In the late 1980s, baseball cards featuring Jose Canseco were incredibly popular…
By 1989, he had already become a champion in the World Series, an MVP, and a three-time All-Star.
Mark McGwire, the “Bash Brother” and his fellow, he, appeared to be on course to be recognized as the most formidable duo in slugging history.
The incident had a significant impact on the sport; subsequently, we discovered that he was connected to the PED controversy and as a result, the baseball card market of that time would collapse.
Today, you may be surprised that the values of his tumbling cards can still be worth money to many of them, despite the occurrence of these events.
And in this guide, I explore the ten most significant.
More…
Ross Uitts – Proprietor.
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Before I started to get into the list of cards produced in 1991, I just want to clarify that all of this.
There are still many autographed cards produced today that can be worth a significant amount of money, similar to the Crusade Donruss 1998 and Certified Select 1996 cards produced after that, as well as other cards featuring Canseco.
Given that the majority can relate to his cards from that era, I believed that setting 1991 as a suitable endpoint and establishing a boundary was necessary. Nevertheless,
Now that we have addressed that, let’s begin…
1986 Fleer #649 Major League Prospects
Approximated PSA 10 Worth: $100.
Canseco and his teammate, Eric Plunk, were featured in Fleer’s 1986 release as part of the “Major League Prospects” subset.
Canseco takes center stage on this card, whereas Plunk enjoyed a successful tenure as a bullpen pitcher, particularly excelling as a set-up man for the Cleveland Indians during the 90s.
The dark azure borders can effortlessly exhibit indications of usage and cracking, which often impedes this card from achieving a PSA 10 state.
1986 Topps Traded #20T
Estimated value of Tiffany PSA 10: $250.
Estimated Starting PSA 10 Price: $40.
The Topps 1986 set is one of the most recognizable of the decade, with its large block lettering spelled out across the thick black border.
In the 1986 Topps set, players like Barry Bonds and Bo Jackson were included, along with other big names. However, Jose Canseco did not make it into the regular 1986 Topps set.
As the card showcases strong visual appeal, the vibrant blue sky in the backdrop beautifully complements the green and yellow colors of his Oakland A’s jersey.
When in excellent shape, the Tiffany edition, the high-quality factory collection that Topps released during that particular year, may fetch approximately $250 or even more, whereas the standard edition will typically be valued at around $40 for top-quality copies.
1986 Donruss #39
Estimated PSA 10 Price: $150.
Arguably, Jose Canseco’s 1986 Donruss Rated Rookie card continues to be one of the most sought-after cards of the era, making it the most recognizable rookie card.
The front of the card features a prominent close-up photograph of Canseco, which occupies a significant portion of the space and is surrounded by the unique striped borders.
Canseco, who recorded 117 runs batted in and smashed 33 homers in his inaugural complete season in the Majors, was crowned the AL Rookie of the Year.
That era thrust him into the spotlight and rendered this card an indispensable requirement during that particular period in the history of the hobby.
1983 Fritsch Madison Muskies #43
Approximate PSA 10 Worth: $75.
From 1982 to 1993, Canseco was a part of the Madison Muskies, the Oakland A’s Class A associate, which is another Minor League matter that is at the bottom of our list.
This card was printed by Fritsch Cards of Stevens Point, WI, which was one of many companies in the Midwest League of Stars Series in 1983.
The Midwest League, which was once composed of teams from Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, and Iowa, is currently spanning across the league. This is indicated by the tri-state logo in the lower-right of the card.
1991 Donruss Elite #3
Estimated PSA 10 Price: $500.
One of them is 1991 Donruss Elite, which is notable for being the pioneer that established a trend in this pastime.
The initial cards to showcase sequential numbers to indicate their proportional scarcity are presently acknowledged as these inserts, restricted to production quantities of 10,000 per print run.
In the past, this innovative idea helped Donruss distinguish itself from its rivals in a market that had become excessively crowded.
