Fleer #647 Andres Galarraga Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $50
Andres Galarraga showed a lot of promise during his 1986 rookie campaign but there was just one problem: he couldn’t stay healthy long enough to show what he could do.
The Big Cat missed time in July because of a knee injury and in August, he was forced out again because of a pulled muscle.
Despite the setbacks, Galaragga finished the season with ten home runs, 42 RBI, and a .271/.338/.405 slash line.
Though his early career may have gotten off to a sputtering start, Galaragga remained focused and resilient in developing his game.
Over 19 seasons in the Big Leagues, Galaragga was a five-time All-Star, two-time Gold Glover, two-time Silver Slugger, and the 1993 batting champion after settling in with the Colorado Rockies that year.
He put up some monster seasons with the Rockies, especially during the 1996-1998 stretch where he hit 132 home runs and drove in 411 runs.
The Venezuela native may not have found his way into Cooperstown but he was one of the best players of his era.
Fleer #378 Ryne Sandberg
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $50
The Philadelphia Phillies drafted Ryne Sandberg in the 20th round of the 1978 MLB Amateur Draft and eventually made his Major League debut in 1981.
Sandberg saw six at-bats in thirteen games and collected only one hit to finish with a .167 batting average on the 1981 season.
Since the Phillies infield already featured Mike Schmidt at third, Larry Bowa at short, and Manny Trillo at second, the Phillies couldn’t envision Sandberg having much of a role as a full-time infielder.
So, before the 1982 season, the team shipped Bowa and him to the Chicago Cubs for shortstop Iván De Jesús.
Nothing against Iván De Jesús but the Chicago Cubs won that trade by a landslide.
In 1984, Ryne Sandberg appeared in his first All-Star Game, won his second consecutive Gold Glove, picked up his first Silver Slugger, and won the National League MVP Award.
He may not have known it then, but he had just laid the groundwork for becoming one of the most iconic players in Chicago Cubs history.
Sandberg’s production at the plate fell off a bit in 1986, but he still made the All-Star team for the third consecutive time and won his fourth straight Gold Glove.
Throughout the rest of the 1980s and 1990s, Sandberg was one of the most feared power-hitting second basemen in the Majors as he carved out his path to Cooperstown.
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Donruss #220 Bo Jackson
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $60
Bo Jackson was all over the place during the late 1980s: Nike campaigns, dominating home games of Tecmo Bowl on Nintendo, and many other outlets.
What do you expect when youre both an NFL Pro Bowler and MBL All-Star?
Well forever remember Bo Jackson for his two-sport stardom but will also be left wondering what might have been had he not suffered that hip injury on the football field.
His popularity in the baseball card hobby is as strong as ever as many of those kids who collected his cards back in the 1980s have now re-entered the hobby as adults desiring to relive fond childhood memories.
Steve Sax Baseball Cards
A baseball card checklist for Steve Sax that includes every baseball card in our Baseball Card Database. This Steve Sax baseball card checklist includes every known baseball card that Steve Sax has appeared on, in chronological order. Visit the card to see the entire set.
“He was a machine, Saxy, in and out every day. I don’t know how he did it. He gave 100 percent one day. The next day, he comes back and gives 110 percent. I thought, ‘Where does this guy get all this energy?’ It was unbelievable. He’d hit a grounder, and he’s flying to first base. Doesn’t matter if we’re down one run or up 10 runs. This guy was the best.” – Teammate in Miracle Men: Hershiser, Gibson, and the Improbable 1988 Dodgers
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The Best 1984 Donruss Baseball Card: Steve Sax Sweeps The Leg
Art is a funny thing.
Your favorite painting may look like toddler mess to me, and my favorite symphony might make your ears bleed.
DON-russ, don-RUSS, I always say.
I say that to say this youre probably going to hate my choice for the best card in the 1984 Donruss set. You may even have a strong dislike for me after its all said and done, if you dont already.
After all, this set is a legend of the hobby, the birthplace of the Don Mattingly rookie card that changed everything.
And if you can somehow bring yourself to overlook Donnie Baseball, you have to go with Darryl Strawberry or Joe Carter as the best of the bunch, right?
Or at least one of the other Rated Rookies, the first time Donruss rolled those babies out .
If rookies arent your thing, you have plenty of other choices, because this set was basically a reboot of the 1957 Topps set, except with Donruss-purple images and whiter card stock. Just about everyone looks good in 1984 Donruss.
So go ahead and take your Nolan Ryan or George Brett or Pete Rose or Rickey Henderson or Steve Kemp.
