High Quality Baseball Cards

There are twenty-four cards of baseball players that are ranked in the Sporting News Top 100 of all time (most from the early 1900’s). These are very rare cards that are not included in my collection and listed Not for Sale (NFS).

In total, I have 1,153 professional baseball cards in my collection. The cards featured in this blog includes 185 cards (53 rookies) that are for sale follow (with several more Top 100 Players that are NFS). Generally, under the card photos, a dollar value is shown that a mint condition card has been previously sold. Then, I have a proposed asking selling price for each card. Most cards are listed less than half of the value of the card. While most of my card’s condition are 10-Mint, if less, the asking prices are significantly reduced.

If you are interested in making an offer for a card, simply email me at: 1jimburton@gmail.com. Prior to making a purchase, I will provide high quality front and backside photos of the card. Each card are stored in hard plastic covers to preserve their quality. There will be no additional cost for postage.

I hope you enjoy the biographies and historical youtube links that I have included beneath each baseball card. Most of the factual information was taken from the Hall of Fame website where applicable.

Here are the baseball cards included in this blog:

Aaron, Hank. ‘74. $1,500.

Alomar, Roberto. ‘89. $579.

Aparicio, Luis. ‘56. $1,636.

Avery, Steve. ‘91 RC. $44

Bagwell, Jeff. ‘92 RC. $55

Baines, Harold. ‘82. $200

Bando, Sal. ‘75. $380.

Banks, Ernie. ‘69. $65.

