Barry Sanders (07/16/68) is a former Detroit Lions running back who played in the Pro Bowl for each of his ten NFL seasons. Named as the Rookie of the Year in 1989, he dominated over the next decade and ended as the MVP in 1997.
Buy Now: Barry Sanders Rookie Cards on eBay
Barry Sanders Rookie Year Stats: 1470 rushing yards | 14 TD’s | 282 receiving yards | 5.3 yards per carry… Barry Sanders’s rookie year looks more like a Pro Bowl stud running back in his prime
Known for his elusiveness, Sanders still holds several records, including the most rushing touchdowns in a season. However, he played in an era that saw an explosion in the sheer number of cards on offer, making it hard to tell which ones were worth anything.
Popular: Troy Aikman Rookie Card
We’ve listed 3 of Barry Sanders’s best rookie cards for investment purposes along with a Barry Sanders rookie cards checklist and the value of Barry Sanders RCs.
Best Three Rookie Cards
So without further delay let’s check out the best rookie cards for the best running back the NFL has ever seen… yea we went there.
1989 Barry Sanders Score Rookie Card #257 (Buy Now on eBay)
Cha-Ching Cha-Ching Cha-Ching!
If you have only one Barry Sanders rookie card sitting in your old grade school Captain America lunch pale at home, and you are unsure which it is, you better hope it is the Score #257 rookie card (and if it is in Pristine condition, go buy a lotto ticket).
The card shows Barry with a dazed and confused look, as if he just rolled out of bed and has yet to have his coffee.
Topps picked out a green border and all the rookies in the 1989 Score Football Card set were marked with a “1989 Rookie” in blue at the top of the card… the Lions helmet is depicted as the bottom right with his name in yellow at the bottom left and running back in the center.
1990 Barry Sanders Topps Traded Rookie Card #83T (Buy Now on eBay)
The Barry Sanders rookie card Topps 83T is another great option for Barry Sander investors looking to add another card to their collection.
Numbered #83T the card shows Sanders on the bench looking up at the scoreboard after galloping for an 89-yard touchdown turn… just another day at the office for Mr. Sanders… is it lunchtime yet?
A black Topps logo is depicted in the top right-hand corner, and Sanders is outlined in a white border… honestly not the best-looking card in the world but not the worse either… could we do better? Most likely yes.
1989 Barry Sanders Pro Set Rookie Card #494 (Buy Now on eBay)
It was down to this card and the Barry Sanders Oscar Meyer Police rookie card for our final pick… and this card won by just a tad (we took a vote while chowing down on Imo’s bacon pizza for lunch).
The card shows Barry in his white Oklahoma State college football jersey with red pants. Numbered #494 the card shows Sanders cutting the outside, and BAM, he is off to the races (and only a horse would be able to catch him at this point).
We love the Red theme to this card as it has a thick red border, the fans in the background are primarily red, red pants, and OK State is playing Nebraska, who is decked out in their away jerseys which are also red… makes for one bad-ass looking card… we might buy one right now 🙂
Checklist
- 1989 Lions Police Football Barry Sanders RC #11
- 1989 Barry Sanders Police Oscar Mayer Detroit Lions RC #11
- 1989 Topps Barry Sanders Rookie Card #257
- 1989 Barry Sanders Topps Traded Rookie Card #83T
- 1989 Pro Set Football Barry Sanders Rookie Card #494
- 1990 Pro Set Barry Sanders Rookie of the Year RC #1
- 1990 Barry Sanders Fleer Rookie Card Fleer #284
Barry Sanders Autograph Cards
There were not any specifically made Barry Sanders auto rookie cards, BUT Sanders did sign quite a bit of card in his early days. You can usually find a few Barry sanders Autographed rookie cards/football cards up on eBay auctions at any time.
Buy Barry Sanders Autographed Rookie Cards on eBay Now
Barry Sanders Rookie Card Value
How much is a Barry Sanders rookie card worth? The value of a Barry Sanders rookie card will depend on the set of the card and the grade (i.e., PSA 10, BGS 9).
What is the most expensive Barry Sanders rookie card? The most expensive Barry Sanders rookie card is the 1989 Score Barry Sanders rookie card #257.
Please email us at value@goldcardauctions.com if you want an estimated value of your Barry rookie card (include a few photos… the more, the better).
Investment Outlook
Barry Sanders will be forever remembered as one of the best running backs in the league and, in many fans, the BEST. There has never been a running back like Barry as he had an uncanny gift of speed, cutting ability, and breakaway speed, and he could still go up the gut of the defense.
Investment Rating: Strong Buy
Ownership Disclosure: None
Best Barry Sanders RC: 1989 Score RC #257
Barry Sanders’s rookie cards (the Score in particular) should go nothing but up yearly with a juicy ROI to boot.
1997 Barry Sanders Zenith Z-Team Promo #ZT114
Ideal Sanders card for kids looking to get into the hobby as it will only cost around $20 at the highest grades… of course, the price could be up $10 or $20 in a year but still very reasonable and a great birthday, Christmas, etc. gift for your kid.
The card is numbered #ZT114 and shows Sanders on the loose, ball in hand, bye-bye… touchdown! As we said a great starter card for your kid.
2018 Barry Sanders / Saquon Barkley Panini Flawless RC Dual Patch SP /10 SSP /3 #DDSB
This is probably our favorite Barry Sanders football card that doesn’t have a rookie card attached to it.
A sick-ass dual-patch football card that includes Saquon Barkley as his rookie card… Barkley is a great talent but will never match the speed or skill of sanders.
Numbered #DDSB there is an SP and SSP version.
1998 Barry Sanders Bowman Chrome Golden Anniversary Refractor /5 #120
We said the Sanders/Barkley football card was our favorite, but this one is right up there… a sharp-looking, high-end football card for Sanders fanboys.
Numbered #120, the card shows Sanders with the ball in their right hand making a cut that no other player in the league can make… a great card, but the price is up there.
Everyone seems to agree Sanders would have been the best running back ever if he didn’t retire early… we still say he is the best running back ever regardless.