Additionally, consider holding onto your cards for a few years to allow their value to appreciate. And, over the years, it's started to grow on collectors more and more after nostalgia for that era has increased and many collectors have a newfound appreciation for hobby history. He finished the year with the best winning percentage of any starter in baseball (.875), notched his 3000th career strikeout on April 12th, and earned his twelfth-and-final All-Star appearance after a two-year absence. Struggling through back issues and other accumulated aches and pains, Yastrzemski had the worst offensive season of his 21-year career thus far. Shop for 1984 Donruss Baseball . Cecil Fielder's 1986 season with the Toronto Blue Jays offered very little insight into what would be coming for the future home run king. Incredibly consistent and productive during his 21 years in the Big Leagues, Murray ended his Hall of Fame career with 3,255 hits, 504 home runs, 1,917 RBI and set the all-time record for sacrifice flies with 128. Top 25 Donruss Diamond Kings Baseball Cards. View Roger Clemens Baseball card values based on real selling prices. 2022 Panini Diamond Kings Baseball Base / Inserts. Perhaps Wilson's finest point of his career came during one of the most memorable at-bats in baseball history that lasted ten pitches, sent Mets fans soaring, and broke Red Sox fans' hearts. Somehow during all that success with college basketball, he also found the time to play for the Blue Jays from 1979 to 1981. Rookie of the year in 1984, Davis was featured in the 1985 set. Grade: PSA 10. He also loves to write about the hobby and has written for Beckett, Topps, SABR and of course, this website. If you thought Fernandomania was just a one-year thing, think again. Murphy played in all 162 regular-season games, slashing .281/.378/.507 with 36 home runs and an NL-best 109 RBIs for the resurgent Braves. 1-1 of 1 results. Look for cards that have not been creased, bent, or damaged in any way. That means the card needs to be flawless. Learn More; Register to Sell; . Although Palmeiro made his rookie debut as a member of the Cubs in 1987, it would take him several years and a trade to the Texas Rangers before he transformed into one of the best hitters in the game. But, the Cubs were beginning to see Smith's potential as his 2.69 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and 2.8 walks per nine innings flashed a signal at what Lee was capable of late in the game as a stopper. And while he wasnt the automatic hitter of years past, he was still carried himself like an All-Star. What better place to start this list than withthe first ever card in the Diamond Kings series and the all-time hits king. The value of Donruss Diamond Kings can vary greatly depending on the cards rarity, condition, and age. They didn't even make the postseason, losing nine of ten late in September to open the door for the Braves. Along with the terrific artwork on the fronts, each card offered a nice write-up of each player's accomplishments on the reverse. In the teams first game back following the players strike, the 40-year-old recorded hit number 3,631, passing Stan Musial as the National Leagues all-time hits leader. Sign In. After nearly a decade-and-a-half as the standard for MLB catchers, Cincinnati Reds Hall-of-Famer Johnny Bench changed positions for the 1981 season. Heck, he even dated "Miss New York" Debra Sue Maurice from the Miss USA Beauty Pageant. His struggles didn't last long, though, and maybe it was seeing Mike Schmidt win back-to-back MVPs in 1980 and 1981 because, by the following year, Murphy's production skyrocketed as he'd go on to win back-to-back MVPs of his own in 1982 and 1983. Despite leading the Majors in hits allowed per nine innings (7.0), Ryan was at times wild, noted by his MLB-leading 109 walks and NL-leading 8 hit-by-pitches. 