Every one of them is a tremendous baseball card.
But my Steve Sax will take them down, every time. Hell sweep the leg.
Now, if you dont get that reference, you and I could probably never be friends in real life.
See, on June 22, 1984, Columbia Pictures released a little film called The Karate Kid.
Oh, Daniel and Meathead also want the same girl. #NoFormulaHereAtAll
Ruthless.
Or maybe between innings.
Uh-huh.
Donruss #34 Roberto Alomar Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $50
Pictured as a member of the San Diego Padres on his rookie card, Roberto Alomar would lend his talents to seven different ball clubs over his Hall of Fame career.
His time with Toronto, Baltimore and Cleveland was when he truly cemented his legacy as one of the greatest second basemen to ever play.
Alomar had many tools in his arsenal as he consistently hit, defended and ran the bases at a high level.
The 12-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glover earned a much-deserved induction into the Hall of Fame in 2011.
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Fleer #345 Roger Clemens
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $50
Roger Clemens launched into full “Rocket” mode in 1986 as he roasted opposing teams from the mound that season.
That year, Clemens led the American League in wins , ERA , WHIP , and hits per nine innings to go along with 238 strikeouts.
As a result, he won his first of seven career Cy Young Awards and became the first pitcher since Vida Blue in 1971 to be named MVP as well.
He also became the first pitcher to strike out 20 batters in a nine-inning game when he struck out the Seattle Mariners’ Phil Bradley on April 29.
The Red Sox rode his scorching arm the rest of the regular season and into the ALCS, where Clemens went 1-1 with a 4.37 ERA to help the team get past the California Angels for a World Series showdown against the Mets.
Clemens was better in the World Series, recording eleven strikeouts and a 3.18 ERA in 11.1 innings of work but failed to get a decision in two starts.
Boston may not have secured a World Series ring that season, but they uncovered a pitching genius who would help lead them from the mound for years to come.
Donruss #326 Barry Bonds
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $40
As a kid, I used to love those old Pirates teams that featured Barry Bonds, Bobby Bonilla, and Andy Van Slyke.
Those three made for a hell of an outfield and they were also exciting at the plate, especially Bonds and Bonilla.
We all know the controversy that hangs over Barry Bonds due to the PED scandal but you cant deny that he possessed an incredible skill set, likely one of the best the game has ever seen.
The guy was an unbelievable five-tool talent and well see if he ever cracks the Hall of Fame.
For now, this second year Bonds card remains one of the most desirable in the set and features a great image of the young slugger in his Pirates uniform.
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Donruss #644 Tom Glavine Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $60
Remember how dominant those Braves teams of the 1990s were?
Well, youre looking at one of the reasons why they had so much success.
Glavine wasnt overpowering but he was extremely crafty and knew how to break down opposing hitters with methodical precision.
His smarts, determination and longevity helped him to rack up 305 career wins, one of the highest totals of any lefty who ever stepped on the mound.
Fleer Baseball Cards In Review
As you can see, this set brings back many great memories of some of the era’s biggest names, and many of them can still have decent value in PSA 10 condition.
Within the 660-card checklist, there are many stars and Hall of Famers like Nolan Ryan, Rickey Henderson, Cal Ripken Jr., Kirby Puckett and even a few decent rookie cards.
The Jose Canseco rookie card was then and is now still the top card in the set.
Even though his on-field legacy may be tarnished, he remains a hobby icon.
The All-Star and Future Hall of Famer cards were some of the earliest inserts in hobby history, which gives the set a bit of a boost on the trivia side of things.
To top it all off, there were a couple of subsets as well:
- SuperStar Specials
- Major League Prospects
And who didn’t like those team stickers that were included one per pack?
Overall, this set packs plenty to enjoy and with the hobby boon in recent years, it’s nice to see it getting more attention.
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Most Valuable 1988 Donruss Baseball Cards
More…
For some reason, I feel like I shouldn’t like 1988 Donruss baseball cards…
Their design wasn’t the greatest.
The rookie cards weren’t as great as other sets from the 1980’s.
But I just can’t help it…
I loved this set as a kid and it still brings many fond memories to me to this day.
The set contained 660 cards in total, offered several subsets and even a 63-piece Stan Musial puzzle that kept you busy trying to assemble with pieces of it randomly inserted into packs.
While it may not be the best set of the 1980’s, there’s no question it has its place in the history of the “junk era”.
And in this guide, I will cover the 10 most valuable 1988 Donruss cards that some collectors still enjoy pursuing in high grade today.
