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Sammy Sosa (11/12/68) is a retired right fielder best known for being one of the hardest hitters in the game during an era marked by the overuse of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).
Slammin’ Sammy made his MLB debut on June 16, 1989, with the Texas Rangers. His first career home run came against fellow PED user Roger Clemens. We like the two Sosa Tiffany rookie cards (i.e., Bowman and Topps) to see significant gains over the long haul.
Best Card: 1990 Sammy Sosa Topps Tiffany RC (SHOP EBAY)
We’ve prepared a checklist for his rookie cards, three popular options, and an investment outlook for the future. Any questions in regards to the picks below can be directed to info@goldcardauctions.com.
1990 Sammy Sosa Leaf RC #220
Here is the most popular Sosa rookie card with collectors, usually found up on eBay auctions. The card shows Slamming Sammy laying down a bunt?! You can’t be serious, Clark!
Unfortunately, yes, that is the case. I guess Sammy was more of a speedster in his early years, so maybe it makes sense to show him bunting the ball, and then we assume he turns on the afterburners and legs out an infield hit ala, Willie Mays Hayes.
Card Info: Numbered #220, the reverse of the card reads, “Sammy won the White Sox’ starting rightfield job in spring training of 1990. From the White Sox’s standpoint, he was the key player in the big trade with Texas on July 29, 1989, which sent longtime Chisox favorite Harold Baines to the Rangers. In 1988, Sammy led the Florida State League in triples and was fifth in runs at Port Charlotte. Sammy was 16 years old when he signed with Texas in 1985.”
Our Take: This is a great card to buy to take advantage of the upcoming Sammy Sosa card price rise (which is already beginning).
1990 Sammy Sosa Bowman RC #312
The card features Slammin’ Sammy with a big ole’ smile on his face and a gorgeous blue sky backdrop… plus we love the extra-large Bowman card size with the white and yellow border… they don’t make them like this anymore.
Our Take: This and the Topps Tiffany Sammy Sosa rookie cards should be the largest ROI gainers in the long term.
1990 Sammy Sosa Topps Tiffany RC #692
The 1990 Topps is a key card in the set, while there’s also a rarer Tiffany version which is the card we target (if available). Unlike the others, it has no quote on the back, instead of listing Sosa’s major and minor league batting record. The O-Pee-Chee release from the same year displays the Topps logo but has a bilingual reverse.
Our Take: The Tiffany version is our second favorite regarding Sosa rookie cards, but it is hard to find as it’s not listed often on eBay auctions. You may see it on eBay buy now, but it is usually at high asking prices.
1990 Sammy Sosa Score RC #558
Another solid rookie card, the 1990 Score, is numbered #558. A gem mint version recently sold for $26.01, which is affordable. The backquote has an extensive breakdown of his early career;
Card Info: Numbered #558, the back of the card reads, “Sammy was one of the most exciting rookies of ‘89. Speedy and aggressive, with a strong, accurate arm, he was at 20, the third-youngest player in the majors. Sammy first showed his wares for the Rangers when he was brought up in mid-June from Double-A Tulsa, where he batted .297. He promptly singled in his first major league at-bat. Sammy’s next stop was Triple-A Vancouver after he was traded to the White Sox organization at the end of July. Pausing just long enough to hit .367 in 13 games, he returned to the majors with the White Sox in late August. This time, Sammy went 3-for-3, with a homer, stolen base, and two RBIs, in his debut with the Sox. He seems set for a while”.
Sammy Sosa Rookie Card Value
His most valuable rookie card is the Bowman Tiffany at a PSA 10 grade or BGS 10. Do you have a few Sammy Sosa rookie cards and would like a value estimate? Please email us a minimum of two photos to value@goldcardauctions.com.
Checklist
- 1989 Topps Major League Debut RC #120
- 1989 Donruss Baseball’s Best #324
- 1990 Bowman RC #312
- 1990 Topps Big Sammy Sosa Rookie Year #286
- 1990 Donruss Rookie Card #489
- 1990 Donruss Best AL #104
- 1990 Fleer RC #548
- 1990 Sportflics RC #81
- 1990 Leaf Rookie Card #220
- 1990 O-Pee-Chee Rookie #692
- 1990 Score RC #558
- 1990 Topps RC #692
- 1990 Upper Deck Rookie Card #17
Investment Outlook
Sosa made it big during the steroid era, and the allegations have recently affected his rookie card prices. His card prices fell accordingly, and Sosa went into hiding… we have not seen this cat in years.
In our opinion, a second chance is always a good thing, and we feel Sosa should at minimum, try to take advantage of the future fame bump ad show up at Wrigley Field a few times this summer and see how things go.
At any rate, his rookie cards should get a good price bump due to the documentary, and honestly, all of his cards show to get a good bump (even non-rookies). As previously stated, they should come back down some after the doc is over but remain higher than previous lows. We will closely monitor Sosa rookie card prices and provide updates when needed.