation that bought packs as kids in the late 80s/early 90s came of age financially. Many rediscovered their old childhood collections or re-entered the hobby after achieving careers and discretionary income. They targeted high-grades of the legendary players and teams from their youth for nostalgia and blue-chip investing in a more matured marketplace. Parallel to this, greater awareness of sports memorabilia as an alternative asset class fueled increased collecting demand from new generations as well.

As a result, modern card auction records galore have been set for vintage cards from the 1987-1993 period in PSA/BGS GENEMY 10 condition or overall freshness. Iconic rookies from those sets routinely sell for five and even six figures at public sale. Even base cards of major stars can reach tens of thousands. Condition sensitive brand extensions like 1989 Fleer Update, 1990 Leaf, and 1991 Ultra remain especially scarce in top shape. Their rarity combined with the star power of the players featured makes them achieve incredible valuations.

Having survived from childhood collections to the present day in well-preserved condition, grade 9 baseball cards truly stand the test of time. They triggered the modern boom and created the blueprint that the industry follows today. Connecting collectors to the great players and teams from when the hobby exploded in popularity, these cards remain exceptionally coveted and hold tremendous nostalgia. As more generations get priced out of the latest releases, vintage remains accessible yet offers stable appreciation—cementing these late 80s/early 90s issues as blue-chip investments. For all these reasons, interest in “grade 9” cards remains high and will likely continue into the foreseeable future.

BASEBALL CARDS FOUND IN ATTIC WORTH MILLIONS

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Baseball cards have been collecting dust in attics, basements, and storage units for decades, with owners completely unaware of their potential value. Over the years, there have been many amazing stories of ordinary people discovering forgotten collections of cards from the early 20th century that turned out to be worth millions. While the odds of stumbling upon such a fortune are incredibly slim, it goes to show you never know what treasures may be hidden in out-of-the-way places.

One of the most famous finds was in the late 1980s when a man was cleaning out his grandfather’s attic in New Jersey. Rummaging through old boxes, he came across a tattered shoebox filled with what appeared to be worthless old baseball cards. Not thinking much of it, he was ready to toss the box when something caught his eye. He pulled out a card and was stunned to see it was the 1909-1911 T206 Honus Wagner, one of the rarest and most coveted cards in the hobby. In near mint condition, it would be worth over $3 million today. He ended up selling it at auction for $640,000, kicking off a baseball card investing craze.

Another incredible story took place in the early 1990s. A former minor league pitcher named Chuck Hildebrand was cleaning out his parents’ home in Connecticut after they passed away. In the attic, he came across boxes of cards he had collected as a kid in the 1950s that had been stored away and forgotten. Among the dusty piles were several near mint-condition rookie cards, including a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle and a 1955 Topps Willie Mays. At the time, the Mantle card sold for $100,000, while the Mays fetched $45,000. Both cards would be worth well over $1 million each today in the same condition.

In 2009, a family in Maine was cleaning out their deceased grandfather’s home when they discovered two shoeboxes full of pristine vintage cards from the 1950s and 1960s. Realizing they may have something special, they brought the collection to an expert for review. To their shock, among the treasure trove were several near-mint rookie cards, including a 1959 Topps Sandy Koufax, a 1957 Topps Willie McCovey, and a 1958 Topps Bob Gibson. At auction, the Koufax alone sold for $116,000 due to its rarity and condition. The entire two-box collection ended up fetching over $500,000 total.

One of the largest finds ever was in 2010 when a man in New Jersey was cleaning out his deceased father’s attic. Over several trips to the attic, he uncovered over 50,000 vintage baseball cards dating from the 1950s to 1970s, all stored in mint condition inside hundreds of wax packaging packs and boxes. Among the motherlode were over 1,500 rookie cards, including gems like a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle, a 1956 Topps Sandy Koufax, and a 1957 Topps Willie Mays, all in pristine condition. At auction, the entire collection sold for an astounding $2.1 million, making it one of the most valuable sports card finds of all time.

While these stories involve cards from the early 20th century Golden Age of baseball that are the most prized and valuable, attic and storage unit discoveries of cards from later eras can also yield substantial profits. In 2012, a man cleaning out his father’s storage unit in California came across over 10,000 mint-condition baseball cards packed away since the 1970s and 1980s. Among the finds were a 1979 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky rookie card and a complete set of 1975 Topps, both of which fetched over $100,000 combined at auction due to the rarity of finding complete high-grade sets from that era still sealed in wrappers.

