10 heavy hitting rookies from the 1980’s that sell for more than you’d think

The 1980’s were not an era for power hitting.

At least not until the end of the decade, when big bats like Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds were starting to make headlines with the long ball.

In fact, during the 1980’s, only 13 players hit 40 or more home runs. That was the lowest number of any decade since the popularization of baseball.

Instead it was an era of “small ball”, base-stealing, dominant power pitchers, and a number of earth-shaking events that rocked major league baseball: Pete Rose’s gambling, a work stoppage in 1981, and a literal earthquake in 1989.

What an era to have been a baseball fan!

So when we talk about “heavy hitting rookies” from the 1980’s, we are talking about guys that hit a nominal amount of home runs by today’s standards.

Also, when putting this list together, I decided to go with guys who did not make the Hall of Fame and/or who made most of their career in the 1990’s. So you won’t find Cal Ripken, Jr., Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, or Ken Griffey Jr. on this list, even though all of those players made their debut in the 1980’s.

I did this for two reasons.

One, think of this as a list for the “little guys” that put up some decent power numbers in an era not known for power. Most of the guys on this guys had decent careers that started with a bang in the 1980’s. And, with the exception of the two names at the end of the list (you’ll see), most of them didn’t do much beyond that.

Another reason is relative baseball card value. Everyone knows McGwire and Griffey and Ripken rookie cards sell well on the secondary market. But what about Chili Davis and Gary Gaetti? Guys that you can probably find in a cheap bin at a card show but that in high grade can return decent value.

With that in mind, here’s 10 heavy hitting rookies from the 1980’s and their average PSA 10 values.

#10 – Matt Nokes – $62

Matt Nokes hit a whopping 32 homers in 1987 for the Detroit Tigers. That ended up being a career high for him. He never quite met the high bar he set for himself with that outstanding rookie season.

He was traded to the New York Yankees in 1990, where he played decently for two years. But by 1995 he was a platoon/bench hitter.

Nokes’ rookie card, 1987 Topps Traded #91T, has averaged $62 in a PSA 10 over the last 12 months.

#9 – Devon White – $68

Known as “Devo”, Devon White played for the California Angels, Toronto Blue Jays, and Florida Marlins over the course of 17 years playing baseball. He was only an average hitter throughout his career, but his defense and clutch play helped him win three World Series championships.

White hit 24 home runs in his rookie season in 1987. Like Nokes, that ended up being a career high for homers in a season for him. He did come close to that mark in 1998 when he hit 22 homers for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

White’s rookie card, 1987 Topps #139, sells for around $68 in a PSA 10. His longevity in baseball, in addition to playing for multiple teams and winning multiple championships, likely contributes to a higher price.

#8 – Alvin Davis – $74

Alvin Davis set an impressive record for the Seattle Mariners in 1984: he reached first base in 47 consecutive games, a record that still stands today.

In addition to that, Davis hit 27 home runs his rookie season. Then he smashed 133 more over the next eight seasons. His .830 OPS in over 1,200 games is a very impressive mark.

However, the arrival of Tino Martinez and Ken Griffey Jr. in the early 1990’s spelled the end of Davis’ career with the Mariners. He was out of baseball by 1992.

Alvin Davis’s rookie card is from 1984 Topps Traded, card #28T. Over the last 12 months, PSA 10 copies have sold for $74 on average.

#7 – Benito Santiago – $79

Benito Santiago collected 1,830 hits, including 217 home runs, over a 20-year career with nine different MLB teams. He was not a great defensive catcher, but he had a decent enough bat to sustain a long career.

In his rookie season in 1987, Santiago hit only 18 home runs for the Padres, but he won the National League’s Rookie of the Year award for his overall offensive talent.

Santiago’s rookie is card #644 from 1986 Fleer. Over the last 12 months, PSA 10 copies have averaged $79.

#6 – Wally Joyner – $105

Wally Joyner started his respectable power hitting career with the Angels in 1986, when he hit 22 home runs on a .290 batting average. He quickly became a fan favorite in Anaheim, following up his rookie season with 34 home runs in 1987.

Joyner would eventually play for the Royals, Padres, and Braves before finishing his career with a return to the Angels in 2001. He hit 204 home runs in his career and finished with a .289 career batting average.

