Greg Maddux was an artist on the pitcher's mound. One of the best pitchers of his era, he devastated opposing batters throughout the 1990s. Maddux won the National League Cy Young Award in four straight seasons between 1992 and 1995. He also won over collectors, making Greg Maddux cards among the hobby's elite.
Despite his dominance on the field and popularity with collectors, Greg Maddux rookie cards remain very affordable. That's because they come from an era of over production. So even with a lot of demand, the supply is more than plentiful. This has kept prices of even the first Greg Maddux cards in check and attainable for collectors on all budgets.
From an investment standpoint, there's more potential in Greg Maddux autograph cards and high-end inserts. While there are lots of different certified signed cards of the Texas-born superstar, most have low print runs. At any given time, there are far fewer autographed Greg Maddux cards available than most of his other superstar peers. This has resulted in a premium on his signature.
Another spot for growth is rare inserts and parallels. Because he was super a great and respected player, Maddux was an insert set regular. Many of these came in sets that were case hits. Parallels from high end sets from the mid- to late-90s have all but dried up as well and should rise once Maddux is enshrined in Cooperstown.
In fact, all Greg Maddux cards and collectibles will likely see a bump when the Hall of Fame comes calling. It will be an embarrassment to the game if he isn't a first-ballot inductee.
Collectors have four Greg Maddux rookie cards to choose from, all of which can be found ungraded for under $10. Even professionally graded copies are reasonably priced given Maddux's place in baseball history.
Greg Maddux Rookie Card Checklist
1987 Donruss Greg Maddux RC #36
The 1987 Donruss Greg Maddux rookie card is perhaps the most recognizable of his first cards. Sporting a barely there mustache, a very young Maddux is shown in his windup. 1987 Donruss was one of the company's best designs of the decade. The black borders make even the smallest dings visible.
1987 Fleer Update Greg Maddux RC #U-68
Released as a part of a box set, the 1987 Fleer Update Greg Maddux rookie has a clean blue design. It also has the best photo of all his first cards. There is also a Glossy version of the set. Traditionally, these premium sets carry more value. However, 1987 Fleer Update Glossy was reportedly vastly overproduced, thus killing nearly all potential of it becoming substantially more valuable.
1987 Leaf Greg Maddux RC #36
If you're looking for a dark horse among Greg Maddux rookie cards, 1987 Leaf might be your best bet. Similar to O-Pee-Chee taking on the Topps identity in Canada, Leaf was originally only available in Canada. This means a lower print run. The design is almost identical, the main difference being the Leaf logo on the front replacing the Donruss logo.
1987 Topps Traded Greg Maddux RC #70T
Some collectors love the wood grain design of 1987 Topps Baseball. Others loathe it. Either way, there are plenty of 1987 Topps Traded Greg Maddux cards to go around. Distributed as a part of the annual box set, it's cheap and easy to come by. A better bet is the glossy 1987 Topps Traded Tiffany Greg Maddux. Although it commands a premium, it's still relatively affordable, even top grade versions.
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Greg Maddux Autographed Memorabilia Buying Guide
Below you will find an example of what Greg Maddux's authentic signature looks like. This can be used as a first point of reference for determining the legitimacy of autograph memorabilia, but is not a substitute for having your items authenticated by a well-respected professional autograph authentication company.
Signed Baseball Pricing:
Lowest Amazon Price:
Average eBay Sales Price: $55
Signed Jersey Pricing:
Lowest Amazon Price:
Average eBay Sales Price: $193.75
Signed 8x10 Photo Pricing
Lowest Amazon Price:
Average eBay Sales Price: $41.66
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