As the top baseball cards go for millions of dollars, those of us with only one vacation home in the Hamptons wonder when it is our turn to shine. Well, if the hobby seems unaffordable to you, to some extent, that is an illusion. Remember, the vast majority of cards are worth under 10$. And yes, most of those are unmemorable base cards of long-forgotten players. But there are some absolute gems out there.
Now, if you purchase very inexpensive cards, they are unlikely to be worth a lot of money in the future. Although, there are a few exceptions to that. But there are gorgeous, interesting, funny, and historically significant cards that are firmly on the bargain bin side of things.
1995 Stadium Club Rex Hudler #51
A raw version sold for $8
Rex Hudler was a first-round pick for the Yankees, who didn't quite pan out. But he was a beloved utility player for the Royals. His teammates adored the guy for his sense of humor. Famously, he once ate a June bug on a dare in the middle of a game. And you can see his fantastic devil-may-care attitude in this bizarre 1995 Stadium Club Rex Hudler #51 card. Instead of posing typically for the photo session, Rex jumped on the poll and did what I can only assume is a chimpanzee impression. It was an instant classic.
1989 Randy Johnson Rookie Card #381
A PSA 9 sold for $11
Randy Johnson was one of the most formidable pitchers to take the mound. If you want some idea of how powerful his pitches were, google "Randy Johnson kills the bird." Thank me later. But when you get this rookie card, you are getting more than a Hall-of-Famers first card. There is also a legendary baseball card story behind this item. In the first printing, the card had a Marlboro cigarette advertisement over Randy's picture in the top right corner. Fleer realized they were promoting cigarettes as an item mostly consumed by kids (this was a more innocent time). So, they blacked out the ad. The original cigarette-promoting version is scarce and worth more. But the more common 1989 Randy Johnson Rookie Card #381 version is also a piece of history.
1985 Topps Roger Clemens Rookie Card #181
A raw version went for $12.50.
Roger Clemens was undoubtedly the best pitcher of his era. His 7 Cy Young Awards are a record that is unlikely to be broken in this era of frequent injuries and surgeries. But, as we all know, he is being kept out of the Hall of Fame by credible allegations of steroid use. That has put a shadow over his achievements, not unlike the one facing Barry Bonds. However, the tide of public opinion is undoubtedly turning in favor of the steroid folks. So it would surprise no one if Clemens and his happy syringe friends eventually found themselves in Cooperstown.
If and when that happens, the 1985 Topps Roger Clemens Rookie Card #181 will enjoy a substantial boost in value. And it isn't doing too badly in the meantime. A PSA 10 goes for around $1,150 on the open market. So, picking up a few at this low price and sending them for grading is a no-brainer.
2023 Topps Series 1 Adley Rutschman Commemorative Team Logo Patch Relic Card
A raw version sold for $13.50
Adley Ruschman spent quite a while as the no. 1 prospect in baseball. He was finally called up last season and immediately showed he has that elusive major-league hitting ability. Rutschman hit .254, with an impressive 13 home runs and 42 RBIs in 398 at-bats. He looks poised to be the best-hitting catcher in quite a while.
It won't surprise you to hear that some of Adley's Bowman 1sts have gone for ungodly sums. But the good news is that the over-emphasis on Bowmn cards has meant that the Topps versions of the catchers' rookies are vastly undervalued. This one is a great example. It has a great Baltimore Orioles logo patch and the vaunted Topps RC mark in the corner.
No matter where it ends up in terms of value, there is little downside to buying the 2023 Topps Series 1 Adley Rutschman Commemorative Team Logo Patch Relic Card at this price. The move away from Topps flagship to Bowman may be a temporary trend. I believe the new ownership of Topps will find ways to bolster the veteran brand. If so, gorgeous and undervalued cards like this may enjoy a boost in the future. If not, you have a cool rookie card of a future All-Star for a low price.
1984 Fleer Glenn Hubbard #182
A raw version went for $14
Glenn Hubbard was a reasonably good second baseman. He even made the All-Star game as a Brave in 1983. But no one cares about that.
The 1984 Fleer Glenn Hubbard #182 is one of the biggest eyesores in the hobby's history. I can't think of another card that gives me a migraine every time I look at it. And there is just so much going on here. First, you have that ungodly astroturf field, a sure sign we are dealing with the decade that turned tastelessness into an art form. Then you have the "Phillie Phanatic'' in the background. That brings chaotic energy to anything. Third, Barney Rubble from the Flinstones appears to be in the corner. And then, of course, there is the elephant in the room. I mean the eight-foot boa constrictor, of course.
1989 Upper Deck Jim Abbott Rookie Card #755
A PSA 10 sold for $25
Jim Abbott was a solid major league pitcher. However, he is best remembered for overcoming adversity. Jim was born with a deformed right hand but great athletic ability. His right arm ends about where the wrist is on the left. Instead of an arm, the pitcher has a loose flap of skin. But instead of feeling sorry for himself, Abbott developed his left arm into a Major League caliber weapon. He rose to national fame as a 1988 US Baseball Olympic team member that came home with the gold.