Joyner’s rookie card is card #1 from 1986 Donruss Rookies. PSA 10 copies have averaged $105 over the last 12 months.

#5 – Chili Davis – $116

Jamaican-American Charles Theodore “Chili” Davis had an outstanding career. He finished his career in 1999 with 350 career home runs and three World Series rings, one with the Twins and two with the Yankees.

It should surprise no one to know that he also had a great rookie season, though by his standards it was a relatively modest one. He hit 19 home runs, knocked in 76 RBIs, and batted .261 for the Giants in 1982. He finished 4th place in NL Rookie of the Year voting. Not a season that stands out in the grand scheme of it all, but in retrospect it was the start of a great career.

Chili Davis’s rookie card is from 1982 Topps, Future Stars card #171. PSA 10 copies have averaged $116 over the last 12 months.

#4 – Gary Gaetti – $130

Gary Gaetti was a power hitting corner infielder for a decade with the Twins. He then later played for the Angels, Royals, Cardinals, Cubs, and Red Sox.

When Gaetti debuted on September 20th, 1981, he hit a home run off Rangers pitcher Charlie Hough in his first at-bat. It was an auspicious beginning for Gaetti, who went on to hit 25 home runs in his first full season in 1982.

Interestingly, when Gaetti retired in 2000, he finished as the all-time home run king among players who had hit a home run in their first at-bat. His 360 home runs ranks 85th all-time in Major League Baseball.

Gary Gaetti’s rookie is from 1983 Topps, card #431. Over the last 12 months, PSA 10 copies have averaged $130.

#3 – Kent Hrbek – $135

Ken Hrbek was a left-handed 1st baseman who played his entire career with the Minnesota Twins. Known as “Herbie”, he was an annual fan favorite and put up the power numbers to show why. Over 14 seasons, he hit 293 home runs, averaging 27 bombs over a 162 game season.

His rookie season was in 1982 when he hit 23 home runs and slugged .485 in 532 at-bats. He was also no slouch defensively at 1st base, and though he never earned a Golden Glove, he did win two World Series rings with the Twins.

Kent Hrbek’s rookie is card #766 from 1982 Topps and PSA 10 copies have averaged $135 over the last 12 months.

#2 – Darryl Strawberry – $385

The intimidating, indomitable, and infamous Darryl Strawberry.

Strawberry hit 280 home runs in his first nine MLB seasons… before trouble hit. Three times suspended from MLB for drug use, Strawberry is consistently on the list of “what could have been?” with major league stars.

His rookie season was in 1983 when he hit 26 home runs for the New York Mets. He would prove to be among the most lethal home run hitters over the better part of the 1980’s, eventually hitting a career high 39 home runs in 1988.

While we will never know what might have happened had he been able to control his substance abuse, no one can deny that Darryl Strawberry was one of the most impressive baseball players of the 1980’s. And his rookie card prices reflect that.

Strawberry’s rookie card is from 1983 Topps Traded, card #108T. PSA 10 copies have averaged $385 over the last 12 months, a staggering number for a non Hall of Famer in the junk wax era.

GMC has a copy of this card in a PSA 10 available in our store now (click here for link).

#1 – Jose Canseco – $417

Speaking of infamous… who could forget Jose Canseco?

The other half of the “Bash Brothers”, Canseco’s rookie season was the most impressive on this list. In 1986, he hit 33 home runs for the Oakland Athletics and won the AL’s Rookie of the Year award. He would go on to hit 193 more homers for the A’s until he was traded to the Texas Rangers in 1992.

Canseco finished his career with 462 home runs, slugging .515 over 8,129 plate appearances. Those numbers far outmatch any other players on this list.

But Canseco’s off the field issues were his downfall, not unlike Darryl Strawberry’s. His self-admitted performance enhancing drug use and attempts to air dirty laundry regarding some of the league’s top players essentially black balled him from the league.

Jose Canseco’s rookie card is from 1986 Donruss, card #39. Over the last 12 months, that card in a PSA 10 has averaged $417. If Canseco had been elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame (he was last eligible in 2007, though he could get in on the Veterans Committee) that price would go up considerably, as Canseco is still considered one of the best power hitters of his era.

Greg Morris Cards has an alternate rookie of Canseco’s, card #22 from “The Rookies”, available for sale in our store now (click here for link).