Bench, Johnny. ‘82. $85

Biggio, Craig. ‘89 RC. $20

Blyleven, Burt. ‘79. $42

Boggs, Wade. ‘87. $50

Bonds, Barry. ‘87 RC. $187

Boyer, Ken. ‘68. $489

Brett, George. ‘82. $100

Brew Crew. ‘92. $12

Brock, Lou. ‘75. $75

Carew, Rod. Batting Leader. ‘84. $60

Carlton, Steve. ‘81. $200

Cash, Dave. ‘72. $65

Chambliss, Chris. ‘79. $129

Chance, Dean. ‘62 RC. $200

Clark, Will. ‘87 RC. $523

Clemens, Roger. ‘87. $68

Clemente, Roberto. ‘69. $1,500

Cooper, Cecil. ‘81. $140

Damen, Johnny. ‘93 RC. $100

Davis, Eric. ‘85 RC. $836

Davis, Tommy. ‘61 RC. $289

Dawson, Andre. ‘79. $200

Delgato, Carlos. ‘93. $60

Dent, Bucky. ‘78. $47

Drysdale and Koufax. ‘65. $310

Eckersley, Dennis. ‘81. $177

Fielder, Cecil. ‘86 RC. $100

Fingers, Rollie. ‘74. $600

Fisk, Carlton. ‘79. $400

Fox, Jimmy. ‘31. $50

Gant, Ron. ‘88. $40

Gibson, Bob. ‘71. $500

Gibson, Kirk. ‘82. $292

Gilliam, Jim. ‘58. $250

Glavine, Tom. ‘88 RC. $40

Gooden, Dwight. ‘85 RC. $200

Goodman, Billy. ‘61. $200

Gossage, Goose. ‘73. RC. $3,500

Grace, Mark. ‘88 RC. $91

Greenwell, Mike. ‘88 RC. $72

Griffey, Jr., Ken. ‘90 RC. $50

Griffey, Sr., Ken. ‘75. $55

Groat, Dick. ‘64. $30

Guerrero, Pedro. ‘84. $50

Guidry, Ron. ‘78. $32

Gullett, Don. ‘79. $100

Gwynn, Tony, Sr. ‘87. $116

Henderson, Rickey. ‘81. $300

Hershiser, Orel. ‘85 RC. $153

HR Leaders (Aaron & Maris). ‘79. $140

Hunter, Catfish. ‘72. $600

Jackson, Bo. ‘86 RC. $200

Jenkins, Ferguson. ‘74. $100

Jeter, Derek. ‘95 RC. $100

John, Tommy. ‘79. $53

Johnson, Howard. ‘85. $77

Johnson, Randy. ‘89 RC. $50

Jones, Chipper. ‘91 RC. $60

Joyner, Wally. ‘86 RC. $50

Justice, David. ‘90 RC. $1,000

Kaline, Al. ‘73. $110

Karros, Eric. ‘90 RC. $24

Kelly, Roberto. ‘88 RC. $95

Key, Jimmy. ‘85. $110

Killebrew, Harmon. ‘71. $45

Kingman, Dave. ‘72. $1,500

Kison, Bruce. ‘72 RC. $65

Knoblauch, Chuck. ‘92 RC. $58

Kruk, John. ‘86 RC. $175

Kuehn, Harvey. ‘64. $63

Lansford, Carney. ‘79 RC. $15

Larkin, Barry. ‘87 RC. $11

Lasorda, Tom. ‘87. $99

Leaders (McGwire & Canseco). ‘88. $92

Leagues Best SS. (Cal Ripken Jr.) ‘90. $40

Leiter, Al. ‘88 RC. $24

Lofton, Kenny. ‘92 RC. $24

Lolich, Mickey. ‘65. $75

Lynn, Fred. ‘76. $900

Maddux, Greg. ‘87 RC. $125

Marichal, Juan. ‘65. $45

Martin, Billy. ‘62. $35

Martinez, Edgar. ‘88. $46

Martinez, Tino. ‘90. RC. $41

Matlock, Jon. ‘73. RC. $25

Mattingly, Don. ‘88. $200

Mattingly and McGwire AS. ‘90. $50

McClain, Denny. ‘73. $100

McCovey, Willie. ‘70. $250

McDaniel, Lindy. ‘67. $40

McGwire, Mark. ‘87. $400

McNally, Dave. ‘64. $75

McGraw, Tug (Rookie Star) ‘65 $1,800

Molitor, Paul. ‘79. RC. $2,000

Moon, Wally. ‘65. $50

Morgan, Joe. ‘69. $50

MVPs (Fox & Banks). ‘75. $100

Munson, Thurman. ‘78. $15

Murphy, Dale. ‘79. $250

Murray, Eddie. ‘79. $300

Musial, Stan. ‘88. $590

Mussina, Mike. ‘91. RC. $25

Nettles, Graig. ‘78. $153

Niekro, Phil. ‘82. $50

Palmeiro, Rafael. ‘87 RC. $13

Palmer, Jim. ‘77. $400

Perez, Tony. ‘72. $250

Perry, Gaylord. ‘75. $500

Piazza, Mike. ‘92. $69

Piersall, Jim. ‘65. $50

Piniella, Lou. ‘69. RC. $421

Piniella, Lou. ‘79. $421

Pinson, Vada. ‘59. $300

Pitching Leaders (Lolich, Blue, Wood). ‘72. $1,013

Plantier, Phil. ‘91. $42

Power, Vic. ‘53. $100

Puckett, Kirby. ‘85. $600

Raines, Tim. ‘85. $17

RBI Leaders (Wilson & Aaron). ‘79. $237

HRs Catchers (Bench). ‘80. $15

Rueschel, Rick. ‘90. $25

Rice, Jim. ‘76. $450

Ripken, Jr., Cal. ‘83. $4,000

Robinson, Brooks. ‘74. $300

Robinson, Frank. ‘91. $246

Rodriguez, Ivan. ‘92 RC. $350

Rookie Pitchers (Jack Morris). ‘78 RC. $1,179

Rookie 2nd Base (Whitaker). ‘78 RC. $3,300

Rookie Threats (Larry Walker). ‘90. $23

Rose, Pete. ‘79. $200

Roseboro, John. ‘64. $750

Rudi, Joe. ‘69. $611

Rudolph, Ken. ‘76. $179

Ryan, Nolan. ‘81. $3,000

Sandberg, Ryne. ‘83 RC. $1,000

Sanders, Deion. ‘89 RC. $100

Sanguillen, Manny. ‘72. $348

Santo, Ron, ‘69. $24

Sax, Steve. ‘82. $67

Schmidt, Mike. ‘79. $350

Schoendienst, Red. ‘70. $535

