We’ll most likely by no means see a time within the interest once more when Greg Maddux rookie playing cards appear undervalued.
For years, the interest did not appear to totally admire his legacy…
Even after his induction into the Corridor of Fame in 2014, his Fleer Replace and Topps rookies routinely bought for lower than $30 in PSA 10 situation.
After which, the Covid-era increase hit…
The values of just about each card soared.
Nonetheless, lots of these playing cards have fallen drastically in recent times whereas Maddux’s rookies have held pretty regular.
So, sure, the Covid-era increase gave his rookies a lift.
However the interest has lastly given Maddux rookies the respect they deserve.
And on this information, we’ll take an in depth take a look at all of them.
Let’s bounce proper in!
1987 Donruss #36 Greg Maddux Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 10 Worth: $275
Many collectors imagine that the 1987 Donruss Maddux rookie is his best-looking.
Rely me in as a type of believers.
His Fleer Replace and Topps Traded rookies maintain their very own, however the up-close motion shot of the long run Corridor-of-Famer flanked by the notorious ’87 Donruss borders is hard to beat.
It additionally provides collectors the very best view of that mustache he sported throughout his earlier years.
Most baseball followers will keep in mind the Greg Maddux who maintained a clean-cut picture and elegance in the course of the Nineteen Nineties whereas racking up Cy Youngs for the Atlanta Braves.
So, this card provides a stable reminder of how he regarded throughout his early days.
After breaking into the interest in 1981, Donruss and Fleer performed second fiddle to Topps as they tried to chip away on the interest icon’s stranglehold available on the market.
To realize floor, Donruss relied on subsets like its iconic “Diamond Kings” sequence, puzzle-piece inserts, and inventive design ideas.
And the ’87 Donruss set design was one among its most notable of the Nineteen Eighties.
The borders, up-close motion shot, and the “Rated Rookie” brand all come collectively to kind a great-looking card.
You used to have the ability to discover this card for round $50 or so in a PSA 10 holder even instantly after his Corridor-of-Fame induction.
These days are lengthy gone.
1987 Fleer Replace #U68 Greg Maddux Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 10 Worth: $80
Just like the Topps Traded extension to the flagship Topps set, Fleer had its personal model: Fleer Replace.
The set allowed Fleer to showcase gamers who had been traded or known as as much as the Majors in some unspecified time in the future in the course of the 1987 MLB season.
Collectors appreciated it, permitting them to remain as up-to-date as attainable with adjustments across the league.
Clocking in at 132 playing cards, the set is headlined by, you guessed it, the Greg Maddux rookie card.
Different notable playing cards embrace the Fred McGriff rookie and fellow Corridor-of-Famers Andre Dawson, Dennis Eckersley, Reggie Jackson and Steve Carlton.
Utilizing the identical design because the Fleer flagship set, the cardboard presents a pleasant motion shot of Maddux following by way of, surrounded by a two-toned blue border.
It is also the one one among his mainstream rookies to depict him in a pinstriped Chicago Cubs dwelling jersey.
And of his mainstream rookies, it is the least beneficial, although it nonetheless instructions a good $80 or so in PSA 10 situation.
There’s a 1987 Fleer Replace Shiny Greg Maddux card, a higher-quality model printed on higher cardstock with a shiny end, nevertheless it surprisingly is not rather more beneficial at round $100 or so in a PSA 10 holder.
1987 Leaf #36 Greg Maddux Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 10 Worth: $1,250
Whereas the Donruss model centered on the US market, the Leaf model was the corporate’s reply for the Canadian market.
Should you take a look at Maddux’s 1987 Donruss and Leaf rookies, the fronts are practically similar, with the logos being the one solution to distinguish them.
Nonetheless, in case you flip over his Leaf card, you will additionally discover that a lot of the English textual content is translated into French.
The Leaf rookie additionally reveals a copyright date of 1987 on the reverse, whereas his Donruss rookie reveals a 1986 copyright date.
Nonetheless, you actually do not even have to have a look at what’s on the reverse to inform the distinction.
The logos on the entrance are adequate.
As for the specifics of this card, it holds the crown of being his most useful.
If you are going to personal a Maddux rookie over the long term, that is the one you need to have.
There have been far fewer printed in comparison with its Donruss counterpart.
And the cardstock is of decrease high quality.
So, with these two issues working towards it, discovering one in PSA 10 situation might be rather more tough.
And the worth displays it.
1987 Topps Traded #70T Greg Maddux Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 10 Worth: $95
In terms of design, few Topps units of the Nineteen Eighties stand out greater than their 1987 flagship set.
The woodgrain borders are immediately recognizable.
Not because the 1962 Topps baseball set had the interest seen something prefer it.
Some collectors love the look.
Others can’t stand it.
Personally, I am a giant fan.
Maddux did not make it into the bottom set however was as an alternative a part of the 132-card Topps Traded guidelines.
His rookie is probably the most fascinating within the set, although rookie playing cards of fellow Corridor-of-Famer Fred McGriff and people of Ellis Burks, David Cone, Matt Williams and Benito Santiago have an honest following as properly.
As I discussed within the opener, you used to have the ability to discover this card below $30 regularly.
Even then, I keep in mind how some within the interest felt it was insultingly undervalued.
At the moment, the cardboard lastly appears to get the respect it deserves.
The Greg Maddux Rookie Card Overview
Now that we have gone by way of the listing, listed here are a few of my ideas on Alex Rodriguez’s rookie playing cards:
Most Invaluable: Maddux’s most useful rookie card is his 1987 Leaf #36, which might be value over $1,200 in PSA 10 situation.
Least Invaluable: Each the 1987 Fleer Replace and 1987 Topps Traded rookie playing cards appear to fluctuate across the $70 – 100 vary however the Fleer Replace has historically been the least beneficial.
My Favourite: I must say it is a tie between the Donruss and Leaf rookies. The design is mainly the identical, minus the logos. And the closeup shot of Maddux is hard to beat.
My Least Favourite: I like all the Maddux rookies but when I had to decide on a least favourite, I suppose I would go together with the Fleer Replace. It has a pleasant motion shot of Maddux, however not fairly pretty much as good because the on on his Topps rookie. Plus, I all the time did like these woodgrain borders on ’87 Topps.
Greg Maddux’s Rookie Season Recap
Greg Maddux could have ended his 23-year MLB profession as an 8-time All-Star, with 4 ERA championships, 4 Cy Youngs and 18 Gold Gloves.
However, in 1987, he regarded like something however a future Corridor-of-Famer.
The 21-year-old Texas native pitched to a career-worst 5.61 ERA in 30 begins, surrendering 181 hits and placing out 101 in 155.2 innings.
His 1.638 WHIP was additionally a private worst, over 43% greater than his eventual profession mark.
Ultimately, it did not matter all that a lot.
Thankfully, neither he nor the Chicago Cubs panicked.
By 1988, he was an All-Star and 18-game winner for an underwhelming Cubs workforce that completed 77-85-1.
It was the primary glimpse into some of the legendary pitching careers in baseball historical past.
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