1989 Topps #360 Ryne Sandberg Card; 1990 Donruss Diamond Kings #14 Ryne Sandberg Card; . . Because of his iconic status as a two-sport superstar during the late 1980s and early 1990s, Bo Jackson is one of the hottest names in the hobby from the "junk era". So, as I said, he still hadn't quite settled in as the full-time go-to guy in the closer role. View Lou Whitaker Baseball card values based on real selling prices. Home; How To; Knowledge Base; About Us; Contact Us; Main Menu. To make matters worse, the veteran Phillies win-now hopes were dashed with the bitter taste of a second-place finish, three games behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL East. Unlike George Brett's MVP card, Schmidt's featured an altogether different image than that of his base card. He was also featured in the oversized 1993 Donruss Masters of the Game collection and again in the recent 2015 Panini Diamond Kings set. The 22-year-old Toronto Blue Jays prospect made his MLB debut on May 17th, coming in for two innings as a replacement at first base. And the difference lies on the reverse of the card, as one version will point collectors to see card #251 for more Rose highlights while the other will direct them to see card #371 for more. Though he wasn't considered a significant threat with the bat, Smith's hitting did improve during his first year in St. Louis and would continue to do so the rest of his career. A Will Clark Rookie card that is PSA graded is definitely one of the most valuable cards in the world. And they didn't know it at the time, but they also missed out on producing big-name rookie cards for Fernando Valenzuela, Harold Baines, and Kirk Gibson. Named the 1982 AL Rookie of the Year, the spotlight would only get brighter in years to come. Had Fred Lynn (.333) not barely edged out Brett (.329) for the title in 1979, then they would've had all nine of them. Tzipi Diamond: The Ultimate Jewelry Destination You Cant Resist. And, in this guide, we look at the 25 most valuable. Some sets in this hobby are instantly recognizable and the 1987 Donruss baseball card set is certainly one of them. Learn More; Register to Sell; Auctions. Undoubtedly, Murphy's impact bat and Gold Glove efforts in the field spurred them forward. Donruss Diamond Kings are a series of baseball cards that were first introduced in 1982 by the Donruss company. The 2-time World Series champion and 10-time All-Star remains popular in the hobby as you'll see his name among the key cards to own in any set of his era. Like the 1986 Fleer and Topps sets, far too many of them were printed and the market is over-saturated with them. Cincinnati finished the year with the best composite record in all of baseball but the nature of the strike-shortened season's playoff format bit them in the backside. Over his 19-year career, Larkin would appear in 12 All-Star games, win 9 Silver Slugger awards, 3 Gold Gloves and was named the MVP of the 1995 season. Ripken finished the 1982 season with a .264/.317/.475 slash line, 28 home runs, and 93 RBI, unreal production for a shortstop at that time. Sell Your Cards Now; Blog; About; Contact; 1 . Raines showed the world that Rickey Henderson wasn't the only guy who could light up the basepaths as he led the Majors with 71 stolen bases while slashing .304/.391.438. He won the American League MVP award with one of the best offensive seasons in league history, flirted with .400, and made his first World Series appearance. A fourth-round pick of the Cincinnati Reds in the 1981 MLB Amateur Draft, Paul ONeill was also still firmly entrenched in his career development in 1986. The perception of scarcity plagued these cards for years, but by the mid 1990s, we knew the truth there were plenty to go around, and then some. Read our methodology . Fans and media began to take note of his incredible defensive talent, giving him the nickname "The Wizard.". During the crazy market boom of the late 80s and early 90s, collectors ripped through packs of 1986 Donruss baseball cards for one reason: Dont get me wrong, there were other decent rookie cards and plenty of Hall of Famers that made this set enjoyable. Meanwhile, tensions were also brewing miles away in the middle of the country between the St. Louis Cardinals ownership and their star shortstop, Garry Templeton. But, every collector had their eye on the Canseco rookie. When Bench managed to stay healthy enough to be in the lineup, he was quite productive. Larkin was one of the greatest players of his era and for his efforts, he was inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2012. To care for and maintain Donruss Diamond Kings, you should store them in a protective sleeve and keep them in a cool, dry place. His batting average and OPS wereexactly the sameand his OBP even ticked upwards. Unless otherwise noted, you can pick up just about any of these babies for around $1 (or less) in raw condition, so we'll be looking at the prices you might expect to pay for "perfect" PSA 10 copies. 