• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Get Sports Collectors Daily via EMail
    • Advertise with SC Daily
    • Write for Sports Collectors Daily
    • Write About Your Sports Collection
    • Where Can I Sell My Baseball Cards?
  • Hot on eBay
    • Most Watched Graded Rookies
    • Most Watched PSA 10 Cards
    • Most Watched BGS, BVG Cards
    • Most Watched SGC Cards
    • Most Watched Baseball Cards
      • Most Watched 2023 Baseball Cards
      • Most Watched 2022 Baseball Rookie Cards
      • Bowman Chrome Cards
      • Wander Franco Cards
      • Mike Trout Cards
      • Fernando Tatis Jr. Cards
      • Babe Ruth Cards
      • Hank Aaron Cards
      • Jackie Robinson Cards:
      • Mickey Mantle Cards
      • Willie Mays Cards
      • Vintage Baseball Card Sets
      • T206 Cards
    • Most Watched Basketball
      • Top 100 Most Watched Basketball Rookie Cards
      • 100 Hottest 2022-23 NBA Rookie Cards
      • 100 Hottest 2021-22 NBA Rookie Cards
      • 100 Hottest 2020-21 NBA Rookie Cards
      • 100 Hottest 2019-20 NBA Rookie Cards
        • Zion Williamson Rookie Cards
        • Ja Morant Rookie Cards
      • Michael Jordan Cards
      • Kobe Bryant Cards
      • LeBron James Rookie Cards
      • Giannis Antetokounmpo Rookie Cards
      • Luka Doncic Rookie Cards
      • Prizm Basketball Cards
      • Panini National Treasures
    • Most Watched Football Cards
      • Most Watched NFL Rookie Cards
      • 2022 NFL Rookie Cards
        • Brock Purdy Rookie Cards
      • 2021 NFL Rookie Cards
      • 2020 NFL Rookie Cards
        • Joe Burrow Rookie Cards
        • Justin Herbert Rookie Cards
        • Jalen Hurts Rookie Cards
      • Josh Allen Rookie Cards
      • Patrick Mahomes Rookie Cards
      • Tom Brady Cards
    • Most Watched Hockey Cards
      • Top 100 Most Watched Hockey Rookie Cards
      • Most Watched 2020-21 Rookie Cards
      • Most Watched 2019-20 Rookie Cards
      • Connor McDavid Cards
      • Wayne Gretzky Cards
      • Bobby Orr Cards
    • Most Watched Soccer Cards
    • Most Watched UFC Cards
    • Most Watched Golf Cards
    • Most Watched 1 of 1 Cards
    • Most Watched Racing Cards
    • Top Sports Card Dealers on eBay
    • Most Watched Memorabilia
      • Vintage Sports Memorabilia
    • Vintage Sports Tickets, Stubs
    • Most Watched Autographs
  • Ending Soon on Ebay
    • Baseball Cards
    • Basketball Cards
    • Football Cards
    • Hockey Cards
    • Soccer Cards
    • Golf Cards
    • UFC Cards
  • Top - Ad

Sports Collectors Daily

Sports Collectors Daily

Sports collecting news - Sports cards and sports memorabilia industry news.

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network. 

  • Sports Memorabilia News
  • Sports Card News
    • Modern Sports Card News
      • New Sports Card Release Calendar
      • Shop Talk
    • Vintage Sports Card News
      • Affordable Vintage Cards, Collectibles
      • Old Baseball Card Sets
      • Old Basketball Card Sets
      • Old Football Card Sets
      • Old Hockey Card Sets
      • Vintage Pack Facts
  • Business/Industry News
    • Sports Memorabilia Business News
    • Sports Memorabilia Industry News
  • Around The Hobby
    • Editor’s Blog
    • David Cycleback’s Identification and Authentication Advice
  • Popular Stories
  • Sell Your Cards
You are here: Home / Sports Card News / Notable ROY Winners Have Affordable Rookie Cards

Notable ROY Winners Have Affordable Rookie Cards

November 16, 2015 By Bob D'Angelo

It was unanimous in the National League Monday, as Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant was named Rookie of the Year. And Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa was the American League winner. Correa’s vote was closer, as he received 17 of 30 first-place votes to edge Cleveland’s Francisco Lindor by a 124-109 vote.

