1981-1988 Underrated?

[4reals]

In my opinion the top10 cards from this time frame (using 10 different players) to be produced (in no particular order) are:

1) 1986 Topps Traded Tiffany Barry Bonds
2) 1985 Topps Tiffany USA Mark McGwire
3) 1983 Topps Tony Gwynn
4) 1984 Donruss Don Mattingly
5) 1984 Fleer Update Roger Clemens
6) 1984 Fleer Update Kirby Puckett
7) 1986 Topps Traded Tiffany Bo Jackson
8) 1982 Topps Traded Cal Ripken Jr.
9) 1987 Topps Traded Tiffany Greg Maddux
10) 1988 Score Traded Glossy Craig Biggio

Honorable Mention:

1) 1983 Topps Traded Darryl Strawberry
2) 1983 Donruss Wade Boggs
3) 1983 OPC Ryne Sandberg
4) 1987 OPC Barry Bonds
5) 1982 TCMA John Elway "Oneonta Yankees"

The top design from each of the three main companies I believe will be most iconic decades from now are:

1) 1986 Topps
2) 1984 Fleer
3) 1984 Donruss

Memorable cards that don't cost a lot:

1) 1988 Topps Traded USA Jim Abbott
2) 1985 Topps Dwight Gooden
3) 1986 Donruss Jose Canseco
4) 1981 Topps Valenzuela/Scioscia rookie
5) 1987 Topps Bo Jackson Future Star
6) 1988 Score Roberto Alomar
7) 1981 Donruss Rickey Henderson
8) 1987 Donruss Greg Maddux Rated Rookie
9) 1987 Fleer Barry Larkin
10) 1982 Topps Lee Smith

Top Variation Sets:

1) 1982 Topps Blackless
2) 1985 Topps Mini
3) Any Topps Tiffany
4) Any Fleer Glossy
5) 1988 Score Glossy
6) 1984 Nestle
7) 1981 OPC Gray Backs

Top Error Cards:

1) 1987 Opening Day Barry Bonds/Johnny Ray
2) 1981 Topps Borderless
3) 1981 Fleer Craig Nettles
4) 1988 Topps Dwight Gooden AS partial blue missing

Great list. I know lots of collectors frown on the junk era of cards but I love them. Having never collected for investment or the flip I have a great appreciation for those sets. To me they are just as important to my collection as my “vintage cards”. Just another part of baseball history.

[Hxcmilkshake]

Nice list. Design wise I would substitute 1983 for 1986. Always thought it was an appealing set as a kid!

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[4reals]

Originally Posted by Hxcmilkshake

Nice list. Design wise I would substitute 1983 for 1986. Always thought it was an appealing set as a kid!

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I can see that for sure. I think an era is usually remembered by the most iconic card from that era and in my opinion the 86 Topps Traded set is it. I would love to see other people’s changes and list opinions!


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[Peter_Spaeth]

Two of my favorites from the era.

[Blackless Collector]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Two of my favorites from the era.

beautiful cards, Rickey Henderson Granny Goose is very Hot card!!

[ALR-bishop]

Christian---I wonder if you could elaborate on or clarify your points in post 7

[4reals]

Those are awesome! Never saw that Maddux Canon before!


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[Blackless Collector]

Originally Posted by 4reals

In my opinion the top10 cards from this time frame (using 10 different players) to be produced (in no particular order) are:

1) 1986 Topps Traded Tiffany Barry Bonds
2) 1985 Topps Tiffany USA Mark McGwire
3) 1983 Topps Tony Gwynn
4) 1984 Donruss Don Mattingly
5) 1984 Fleer Update Roger Clemens
6) 1984 Fleer Update Kirby Puckett
7) 1986 Topps Traded Tiffany Bo Jackson
8) 1982 Topps Traded Cal Ripken Jr.
9) 1987 Topps Traded Tiffany Greg Maddux
10) 1988 Score Traded Glossy Craig Biggio

Honorable Mention:

1) 1983 Topps Traded Darryl Strawberry
2) 1983 Donruss Wade Boggs
3) 1983 OPC Ryne Sandberg
4) 1987 OPC Barry Bonds
5) 1982 TCMA John Elway "Oneonta Yankees"

The top design from each of the three main companies I believe will be most iconic decades from now are:

1) 1986 Topps
2) 1984 Fleer
3) 1984 Donruss

Memorable cards that don't cost a lot:

1) 1988 Topps Traded USA Jim Abbott
2) 1985 Topps Dwight Gooden
3) 1986 Donruss Jose Canseco
4) 1981 Topps Valenzuela/Scioscia rookie
5) 1987 Topps Bo Jackson Future Star
6) 1988 Score Roberto Alomar
7) 1981 Donruss Rickey Henderson
8) 1987 Donruss Greg Maddux Rated Rookie
9) 1987 Fleer Barry Larkin
10) 1982 Topps Lee Smith

Top Variation Sets:

1) 1982 Topps Blackless
2) 1985 Topps Mini
3) Any Topps Tiffany
4) Any Fleer Glossy
5) 1988 Score Glossy
6) 1984 Nestle
7) 1981 OPC Gray Backs

Top Error Cards:

1) 1987 Opening Day Barry Bonds/Johnny Ray
2) 1981 Topps Borderless
3) 1981 Fleer Craig Nettles
4) 1988 Topps Dwight Gooden AS partial blue missing

Happy New Year for all, very interesting list. in my opinion about 1982 Topps BLACKLESS more than underrated is unknown about the existence of this variation. i collect cards since 1991 and never heard about the variation and always my favorite set is the 1982 Topps, except for saturated black ink on cards. the minis are rarest but not more scarcest than Blackless, the most interesting of topps minis is the great story of this cards.

[4reals]

I agree. Anything Tiffany is awesome!


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[Blackless Collector]

1984 Nestlé Nolan Ryan

[RayBShotz]

Not on your original list but my favorite 80's set is still ultra cheap.
1988 Topps Big - A real homage to the 1956 Topps set with great content.
RayB

[gustomania]

Those Big Baseball are awesome!!!

Here’s another one under the radar. 1300 total graded and only 150 PSA 10s. In general in person these are beautiful cards of any player and inexpensive.

In terms of Bonds there is only 2 PSA 10s on eBay with 1 listed at 1150 best offer and one at auction with starting bid at like $995. I expect eventually these to catch up and people realize the LT value.

[Peter_Spaeth]

No love for Tommy, not even a mention.

[Chicosbailbonds]

Love the 1988 Score set. Very clean design and always liked backs that had a little blurb or two about the player. Its neck and neck with the 1984 Donruss set for me.