Seaver, Tom. ‘79. $2,000

Sheffield, Gary. ‘89. RC. $32

Sierra, Rubin. ‘87 RC. $38

Slaughter, Enos. ‘57. $200

Smith, Lee. ‘82. $1,500

Smith, Ozzie. ‘82. $200

Smoltz, John. ‘89 RC. $100

Sosa, Sammy. ‘90 RC. $250

Stallard, Tracy. ‘61. RC. $20

Stanley, Bob. ‘78. $72

Stargell, Willie. ‘75. $30

Staub, Rusty. ‘85. $169

Strawberry, Darryl. ‘84 RC. $250

Strikeout Leaders (Denny McClain). ‘68. $510

Surhoff, BJ. ‘87 RC. $50

Sutcliffe, Rick. ‘80. $75

Sutter, Bruce. ‘78. $50

Sutton, Don. ‘68. $40

Thomas, Frank. ‘90 RC. $1,200

Tiant, Luis. ‘81. $52

Trammel, Alan. ‘79. $1,000

Valenzuela, Fernando. ‘81. $400

Vaughn, Greg. ‘90 RC. $50

Ventura, Robin. ‘89 RC. $24

Victory Leaders (Steve Carlton). ‘73. $12

Vuchovich, Pete. ‘82. $16

Walker, Larry. ‘90 RC. $350

Whitaker, Lou. ‘80. $62

Williams, Bernie. ‘90. $300

Williams, Matt. ‘88 RC. $42

Win Leaders (Warren Spahn). ‘61. $15

Winfield, Dave. ‘81. $100

Yastrzemski, Carl (Baseball Greats) ‘68. $2,640

Yastrzemski, Carl. ‘70. $750

Yount, Robin. ‘79. $1,000

“Cal is a bridge, maybe the last bridge, back to the way the game was played. Hitting home runs and all that other good stuff is not enough. It’s how you handle yourself in all the good times and bad times that matters. That’s what Cal showed us. Being a star is not enough. He showed us how to be more.” – Joe Torre

Cal Ripken Jr. was a throwback. He played hard, he played to win, and he played in every game. 

On May 30, 1982, Ripken began “the streak” – the longest stretch of consecutive games played by anyone in baseball history (2,632), and in the process earned the moniker “Iron Man.” Fellow Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith said: “It is extremely impressive that Cal was able to do something like this while playing shortstop. You have to have size and strength, which he obviously has, you have to have skill and you have to have some luck. I have always thought that shortstops were the best athletes on the field and this just reconfirms that.” 

A 19-time All-Star and two-time American League Most Valuable Player, Ripken redefined the shortstop position. Traditionally viewed as a position from which you wouldn’t expect a lot of offense, Ripken ushered in an era of superstar shortstops that could not only handle the rigors of the position defensively, but regularly hit 20-30 home runs and bat .300.

Ripken was selected in the second round of the 1978 MLB Draft by the Orioles – the franchise where his father worked as a coach. Ripken debuted in the big leagues in 1981, won the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 1982 and the AL Most Valuable Player Award in 1983 while leading Baltimore to the World Series title.

Along the way, Ripken moved from third base to shortstop despite conventional thinking that said at 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds he would not be able to cover the necessary ground on defense. But Ripken’s impeccable positioning and instincts proved more than a match for the position. He led all AL shortstops in double plays eight times, assists seven times, putouts six times and fielding percentage four times – winning two Gold Glove Awards.

Offensively, Ripken was a craftsman – continually making adjustments to his batting stance and plate approach. He posted 12 seasons with at least 20 home runs, including 10 in a row, and reached the 100 RBI mark four times. He won his second AL MVP in 1991 while leading the league in total bases with 368.

On Sept. 6, 1995, baseball’s “Iron Man” passed Lou Gehrig’s mark of 2,130 consecutive games played. When he removed himself from the Orioles lineup on Sept. 20, 1998, he ended a streak that helped heal the game following the 1994-95 strike.

Ripken retired after the 2001 season with 3,184 hits, 603 doubles, 431 home runs, 1,695 RBI and 19 All-Star Game selections.

He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2007.

