Top 15 Mark McGwire Baseball Card List – 1984 Rookie Card Value?

#16
1995 Finest Refractor
Mark McGwire Baseball Card #169
PSA 10 Gem Mint Condition

1995 Finest was the third year of refractor baseball cards, and the designs are very distinguishable. Looking at the previous designs, you’ll notice that Topps did not keep a standard layout. What makes the 1995 set stand out is the unique geometric shapes in the background, the full-size player portraits, and the protective peel-and-remove coating.  

Peel and Remove the Coating

Cards from this set are both graded with and without the coating. There is no difference in value, but some collectors will pay a premium for cards with intact coating.

If submitting a refractor with the coating on the card, PSA will grade the condition as if it were the actual surface of the card. So be wary about sending in examples with scratches or imperfections on the peel because your final grade will suffer. 

PSA Population Report

13 of the McGwire refractors, with coating, have been submitted to PSA. Surprisingly, 3 were declared to be in PSA 10 gem mint condition. This is pretty high considering Derek Jeter had only 3 of his 31 submitted to acquire a 10.

#15
1999 Team Finest Gold Refractor #ED /25
Mark McGwire #TF2
PSA 10 sold for $152

1999 Finest is a larger 300-card set and was released in two series. It was packed full of parallels, but the Topps Team Finest refractors are more notable. The first 10 cards were distributed in first-series packs and 11-20 in second-series packs, and are available in the following parallels.

Non-refractor cards:
Blue (#ED /1500), Red (#ED /500), and Gold (#ED /250).

Refractor cards:
Blue (#ED /150), Red (#ED /50), Gold  (#ED /25)

Furthermore, the Red, Red refractor, Gold, and Gold refractors were exclusive to jumbo packs.

PSA Population Report

PSA has their population report for this set a little scrambled. They have the cards split up into four categories when their should only be three. So, when viewing the report, click on them all. 

Regarding the Mark McGwire refractors, there are two PSA 10 gold refractors with coating. The one shown here sold for $152, beating the refractor without coating by $50. This shows that the market values cards with the coating higher than cards without. 

#14
2002 Ultimate Collection Signed Excellence #ED /65
Mark McGwire Autograph #MM2
BGS 9.5 sold for $152

Number 13 on the list is a magnificent example of what a successful autographed baseball card should look like. With a bright white background for the players to sign on and the blue colored ink, the signatures demand the attention they deserve. 

Limited to just 65 copies makes this a highly collectible McGwire baseball card. Furthermore, it becomes even more desirable because it’s from one of the earlier sets to offer player autographs. 

Pay attention to the sub-grades of BGS cards

If you look at the subgrades on this BGS 9.5, you’ll notice it has all 9.5 subgrades, which, is ideal. Collectors prefer a true BGS 9.5 instead of three 9.5s and a 9 or lesser sub-grade. The reason behind this is due to the overall eye appeal of the label and boosted selling opportunity. 

#13
2001 Ultra Decade of Dominance Platinum #ED /10
Mark McGwire #2
PSA 10 sold for $169

2001 Fleer Ultra Baseball set

Fleer Ultra baseball hobby boxes included some rarest parallels to hit the hobby. There were eight parallels in the set, four having Platinum variations, which were limited to only ten copies each. Tomorrow’s Legends, Greatest Hits of…, Power Plus, and Decade of Dominance were the options with Platinum variations. Gold and Platinum Medallion cards were also printed, with the Platinum Medallions being limited to only 50 copies for each veteran player and 25 for each Prospect. 

Needless to say, Fleer Ultra was a hot product at the time. To this day, collectors are battling it out for the Platinum parallels that managed to stay in gem mint condition. 

PSA Population Report

The decade of Dominance Platinum parallels is so rare that PSA has seen just two examples from the entire set. The Mark McGwire shown here was only in PSA 10 gem mint condition. The other card was a Tony Gwynn, which graded a PSA mint 9. 

With these being so rare, one would think the price tag would be much larger. Whoever won the auction got a bargain. 

#11
2002 SP Authentic Chirography ’98 Design
Mark McGwire Autograph #MMC
PSA 9 Mint Condition

In 2002, Upper Deck made major waves in the hobby by including autographs and game-used memorabilia cards of Mark McGwire throughout various products, and SP Authentic was no exception. McGwire’s autograph could be found in five different insert sets in 2002 SP Authentic (six if you count one set parallel).

2002 SP Authentic Chirography Autographs

Chirography autographs have been a staple in SP Authentic products since day one. With the 2002 SP Authentic set, we get various throwback years, including ’98, ’99, and ’01 of McGwire cards with a print run of 25.

With a simple design and clean background, the autographs in the Chirography series can pop off the card. The McGwire’s are extremely rare and near impossible to find. 

#10
1991 Topps Desert Shield
Mark McGwire #270
PSA 10 sold for$303

1991 is a year most consider part of the junk wax era. An era where a crap load of cards was printed than anyone had expected, which, because of supply and demand, deemed them all worthless. Fortunately, Topps printed a limited set with a much smaller print run called the Topps Desert Shield set.

