BY MARK A. LARSON
The obsession of baseball card collectors with rookie cards has led to astronomical increases in recent first-year cards of Dwight Gooden, Don Mattingly, Eric Davis and Mark McGwire.
Yet there are good rookie card buys of star players issued between 1954-70, if you take the time to search them out. For instance:
TONY OLIVA (1963 Topps #228): Oliva was – and still is – one of the most popular sports figures in Minnesota history. Tony’s career was cut short by injuries, but he still managed to collect 1,917 hits, 220 home runs and a lifetime .304 batting average. He won batting titles in his first two seasons and another later in his career.
In fact, Oliva’s rookie season in 1964 was nothing short of phenomenal. In addition to the batting crown, he led the American League with 217 hits, 43 doubles and 109 runs scored.
Many feel Oliva belongs in the Hall of Fame. After all, he was also a vital cog in the Twins championship teams of 1965, 1969 and 1970. His rookie card can usually be found for $6-15 in a range of condition from very good to near mint. We will use this range of condition for all of the players mentioned.
RON SANTO (1961 Topps #35): Although he may not have gotten much publicity outside of Chicago, the Cubs third baseman was a standout player between 1960-74. He had more than 2,200 lifetime hits, 342 home runs, 1,331 RBIs and 1,100 runs scored. Four times he belted 30 or more homers in a season. He also led the National League in walks four times. For eight consecutive years he had over 90 RBIs. His first-year baseball card is definitely underpriced at $2-5.
VADA PINSON (1958 Topps #420): This man’s rookie card goes for just $4-10. Amazing. Consider these lifetime statistics put together between 1958-75: 2,757 hits, nearly 500 doubles, over 250 home runs, 1,170 RBIs, 305 stolen bases, and a .286 lifetime average. Pinson had 200 or more hits in a season four times and 90 or more RBIs eight times. Yet he played most of his career in the shadow of other Reds such as Frank Robinson, Pete Rose and Tony Perez.
ORLANDO CEPEDA (1958 Topps #343): “The Baby Bull” blasted 379 lifetime round-trippers, had 2,351 hits, over 1,100 runs and 417 doubles. He had more than 90 RBIs and hit over .300 in nine different seasons. In addition, he possesses a .289 average in 19 World Series games. His rookie card can usually be found in the $12-25 range.
DICK ALLEN (1964 Topps #243): Allen’s rookie card goes for about $5-9. He belted 351 home runs, had over 1,800 hits, 1,119 RBIs and a .292 lifetime average. Six times he had 90 RBIs or more in a season. And six times he had 30 homers or more. However, his career was apparently plagued by an attitude problem – which is probably why he played for six teams in 15 seasons.
JOE TORRE (1962 Topps #218): When fans think of Torre they probably recall a good-hitting catcher. Yet Torre was more than good, as evidenced by a lifetime average of .297, 252 four-baggers, 1,185 RBIs (including five seasons of 100-plus), and 2,342 hits over a 16-year career. He batted over .300 five times, winning the National League batting title in 1971 with a .363 average. Not a bad rookie card buy at $5-10.
HARVEY KUENN (1954 Topps #25): Four times Kuenn led the American League in base-hits … 1953, 1954, 1956 and 1959. Eight times he hit over .300. He collected more than 2,000 hits in his 15-year career and commands .303 lifetime average. Kuenn passed away recently.
In 1982, as manager, he led the Milwaukee Brewers to the World Series. The power-laden team became known as “Harvey’s Wallbangers.” His rookie card is priced at $8-16.
BOBBY BONDS (1969 Topps #630): Bonds spent 14 seasons in the majors with the Giants, Yankees, Angels, White Sox, Rangers, Indians, Cardinals and Cubs. During that period he hit 332 home runs, drove in 1,024 runs, scored 1,258 runs and stole 461 bases. Ten times he had 90-plus runs scored in a season and he stole 40 or more bases seven times.
Bonds was a member of the “30-30 Club” (at least 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in the same season) five times. At only $3-6, his rookie card is a bargain.
BILL BUCKNER (1970 Topps #286): Last season was Buckner’s 17th and during that time he’s played in more than 2,300 games and gotten 2,598 hits. In addition, he’s scored over 1,000 runs, hit 169 home runs, has 480 doubles, 1,146 RBIs, 177 stolen bases and owns a .292 lifetime average. His rookie card goes for $2-5.
AL OLIVER (1969 Topps #82): Oliver’s initial baseball card is slightly higher than Buckner’s at $4-8, and likewise, his stats are just a bit better. Oliver, too, spent 17 years in the majors. He compiled a .303 lifetime average, including nine years in a row – 1976-84 – of .300 or better. The rest of his lifetime totals aren’t too shabby either: 2,743 hits, 1,189 runs, 529 doubles, 219 home runs and 1,326 RBIs. Like Tony Oliva and Vada Pinson, some consider Oliver a candidate for Cooperstown.
ROCKY COLAVITO (1957 Topps #212): Rocky was primarily a slugger … and a good one for 13 seasons beginning in 1956. He belted 374 home runs and had 1,159 RBIs. Those figures include seven years when Colavito hit 30 or more homers and six seasons when he topped the 100-RBI mark. In two major league pitching appearances – in 1958 and 1968 – he threw 5 2/3 innings and didn’t give up an earned run. He won his only decision. Rocky’s rookie card is $7-15.
REGGIE SMITH (1967 Topps #314): Smith’s first card goes for only $1-2. That’s not surprising since his contributions are often overlooked. In 16 seasons, he had over 2,000 hits, 137 stolen bases, 314 home runs (including eight years of 20-plus), 1,092 RBIs, 1,123 runs and a .287 lifetime average. Smith came up with the surprise pennant-winning Red Sox in 1967.
LEE MAY (1966 Topps #424): Like Smith, May’s rookie card can usually be found for $2 or less. Yet he blasted 354 homers, collected over 2,000 hits, scored 959 runs and drove in another 1,244. May hit 20 or more out of the park in 11 straight seasons. He also had eight consecutive years of 90-plus RBIs.
These are just some of the low-priced rookie cards of legitimate stars that can still be found, if you’re willing to look for them.
• • • • • •
• Originally Published in June 1988 “Baseball Hobby News” •
THIS ARTICLE FROM “BASEBALL HOBBY NEWS” MAGAZINE IS REPRINTED WITH THE PERMISSION OF BOTH THE EDITOR/PUBLISHER AND THE AUTHOR. IT HAS BEEN RETYPED, BUT NO CONTENT HAS BEEN CHANGED (EXCEPT FOR VERY MINOR ADJUSTMENTS, CORRECTIONS TO TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS AND CHANGES TO GRAPHICS). COMMENTS OR INFORMATION IN THE ARTICLE MAY BE OUT-OF-DATE.
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