Since baseball’s Rookie of the Year award was instituted in 1947, 14 players who have won the award have been elected to the Hall of Fame. Jackie Robinson won the inaugural award, and since 1949 — when the honor was expanded to each league — eight National League winners and five from the American League have earned plaques in Cooperstown.

Had it not been for his gambling activities that landed him on baseball’s ineligible list, Pete Rose (1963) would have been in that group.  Dick Allen and Tony Oliva (both 1964 winners) each fell one vote shy of enshrinement by the Golden Era Committee last December. Mike Piazza, who won the N.L. award in 1993, could be entering the Hall as soon next season, depending on voters.

Derek Jeter, who won rookie honors in 1996, might become the sixth from the A.L. to join the club. And current players like Ichiro Suzuki and Albert Pujols (both won it 2001) also have a decent shot at the Hall.

Vintage rookie cards remain a coveted item by collectors, especially players who became Hall of Famers. Several Rookie of the Year winners have expensive debut cards — Rose, Johnny Bench, Tom Seaver, Rod Carew and Cal Ripken come to mind — but there are some affordable rookie cards of Hall of Famers.

Here are five of them. For clarification purposes, I am only including cards of players that were issued the year they won the rookie award.  That will eliminate players like Frank Robinson, Willie McCovey and Eddie Murray, for example.

Andre Dawson Rookie Card1977-Topps-Andre-Dawson-214x300

“The Hawk” made his baseball card debut on card No. 473 in the 1977 Topps set. He was one of four players featured, along with Gene Richards (Padres), John Scott (Blue Jays) and Denny Walling (A’s).

Dawson batted .282 in 1977 with 19 homers and 65 RBIs in 1977 to earn 10 first-place votes, edging Steve Henderson of the Mets, who had nine.

Raw versions of Dawson’s rookie card on eBay can be purchased for under $20, and in some cases, under $5. Graded cards are not terribly expensive, either.

The latest edition of The Standard Catalog of Vintage Baseball cards lists a near-mint version at $25 and a VG at a mere $5.

Billy Williams Rookie Card

Billy Williams 1961 Topps rookie cardHe was an underappreciated player outside of the Chicago area, but even savvy baseball fans far from the Friendly Confines are well aware of Williams’ Hall of Fame credentials through his hitting and amazing durability.

Williams batted .278 with 25 homers and 86 RBIs in 1961 with the Chicago Cubs, grabbing 10 first-place votes to double the total of runner-up Joe Torre, who was catching for the Milwaukee Braves.

Williams appears by himself on card No. 141 in the 1961 Topps set, with a yellow star at the top right-hand side of the card proclaiming his rookie status.

Centering is often an issue but a decent ungraded Williams can be had for under $30, while even a graded, near-mint card is affordable.

The Standard Catalog of Vintage Baseball Cards has a price fluctuation of $60 for near mint and $15 for a VG version of the card.

Orlando Cepeda Rookie CardOrlando Cepeda 1958 Topps

The 1958 Topps rookie card of Cepeda is also a standalone, as rookie cards of the late 1950s and early ’60s tended to be.

Cepeda received 21 first-place votes after batting .312 with 25 homers and 96 RBIs. He also stole 15 bases and had a .512 slugging percentage.

Card No. 343 shows a cut-out photo of Cepeda against a vibrant red background, stretching for the baseball.

Prices on eBay for Cepeda’s rookie card are higher than Dawson and Williams, but something in the EX – EX/NM range can often be found for under $50. The Standard Catalog of Vintage Baseball Cards lists a NM card at $100 and a VG at $25.

Luis Aparicio Rookie Card

Luis Aparicio rookie cardAparicio received 22 of the 24 votes cast in A.L. Rookie of the Year voting; Rocky Colavito and Tito Francona received one vote apiece.