1993 Donruss Diamond Kings #3 Roger Clemens: $1.05: $0.51: $0.41: 1993 Donruss MVPs #15 Roger Clemens: $0.34: 1993 Donruss Previews #13 Roger Clemens: $7.27: Despite his teammates' struggles, Ripken earned his fourth consecutive All-Star appearance and Silver Slugger while also being the first Oriole besides Eddie Murray to lead the team in home runs since 1979. Featuring the artwork of famed sports artist Dick Perez, each player in the Diamond Kings run in this set is depicted with a large portrait and a small action shot to the side. And unlike Brett, Schmidt followed up his 1980 MVP campaign with another one during the 1981 season. Despite the poor production, Jackson still earned a spot on the All-Star team for the eleventh time in his career. And while he finished a distant 20th in the American League MVP vote, Canseco did earn his first of six career All-Star appearances. Diamond Kings puzzle pieces instead of gum Diamond Kings would be Donruss's hallmark subset for the next ten years until they became inserts in 1992. The Most Valuable Donruss Diamond Kings: A Treasure Worth Investing In. While he struck out a whopping 175 times in 682 plate appearances, he connected when it counted most, finishing fifth in MLB for home runs (33) and third in RBI (117). Ryan dazzled on that fall afternoon in Houston, striking out eleven and walking just three. Clocking in at 605 cards in total, this set made history when it first debuted. Collectors.com - Trading Cards - DONRUSS - DONRUSS DIAMOND KINGS. After all, hed hit just .159 against lefties during his rookie year. Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $60. Will Clark was nick-named 'Will of the thrill', he has been . The card is highly sought after by collectors and can sell for thousands of dollars. Smith's 17 saves were the most among the group, hinting at the bright future as a dominant finisher he would have over the rest of his Hall of Fame career. The Ryan Express staggering 27-year MLB career had its fair share of ebbs and flows, and his 1986 campaign with the Houston Astros technically falls more in the former category. For those dedicated enough to track down all 63 unique puzzle pieces, the prize was piecing together the Babe Ruth "Hall of Fame Diamond King" puzzle. Tom Terrific's Hall of Fame career ended following a disappointing and abbreviated 1986 season, but not before everything came full circle for the three-time Cy Young Award winner. Estimated PSA 10 Value: $400 Check Prices On: Amazon The hype surrounding Griffey in 1989 was incredible and everyone was after this and his other rookie cards of the day. eBay (merchandiseliquidations) 1992 DONRUSS DIAMOND KINGS # DK-2 RYNE SANDBERG BASEBALL CARD. Buy: $1.39. However, not all Diamond Kings are created equal. He could not play in the series due to a knee injury, but he received a loud and thankful ovation from a grateful Shea Stadium crowd during player introductions before Game 1. In reality, Brett was excellent in 1982 and the Royals were one heck of a team. Plenty of stars and Hall of Famers keep things interesting as well. Murphy was outstanding during the 1980s as he racked up two MVPs, seven All-Star selections, five Gold Gloves, and four Silver Sluggers on his way to becoming one of the most popular players in baseball. In 493 plate appearances (423 at-bats), Henderson posted a robust .319/.408/.437 slash line with nine home runs and 53 RBI while winning his first of three Silver Sluggers. To make things even stranger, you could even say that Rose appeared on fourcards in this set because this one comes in two variations. Rose hit .300 (6-for-20) with two RBI and a run scored in the losing effort. I think it was a smart move on Donruss's part as it kept things exciting and gave collectors a way to get to know several players a bit better. "Rocket" Roger Clemens was indeed something special that season and history will regard his season-long dominance as one of the best pitching performances on record. Finishing 20th in the American Leagues MVP race in 82, Baines asserted himself as the past, present, and future of the White Sox organization. The cards are graded on a scale of 1-10 based on their condition. Kirby Puckett was consistently one of the best players on both sides of the ball throughout his