This set was intended to be shipped overseas to our troops fighting the war. Although many speculate how many made it there, it is well known that they are rare in gem mint condition. 

Desert Shield set history

Desert Shield Topps cards are distinguishable by one feature. That gold embossed Desert Shield logo is on the upper right-hand corner of the card. It is that stamp alone that makes these cards valuable. Ken Griffey Jr. cards in PSA 10 cases sell for over $1,000. 

#9
1982 Anchorage Glacier Pilot
Mark McGwire Minor League Baseball Card
PSA 10 Gem Mint Condition

Coming in at number eight on the list is Mark McGwire’s earliest minor league card. Despite 1982 being prominently displayed on the card, The actual printing date is said to be around 1988 or ’89. Because Anchorage Glacier Pilots printed it Baseball Club, Inc., little information is known about where and when it came from. 

Card Details

With the low-quality black and white photo coupled with a plain blue background and basic font, one would think this card is worthless. Although it looks cheap, because it’s said to be one of his first cards, McGwire collectors still pay premiums for PSA gem mint copies.

PSA Population Report

With a staggering 1,290 total cards submitted, just 22 were declared to be in gem mint condition. With just 1% of the entire population in gem mint condition, it’s no wonder they demand prices of $300 and up. 

#8
2017 Topps Triple Threads Ruby Jersey Patch Autograph
Mark McGwire Baseball Card one-of-one
BGS 9.5 sold for $320

After spotting this beauty go up for sale, I had to add it to the list. We all know how difficult it is to pull a game-used card in gem mint condition, right? Well, this magnificent 1/1 passed with flying colors. It passed with flying colors and scored a solid 10 on the edges and 9.5s for the other subgrades. 

Topps Triple Threads set history

Topps Triple Threads started in 2006 and has been a fan favorite ever since. With the combination of player-worn jerseys, patches, autographs, and super short prints, how can you not love these cards?

Furthermore, the colorful designs offer a unique die-cut text over materials. This example showcases the word “Big Mac 70” from his 70 home run season in 1998.

#7
1985 Chong Modesto A’s (Incorrect Spelling)
Mark McGwire Minor League Card #17
PSA 10 Gem Mint Condition

Authentic or not?

The 1985 Chong Modesto A’s has had some controversy attached to it. Because of the numerous flaws in the production, many collectors question the authenticity of individual cards.

Errors and corrected sets

According to Beckett, there were only 1700 total sets printed. 500 initial sets with the errors, 500 corrected sets (slightly off center), and finally, 700 corrected and centered sets, the last reprinted from uncut sheets, rather than the original plates or negatives.

Unfortunately, since these were such low-tech productions, they were very easy to counterfeit. And the counterfeiters let the presses roll. And since the counterfeits were virtually indistinguishable, most McGwire cards are likely fakes.

Investing in the (Incorrect Spelling)

This card plays a major role in Mark McGwire’s baseball card and minor league card collections. Even though both Sports Collector’s Digest and Beckett discourage collectors from buying any 1985 Chong McGwire cards that don’t come as part of complete sets. 

#12
1987 Leaf
Mark McGwire Rookie Card #46
PSA 10 sold for $811

1987 O-Pee-Chee set

Mark McGwire’s 1987 Leaf Rated Rookie card is almost identical to his 1987 Donruss. The main differences are the Leaf logo in the upper left-hand corner of the front of the card and the French description on the back. These were printed for the Canadian audience and are far rarer than the Donruss set. 

With black borders and easily chipped card stock, this set is very difficult to find cards in perfect condition. Furthermore, due to O-Pee-Chee cutting cards poorly, centering could prohibit you from reaching that prestigious gem mint 10 grade.

PSA Population Report

As of today, PSA has graded 860 of the 1987 Leaf Mark McGwire rookie cards. Astonishingly, only 37 were found to be in gem mint condition. This means we have less than a 5% chance of getting a gem mint 10 if we submit a copy. Save your time and money and consider purchasing an example already graded PSA 10. 

#6
1993 Finest Refractor
Mark McGwire Baseball Card #92
PSA 10 Gem Mint Condition

The number six most expensive Mark McGwire card on the list is his 1993 Topps Finest refractor. This is one of the most important sets that helped mold the hobby today. It introduced chromium cards to base sets and refractors as parallels.  

Unlike hobby boxes today with a refractor in every other pack, in the 1993 Finest hobby boxes, you could hope to find two per box. This made them fairly rare and highly collectible. 

All-star subset

Cards #84 through #116 on the checklist cover All-Stars. Although it’s a subset with its design, All-Star players weren’t included anywhere else on the base set checklist. However, these cards have a similar style photo. Instead of a circle, there is a smaller spotlit triangle behind the player with a pair of stars shooting out of the top. The header reads “Baseball’s All-Stars.” The nameplate is also slightly different but only has the player’s name and Topps logo.

PSA Population Report

PSA has graded 244 of the McGwire refractors. Incredibly, just 34 were found in gem mint condition. Like other refractors in the set, McGwire refractors are rare and even rarer in perfect condition. 

