Many felt that his popularity and the fact that he was the face of the Yankees played more of a role in the decision than it should have. 10 Most Valuable Topps Allen & Ginter Non-Baseball Autographs. Martinez was brilliant in one of the best breakout seasons for a pitcher in modern history, going 17-8 for the 78-84 Expos with an MLB-best 1.90 ERA and 0.932 WHIP. Ungraded & graded values for all '06 Topps Baseball Cards. To commemorate his first Gold Glove, Topps released this card of the young Mariners superstar jogging in the outfield. With the size and skills that many were comparing to legends like Cal Ripken Jr., Derek Jeter, and even Alex Rodriguez, the Rockies had high hopes for their young shortstop. Gordon batted a paltry .247 with 15 home runs, 60 runs scored and 60 RBI during his 2007 rookie campaign and from that point on, the hype surrounding him slowly wained. And the Yankees continued their dominant run atop the AL East in '02, finishing at 103-58 and securing their fifth-straight division title. He also added his fifth Silver Slugger, eighth All-Star nod, and eighth Gold Glove Award. . 1957 Topps Football #119 Bart Starr Rookie Card PSA 8: Sold in April 2022 on Robert Edward Auctions for $29,400. 3. However, Jeter was uncharacteristically bad during the postseason, as he went just 3-17 with one RBI and zero runs scored during the Yankees' 3-1 ALDS loss to the Cleveland Indians. to 100 Within the 661-card checklist, you'll find plenty of stars and Hall of Famers as well as a few decent rookie cards, most notably anchored by that of Alex Gordon. Bowman and Allen and Ginter are fine. With Albert Belle protecting him in the middle of the order, Thomas ripped through AL pitching all year long, winning his first and only batting title with a .347 average. With the Padres, Henderson got off to a good start, hitting .274 with 29 stolen bases and a more-than-competent .797 OPS. Being such an important year, the most valuable 1952 baseball cards carry a lot of importance and prestige. 3. The 2010 Topps Baseball Card Set contains 661 cards that feature 2010 best baseball players and brighest rising stars. However, a Russ Ortiz gem in Game 5 sealed a seventh-straight playoff exit for Atlanta without a World Series banner. His rookie card stands atop as the most important and desirable in this set. The Padres won just 66 games in 2002 and 64 in 2003, languishing at the bottom of the NL West standings while building their prospect base. At the age of 37, Griffey's best days were behind him, and by mid-season in 2008, the Reds would trade him to the Chicago White Sox to bring his days in Cincinnatti to a close. Ungraded & graded values for all '06 Topps He entered the Expos lineup for the first time on May 3rd, going hitless in two at-bats against the San Diego Padres. Sandberg re-signed in 1997 with hopes of continuing his late-career resurgence. Recently discussed in "The 30 Most Valuable Baseball Cards of All Time (2023 Update)" article online . 100-. On June 17, in a game against the Washington Nationals, Thomas snapped Edgar Martinez's then-record of 243 home runs as a DH when he hit the 244th of his career. Despite those drawbacks, some desirable inserts and base cards can fetch decent prices in top condition in today's market. For a guy with five batting titles to his name who was used to hitting well above .300, it was unusual to see his average dip below the .300 mark for just the second time in his career. And he was the Majors' best run producer with 147 RBIs on the campaign. He'd wear six more jerseys in total before calling it quits in 2003 at the tender age of 44. However, during the offseason leading up to the 2008 season, the Marlins decided to part ways with the young superstar in a multi-player trade that sent him to the Detroit Tigers, where he's been ever since. 6. 2006 Topps card list & price guide. Average ungraded base card value (excludes parallels) for 2006 Topps 1952 Topps #1 Andy Pafko. Jeter went down with a heck of a fight, hitting .500 (8-for-16) with two home runs, six runs scored, 3 RBIs, and a 1.401 OPS. On the year, Ichiro picked up a Gold Glove, Silver Slugger, Rookie of the Year, and MVP honors. But with age finally creeping up on Boggs in his sixteenth season, he began to share time at the hot corner with Charlie Hayes and saw an uptick in usage as a DH. In the offseason, Atlanta made waves with a blockbuster trade that sent clubhouse leaders Marquis Grissom and David Justice to Cleveland for Kenny Lofton and Alan Embree. At 39 years old, Hall of Fame third baseman Wade Boggs suited up for the New York Yankees for the fifth and final season after helping the Bronx Bombers to a World Series the year before. Certification numbers appear in the lower right of the encapsulated label or on the oval DNA sticker. The 1963 Topps Pete Rose rookie card is shared with three other players, including Al Weis, Pedro Gonzalez, and Ken McMullen. Still, Boggs was very much an integral part of a Yankees team that finished second in the AL East at 96-66 but ultimately lost a heartbreaking ALCS in five games to the Cleveland Indians. However, 1952 Topps Baseball stepped up and offered direct competition to Bowman for basic player cards. It followed the path of Barry Bonds Home Run History, which continues here. PriceIt Game | Topps Update Jon Lester Rc #uh149. 