career as he picked up 6 Gold Gloves and 6 Silver Sluggers when all was said and done. Get my weekly newsletter with the latest hobby updates delivered straight to your inbox! Willie Stargell's card is maybe the most perfect Diamond King card ever made. No, he didn't through any no-hitters that year. Although it didnt end in a postseason trip, there was still something remarkable about Roses 82 campaign. An unfortunate butsimple foreshadowing of how Gooden's career flat-linedsoon afterwards. If you look closely, though, you'll notice the images are just slightly different as you can see two of his teammates in the background on his MVP card versus one (plus the arm of another) on his base card. Heading into the 1987 season, Don Mattingly already had a batting title, MVP, 2 Gold Gloves and 2 Silver Sluggers to his name. Although his reputation hangs under a cloud of controversy due to his ties with the PED scandal that rocked the sport late in his career, the value of Bonds' rookie card has held up well over time. Ungraded & graded values for all '89 Donruss Diamond Kings Baseball Cards. Now that we got that out of the way, let's take a look at the top fifteen: If you collected baseball cards in the late 80s and early 90s, then you know just how hot this card was back then. A Diamond-Shaped Sign Is A DMV: What You Need To Know Before You Hit The Road - Grab Your License Now! If you are a collector or a lover of jewelry, particularly diamonds, then you might have heard about the Donruss Diamond Kings. In his first two seasons, Puckett established himself as a reliable singles hitter with very little in the way of power. The guy was on fire and was looking like the next great Yankee Hall of Famer. As luck and fate would have it, Boston would match up with the New York Mets in the World Series, the team for which Seaver's star shone brightest. Bagwell and Thomas are forever linked for being born on the same day and now they canadd this countdown to that bond theyeternally share. He appeared in 34 games for the Blue Jays, slashing just .157/.222/.325 with four home runs and 13 RBIs in 83 at-bats. Mark McGwire burst onto the baseball scene in 1987 when he cracked a league-leading 49 home runs which were also the most ever by a rookie at the time. Over time, collectors would also find there was a decent crop of rookies in the 1982 Donruss set, including one of the biggest rookies of the decade in Cal Ripken Jr. With a much-improved product versus the 1981 Donruss set, collectors had plenty to love about this set. Ripken's 1986 season is such a great reminder of how much of a team sport baseball is. View Don Mattingly Baseball card values based on real selling prices. Contact him at [emailprotected]. They may seem insignificant to some, but things like these are to be celebrated, in my opinion. Three autos or relics for under $100 earns . The card is highly sought after by collectors and can sell for thousands of dollars. View Will Clark Baseball card values based on real selling prices. However, he slumped over the next few weeks, including a rough 1-for-21 stretch. It didn't matter, though, as the Reds missed out on the playoffs and a rejuvenated Tom Seaver was denied one last hurrah in October. "The only word I can think of is overwhelming.". Rhoden appears to be the guest of honor for a party in his name and he couldn't be happier. Remarkably, he remained as disciplined as ever at the plate, too, as he finished third in the league in batting average with a .329 clip while striking out just 35 times. That means the card needs to be basically flawless. As one back-to-back National League MVP ended his reign, another stepped forward in Atlanta. Frequent strikeouts, low batting average, andan abundanceof home runs are key components in reaching cult like status with MLB fan bases. . Beane would appear in just 12 games for the Twins in 1987, and hed be out of the Majors (as a player) by the end of Spring Training in 1990. In most seasons, thatd be enough for Mattingly to secure his second-straight MVP award. The 29-year-old star missed 18 games due to injury but still slashed a robust .301/.378/.505 with 21 home runs and 82 RBIs. In 665 at-bats for Toronto, Ainge batted .220, hit two home runs, scored 57 runs, drove in another 37 and stole 12 bases. He also loves to write about the hobby and has written for Beckett, Topps, SABR and of