Roger Clemens is one of the greatest pitchers of all time who had a monumental 24-year career in Major League Baseball. Clemens played for the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, and Houston Astros accumulating 354 wins, a 3.12 ERA, and 4,672 strikeouts. His on-field dominance and longevity has made his baseball cards among the most sought after and valuable in the hobby.
Clemens’ rookie card came in 1984 from Donruss. This iconic card features a clean-shaven and baby-faced Clemens in a Boston Red Sox uniform. In low-grade PSA 1 condition, this card can sell for around $50-75. Graded gems in PSA 10 condition have gone for over $7,000 at auction due to the card’s significance as Clemens’ first issued card.
One of Clemens’ most widely produced and common early cards is his 1985 Topps base card. This features Clemens in typical 1980’s high socks and reminds fans of his early years pitching exclusively for Boston. Low-grade raw examples can sell for $5-15 with higher graded PSA/BGS 9s reaching $150-300. Only the rarest mint PSA 10s with perfect corners and centering push towards $1,000 valuation.
Clemens experienced quite a bit of success early in his career winning the 1986 AL Cy Young award. His 1986 Topps Traded baseball card commemorates this achievement by featuring an action shot of Clemens on the mound with 1986 AL Cy Young text below his image. These trade cards have a lower print run than base issues and typically command higher prices. Low end copies go for $25-50 with PSA/BGS 9s upwards of $300-500 depending on market conditions. True gem mint 10 examples have brought over $2,000 at public sale.
1987 was a landmark season for Clemens as he posted a dominant 20-9 record with a 2.97 ERA and 354 strikeouts to win his first of seven career Cy Young awards. His 1987 Topps base card is highly sought after to commemorate this season. Average well-centered copies in worn condition sell for $10-25. Higher graded PSA/BGS 8-9s go for $75-200. As with many of Clemens’ key rookie and early career issues, mint PSA/BGS 10 specimens can realize over $1,000 at major auction.
Roger Clemens continued having standout seasons through the late 1980s. One of his most visually striking and dramatic cards comes from 1988 Score. This features Clemens in mid-windup with wild hair blowing in the wind. Raw copies sell for $5-15 with gem mint PSA 10s reaching $300-500 given the card’s great aesthetics and rarity at the highest grade. Meanwhile, his 1988 Fleer Update card showing Clemens glaring intensely is also highly sought. Condition depending, examples start at $10 going up to $200-300 for pristine specimens.
By 1990, Clemens had firmly cemented himself as one of baseball’s elite power pitchers and consistently dominated the American League. His 1990 Topps Traded card depicts Clemens preparing to deliver at the mound with a fiery intensity in his eyes. Lower graded raw copies trade hands for $10-20 with PSA/BGS 9 examples reaching $75-150 at auction. Top graded PSA/BGS 10 specimens are trueCondition-sensitive keys that when found prestige $300-600. His concurrent 1990 Upper Deck card with a classic full body windup pose is also highly collected but slightly less valuable ranging $5-25 for raw or $100-200 in top-tier pristine condition.
After winning yet another Cy Young award in 1991, Clemens made his blockbuster trade to the Toronto Blue Jays in 1992. His Blue Jays debut cards are all significant for collectors. The 1992 Topps Traded issue shows Clemens staring out determined post-trade in his new Toronto uniform. Well-centered examples sell $10-30 raw or $75-200 graded PSA/BGS 9. Flawless grade PSA/BGS 10s can cost over $1,000. Likewise, pristine specimens of his 1992 Upper Deck Blue Jays Debut diamond parallel /1000 have realized multi-thousand dollar sales prices.
Clemens experienced great success pitching for Toronto elevating the franchise to new heights and a 1993 World Series championship. Some prized cards from this era include a flagship 1988 Leaf best of baseball parallel portait or 1990 Topps Traded card showing Clemens jogging in for a mound visit. Lower graded versions move for $15-40 with true near-mint PSA 9s reaching $150-300. The pinnacle grades remain exceptionally scarce and valuable priced over $1,000.
After leaving Toronto in a controversial trade, Clemens signed as a free agent with the New York Yankees in time for the 1999 season. His cards donning the iconic pinstripes are fan favorites today especially depicting his later career years as he racked up over 300 wins and led the team to a World Series title. Everything from 1999 Topps Traded gold parallel parallels to 2000 Bowman’s Best refractors numbered /249 are greatly prized by collectors starting at $10-40 up to $400-1000 for the rarest immaculate specimens encased and authenticated.
Clemens closed out his career with a brief stint pitching for the Houston Astros retiring after the 2007 season. His final issued cards from 2007 Topps Heritage, 2007 Topps, and 2007 Upper Deck are prized retirement/farewell pieces for collectors of “The Rocket”. Especially sought after are 1/1 printing plates, patches, autographs that can fetch several thousands of dollars. Even common low-numbered parallels can sell in the $75-250 range when in pristine condition.
In today’s market, the scarcest and highest quality examples of Clemens’ key milestone rookie, traded, update, and playoff cards continue to appreciate in value as one of the game’s true pitchers. Whether in Red Sox, Blue Jays, or Yankees uniforms, his legacy as one of the all-time strikeout and win leaders has cemented his cards as premier long term investments for patient collectors. Grading and preservation has become important to retain the highest prices long term as demand remains strong for the visual history documenting Clemens’ Hall of Fame career. With over 24 years of excellence to his resume, his cards are primed to endure as some of the most widely collected in baseball card history.