More recently, in 2016, an elderly woman in Massachusetts was going through her deceased brother’s belongings when she came across two large moving boxes filled with 1990s sports cards that had been in storage for over 20 years. Not thinking much of 1990s cards at the time, she contacted a local card shop owner who was stunned to find the boxes contained over 1,000 mint-condition rookie cards from the era, including stars like a 1992 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr., a 1994 Leaf Michael Jordan, and a 1996 Topps Derek Jeter. In total, the complete collection ended up selling at auction for over $350,000 due to strong demand for high-grade vintage rookie cards from the early 90s boom.

While the stories of attic baseball card treasure troves making millions grab headlines, the reality is it takes an extremely rare find of true vintage stars in pristine condition to reach those heights. That doesn’t mean forgotten collections from basements and garages can’t still yield a nice payday. Even common runs of 1970s and 1980s cards can sell for thousands if kept in high grade and complete sets can fetch five figures. The key is taking the time to have valuable vintage collections professionally graded and marketed to the right collector base. You never know – that old shoebox of faded cardboard you come across just may end up paying off your mortgage or funding a dream vacation.

BECKETT GRADED BASEBALL CARDS

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Beckett Graded Services (BGS) is one of the leading third-party grading companies for collectibles such as trading cards, comics, and other memorabilia. Founded in 1992 by former magazine publisher James Beckett, BGS pioneered the modern collectible grading industry which has since grown into a multi-billion dollar market.

BGS evaluates collectibles on various attributes and assigns numerical grades based on their quality and condition. For trading cards, a 0-10 scale is used with 10 being a perfect gem mint condition. Additional sub-grades are also given for centering, corners, edges and surface which provide more granular quality assessment. Once graded, items are sealed in tamper-evident plastic holders which clearly display the assigned grades for easy verification.

This standardized grading system has provided much needed transparency and consistency to the collectibles marketplace. Prior to third party authentication, condition assessments were highly subjective without an agreed upon framework. The BGS grading scale is now widely recognized and trusted by collectors, dealers and auction houses around the world. Graded items routinely sell for significantly higher prices compared to raw ungraded equivalents of the same card or comic book.

While BGS handles a variety of collectibles, they are best known for their expertise in the sports card industry. Major League Baseball cards from the late 19th century up until the modern era are some of the most actively collected and graded items submitted to BGS. Iconic rookie cards of stars like Mickey Mantle, Ken Griffey Jr., Mike Trout and many more routinely achieve high grades which command top dollar at auction.

BGS maintains rigorous quality control standards throughout the entire grading process to ensure assigned grades are accurate and consistent over time. Items submitted for grading first undergo a multi-point inspection under bright lighting by BGS authenticators. Using high powered loupes and microscopes, every aspect of the item is carefully examined for flaws, defects or signs of doctoring/alteration.

Authenticators document their findings and proposed numerical grade assessments. The items then go through a peer review process where other experienced graders will re-examine questionable submissions or those with proposed high grades. If there is any discrepancy between assigned grades, the item goes before a final review by BGS grading experts. Only after passing this multi-step vetting will the item be officially graded and encapsulated.

Once the grading is completed, BGS utilizes sophisticated tamper-evident holder technology to seal and protect the collectible. Micro-perforated security seals and holographic labels further deter counterfeiting or tampering after the fact. The holder displays the assigned grade, ID barcode and certifying authenticator’s initials upfront for easy at-a-glance verification of authenticity.

BGS has also implemented several anti-fraud measures to uphold the integrity of the grading process. Advanced digital imaging technology allows them to create a “fingerprint” record of every graded item to cross-reference against any suspect re-submissions. They also work closely with law enforcement to help identify counterfeiters and cooperated in the takedown of several international forgery rings over the years.

For serious collectors, BGS maintains an online Population Report detailing census data for every card graded in their system. This allows people to see exactly how many examples exist of a certain card grade, which can provide valuable context when assessing condition rarity and market value. For example, a Mickey Mantle rookie card earning a BGS 9.5 would be significantly scarcer and worth more than a PSA 9 copy of the same card.

