McGwire, Griffey and The Most Famous Rookie Cards of The 1980s
In this story:
The greatest rookie cards of the 1980s were the fuel that fired a hobby revolution. The top players, the iconic cards, the elevation of card collecting from something beyond a novelty all started with some epic 1980s cardboard. Here are the five best 1980s rookie cards-- not necessarily the most valuable, but the cards that just scream 1980s glory and can still quicken the pulse of many collectors.
RELATED: Rickey Henderson PSA 10 1980 Topps Rookie Card sets all-time record
1980 Topps Rickey Henderson
The greatest base stealer ever also was responsible for one of the great 1980s cards. Coming the year before Fleer and Donruss invaded the party, Topps's Henderson is the lone 1980 representation of the man of steal. No wonder a PSA 10 of the card sold just after the New Year for $183,000. The good news for less picky collectors is that raw versions of the card still sell for $50-$100.
1984 Donruss Don Mattingly
Once Fleer and Donruss did join the party, it took a couple years to figure out details. But in 1984, Donruss made one of the most beautiful sets of the 1980s. They also included a young Yankees rookie who just ended up becoming a superstar. Mattingly isn't in the Hall of Fame now, but his 1984 cards are still deeply beloved. A PSA 10 of this sold for $4,835 this month, but with around 500 graded 10s out there, the market it still fluid. Raw version of the card or even PSA 6 or 7 graded slabs can be had for under $100.
1985 Topps Mark McGwire
Having established the rookie card, it was time for the pre-rookie market. Yes, well before Bowman 1st cards, Topps gave the gift of cards of the 1984 US Olympic team. Unfortunately, Will Clark and Barry Larkin couldn't be included due to NCAA restrictions, but Mark McGwire's card became a must-have when he hit 49 home runs with the Oakland A's in 1987.
McGwire went on to shatter the single-season home run record, which saw this card jump even higher... but also was singled out in the PED scandal, which has kept him out of the Hall of Fame and seen the card drop. McGwire seems inevitable to eventually reach the Hall, and his card is both iconic and a cheap investment. A PSA 10 sold for just under $4,000 before Christmas and raw versions can be had for $10-$20.
1986 Donruss Jose Canseco
Right there with Mattingly as a card that saw people go crazy, the 1986 Donruss Jose Canseco made even card dabblers decide they were investors. With the quasi-futuristic 1986 design and the player who seemed to create new levels of possibility (see the 40/40 season, baseball's first ever, in 1988), what could go wrong? Well, Canseco was another PED guy and his overall game didn't age well. He's not in the Hall of Fame and might not ever be. And those 1986 Donruss cards that were $50 or $100 are now easy to buy raw for $10-$20. Even in a PSA 10, the Canseco sells for around $700. But the money is second to the dreams that soared with this card-- and you can't put a price on those.
1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr.
Another pre-rookie, another card that caused a seismic revolution: this time with premium cards. Upper Deck became a major player on the strength of this card. And yes, the Donruss and Fleer versions are fine, but Upper Deck was the Griffey that everybody wanted. Sure, there's problems here. Was it double or triple printed, as has been rumored? It definitely is frequently counterfeited. But it's a must-have and always will be, which is probably why a PSA 10 was selling for over $6,000 in late 2025 (although they're settling in around $4,500 more recently). Raw or mid-grade cards can still be had under $100.
The Near Misses
Are there regrets for this list? Of course. The 1982 Topps Cal Ripken is a great 3-in-1 card. A 1987 Barry Bonds would have been nice-- the Fleer is nice. Similarly, Bo Jackson in front of a chain-link fence on a 1987 Topps card is iconic. In terms of players, Gwynn, Boggs, or Sandberg were deserving. And the 1985 Topps Roger Clemens might have been card six on a five-card list. For that matter, the 1988 Donruss Gregg Jefferies is silly and fun and the 1981 Donruss Tim Raines where he looks mildly befuddled is not without charms. So many rookies, so little space.
Joe is a journalist and writer who covers college and professional sports. He has written or co-written over a dozen sports books, including several regional best sellers. His last book, A Fine Team Man, is about Jackie Robinson and the lives he changed. Joe has been a guest on MLB Network, the Paul Finebaum show and numerous other television and radio shows. He has been inside MLB dugouts, covered bowl games and conference tournaments with Saturday Down South and still loves telling the stories of sports past and present.