Remembering Hank: https://youtu.be/x4mVaJJ4E34

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali once called Hank Aaron “The only man I idolize more than myself. ” For many, Aaron was everything an athlete – and a human being – should be. Aaron grew up in humble surroundings in Mobile, Ala. He passed through the sandlots with brief stops in the Negro Leagues and the minor leagues before he settled in with the Braves, where he ultimately became one of baseball’s most iconic figures. He was a consistent producer both at the plate and in the field, reaching the .300 mark in batting 14 times, 30 home runs 15 times, 90 RBI 16 times and captured three Gold Glove Awards en-route to 25 All-Star Game selections. Nineteen fifty-seven was arguably Aaron’s best season. He hit .322 that year with 44 home runs and 132 RBI, captured the National League MVP Award and led the Braves to their first World Series Championship since 1914. Despite his consistent production, it wasn’t until 1973 that Aaron was thrust into the national spotlight as he neared the finish of a successful assault on one of sport’s most cherished records: Babe Ruth’s mark of 714 home runs. It was on April 8, 1974, that Hammerin’ Hank sent a 1-0 pitch from Dodgers hurler Al Downing into the left field bullpen at Atlanta-Fulton Count Stadium, giving Aaron 715 career home runs. He would finish his career with 755. Aaron remains baseball’s all-time leader in RBI (2,297) and total bases (6,856). If each of his 755 home runs were removed from his statistical record, Aaron would still have 3,016 hits. It was shortly after Hank Aaron’s record-breaking home run that Georgia congressman Andrew Young declared: “Through his long career, Hank Aaron has been a model of humility, dignity, and quiet competence. He did not seek the adoration that is accorded to other national athletic heroes, yet he has now earned it.” Aaron was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1982. He passed away on Jan. 22, 2021.

More Hank Aaron cards in my collection:

Career Highlights (Sports Productions): https://youtu.be/CsVXV0sLPtE

Donald Arthur Mattingly (born in Evansville, IL on April 20, 1961) is an American former professional baseball first baseman, coach, and current manager for the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball (MLB). Nicknamed “The Hit Man” and “Donnie Baseball”, he spent his entire 14-year career playing with the New York Yankees and later managed the Los Angeles Dodgers for five years.Debuting with the Yankees in 1982 after four seasons in Minor League Baseball, he emerged as the Yankees’ starting first baseman after a successful rookie season in 1983. Mattingly was named to the American League (AL) All-Star team six times. He won nine Gold Glove Awards (an AL record for a first baseman), three Silver Slugger Awards, the 1984 AL batting title, and was the 1985 AL Most Valuable Player. He served as captain of the Yankees from 1991 through 1995, when he retired as a player. The Yankees later retired Mattingly’s uniform number (23), making him the only Yankee to have his number retired without having won a World Series with the team.

Mark David McGwire (born in Pomona, CA on October 1, 1963), nicknamed Big Mac, is an American former professional baseball first baseman. His Major League Baseball (MLB) playing career spanned from 1986 to 2001 while playing for the Oakland Athleticsand the St. Louis Cardinals, winning one World Series championship each, with Oakland as a player in 1989 and with St. Louis as a coach in 2011. One of the most prolific home run hitters in baseball history, McGwire holds the major league career record for at bats per home run ratio (10.6), and is the former record holder for both home runs in a single season (70 in 1998) and home runs hit by a rookie (49 in 1987).

Career Highlights: https://youtu.be/xtUBuSRT8Lw

Career Highlights: https://youtu.be/3L1sm_kPRts

Roberto “Robbie” Alomar Velázquez (born in Ponce, PR on February 5, 1968) is a Puerto Rican former Major League Baseball player for the San Diego Padres, Toronto Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, New York Mets, Chicago White Sox, and Arizona Diamondbacks (1988–2004). He is regarded as one of the greatest second basemen and all-around players. During his career, the 12-time All-Star won more Gold Glove Awards (10) than any other second baseman in baseball history, in addition to winning four Silver Slugger Awards for his hitting. Among second basemen, he ranks third in games played (2,320), fifth in stolen bases (474), sixth in plate appearances (10,400), seventh in doubles (504) and assists (6,524), and eighth in hits (2,724), runs (1,508), at bats (9,073), and double plays turned (1,407). In 2011, Alomar was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, becoming the first Hall of Fame member to be depicted as a Blue Jays player on his plaque. Alomar, who had been serving as a consultant to Major League Baseball, has been placed on the league’s ineligible list after an investigation into a 2014 sexual misconduct allegation, while the Toronto Blue Jays, who had retired his number, also cut ties with the 12-time All-Star.

Hall of Fame Speech (1984): https://youtu.be/PeENVYvytUo

Luis Ernesto Aparicio Montiel (Born in Maracaibo, VEN on April 29, 1934-) played 18 seasons (1956-1973) at shortstop for the Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles, and Boston Red Sox. Hailing from Venezuela, all of 5’9” tall, Little Louie led the American League in stolen bases for nine straight seasons (1956-1964), captured the 1956 Rookie of the Year Award and was named an All Star seven times during that stretch, ten times in total. Aparicio was an integral part of the infield defense of the Chicago White Sox and the Baltimore Orioles during the 1950s, and redefined the shortstop position with his agility, speed and ability to spray the ball to all fields at the plate. Luis played every single game of his career at the shortstop position. Aparicio won nine Gold Gloves and retired with a .972 fielding percentage. Luis Ernesto Aparicio Montiel was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984.