In addition to individual card and comic book grading, BGS also offers submission services tailored for complete set registry and inventory purposes. Entire vintage and modern sports card sets can be verified and encapsulated for long-term preservation. They also handle grading of larger collectibles like jerseys, bats, balls, photos and documents. BGS has even certified rare historical items such as signed copies of the Declaration of Independence.

Over the years third party grading has been both praised for bringing needed structure to the hobby, but also criticized by some as enabling speculation. Regardless, there is no denying the immense impact BGS has had on the collectibles industry since pioneering the service in the early 1990s. They remain the gold standard for authentication and have graded millions of items worth billions of dollars that now securely reside in their tamper-evident holders.

BASEBALL CARDS JEW

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The history of baseball cards is deeply intertwined with the story of American Jews in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. While baseball had been growing in popularity since the mid-1800s, the organized production and sale of baseball cards truly took off in the 1880s as immigrant Jewish families established themselves in the sports card business.

Many of the earliest baseball card companies in America were founded and run by Eastern European Jewish immigrants. Families like the Eppsteins, Fleers, and Mendelsons got their start in the tobacco and confectionery industries before recognizing an opportunity in the new baseball card craze. Seeing a relatively untapped market, these entrepreneurial Jewish families began purchasing the rights to include baseball cards in their cigarette and candy products starting in the 1880s.

One of the first and most prolific early baseball card producers was the American Tobacco Company. Founded in 1890 and run by Jewish immigrant brothers Julius and M.J. Wertheimer, American Tobacco acquired the rights to include cards featuring star players from multiple teams in their most popular cigarette brands. This helped expose the sport to a much wider audience and fueled further interest in collecting cards.

By the turn of the 20th century, several other Jewish-owned firms like Goodwin & Company, Breisch-Williams, and Fleer were also major players in the nascent baseball card industry. Fleer, founded in 1913 by the Fleer family, became particularly influential. Under the leadership of brothers Frank and Ben Fleer, the company pioneered many production innovations that helped standardize the size and design of modern baseball cards.

Meanwhile, many Jewish families were operating baseball card shops and becoming heavily involved in the growing collector community. In the early 1900s, the “Jew baseball card dealer” became somewhat of a stereotype, as Jewish merchants across America’s cities established storefronts dedicated entirely to the buying and selling of cards. Prominent card shops run by Jewish dealers like Marty and Irv Kauffman helped develop the collector marketplace.

During this time, American Jews were still facing widespread discrimination and anti-Semitism. For many Jewish baseball card entrepreneurs, the growing popularity of their products helped them gain a foothold of acceptance in mainstream American society. Their businesses thrived by catering to the same new baseball fan culture that was embracing Jewish players who were starting to break into the major leagues in larger numbers.

Stars like Hank Greenberg, the first Jewish player to win an MVP award, became icons for young Jewish fans and collectors in the 1930s and 1940s. As more Jewish athletes made their way to the big leagues, their cards became highly coveted collectibles. Meanwhile, Jewish card companies like Fleer continued innovating the industry. In 1938, Fleer issued the first modern “gum” cards included in packages of chewing gum, a packaging concept still used today.

During World War II, many Jewish families operating baseball card companies faced new challenges as sons went off to fight. Some businesses had to be temporarily shut down or taken over by other relatives. The post-war economic boom and renewed interest in baseball as a national pastime once more fueled the card collecting hobby. Icons like Jackie Robinson, who broke the color barrier in 1947, further expanded the appeal of the sport.

In the 1950s, Fleer reigned as the top brand, competing against rivals like Topps, which had been founded in 1938. Topps eventually gained the exclusive rights to Major League players in the late 1950s, crowning it the industry leader. Meanwhile, many Jewish families sold their baseball card companies or passed the businesses down to younger generations as they assimilated into wider American society.

By the 1960s, the “golden age” of baseball cards was well underway, driven largely by the Topps brand but still with some Jewish involvement. In 1964, the Koshers Card Company began producing the first kosher-certified baseball cards, aimed at Orthodox Jewish collectors. By the 1970s, the baseball card industry had consolidated such that Jewish ownership of major companies was largely a thing of the past.

Nonetheless, the pioneering contributions of early Jewish baseball card entrepreneurs cannot be overstated. By recognizing the business potential of combining America’s new pastimes of baseball and card collecting, immigrant Jewish families helped build multi-million dollar industries while also gaining acceptance and opportunity within wider society. Their innovations shaped the baseball card experience enjoyed by fans and collectors for generations to come. And through iconic Jewish players, their products also helped foster Jewish identity and pride during times of discrimination. The deep roots of American Jews in the history of baseball cards is a story truly intertwined with the American immigrant experience.