Let’s jump right in…
Brief disclaimer: most of the cards on this list will generally not be worth anything…
Like the 1988 Topps, Score and Fleer sets, there were just to many of them printed and that really destroyed much of their value.
The only way they can have much value is by being graded by PSA to be in perfect, gem mint condition .
That means the card needs to be basically flawless.
Now that we got that out of the way, let’s take a look at the top ten:
Fleer #653 Cecil Fielder Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $100
From 1985 to 1988, Cecil Fielder bounced back and forth between first and third base part-time for the Toronto Blue Jays, never appearing in more than 82 games in any of those four seasons.
In 1989, he packed his bags and moved to Japan to play full-time for the Hanshin Tigers, where he became known as “Wild Bear” after belting 38 home runs.
Looking to bring that refined power back to the States, the Detroit Tigers signed Fielder to be their everyday first baseman, and boy did that move pay off for the Tigers.
During his first year with the club in 1990, Cecil Fielder became just the second Detroit Tiger to cross the 50 home run mark since Hank Greenberg hit 58 in 1938 when he hit homers number 50 and 51 on the last day of the season.
Though he didn’t put up the numbers to be a Hall of Famer, Fielder’s reputation as one of the most feared power hitters in the game during the 1990s has boosted the popularity of this card in recent years.
Cory Snyder didn’t make it to Cooperstown either, nor did he have nearly as much success as Fielder overall, but he did have a few solid early years for the Indians and finished fourth in the 1986 Rooke of the Year vote.
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Meet Steve Sax Partner Debbie Graham
Many people are under the impression that Debbie Graham is Steve Saxs current partner, despite the fact that he has always preferred to keep his personal life out of the spotlight. According to the Society for American Baseball Research, they got married on October 21st, 1986. Debbie was his bride. However, just a few short years after bringing new life into the world, they divorced, bringing an end to their marriage in the process.
The couples eldest child, Lauren Ashley Sax, was born in July 1987, and their younger son, John Jeremy Sax, was born in August 1988. John attained the rank of captain while serving in the United States Marine Corps. During training for the V-22 Osprey in San Diego, California, on June 8, 2022, Steve was unable to locate John. Following the untimely passing of John, thousands of people have reached out to Steves family to offer their condolences and show their support.
Who Is Steve Sax Ex
On October 21, 1986, Steve Sax and Debbie Graham tied the knot. However, after the couples two children were born in the years that followed, it appears that they divorced and the marriage was legally dissolved.
He is currently the host of MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM and is well-known for his time spent playing and coaching in the professional baseball league in the United States. In addition to that, the Arizona Diamondbacks have assigned him the role of first base coach. In addition to that, he joined the Alumnus Relations team for the Los Angeles Dodgers, which is responsible for community outreach.
When the Los Angeles Dodgers won their first of two world championships in 1981 and their second in 1988, he was a member of the team. In addition, he was presented with the Silver Slugger Award in 1986 and was given the Rookie of the Year award by the National League in 1982.
He is a five-time All-Star and has played for the New York Yankees, the Chicago White Sox, and the Oakland Athletics during his professional baseball career. In the past, he has held the position of financial consultant at RBC Dain Rauscher, LLC. He has also appeared on a number of episodes of television shows, such as Homer at the Bat and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.
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Fleer #401 Kirby Puckett
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $50
Kirby Puckett led the Majors in at-bats in 1985 but wasn’t able to turn those opportunities into the kind of power display he’d be known for in later years as he slashed just .288/.330/.385 with four home runs.
He finished fourth in the American League in hits and third in triples while scoring 80 runs and driving in another 74.
It was a productive year for Puckett, but whatever he did during the 1985 offseason paid off in a big way as his power numbers soared to new heights in 1986.
Puckett’s production exploded in 1986 as he slashed .328/.366/.537 and belted a career-high 31 home runs while driving in 96 runs.
He also continued his impressive defensive play in center field to pick up his first of six career Gold Gloves.
Things started coming together for Puckett in 1986, and a sixth-place finish in the AL MVP race that year proved it.
What Is Steve Saxs Exact Age Age Explored
The 29th of January, 1960 was the day that Steve Sax was born in West Sacramento, California, in the United States of America. He is currently 62 years old. He started playing baseball when he was a student at James Marshall High School in West Sacramento.
In the ninth round of the 1978 Amateur Draft, which took place on June 6, 1978, he was the player chosen by the Los Angeles Dores. In addition to that, the National Leagues Rookie of the Year award was bestowed upon him in the year 1982.
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