2006 Topps Baseball saw the return of Mickey Mantle to the company's cards. In 2006, Topps printed -- and then hastily un-printed, altered, and otherwise attempted to destroy -- what would've been the rookie card for Alex Gordon. You have the excitement of a new year of baseball mixed with one of the most-hyped rookies of recent memory, and the rest is history. After winning the NL West and making the postseason for the first time in twelve years in 1996, the San Diego Padres crashed back to Earth in 1997. Gone were the days of Thomas contending for a batting title as his .277 average was well below his career .301 average, but he still managed to bring a good amount of pop with his bat. Cleveland won, 4-3, en route to their second AL pennant in three years. No More Secrets Puzzle Game. MM1999 also omitted the MVP award stars that were printed alongside the years in the original 1999 card style that year. #4 Most Valuable Baseball Cards 2000s - Topps Finest For The Record #3B Ken Griffey Jr. Price for PSA 9 featured with Alex Rodriguez: $100; Price for PSA 10 Gem: $1,500; Player's History. Babe Ruth, 1916 Sporting News - $717,000. So, while the Twins made headlines with their first playoff berth in 11 years, the Twins faithful were left to wonder just how much better Minnesota could be with Mauer in uniform. Download Price List, SportsCardsPro 2019-2023 As the newest member of the 3,000 hit club, Miguel Cabrera doesn't have anything left to prove to make his case for eventual enshrinement into Cooperstown. Many often criticized Jeter as being a below-average shortstop and argued that he did not deserve this Gold Glove or any of them. Ungraded & graded values for all '06 Topps Chrome Baseball Cards. By the end of the '04 season, Mauer was a Twin to stay and would go on to define a generation of Minnesota baseball. David Ortiz's final year with the Minnesota Twins began with bad injury luck. It was a massiverun, a game-tying opposite-field solo shot by Sandy Alomar Jr. in Game 4 that set the stage for a season-saving Cleveland win. After rounding the bases, a video of Hank Aaron congratulating Bonds played on the screen while Willie Mays joined him on the field before he addressed the crowd with a short speech. The Most Expensive Watches. They stated a player must make the team's roster before they can have a base card. However, the good vibes didn't carry over to the postseason. Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) & PSA/DNA Authentication Services, Professional Sports Memorabilia Authentication. 2006 Topps Chrome card list & price guide. Justin Verlander, Prince Fielder, Ryan Zimmerman and Matt Cain are among the "rookies" in 2006 Topps Baseball whose official rookie cards came in 2005 or before. However, their stranglehold on the Americal League pennant loosened just four games after their regular-season finale. As usual, there were of course many other big-name Hall of Famers such as Rickey Henderson, Tony Gwynn, Derek Jeter, Ken Griffey Jr. and others that can go for decent money in top condition these days. The NL Rookie of the Year race was also a blowout, with Albert Pujols receiving 160 vote points while Houston's stud pitcher Roy Oswalt finished in second with 82 vote points. Second-year base cards of Albert Pujols and Ichiro were also big attractions for hobbyists and Topps sprinkled those guys into several subsets as well. Like Ichiro, Pujols put up one of MLB's most incredible rookie campaigns. Prices are updated daily based upon 2006 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. The Most Expensive Cars. However, the Marlins took his best punches and delivered the knockout blow, breaking a 2-2 series tie with back-to-back wins to close the series out in six. It's even rarer to find a franchise catcher with true game-changing talent in the batter's box. For a Topps flagship release, 2022 Series 1 was just about as good as it gets. The results weren't pretty. 4. The 2006 Topps Baseball Card Set was released in two 330 card series with cards #1-330 released in February and cards #331-660 released later in the year. No More Secrets Puzzle Game, Larry Bird [Lefty Shot w, Bernard King] #33, Larry Bird [Close Up, No Mustache Green Jersey] #33, Larry Bird [Collecting to Shoot White Jersey] #33, Larry Bird [Defending w, Bill Walton] #33, Larry Bird [FT Cocked Position Green Jersey] #33, Larry Bird [Sideline Jumper Green Jersey] #33. So, for the cards on this list to be worth much, they'll have to be graded by PSA to be in perfect, gem mint condition. In the early days of Pedro Martinez's Hall of Fame career, it wasn't so clear that he had the size or control that would allow him to develop into the dominant force he would eventually become. The Kid made the most of those 144 games as he belted 30 home runs, drove in 71 runs, and batted .277 while earning his thirteenth and final trip to the All-Star Game along the way. And in this guide, we'll take a look at the 15 most valuable. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. Nice design & photos. 25 Most Valuable Baseball Cards 2000: Price List. Shortcuts: On April 7th versus the Montreal Expos, Griffey ripped his right patella tendon in the middle of a rundown between third base and home plate. 10. You'll also find several limited parallel versions of the base cards, including red backs, gold, copper, platinum, printing plates, and first editions, but we'll stick with the base cards for this write-up. Looking for Complete Baseball Sets from the 2000s? The vast majority of players appeared in fully licensed base sets in previous years. Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? Read our methodology. Now, baseball cards are a billion-dollar industry. We may earn an affiliate commission if you 2006 Topps is a 659-card set was issued over two series. The result is a very expensive short print. buy stuff after clicking links on our site Topps, the oldest baseball card manufacturer, has sold out 65 sets of the world's most expensive box of baseball cards ever assembled. 2006 Topps card list & price guide. Focusing nearly exclusively on hitting, Ortiz flourished, hitting .272 with new career highs in OPS (.900), total bases (206), home runs (20), and RBIs (75). Ungraded & graded values for all '06 Topps Chrome Bonds stretching with a bat in an empty stadium isnt a good one. Most Expensive, After retiring from the game for nearly two seasons to get his personal life in order, Chicago Cubs icon Ryne Sandberg returned with a bang in 1996, hitting .244 with 25 home runs and 92 RBIs in a triumphant return. We don't know how big a role nostalgia plays with this one, but it still regularly sells north of $40. Topps is far too obsessed with Mickey Mantle and Barry Bonds. Unfortunately, the Twins were ultimately bounced five games later by the Anaheim Angels in the ALCS. In 2006, Topps signed a ten-year agreement with the estate of Mickey Mantle. It would be Ichiro's first and only MVP of his Hall of Fame career and given how phenomenal he was, he'd finish in the top ten just three other times. Ken spent most of his career playing as an . 1959. When the dust settled, Bonds had earned his seventh All-Star selection, seventh Silver Slugger Award, seventh Gold Glove and a fifth-place finish in the NL MVP race for his efforts. 2023, 1948 to Rivera would not give up another run in the postseason over his next 23 appearances and 34.1 innings pitched, an MLB record to this day. A little stability went a long way for the 2002 NL MVP race runner-up. The 22-year-old future Hall-of-Famer fouled a ball off his left foot in late March, breaking a bone. And his .402 OBP, .610 slugging percentage and 1.013 were equally as impressive. Then a highly touted prospect, Alex Gordon had his card all ready to go. Griffey was a cut above in a season full of fantastic individual-hitting performances, becoming just the ninth-ever unanimous AL MVP. On the plus side, Suzuki finished second in the league with 208 hits, becoming just the fifth player in MLB history to open a career with consecutive 200-hit seasons and the first Mariner to post back-to-back 200-hit campaigns. 2006 marked the first year of new rookie card rules. In the postseason, Ortiz gave the baseball world a glimpse of the clutch gene that would define his Hall-of-Fame stint with the Boston Red Sox. 6 Don Mattingly 1984 Donruss #248: One of the most . I mean, just pulling the base Wander Franco rookie was something to boast, and this is coming at a time of astronomical print runs and decreasing values in gem mint PSA 10 RCs, etc. In fourteen preseason games with the Expos, Canseco batted .200 and smacked three home runs while driving in five runs. And less than two weeks later, Thomas became the 21st member of the 500 home run club after he sent a three-run shot off of Minnesota's Carlos Silva into the stands. The most valuable baseball card from the 1960s is the 1963 Topps Pete Rose rookie card #537, graded PSA 10 gem mint condition. It was one of his most productive seasons with the Reds but far from one of his trademark seasons with the Seattle Mariners during the 1990s. The season before had proven to be a rough one for Thomas. By today's standards, the set also has noticeably fewer inserts. To this day, he remains one of the most controversial figures in MLB history, but again, there are still big-time Canseco collectors throughout this hobby. But, his 3,000th hit during a home game against the Colorado Rockies on April 23, 2022, only served to cement his legacy as one of the greatest players of all time. The 2007 season turned out to be a career year for Alex Rodriguez, and much of that was due to his physical preparation and some adjustments he made to his batting approach. Jones took to left field nicely in 2002 and continued to rake, slashing .327/.435/.536 with 26 home runs, 35 doubles, 90 runs scored, and 100 RBIs. Standard Cards. Once a Cub and always a Cub, the ten-time All-Star, nine-time Gold Glover, and no-doubt Hall of Famer stayed in the organization for nine more years as a Spring Training instructor. Sean Casey Autographed / Signed 2006 Topps Allen & Ginter Baseball Card . Despite his incredible defensive stats, he lost the Gold Glove to Philadelphia's Jimmy Rollins. Shortcuts: Still, he made it to his sixth All-Star Game and finished ninth in the NL MVP race, his lowest finish in the vote during his first round as a Cardinal. As you can imagine, it sells for much less than his 2006 Topps card since there is nothing erroneous or special about it. List by Card #, You own: 0 / 853 items Let's be clear:most of the cards from this set do not have any value these days. . 1981 Topps #216 Joe Montana Rookie Card PSA 10: Sold in March 2022 on Robert Edward Auctions for $87,000. 1 Nolan Ryan #400: By the time this card came out, Ryan was in . Topps never did correct the error, though, and prices eventually fell back to Earth. When Ortiz returned, Minnesota penciled him in as their full-time DH though he still spent fifteen games at first base. On August 7, with the count full during the bottom of the fifth inning of a home game against the Washington Nationals, Bonds blasted a pitch of Mike Bacsik into the outfield bleachers of AT&T Park that sent 43,154 fans into a frenzy. With this all in mind, it's easy to consider the 2002 season a letdown for Ichiro and the Mariners.