TREA TURNER BASEBALL CARDS

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Shortstop Trea Turner has quickly established himself as one of the elite players in Major League Baseball since making his debut with the Washington Nationals in 2015. Due to his athleticism, speed, and offensive production, Turner has become a fan favorite in both Washington and his current home of Los Angeles with the Dodgers. As a result, Turner’s rookie cards and other early baseball cards are highly sought after by collectors.

Turner was selected 13th overall by the Padres in the 2014 MLB Draft out of North Carolina State University. He began his professional career that season, playing in the Padres’ minor league system. While in the minors, Upper Deck, Leaf, and Panini all included Turner in sets as a prospect. His 2012 Bowman Draft Chrome auto refractor parallel /99 is among one of his earliest professionally licensed cards as an amateur. In 2015, Turner received cards in flagship sets like Topps, Bowman, Stadium Club, and Triple Threads as a top Padres prospect on the verge of the majors.

Many collectors targeted these early Turner prospect cards, predicting he had the skills to become an impact major leaguer. On June 18, 2015, the Padres called up Turner to make his MLB debut. Just over a month later, on July 31st, he was part of a blockbuster trade that sent him, Joe Ross, and a player to be named later (Felix Rodríguez) to the Washington Nationals in exchange for Craig Kimbrel. This deal sent Turner’s card values skyrocketing among Nationals fans excited about his potential as their new everyday shortstop.

In 2016, Turner fully established himself as the Nationals’ starting shortstop and received wider recognition from the baseball card industry. Upper Deck, Topps, and Bowman all featured prominent photos of Turner in their flagship releases. Some key early Turner Nationals cards include his 2016 Topps BASE RC, 2016 Topps Series 1 base card, and 2016 Topps Chrome rookie refractor parallel. This opened up more collectors chasing his rookie cards as he shined for a playoff contending Nationals squad that won the NL East division.

From 2017-2019, Turner continued increasing his production and profile, making the MLB All-Star team twice in that span. During this stretch, Panini, Leaf, Topps Chrome, Stadium Club, and Topps Transcendent captured Turner’s evolution into a true star. Some notable mid-career Turner Nationals cards include his 2017 Stadium Club Chrome auto refractor /99, 2019 Topps Transcendent #/50 printing plate auto, and 2019 Bowman Chrome Prospect Rainbow Foil Refractor. These showed that he had developed beyond just a prospect and rookie into one of baseball’s best all-around hitters and baserunners.

In the shortened 2020 season, Turner put it all together by hitting .335 with an .982 OPS to finish fourth overall in NL MVP voting. This breakout year was captured on cards across the industry, with Topps Project 70, Topps Chrome Reds, and Topps Transcendent parallels being some of the most valuable highlights. However, Turner’s time with the Nationals would come to an end after the season when he declined a qualifying offer and entered free agency. After weeks of rumors, on December 4, 2020 Turner signed a $300 million contract to join the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

With the move to a new franchise in Los Angeles, Turner kicked off the latest chapter of his baseball card collecting journey. Sets in 2021 featured Turner donning Dodger blue for the first time on cards like Topps Series 1, Topps Chrome Update, and Stadium Club. It remains to be seen if his Dodgers cards will continue to increase in value like those from his time in D.C., but early returns are promising given LA’s vast card collecting fanbase and endless winning ways. No matter the uniform, Trea Turner’s incredible speed, hitting, fielding skills and durability make him a superstar that collectors will want cards of for years to come. Whether chasing rookie pieces or tracking his latest accomplishments, Turner cards hold value as a top shortstop of his era.

In summary, Trea Turner has developed from a touted prospect to an MVP candidate thanks to his breakout success with the Nationals followed by a big money deal with the Dodgers. Along the way, fans and collectors followed Trea’s journey by acquiring his increasingly rare and valuable baseball cards issued by the major licensors like Topps, Panini, Upper Deck and more. As one of the game’s brightest offensive stars, Turner’s entire catalog of cards ranging from prospects to rookies to stars of today are sure to retain and increase their worth as must-have items for any savvy sports card investor or collector. His on-field production and popularity alone make Trea Turner cards a sound choice for any growing collection.