Aparicio was ordinary at the plate, batting .266 with 3 homers and 56 RBIs. But he led the A.L. with 21 stolen bases to power the soon-to-be Go-Go Sox and had a .954 fielding percentage at shortstop in 152 games.

Aparicio appeared on card No. 292 of the 1956 Topps set. His graded cards are little pricier as it climbs toward near mint, but raw cards on eBay are still within a frugal collector’s budget. The Standard Catalog of Vintage Baseball cards lists a VG specimen at $37.50 and a NM card books for $150.

Carlton Fisk Rookie Card

The voting wasn’t even close in 1972. Fisk received all 24 first-place votes after batting .292 with 22 homers and 91 RBIs. Surprisingly, the young catcher for the Red Sox tied for the A.L. lead with nine triples (he shared it with Oakland’s Joe Rudi, also Carlton Fisk 1972 Topps rookie cardnot known for his speed) and was second in slugging percentage (.538) behind Allen’s .603.

Defensively, Fisk threw out 36 runners and had a .984 fielding percentage behind the plate.

Fisk was placed on card No. 79 in the 1972 Topps set, occupying the far right slot of a card that had three photographs. Fisk was joined on the card by pitcher Mike Garman and first baseman Cecil Cooper.

Most raw Fisk rookies can be had for less than the price of a nice dinner; graded cards are higher, of course, and while a PSA-8 might command $150, a lower-graded card (PSA-5 or 6) can be had for a third of that. The Standard Catalog of Vintage Baseball Cards has a high price of $50 (near mint) and a low of $15 (VG).

Monday’s announcement of the 2015 Rookie of the Year award winners is now history. Will Bryant or Correa make it to the Hall of Fame? We’ll find out in about 15 to 20 years. Until then, save their rookie cards.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Reddit
  • Facebook Messenger

Related Stories:

Notes: 1982’s “Card of the Year”; Game-Worn Auctions Leaf 1960 Series 2 box1960 Leaf Baseball Set Was One Year Wonder Kris Bryant 2015 Topps Update base rookie cardRamblings: No Shortage of New Chicago Sports Stars Mike Schmidt Babe Ruth Home Run CrownMike Schmidt Collection, Part 2, Set for Auction 1987 NL MVP award plaque Andre DawsonAndre Dawson Collection Up for Grabs This Summer Toughest PSA 9 1960s Hall of Fame Rookie Cards 1975 home run ball Carlton FiskCarlton Fisk’s 1975 World Series Home Run Ball Heads to Auction Mint Mantle Rookie Card Brings $221,150 in Memory Lane Auction

About Bob D'Angelo

Bob has been a sportswriter and copy editor for more than 35 years and a blogger for a decade. He is celebrating his 50th year of card collecting, and still counts his 1965 Topps Mickey Mantle as his favorite. You can reach him at [email protected].

Filed Under: Sports Card News, Vintage Sports Card News Tagged With: andre dawson, billy williams, Carlton Fisk, Luis Aparicio, vintage rookie cards

Primary Sidebar

Our articles may contain affiliate links. When you click on links to merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network. 

  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • Hockey

High End Cards and Memorabilia

  • BBCE Authenticated Boxes, Packs opens in a new window
  • Graded pre-War Card Auctions
  • Graded Rookie Cards opens in a new window
  • Authenticated Photos opens in a new window
  • Graded Tickets & Stubs opens in a new window

Bargain Corner

  • Michael Jordan cards $5 and less opens in a new window
  • Kobe Bryant cards $5 and less opens in a new window
  • Mickey Mantle Cards Under $150 opens in a new window
  • Graded T206 Cards Under $150 opens in a new window
  • Pre-War Cards Under $100 opens in a new window
  • Pre-1980 Graded Baseball Cards $10 and Less opens in a new window
  • Pre-1980 Graded Football Cards $10 and Less opens in a new window
  • Vintage Graded Basketball Cards $25 and less opens in a new window
  • Vintage Graded Hockey Cards $10 and Less opens in a new window
  • Complete Sets $20 and Less opens in a new window
  • Baseball Hall of Famers for $5 or Less opens in a new window
  • Football Hall of Famers for $5 or Less opens in a new window
  • Hobby Boxes Under $30 opens in a new window
  • Pre-1986 Rookie Cards Under $1 opens in a new window

