Most-Important Base Rookie Cards for Donruss (1981-89)

 

In the 1980s, Donruss emerged on the scene to present competition to Topps. Fleer also made such an introduction. Throughout the 1980s, Donruss helped play a role in putting forth key rookie plays of the star players in the 1980s and 90s. In this article, I present what I consider the most-important base set rookie card for each year. My criteria is primarily-based on the overall arc of the player's career as compared to the other rookies from that set. There is a degree of arbitrariness to that standard but for the most part it is objective based on how that player is perceived generally by baseball fans.

1981 Donruss - Tim Raines Rookie

1981 Donruss - Donruss had few key rookie cards to offer collectors in this set. This set was a rush project so it was more paramount to get the set to market than to focus on the inclusion of key rookies. That said, none of the 3 brands had any key rookies as compared to the other sets in the 1980s. Rock Raines stands head-and-shoulders above any of the other rookie offerings. It appears that he is posing from the infield at Wrigley Field. I believe that a large percentage of the photographs captured for Donruss in its 1981 set took place in either Wrigley Field or Comiskey Park. This card is readily available. It doesn't stand out as particularly attractive and Raines looks like he would rather be doing something else.
 

1982 Donruss - Cal Ripken Jr. Rookie

1982 Donruss - In 1982, Donruss like the other card companies captured what would be the one rookie card to stand out in this season, Cal Ripken Jr. In hindsight, this rookie card would stand apart as the most-important base set rookie in thee 1980s. Highly-graded versions of this card still command more than perhaps any other base set rookie card (except maybe 1985 Clemens or 1985 Puckett).
 

1983 Donruss - Tony Gwynn Rookie

1983 Donruss - For the 1983 offering, Tony Gwynn, Wade Boggs and Ryne Sandberg each emerged as the rookies to have out of this set. All 3 players are in the Hall of Fame. It is like splitting hairs to select one rookie over another. But Tony Gwynn seems to be the slight winner surprisingly enough even though Boggs is a legend in Boston as far as hitters and Sandberg roamed The Friendly Confines. Gwynn was a hometown hero who made good with a team that has traditionally had few lasting stars. He was a master of his craft and a great ambassador for the game.
  

1984 Donruss - Don Mattingly Rookie

1984 Donruss - In 1984, Donruss cut way back on production versus prior years. This trimming of available cards created a huge market for 1984's key rookie, Don Mattingly. Even though his career arc didn't ultimately yield a trip to the Hall of Fame (at least not yet), collectors have generally treated his cards in terms of both desirability and value as equivalent to a Hall of Fame player. A casual fan may in fact think that Mattingly is a Hall of Famer. Mattingly had 3 rookies but for my mind, this rookie card was the one that had the most hobby interest in its hey day.
  

1985 Donruss - Roger Clemens Rookie

1985 Donruss - The 1985 set features a condition-sensitive black border. Without question, Clemens and Puckett rookies emerge as the two cards to have. To a lesser extent, the Gooden rookie card also is an important rookie from this set. As between Clemens and Puckett, it is a toss-up as far as the key rookie. Clemens earns a slight edge in my book because he produced a more Hall of Fame worthy career (regardless of the PED accusations) given the career accolades he amassed. He was an annual contender for the Cy Young award.
  

1986 Donruss - Josee Canseco Rookie

1986 Donruss - When it comes to the mid to late 1980s, rookie cards of suspected and confirmed PED users become increasingly-prevalent. Regardless, in its hey day, this card was one of the essential rookie cards to own. Jose Canseco's Rated Rookie issue reached astronomic heights in the late 1980s and early 90s jumping into the $100 range. Today, it is hard to conceive. But because there are no rookie cards of current Hall of Famers in this set, the Jose Canseco rookie still is the most popular. Fred McGriff, Paul O'Neill and Andres Galarraga also have rookie cards in this set.
  

1987 Donruss - Greg Maddux Rookie

1987 Donruss - For 1987, Donruss continued with the theme of Rated Rookies. There were 2 Rated Rookies that through the 1990s and 2000s stood out. Greg Maddux and Barry Bonds. Maddux was such a dominant pitcher in the 1990s that it became too difficult to ignore the importance of having a rookie card in your collection. At one time, the Bonds card was more valuable but his reputation and perceived PED use tainted that.
  

1988 Donruss - Tom Glavine Rookie

1988 Donruss - Greg Maddux cohort Tom Glavine had several key rookie cards. This one houses a simple pose at Chavez Ravine. The other important rookie card in this Donruss set is Roberto Alomar. Because of the mass production of 1988 Donruss, there are so many of these rookie cards out there that it is easy to pick up 1, 2 or 10 of them for just a few bucks (total). Some collectors may like the card design but it also could be viewed as very-dated to its time (the late 1980s).
  

1989 Donruss - Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie

1989 Donruss - In all 1989 sets by and card brand, Ken Griffey Jr's rookie card rises above the other rookie cards. Ken Griffey Jr was such a popular figure among kids in the 1990s that he fostered a very loyal base of collectors desiring his cards. Most hobbyists are aware of his 1989 Upper Deck card as being his highest-dollar rookie card. But this Donruss card is definitely his most-colorful and visually-attractive.