Rookie Season (1986) comments: https://youtu.be/tbPzYzBjbvU

Steve Avery (Born in Trenton, MI) was the third overall selection by Atlanta in the 1988 amateur draft. He made his first career start on June 13, 1990 against the Cincinnati Reds at Riverfront Stadium, giving up eight runs in 2 1⁄3innings. He finished his rookie year with a record of 3–11 in 21 starts with a 5.64 ERA. The pitching staff of Avery, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, and Pete Smith were dubbed Atlanta’s “Young Guns”. The 1991 season was a good year for both Avery and his team. The team went from worst to first in the NL West while Avery compiled a record of 18–8 with a 3.38 ERA. He gave the Braves their first win of the season, a 7–5 victory over the defending World Champion Cincinnati Reds. In the heat of a September pennant race with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the 21-year-old Avery beat them twice, 9–1 at home on September 15, and 3–0 on the road on September 20, pitching a complete game both times. Avery’s last win of the regular season was a stellar performance against the Houston Astros. On October 4, Avery threw a no-hitter for 6 2⁄3 innings until Luis Gonzalez broke it up with a single. His amazing season continued with one of the greatest postseason performances in history. He shut out the Pittsburgh Pirates for 162⁄3 innings over two games and accumulated two 1–0 wins. His performance earned him MVP honors for the 1991 NLCS. In the 1991 World Series, Avery earned no decisions in two starts but pitched effectively in both Game Three and Game Six.

Career Highlights: https://youtu.be/GYhp632zdr0

Jeffrey Robert Bagwell (born in Boston MA on May 27, 1968) is an American former professional baseball first baseman and coach who spent his entire 15-year Major League Baseball (MLB) playing career with the Houston Astros. Originally a Boston Red Sox fourth-round selection from the University of Hartford as a third baseman in the 1989 amateur draft, he was then traded to the Astros in 1990. The National League (NL) Rookie of the Year in 1991, Bagwell then won the NL Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) in 1994, was a four-time MLB All-Star, three-time Silver Slugger winner and a Gold Glove recipient. Forming a core part of Astros lineups with Craig Biggio given the epithet “Killer B’s”, Houston finished in first or second place in the NL Central division in 11 of 12 seasons from 1994 to 2005. They qualified for the playoffs six times, culminating in Bagwell’s lone World Series appearance in 2005. He was elected to the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2005, and to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2017.

Honoring Harold: https://youtu.be/8p7pq2KgxD8

Harold Douglas Baines (born in Easton, MD on March 15, 1959) is an American former professional baseball right fielderand designated hitter (DH), who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago White Sox, Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, and Cleveland Indians, for 22 seasons (1980–2001). Baines batted and threw left-handed. He had three stints as a player with the White Sox, where he also coached from 2004 to 2015, before moving into a role of team ambassador and spring training instructor. Baines, a Maryland native, played seven years with his hometown team, the Orioles, over three separate stints. Upon his retirement, Baines ranked seventh in American League (AL) history in games played (2,830) and tenth in runs batted in (RBI) (1,628). Noted as well for his power hitting in clutch situations, he is tied for seventh in AL history in grand slams (13), fourth in three-home-run games (3), and tied for seventh in major league history in walk-off home runs (10). Baines batted over .300 eight times and hit .324 in 31 career postseason games, topping the .350 mark in five separate series.

Clubhouse conversations: https://youtu.be/L7Bi8bTTXkY

Salvatore Leonard Bando (born in Cleveland, OH on February 13, 1944) is an American former professional baseball player and executive. He played as a third baseman in Major League Baseball between 1966 and 1981, and was an integral member of the Oakland Athletics dynasty that won three consecutive World Series championships between 1972 and 1974. He ended his playing career with the Milwaukee Brewers. Bando played college baseball at Arizona State University for coach Bobby Winkles. During the A’s championship years of 1971-75, he captained the team and led the club in runs batted inthree times. He was the second American League third baseman to hit 200 career home runs, joining Brooks Robinson, and retired among the all-time leaders in games (5th, 1896), assists (6th, 3720) and double plays (7th, 345) at his position. In a 16-season career, Bando was a .254 hitter with 242 home runs and 1039 RBI in 2019 games played.