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matfanofold
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- Aug 10, 2008
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Following up my top 10 cards of all sports here is my top 10 non rookie cards from 1970 – present. Again, this was a very hard task to undertake and many could easily be swapped out without losing too muchcredibility. Having said that, here is my final list for your consideration.Enjoy…
TOP 10 ICONIC NON-RC CARDS 1970 - PRESENT
10. 1991 Topps Stadium Club Nolan Ryan Tuxedo
People went bonkers after this card when it first came out.As a base card of Topps first ‘premium’ offering (not including Tiffany), thiscard was seeing $25 - $40 or more for years following. When one thinks of thetransition of plain baseball cards to premium, glossy, and relatively expensivecards, the 1991 Topps Stadium Club Set stands out and the Nolan Ryan Tuxedocards leads the way.
9. 1973 Topps Aaron/Ruth/Mays #1
A card/set that teeters on the vintage/modern borderline,this card features 3 of the greatest players of all time. Still with a hint ofvintage but well within a modern price tag, this card appeals to anyone whowants some cardboard of all-time greats that still has some age to it, and willnot break the bank. Also, being the first card of a set that was collected inshoe boxes and rubber bands only helps the lure of this card in ‘better than’bad condition.
8. 1990 Upper Deck Reggie Jackson Baseball Heroes Auto /2500
This card was one of, if not THE card that started the packpulled autograph craze! Even though the odds of pulling one were enormous, itstill kept avid collectors paying and ripping in hopes of ‘finding the Reggie’!Even to this day if I see a box sitting on the shelf collecting dust, I plopdown the $8 and hope for the best, giddy all the way as I rip with all the hopeI had 20+ years ago.
7. 1989 FLEER Billy Ripken FF Error
Back in 1989 this card was making the news, literally, astalk shows and local radio stations talked about it. It was being sold for $100- $200 per at its peak, and even today still holds on to some of the hype andlore it forged in the early 1990’s. People outside of the hobby were discussingit and to that end it shares its place as one of the most iconic non-rookie cardsof the last 40+ years.
6. 1990 Topps Mark McGwire HR #70
Fueled by a historic season that saw a ‘untouchable’ HRrecord Fall, this card forged its way in to the minds and desires of just aboutevery collector willing and able to seek it out. Aside from his 1985 Topps USAcard, this issue is perhaps his most memorable card for me and evokes thememory of the ‘chase’ to anyone fortunate enough to be a part of it back then.
5. 1990 Score Bo Jackson Black & White
This card was the talk of the town in the early 1990’sdrawing major attention and premium dollars. That in and of it ‘self isoverwhelmingly impressive for a 1990 Score Card! None the less, this card hasnever really dropped off the radar and is considered by many (including myself)a staple card of the hobby and the type of card that a mere glance whisks youaway to another time…
4. 2007 Topps Jeter/Bush/Mantle
An unannounced photoshop job by Topps, this card was soondiscovered and like very few iconic cards before (and after) it brought nonhobbyists in to the ‘club’ by the masses. People were spending crazy moneytrying to obtain a copy as the news spread of its inclusion. I can rememberpulling 3 of them in a single box and selling each for $50, then feeling badfor the poor bastards who bought them. None the less, it is still a beacon ofour hobby and how sometimes crazy makes sense.
3. 1997 Upper Deck Game Jersey Ken Griffey Jr.
Quite possibly considered the most significant card of themost significant Game Used Jersey card set ever offered, this card is a stapleof what could have been with regards to Game Used cards. In a day where ‘gameused’ cards of hobby super stars can be had in dollar bins, it’s a testament tothis set and more specifically this card that its value continues to rise. Asone of the most well-known and coveted game used cards ever, a raw copy willcost you well over $200!
2. 2005 Tools of the Trade Jumbo Babe Ruth
As far as game used cards go, this particular card may verywell be the Holy Grail. It’s not very often a card of such rarity and value canmake it to iconic status simply because there are not enough of them in reachand view of the average collector to make it an ‘iconic’ card, but this cardhas done just that. The value of this card is astronomical but the benefit isowning the single greatest game used card of all time.
