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Barry Bonds remains one of the more controversial players in Major League Baseball with a big asterisk for many especially during his latter years of playing professionally.
Nevertheless, Bonds’ stats are remarkable and his rookie cards still have value.
And if you’re betting on one day that Barry Bonds will somehow ultimately make it to the Hall of Fame, it might be a good time now to look into acquiring some of his rookie cards.
For many baseball collectors and fans alike, Bonds is still considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time. In his 22-year career, Bonds hit a record-breaking 762 home runs, won eight National League MVP awards, and voted for 14 All-Star selections.
Despite these achievements, however, Bonds is also a polarizing figure, as his name is often associated with performance-enhancing drugs and controversy.
Regardless of your opinion on Bonds and PEDs, it’s difficult to neglect the impact he had on the game of baseball. His records and achievements will be difficult to break, and he will be remembered by many as one of the greatest players to ever step on a baseball field . (Scroll to the bottom of the post to see arguments for and against inducting Bonds into the Hall of Fame here).
Here are his best rookie cards to collect with links provided to take you to the eBay listings.
1. 1986 Topps Traded Tiffany Rookie Card
Arguably his most popular rookie card, the 1986 Topps Traded Tiffany rookie card has a nice profile shot of Barry Bonds with his striped Pittsburgh Pirates hat.
This Topps Traded Tiffany card in PSA 10 is currently valued in the thousands.
But the non-Tiffany cards are much more affordable.
2. 1986 Donruss ‘The Rookies’ Rookie Card
For collectors looking to add a more affordable PSA 10 graded rookie card of Barry Bonds, the Donruss set is where to find one.
He’s part of “The Rookies” subset with the distinctive green border, and a perfectly graded one is still available for quite a bit less than the aforementioned Topps Traded Tiffany rookie cards.
3. 1987 Topps Tiffany Rookie Card #320
Not to be confused with the Topps Traded Tiffany, this one is not as valuable but still has considerable worth.
For Canadian collectors, the design and look of the wood panel bordered card looks identical to the O-Pee-Chee brand.
MORE INFORMATION ON BONDS: Bonds was born on July 24, 1964 in Riverside, California. After playing baseball in high school and at Arizona State University, Bonds was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first round of the 1985 MLB draft.
Bonds made his big league debut a year after with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1986. In 1990, he won his first MVP award, and helped lead the Pirates to the National League Championship Series.
After seven seasons with the Pirates, Bonds signed as a free agent with the San Francisco Giants in 1993.
Bonds hit a career-high 37 home runs in his first season with the Giants and over the next several years, Bonds continued to break records, including setting the all-time single-season record with 73 home runs in 2001.
But Bonds’ record-breaking achievements still remain controversial. In 2003, Bonds was implicated in the BALCO scandal, which revealed that he and several other high-profile athletes had used PEDs.
Bonds was eventually charged with obstruction of justice for his testimony in front of a federal grand jury investigating the BALCO case, but he was acquitted of these charges in 2011.
Despite the controversy surrounding PEDs, Bonds remained one of the most dominant players especially in the latter part of his career. He hit his 756th home run in August 2007, breaking the record previously held by Hank Aaron, and went on to hit a total of 762 home runs before retiring in 2007.
Bonds is widely regarded as one of the best hitters of all time, with a career batting average of .298 and a career on-base percentage of .444. Bonds was also known for his defence, winning eight Gold Gloves in the outfield.
ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST INDUCTING BONDS
| ARGUMENTS FOR | ARGUMENTS AGAINST |
| Career Stats: Just look at the numbers – career batting average of .298 and of course 762 home runs (most in Major League Baseball history.) | PEDs: Bonds has been linked to the use of performance-enhancing drugs, which is considered a major violation of the sport’s rules and integrity. |
| Awards: Bonds has won seven National League MVP Awards and was an eight-time Gold Glove winner showcasing is defensive skills. | Controversy: Some argue Bonds’ association with PEDs has damaged his legacy, and would also damage the sport’s reputation. |
| Impact on the Game: Bonds’ achievements during his playing days has influenced and earned the respect of many current players . | Lack of Support from Media/Fans: Many fans and media (in particular those who vote for Hall of Famers) remain skeptical about Bonds’ candidacy due to his connection to PEDs as well as unofficially how he treated some members of the media. |
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I have a tiffany topps barry bonds 1986 rookie card , in the very best condition possible,I put it in the case when I was a kid and havent had it graded or anything,but I’m willing to hear any reasonable offer, contact me at 402 209 3716 ,Aaron. I’ll send u pics ,and I’m open to trades for other things
I have a tiffany topps barry bonds 1986 rookie card , in the very best condition possible,I put it in the case when I was a kid and havent had it graded or anything,but I’m willing to hear any reasonable offer, contact me at 215 294 0377 Mike. I’ll send u pics ,and I’m open to trades for other things
I’ve got 10mint graded. 1987#320 Bonds, #30 Bonds graded at 10 mint, 86 Donruss Barry Bonds also graded at 10 mint or higher. [email protected]. email me.