The 1989 Upper Deck Jim Abbott Rookie Card #755 is a work of art. It captures the full range of Abbott's beautiful delivery. In addition, it's a reminder of why that 1989 Upper Deck Baseball Card set is such a landmark in the hobby. The crip, high-quality white borders, and the highest standard of photography combine into one aesthetically perfect unit.
1989 ProCards Las Vegas Stars Keith Comstock #14
A raw version sold for $30
Keith Comstock was the definition of a journeyman pitcher. He was up and down between the minors and "The Show" and spent some time in Japan. However, looking at his solid ERA of 4.06 and strikeout rate, it seems Comstock got a raw deal. The pitcher definitely deserved more innings.
But anyway, no one cares about that. This 1989 ProCards Las Vegas Stars Keith Comstock #14 card is beloved because it shows Keith taking a ball directly into his crown jewels. If you want to get technical about it, slightly up and to the right. As far as I know, it's the only card showing a player in this distressing condition. And if you are a sadist or have a pre-pubescent sense of humor, 30 smackers is a bargain for a few seconds of solid snickering.
1962 Topps American League Home Run Leaders #53
A raw version sold for $30
Mickey Mantle cards are not known for their reasonable prices. Even his last year's card can be worth a fortune. But you can pick up the occasional "The Mick" gem for the price of lunch at Panda Express. And the 1962 Topps American League Home Run Leaders #53 card really shouldn't be this cheap. Sure, it looks like these four sluggers are disembodied heads in some bad sci-fi movie. But it commemorates the leading sluggers from the historic 1961 season, when Mantle and Roger Maris went after Babe Ruth's 60-home run record. Also included are Hall-of-Famer Harmon Killebrew and 6-time All-Star Jim Gentile.
2020 Panini Immaculate Yordan Alvarez Rookie Patch Auto
A raw version solid for $48
I know what you are thinking. Panini baseball cards? Miss me with that unlicensed garbage. Hear me out, hypothetically dismissive reader. Yordan Alvarez is one of the most dynamic young hitters in the game and has a proven ability to rake in the World Series. And this card is an RPA. Not just any, but with a game-worn uniform patch. And look at that perfect on-card signature. The smart money is on RPAs moving over into baseball in a big way. And if so, the 2020 Panini Immaculate Yordan Alvarez Rookie Patch Auto is a great place to start, especially at this price.
1979 Topps Ozzie Smith Rookie Card #116
A raw version sold for $49
Anyone old enough to remember Ozzie Smith smiles when they hear his evocative name. This guy danced like a ballerina at short and sucked up ground balls like a vacuum cleaner. He didn't get 13 Golden Glove awards out of a sense of charity and good citizenship.
Because of his legendary status, the 1979 Topps #116 Ozzie Smith rookie card has good potential value. But there is something else. The 1980 Topps cards are notorious for their terrible centering, and they seem to have gone out of their way to make the Smith cards completely crooked. Therefore, the incredibly rare PSA 10s can go for as much as $150,000. So, it's worth looking at these cheap raw ones to see if they are worth grading. Sure, it's a needle in a haystack situation. But that needle is REALLY sharp.
2018 Topps Chrome Shohei Ohtani Rookie Card #835-6
A raw version sold for $49
The 2018 Shohei Ohtani Rookie Card another casualty of the Bowman obsession. The Japanese superstar makes history daily by slamming homers and pitching shutouts. No one has ever done this before, and whatever happens, this guy will be remembered as an icon. And it helps that an entire nation worships him.
So, getting your hands on a cheap Shohei Ohtani rookie refractor (or 20) is a good idea. Their value will increase, especially if Shohei's Hall-of-Fame trajectory continues.
2020 Topps Finest Luis Robert Auto Refractor Rookie Card #FG2117
A raw card sold for $49
Luis Robert was the top rookie prospect of 2020 due to the incredible amount of tools at his disposal. The dude has speed, power, an arm, and can run like the devil. So far, he hasn't entirely panned out due to injuries. But when he plays, it's magic.
Therefore, picking up his autos when they are low is a good play. And the 2020 Topps Finest Luis Robert Auto Refractor Rookie Card #FG2117 is beautiful. The card is a refractor, which is a key element to look for in an auto, likely to explode in value.
1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card #1
A PSA 5 sold for $50
Ken Griffey Jr. was the most iconic player of his generation. He was genuine baseball royalty. Of course, part of it was his elite bloodline. But his natural grace, perfect swing, and winning smile were the confirmed ticket to success.
For these reasons, everyone and their plumber stashed away Griffey's rookie cards. And the Upper Deck cards were easily the most popular in 1989 because of their high quality. The end result was that the 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card #1 became the most-graded card ever in any sport. So, owning a copy is essential for any half-decent collection.
Final Words On 13 Baseball Cards For Less Than $50 That Rock
You don't need to spend a fortune to have a great baseball card collection; it sounds like something a lame person might say. But it's still true. Tell me with a straight face that your collection wouldn't be better with these items in it. See? It can't be done. So, keep your kids' college fund intact and buy something extraordinary. Children are the future, or so they tell us.