1. 1994 Upper Deck Griffey / Mantle Auto
From conception this card was designed and produced to beiconic, and to this end Upper Deck did not fail. Atop of a wonderfully done,borderless card featuring Griffey and Mantle are two of the most sought afterautographs side by side. A generational gap of greatness bridged in perfection,this card has, is, and will remain as one of the most well-known non-RC cardsof all times!
-matfanofold
TOP 10 ICONIC ‘ALL SPORTS’ CARDS 1970 – PRESENT
TOP 10 ICONIC NON-RC CARDS 1970 - PRESENT
People went bonkers after this card when it first came out.As a base card of Topps first ‘premium’ offering (not including Tiffany), thiscard was seeing $25 - $40 or more for years following. When one thinks of thetransition of plain baseball cards to premium, glossy, and relatively expensivecards, the 1991 Topps Stadium Club Set stands out and the Nolan Ryan Tuxedocards leads the way.
A card/set that teeters on the vintage/modern borderline,this card features 3 of the greatest players of all time. Still with a hint ofvintage but well within a modern price tag, this card appeals to anyone whowants some cardboard of all-time greats that still has some age to it, and willnot break the bank. Also, being the first card of a set that was collected inshoe boxes and rubber bands only helps the lure of this card in ‘better than’bad condition.
This card was one of, if not THE card that started the packpulled autograph craze! Even though the odds of pulling one were enormous, itstill kept avid collectors paying and ripping in hopes of ‘finding the Reggie’!Even to this day if I see a box sitting on the shelf collecting dust, I plopdown the $8 and hope for the best, giddy all the way as I rip with all the hopeI had 20+ years ago.
Back in 1989 this card was making the news, literally, astalk shows and local radio stations talked about it. It was being sold for $100- $200 per at its peak, and even today still holds on to some of the hype andlore it forged in the early 1990’s. People outside of the hobby were discussingit and to that end it shares its place as one of the most iconic non-rookie cardsof the last 40+ years.
Fueled by a historic season that saw a ‘untouchable’ HRrecord Fall, this card forged its way in to the minds and desires of just aboutevery collector willing and able to seek it out. Aside from his 1985 Topps USAcard, this issue is perhaps his most memorable card for me and evokes thememory of the ‘chase’ to anyone fortunate enough to be a part of it back then.
This card was the talk of the town in the early 1990’sdrawing major attention and premium dollars. That in and of it ‘self isoverwhelmingly impressive for a 1990 Score Card! None the less, this card hasnever really dropped off the radar and is considered by many (including myself)a staple card of the hobby and the type of card that a mere glance whisks youaway to another time…
An unannounced photoshop job by Topps, this card was soondiscovered and like very few iconic cards before (and after) it brought nonhobbyists in to the ‘club’ by the masses. People were spending crazy moneytrying to obtain a copy as the news spread of its inclusion. I can rememberpulling 3 of them in a single box and selling each for $50, then feeling badfor the poor bastards who bought them. None the less, it is still a beacon ofour hobby and how sometimes crazy makes sense.
Quite possibly considered the most significant card of themost significant Game Used Jersey card set ever offered, this card is a stapleof what could have been with regards to Game Used cards. In a day where ‘gameused’ cards of hobby super stars can be had in dollar bins, it’s a testament tothis set and more specifically this card that its value continues to rise. Asone of the most well-known and coveted game used cards ever, a raw copy willcost you well over $200!
As far as game used cards go, this particular card may verywell be the Holy Grail. It’s not very often a card of such rarity and value canmake it to iconic status simply because there are not enough of them in reachand view of the average collector to make it an ‘iconic’ card, but this cardhas done just that. The value of this card is astronomical but the benefit isowning the single greatest game used card of all time.
From conception this card was designed and produced to beiconic, and to this end Upper Deck did not fail. Atop of a wonderfully done,borderless card featuring Griffey and Mantle are two of the most sought afterautographs side by side. A generational gap of greatness bridged in perfection,this card has, is, and will remain as one of the most well-known non-RC cardsof all times!
-matfanofold
TOP 10 ICONIC ‘ALL SPORTS’ CARDS 1970 – PRESENT
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