Nowadays, serialized cards have become a common practice in the hobby, utilized by numerous companies to create a sense of rarity.
1986 Donn Jennings #14
Approximated PSA 10 Worth: $100.
Established in 1985, the Hunstville Stars were the Double-A affiliate of the Oakland A’s before transitioning to the Milwaukee Brewers in 1999.
During that period, the 1986 Donn Jennings Southern League All-Stars participated in the competition, featuring notable individuals such as Jose Canseco, Tom Glavine, Bo Jackson, and Mark McGwire. The collection comprised a total of 25 cards.
The front side of the card is dominated by a picture of Canseco confidently striding across the field, with the Most Valuable Player title displayed above.
There are still some examples of top-grade cards that can be obtained for around $100 or a similar amount, although it may be challenging to find them.
1991 Topps Desert Shield #700
Approximate PSA 10 worth: $200.
The 1991 Topps Desert Shield set has an interesting history behind it, which makes it challenging for collectors in the modern era.
In the course of the Persian Gulf Conflict, a restricted quantity of them were allocated to soldiers stationed abroad.
In the midst of a military conflict, one can envision the extent of devastation they endured as only a handful managed to survive in superior condition, coupled with the limited quantity of ensembles that were formed.
The Desert Shield logo on the front stands out due to the typical Topps baseball cards manufactured in that particular year, although they are indistinguishable in terms of design.
The challenge of locating these in upper levels can make them quite costly.
1984 Chong Modesto A’s #5
Estimated PSA 10 Price: $500.
The Sequoia Market in Ceres, California was owned and managed by the Chong family from 1955 to 2005.
From 1975 to 2004, the Class A affiliate of the Oakland A’s played less than 5 miles away in nearby Modesto, California.
The Chong company has produced numerous promotional baseball cards focused on the local baseball team throughout the years, with Jose Canseco making an appearance in the 1984 set.
Nowadays, this Minor League card can sell for hundreds of dollars in excellent condition.
However, caution must be exercised when purchasing or selling this card, as it is widely recognized for being frequently replicated.
1991 Topps Desert Shield #390
Approximate PSA 10 worth: $200.
Canseco achieved recognition as a Silver Slugger recipient and was selected for his fourth All-Star game after smashing 37 homers and bringing in 101 runs throughout the 1990 season.
Consequently, he is also a member of the American League All-Star lineup featured in the 1991 Topps Desert Shield collection.
Both of his cards in this collection seem to have nearly equal worth in excellent condition.
1987 Topps #620
Approximate value of Tiffany PSA 10: $150.
Estimated Starting PSA 10 Price: $40.
Canseco originally made a debut in a fundamental Topps compilation in 1987, when the corporation introduced cards showcasing those immediately recognizable woodgrain boundaries.
Topps strategically positioned the All-Star Rookie trophy in the lower-right corner, enhancing the visual appeal of this card.
One of the most iconic images of the 1980s is that of a young Canseco hunched over in the dugout, along with this card.
The high-quality Tiffany edition, in PSA 10 condition, can fetch a significantly higher value with a price tag of approximately $150, whereas the standard version can still command a respectable $40 in excellent condition.
Jose Canseco’s Legacy
Canseco’s heritage is one of the more intricate of any baseball player in the past.
He became the inaugural member of the 40/40 club as he appeared to be headed towards a Hall of Fame trajectory and was among the most thrilling power hitters in the sport during his initial years playing in Oakland.
Throughout the 1990s, he was known for his powerful hitting ability and his ability to bounce from team to team, even though he wasn’t particularly famous.
In 2005, he released a book which rocked the sport, as many players in MLB also claimed to have used it.
Regardless of the controversy surrounding him, Canseco did achieve a number of significant accomplishments, which include:
Canseco continues to hold significance in this hobby as a prominent symbol of the 1980s; however, his reputation will forever be clouded by the PED scandal.
That fame helps maintain his cards on the radars of numerous contemporary sports card collectors to this day.
