The 1987 Topps Tiffany, 1987 Leaf, and 1985 Topps Tiffany should all be great, long-term investments with low risk. All three should have a similar return on investment.
SHOP MARK MCGWIRE ROOKIE CARDS ON EBAY NOW
He is best known for breaking the Roger Maris single-season home run record in 1998. McGwire, Barry Bonds, and Sammy Sosa were human highlight reels during the late 1990s and early 2000s; many fans suspected help from a foreign substance in hitting these homers.
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Mark McGwire (10/1/63) is a former first baseman featured for the Oakland Athletics and the St. Louis Cardinals as a 12-time All-Star, coaching the Los Angeles Dodgers, the San Diego Padres as well as the Cardinals. Although Sosa and Bonds never officially admitted to using PEDs, McGwire did and quietly made his way back into the MLB while Sosa and Bonds were still on the outs (in particular, Sosa).
We’ve prepared a Mark McGwire rookie card checklist, three popular options, and an investment outlook for the next few years.
1987 Mark McGwire Topps Tiffany RC #366
We feel the 1987 Topps Tiffany Mark McGwire could be his best rookie card in terms of ROI over the next 10 to 15 years.
1987 Mark McGwire Leaf RC #46
We love the McGwire Leaf rookie card. Unfortunately, investing in one at a high grade can be a challenge.
1985 Mark McGwire Topps Team USA Tiffany RC #401
Here is the 1985 Topps USA Baseball Tiffany rookie card with a less rare Topps (no Tiffany) edition. There’s a large Mark McGwire photo on the front that pictures him with a goofy-ass grin, and the bat hung over his right shoulder.
1985 Mark McGwire Chong Modesto A’s INCORRECT Spelling Error RC #17
Even the most hard-core baseball card collector might not be aware of the 1985 Chong Modesto A’s Mark McGwire Error Rookie Card. This card is ultra-rare, and purchasing a PSA 10 grade will take time and money.
1988 Mark McGwire Topps All-Star Cup Athletics #580
Here is another McGwire rookie card often unknown by baseball card enthusiasts. The classic 1988 Topps Mark McGwire All-Star Cup rookie card is super rare at high grades and great-looking.
One could try to make the case that an 88′ Mark McGwire Cup All-Star card could be the top gaining return in investments in the long term. They might be wrong, but they wouldn’t get kicked out of the room.
1987 Mark McGwire Donruss Rated Rookie Card #46
A good option for those who can’t afford or find the 1987 Leaf McGwire rookie card.
Numbered #46, the back of the card reads, “Of his first 7 major league hits, 3 were home runs, and 1 was a double. They figures as the A’s regular Third Baseman in 87’s after a standout season in Tacoma. Batted .318 with 13 HR and 59 RBI at Tacoma in 86′ to warrant a late seasons call up.”
1987 Mark McGwire Fleer Update Glossy RC #U-76
This card comes from the set update from Fleer during the 1987 season. McGwire has a big smile on his face and looks to be ready to hit some long bombs.
The first thing that stands out is the blue borders; they immediately catch the eye. Unfortunately, they are also prone to chipping and may make it difficult to find in higher conditions.
1987 Mark McGwire Donruss Rookies #1
Another Donruss McGwire rookie card. Not nearly as coveted or expensive as the “Rated Rookie” version.
1987 Mark McGwire 1987 B.B. Cards Magazine Hand Cut RC #3
This McGwire RC has to be one of the oddest pairings on a baseball card. First, we love the phrase “Double Trouble” along the bottom, and second, could Eric Davis and Mark McGwire be anything but opposites? We should probably have this card higher on this list. What a funny/odd/cool baseball card.
1987 Mark McGwire Fleer Glossy Rookie Record Setter Rookie #629
We listened to a debate on a sports card collecting podcast for around 20 minutes regarding this same card. The debate centered on whether this should be labeled as a ‘Rookie Card”. We could see it going either way but decided to cast our vote in the yes ballot box.
1987 Mark McGwire Classic Travel Update Yellow RC #121
Another great-looking McGwire rookie card. It can sell for decent coinage if you find the right buyer at the right time. Older rookie cards like these are that valuable but, at the same time, are not listed often on eBay auctions (or other places). So if a McGwire fanboy gets fire up his butt and has to have this card, the eBay “BUY NOW” screw-over listing is available 24.7.
1987 Mark McGwire Procards RC #1537
This is the only McGwire card that surprised us, as we were unaware of its existence. So we gave it number 10 on the list. Cheers!
Mark McGwire Rookie Card Value
The most valuable Mark McGwire rookie card is the 1985 Topps Tiffany RC #401 at a PSA 10 or BGS 10 grade. And as we mentioned, one of our top cards in terms of long-term ROI.
Please email us at value@goldcardauctions.com for an estimated value of a Mark McGwire baseball card.
Checklist
- 1982 Anchorage Glacier Pilots Mark McGwire RC
- 1985 Topps Tiffany Mark McGwire RC #401
- 1985 Topps Mark McGwire RC #401
- 1985 Chong Modesto A’s INCORRECT Spelling Mark McGwire RC #17
- 1986 Donn Jennings Southern League All-Stars Mark McGwire RC #3
- 1987 Donruss Rookies Mark McGwire RC #1
- 1987 Classic (Yellow) Mark McGwire RC #121
- 1987 Classic (Yellow) Mark McGwire RC #150
- 1987 Fleer Baseball’s Best Sluggers vs Pitchers Mark McGwire RC #26
- 1987 Fleer Update Mark McGwire RC #U-76
- 1987 Topps Tiffany Mark McGwire RC #366
- 1987 Topps Mark McGwire RC #366
- 1987 Donruss Highlights Mark McGwire RC #27 (Sets Rookie Home Run Record)
- 1987 Donruss Highlights Mark McGwire RC #40 (Equal A’s RBI Marks)
- 1987 Donruss Highlights Mark McGwire RC #46 (Eclipses Jackson’s A’s HR Record)
- 1987 Leaf Rated Rookie Mark McGwire RC #46
- 1987 Donruss Rated Rookie Mark McGwire RC#46
- 1987 Donruss Highlights Mark McGwire RC#54
- 1988 Topps All-Star Rookie Mark McGwire RC #580
- 1989 Procards Mark McGwire RC #1537
Analysis and Investment Outlook
If McGwire had not taken steroids, would he have blasted over 60 homers?
Hell no.
But we will give him a little credit for taking some of the heat and eventually admitting to steroids. Unlike Sammy Sosa, who is hiding somewhere in Mexico and has white skin now?
- Investment Rating: Buy (3.6 out of 5)
- Risk/Return Analysis: Low to Moderate Low Risk/Moderate to Moderate High Return
- Ownership Disclosure: None
The question is will McGwire make the Hall of Fame?
Our prediction. Yes, but only by a player’s vote. And that should help his rookie cards maintain a good ROI for the next 10 to 20 years.