#5
1996 Select Certified Mirror Gold #ED /30
Mark McGwire Baseball Card #20
PSA 9 sold for $456

Select Certified Mirror Gold parallels are considered to be mythical cards in the hobby that very rarely surface. With a known print run of only 30 copies per card and a distribution of about 1:300 packs, to say these are rare is an understatement.

Upon their release in 1996, collectors, investors, and set builders were on the hunt to get every last one. When coupled with the low print run, the demand couldn’t meet the supply, and it dried up. All were left with is overpriced commons. 

1996 Select Certified Mirror Parallels

To clarify how rare and valuable these cards are, a PSA 5 Frank Thomas sold for $3,876 at auction in January 2019.  The Mark McGwire shown here topped out at only $456, which, in my opinion, was incredibly low. The buyer received one of the best deals I’ve seen in 2019. 

PSA Population Report

Mark McGwire holds the highest Mirror Gold population with 16 total cards graded. Derek Jeter and Tony Gwynn tie for second with 15 cards graded. With the popularity of this set, I am surprised that after 23 years, the population reports are still so low.

Keep your eyes peeled for these if you frequent garage sales or flea markets. Commons cards are also worth a pretty penny, so don’t disregard those. 

#4
1998 Donruss Crusade Red #ED / 25
Mark McGwire Baseball Card
PSA 10 sold for $456

Counting down the top five Mark McGwire’s baseball cards can’t be complete without his 1998 Donruss Crusade parallel. Which, are another highly collected and incredibly rare set. Offered in three different colored parallels with Green (#ED /250), Purple (#ED /100), and Red (#ED /25), collectors fight to get the complete rainbow of all three. With the much smaller print run of only 25 per card, the Red Crusade is the go-to for most collectors. 

1998 Donruss Crusade Insert Set

Donruss Crusade inserts were randomly inserted into various Leaf and Donruss products from 1998. The pull rate was unknown but considered extremely tough to this day. Values for each player are all over the place.

Mark McGwire cards aren’t the most expensive but the data is still small due to limited prints. I’m excited to see the prices for the Red parallels as cards slowly hit the market in the future. 

#3
1997 Finest Embossed Die-cut Refractor
Mark McGwire #155
PSA 10 sold for $888

Number three on the list is the Finest Embossed die-cut refractor. Ultimately, these cards can make a collection “elite.” With the lack of serial numbers and appearances on the market, the total print run for these cards is unknown. Some guess that there are no more than 50 copies per card, and that’s being generous. 

1997 Finest baseball card set

There are four parallels for each player in the set. A base card, a refractor, a die-cut, and a die-cut refractor. The die-cut refractors, as shown in the image, are the highest-valued cards in the set.

They have a highly reflective square pattern background that beams and reflects light like no other card printed at the time. Furthermore, the edges are distinguishable by the super fine die-cut edges on all four sides. 

PSA Population Report

Currently, nine Mark McGwire die-cut refractors have been graded by PSA. A mere three currently reside in a PSA 10 case. This amazingly rare card will set your collection apart from everyone else. Especially if you can snatch up one of only three gem mint 10s.

#2
1998 Donruss Preferred Precious Metals Gold /50
Mark McGwire #16
PSA 10 sold for $861

Among the most coveted insert or chase cards from the mid to late 1990s, the 1998 Donruss Preferred Precious Metals cards consisted of a 30-card partial parallel to the regular set, the only difference being that ten of the cards were printed on real platinum, four of real silver, and sixteen on real, pure gold.

Not only are they unique and valuable in this sense, but each card was limited to just 50 copies produced, and they also feature a surprisingly pleasant and refined design for the period, far less flashy than most of their contemporary inserts, and perfectly suited to the high-class materials onto which they are printed. In words, and indeed, they are precious.

PSA Population Report

Only four McGwire’s were submitted so far; surprisingly, all four were encapsulated in a PSA 10 case. So, it’s safe to say that if you own one, you need to submit it. These cards are proving to grade incredibly well.

Of the 35 total examples submitted, 27 were graded gem mint 10. Which, unlike other more populated sets, doesn’t make them any less valuable. 

#1
1985 Topps Tiffany
Mark McGwire rookie card #401
PSA 10 sold for $4,550

If you’re looking for the highest-selling Mark McGwire baseball card, look no further than his 1985 Topps Tiffany rookie card. It looks identical to his Topps card but has all the Topps Tiffany features. Topps Tiffany cards are instantly recognizable in-person because of their white card stock. Regular Topps cards from the era traditionally used a grey stock. Card fronts also have a glossy finish, giving them a slick feel.

Topps Tiffany sets

Topps Tiffany baseball cards gave collectors a premium option for many sets printed during the Junk Wax Era. Between 1984 and 1991, Topps made a limited number of factory sets with higher production values. The secondary values of Topps Tiffany cards are much stronger than their regular Topps counterparts.

PSA Population Report

If you want rare, hunt for a PSA gem mint copy of this card. As of today, only 35 exist. That’s an incredibly small amount when you see that 1,553 have been graded. Topps Tiffany rookie cards are the best to invest in in the years ’84 through ’91.