One-time World Series champion Dennis Eckersley (10/3/54) pitched for the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics, and St. Louis Cardinals, respectively, in a decorated 24-year career.
“Eck” recently became well-known for broadcasting, helping him stay relevant with the latest MLB fans.
Here’s a rundown of Eckersley’s RC options, including an investment outlook for the next few years.
Da Best Cards
We’ve checked out recent auction data to bring you a trio of the best Dennis Eckersley rookie cards that would make a good addition to your rookie card investment portfolio.
1. 1976 Dennis Eckersley Topps Rookie Card #98 (buy on eBay)
The 1976 Topps is Eckersley’s only official rookie card, featuring a large image of the pitcher in his Indians jersey. The background features a clear blue sky, making it an iconic piece of 70’s Americana that collectors highly value. Look out for issues with coloring, as it tends to be the main flaw with the set.
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You’ll also be able to find an O-Pee-Chee version that is identical, aside from some French text on the reverse. The O-Pee-Chee has the same number and sells for a similar price.
2. 1976 Dennis Eckersley Hostess Rookie Card #137
Perforated edges make it difficult to find mint copies of the 1976 Hostess, which features an image of the player ready to pitch with a few advertising hoardings in the background. It’s not as prestigious as the Topps edition listed above, but the edging issues make it almost as expensive if you’re looking at high grades.
Eckersley’s Hostess card is another decent investment option, as long as you can find a copy that doesn’t have too many imperfections.
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3. 1976 Dennis Eckersley Kellogg’s Rookie Card #19 (buy on eBay)
The Eckersley’s Kellogg’s RC is part of a 57-card ‘3-D Super Stars’ set released by the cereal company in 1976. As the name suggests, it has a basic 3D image of the player looking straight at the camera, with a red, white, and blue striped border.
Adding a plastic finish means they’re easy to find in decent condition as long as they haven’t cracked or chipped over the last 40 years. It’s also one of the few top rookies from the set, as Kellogg’s typically focused on established stars instead of hot prospects at the time.
Dennis Eckersley Rookie Card Value
The most expensive and sought-after Eckersley rookie card is by far his 1976 Topps card grade PSA 10 or BGS 10 Pristine Black Label… whoa that would be a nice one to have.
Checklist
- 1976 Topps #98
- 1976 Kellogg #19
- 1976 Hostess #137
Investment Outlook
A decorated player with ties to the modern game, Eck is a well-respected Hall of Famer (2004) with many decent rookie options from 1976.
It’s no surprise considering he was a six-time All-Star in three different decades and even made the MLB All-Time Team in 1997. It’s hard to find a better pitcher in the sport’s history.
Given the era, these mid-70s cards are challenging to find in mint condition, which means they’re cheaper if you’re hoping to finish off your collection with an old copy. However, PSA 9s are highly valued, and gem mint copies typically sell for thousands.
Of the three rookie cards we’ve listed, the Topps version will most likely see a decent return on investment in the next couple of years.
Visits https://goldcardauctions.com/toppsbaseballcards/
It gets the most attention at auction, is part of a prestigious set, and is not overvalued compared to other famous cards from the ’70s. We’d advise looking for higher grades for the best possible ROI, especially given the issues sometimes found with coloring and centering.
Eckersley’s cards are worth watching, especially if you can snag a couple for a good price.
Investment Rating: BUY
Ownership Disclosure: None