The world has changed remarkably since the 1980s. It was the decade that saw the easing of Cold War tensions and the fall of the Berlin Wall giving people hope of a more liberal future.
In a similar way, the world of Major League Baseball has gone through some whirlwind changes since then.
Back in the 80’s, the league was open and titles were anyone’s for the taking, and no team really dominated the sport as a major dynasty.
There were some notable sides that did stand out, however. The New York Mets team of 1986 and the 1988-89 Oakland A’s were arguably the strongest sides of the decade.
On the world stage, the Cuban team emerged as a real force in international baseball with the country producing some of the decade’s finest players such as Omar Linares and Orestes Kindelan.
As in most eras, baseball in the 80’s was not without its share of controversy.
The 1985 drug trials shone a light on players who were using illegal substances and struggling with addiction. The end of the decade also saw Pete Rose banned indefinitely from baseball for allegations of match-fixing, an accusation he continued to deny for years to come.
The Truth About Baseball Cards From The 80’s
During the 1980s there was a huge surge in the number of people collecting baseball cards with more and more people being attracted to the pastime.
Cards were produced at a much higher rate than in previous years to meet demand so mainstream cards from the 80’s don’t hold an incredible value.
The most valuable baseball cards of the 1980s tend to be limited editions or variants of mass-produced cards that have something different or special about them.
Combine this with a professional mint grading and you’re looking at a pretty valuable card. The only problem is, there aren’t many cards from the 80’s in mint condition in circulation so huge values are a rarity.
Here’s our rundown of the most valuable cards of the 1980s.