The 1982 Donruss baseball card set was the third version of Donruss baseball cards released after the company began making sports cards in 1981. While it didn’t quite match the rookie card hype and excitement of the previous year’s set that featured stars like Fernando Valenzuela and Rickey Henderson, the 1982 Donruss set still contained several valuable and desirable rookie cards that have grown in popularity over the decades. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most valuable rookie and rare cards from the 1982 Donruss baseball set.
One of the most well-known and valuable rookie cards from 1982 Donruss is that of Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg of the Chicago Cubs. As a rookie second baseman in 1982, Sandberg hit .254 with 12 home runs and 52 RBI and showed flashes of the talent that would make him a perennial All-Star and Gold Glove winner. His rookie card, found in packs as the #46 card, now frequently sells for well over $100 in near-mint condition. High-grade mint versions in PSA 10 or BGS 9.5+ can fetch over $1,000 due to Sandberg’s playing career and status as a true legend of the game.
Another rookie card that has greatly increased in value is that of superstar shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. of the Baltimore Orioles. As the iconic Iron Man who holds the record for most consecutive games played, Ripken dazzled from the start of his career in 1982. His rookie Donruss card, which has his picture front and center as the #81 card, has rocketed up collector want lists. Near-mint Ripken rookies now sell for $150-200 minimum and high-grade copies frequently sell for over $500. Like with Sandberg, pristine PSA 10 or BGS 9.5+ Ripken rookies can reach four figures or higher.
Hall of Fame third baseman Wade Boggs debuted with the Boston Red Sox in 1982 and his rookie card, found as the #338 card in the set, also remains a key piece for collectors. Boggs would go on to be a career .328 hitter primarily with Boston and Tampa Bay, winning five batting titles. In top condition with his iconic stance on the front, Boggs’ rookie has increased steadily and now sells for around $75-100 minimum in NM-MT condition. High-grade versions again approach $500+ due to Boggs’ Cooperstown plaque.
While rookie cards of future stars are always desired, other key cards exist in the 1982 Donruss set as well. One of the rarest and perhaps most valuable is that of Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver, who was traded from the Cincinnati Reds to the Chicago White Sox in 1982 after 12 remarkable seasons with the Mets. Seaver’s #1 card in the set features his new White Sox uniform and is extremely scarce to find in high grade due to the photo being off-center. PSA 9 copies have sold for over $2,000 and a BGS-graded NM-MT 8.5 copy reached $1,800 back in 2016. Seaver’s career 3.56 ERA and 311 wins make any of his vintage cards quite collectible.
Another rare find is the #329 card of Nolan Ryan, who was entering his walk year with the Houston Astros before signing with the Angels. Ryan would add two no-hitters to his then-record four in 1982 and reach milestone strikeout #3,000. Only about 10 PSA 10 examples are known to exist, with the last one selling for a staggering $9,000 back in 2015. High-grade NM/MT copies bring $250-400 still. An interesting variation is that there are two different Astros uniforms shown on his card, making each photo variation slightly scarce as well.
Beyond rookies and stars, die-hard collectors seek out other tricky-to-find short prints and oddball parallels from the 1982 Donruss set. The reverse negative printing of shortstop Garry Templeton’s card is quite a challenge to locate in high grade. Other short prints include Julio Franco, Kurt Bevacqua and Sid Bream, which are missing the typical Donruss color print run identifiers on the fronts. Franco and Bevacqua especially get attention.
While not quite as renown as some previous years, the 1982 Donruss baseball card set holds enduring value and collecting interest thanks to star rookie cards of Ripken, Sandberg, Boggs and others that started their careers that year. Tough-to-find variations like the off-center Seaver and the rare Ryan only add to the allure. For vintage baseball card enthusiasts, key pieces from the 1982 Donruss set will surely remain a priority despite the set being over 35 years old now. With the hall of fame careers several players had, their rookie cards stand the test of time.