course, this website. At the time, he was third on the career strikeout list behind Walter Johnson and Gaylord Perry. You gotta love those old Houston Astros jerseys and Ryan shows his off well on this card as he gets ready to burn one by an opposing hitter. I have the entire set, any chances they're worth anything? McGriff would get a much more extended look with the Blue Jays in 1987 in what became the start of a sterling six-year run of 30 home run campaigns come 1988. I particularly enjoy the single straight line in the background of this card. And it was primarily due to an uninspiring lineup that lacked good hitters. Rose collected 140 hits in 1981, slashing .325/.391/.390 in his third year with the Philadelphia Phillies. The pros of owning Donruss Diamond Kings are that they are unique, highly collectible, and can be very valuable. After the 1981 season, however, Ainge decided to call it quits with baseball. It features a painting of Don Mattingly done by renowned artist Dick Perez. Buy on: Beckett Marketplace eBay 9. Unfortunately, the strike-shortened season and growing tensions with Yankees owner George Steinbrenner got in the way. He also led all of baseball with 89 runs scored and led the American League in stolen bases (56) and hits (135). It started with a bang, as the 21-year-old wunderkind collected three hits, including a home run on Opening Day. Feel free to check out all of the cards in the Diamond Kings collection. To top it all off, he earned his sixth All-Star selection, sixth Gold Glove, and second Silver Slugger award. He even earned a smattering of National League MVP votes for his efforts. Jackson slumped out of the gates in 1981, prompting Steinbrenner to invoke a clause in his contract that forced him to undergo a full physical examination. After winning the A.L. And he made it count, leading an exciting 87-win Chicago squad to the franchises best season in a half-decade. 1987 Donruss Greg Maddux RC #36 Greg Maddux would go on to be one of the greatest pitchers of his generation. And while the Braves flamed out with a three-game sweep in the NLCS, Murphy's MVP year was the real story. By mid-May, he'd wrap up a career-high 23-game hitting streak and would sit out nine games due to injury before ripping off another 17-game streak that carried into June. Rare Diamond Kings gem mint PSA graded Cory Snyder card. Sign In. However, Davis' card can be found without that yellow stripe making the error version worth much more. Baseball(501) Basketball(39) Football(91) . Now that we got that out of the way, let's take a look at the list: In the first two months of the 1982 MLB season, former 2nd-round pick Cal Ripken Jr. was given every opportunity to seize the Baltimore Orioles' everyday third-base job. It was the team's first World Series title since Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, Steve Carlton and Orlando Cepeda led the Cardinals to a 4-3 over the Boston Red Sox. I suppose Perez is granted a one year hangover period after having included himself in the 1994 series. Tom Seaver came within a handful of votes of winning his fourth Cy Young on the 1981 season with an incredible pitching display that saw him lead the Majors in wins (14) and winning percentage (.875). Smith was showing potential at just 24 years of age, but hardly anyone could've predicted he'd end his career with a whopping 478 saves. The 1982 season was far from a standout performance for Philadelphia Phillies superstar Pete Rose. Ryan was so dominant in 1981 that his 195 ERA+ and 0.1 home runs allowed per nine innings weren't even close to the second-best numbers of his career in those two categories. "I had hit .300 before, but I couldn't hold it," he said. Known as one of the most feared hitters from the mid-1990s through the early 2000s, Palmeiro went on an 11-season streak from 1993 to 2003 when consistently hit around 40 home runs and rove in well over 100 RBI. After going 6-14 with a 5.61 ERA, he was looking like anything but that. Estimated Green Stripes PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $45, Estimated Yellow Stripes PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $45. Unveiling The Alluring Skyfire Diamond: Click Now To Discover Its Radiance. Price: $174.99. The image of Mattingly at the plate brings back fond memories of a youth long gone by. Jackson green-lighted the eventual signing but expected Steinbrenner to offer him a new deal as well. In just two years, hed make his first All-Star appearance and receive votes for the National League MVP award. At 42 years old and chasing down the ghost of Ty Cobb, Rose played all 162 games in defiance of time and age -- the seventh-and-final time hed do so. But, I'm a big fan of this set regardless. One of the more feared and respected power hitters of the end of the 1980s and early 1990s, Fred McGriffs 1986 debut in the Major League Baseball scene was all too brief. However, he'd flip the script the following year as he finished 18-8 with a 3.18 ERA. Donruss Diamond Kings are a unique and highly collectible series of baseball cards. Looking for a fresh start with a new team, Jackson signed a five-year to head back to the West Coast where he had spent so many years with the Oakland Athletics. He also slashed a healthy .271/.321/.469, clubbed 25 homers and put together a scintillating six-game stretch in July in which he hit two grand slams and drove in 15. The Boston Celtics drafted Ainge in the 1981 NBA Draft and bought his contract from the Blue Jays and the rest was history. After the company made its debut in the hobby the year before, the 1982 Donruss baseball card set introduced a couple of things that would help set it apart: Diamond Kings would be Donruss's hallmark subset for the next ten years until they became inserts in 1992 And after a court ruled that Topps still had the sole right to package baseball cards with gum, Donruss swiped the gum they used the year before for three puzzle pieces. In Game 4 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, he'd return with New York holding a 2-1 advantage to try and help the team across the finish line. While some of the game's big names struggled with the split-season, Schmidt held things together all year to lead the Majors in home runs (31), RBI (91), OBP (.435), slugging percentage (.644), OPS (1.080), OPS + (198), and total bases (228). And incredibly, hed come back with a vengeance. While most baseball historians point to Los Angeles Dodgers legend Fernando Valenzuela's 1981 NL Cy Young-winning season as its apex, things were just as wild in Chavez Ravine in '82. However, tensions grew between Smith and the Padres ownership. Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? Upgrade Your Sleep With Beautyrest Diamond Luxe Pillow - Experience Luxurious Comfort Today! And he was rewarded for his efforts with a new four-year deal for a guaranteed $3.25 million in the offseason. Discover The Alluring Green Diamond Name: Unveiling The Beauty Of Nature. And there were plenty of stars and future Hall of Famers led by guys like Nolan Ryan, Rickey Henderson, Pete Rose and Reggie Jackson, to name a few. One of the best and most complete players of the 1980s, Dale Murphy continued a six-year run of absolute brilliance with another stellar season in 1986. We are going to be enlisting 28 of the most valuable Donruss cards from 1991, in no order these are the top 29 on our list today. (Prices based on recent eBay sales of PSA 9 cards. And after a court ruled that Topps still had the sole right to package baseball cards with gum, Donruss swiped the gum they used the year before for three puzzle pieces. Ryan went 1-1 in two starts with a 1.80 ERA in the team's five-game NLDS loss to the Dodgers, striking out 14 batters in 15 innings while walking just three. Baseballs hit king, Pete Rose, led all of baseball in total hits on seven different occasions. Each year, the serieswould featurea player who starred the previous season from each MLB team andDonruss relied on artist. Even so, some of these things are still popular today, and the most valuable 1986 Donruss baseball cards listed here will bring a smile to any old collector's face. 1992 Donruss Diamond Kings #DK2 Will Clark: $0.90: 1992 Donruss Elite #3 Will Clark: $20.48: 1992 Donruss McDonalds #18 Will Clark: $0.26: 1992 Donruss Previews #3 Will . Of all the seasons that Nolan Ryan pitched in his storied career, the 1987 season sticks out as one of his most interesting. Kids who grew up collecting during that time were inundated with Bo Jackson hype in the form of everything from Nike ad campaigns to his legendary dominance on Nintendo's Tecmo Bowl. After Wilson dodged a wild pitch from Boston's Bob Stanley, Kevin Mitchell scored from third to tie the game.