RSS Auction Report

  • SCP Auctions Offers Wilt Chamberlain Rookie Season Uniform Auction – End June 17, 2023
  • Selling Your Collection? Consign or Sell To Detroit City Sports
  • PWCC Weekly Sunday Auction – Ending June 11, 2023

Footer

Categories

  • Around the Hobby
  • Business/Industry News
    • Sports Memorabilia Business News
    • Sports Memorabilia Industry News
  • David Cycleback's Identification and Authentication Advice
  • Editor's Blog
  • Featured Articles
  • Hobby Shop Talk
  • National Sports Collectors Convention
  • Popular Stories
  • Rich Klein's Ramblings
  • Sports Card News
    • Modern Sports Card News
      • New Sports Card Release Calendar
    • Vintage Sports Card News
      • Old Baseball Card Sets
      • Old Basketball Card Sets
      • Old Football Card Sets
      • Old Hockey Card Sets
      • Vintage Pack Facts
  • Sports Memorabilia News
  • Uncategorized

Sponsor Links

  • Sports Card Forumopens in a new window
  • Buying Vintage Sports Cardsopens in a new window
  • Game Used Jerseysopens in a new window
  • Championship Rings For Saleopens in a new window
  • Vintage Basketball Cardsopens in a new window
  • NBA Signed Itemsopens in a new window
  • Autographed Baseballsopens in a new window
  • NASCAR Autographsopens in a new window
  • Vintage Graded Baseball Cardsopens in a new window
  • Player Picturesopens in a new window
  • Vintage Football Cardsopens in a new window
  • Sports Collectors Storeopens in a new window

Pages

Ending on eBay Soon
  • Baseball Card Auctions on eBay Ending Soon
  • Basketball Card Auctions on eBay Ending Soon
  • Football Card Auctions on eBay Ending Soon
  • Hockey Card Auctions Ending Soon on eBay
  • Vintage Sports Memorabilia on eBay Ending Soon
Top 100 on Ebay
  • Top 100 Most Watched Baseball Rookie Cards on eBay
  • Top 100 Most Watched Basketball Rookie Cards for Sale on eBay
  • Top 100 Most Watched Hockey Rookie Card Auctions
  • Top Authenticated Vintage Unopened Sports Card Boxes, Packs on eBay
Most Watched on eBay
  • 100 Most Watched Graded Rookie Cards for Sale on eBay
  • 100 Most Watched Tom Brady Card Auctions on eBay
  • 50 Hottest Hobby Boxes at Auction on eBay
  • 50 Most Watched Golf Trading Cards on eBay
  • 50 Most Watched Wrestling Trading Cards on eBay
  • 75 Most Watched Bowman Chrome Cards
  • Most Popular Bobbleheads on eBay
  • Most Watched 1/1 Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Basketball Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Complete Baseball Card Sets at Auction on eBay
  • Most Watched Football Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Football Rookie Card Auctions
  • Most Watched Goudey Baseball Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Hockey Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Racing Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Soccer Cards for Sale on eBay
  • Most Watched Sports Autographs on eBay
  • Most Watched Sports Jerseys on eBay
  • Most Watched Unopened Sports Card Boxes, Packs on eBay
  • Most Watched Vintage Sports Memorabilia on eBay
  • Hottest Panini National Treasures Cards on eBay
  • Hottest PSA 10 Cards for Sale on eBay
  • What’s Hot on eBay
Sports Memorabilia
  • Sports Card Bargain Bin
  • Sports Memorabilia Auctions Ending Soon on eBay
About Sports Collectors Daily
  • Advertise with SC Daily
  • Contact Us
  • Get Sports Collectors Daily via EMail
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
Sell Your Cards
  • What’s It Worth
  • Where Can I Sell My Baseball Cards?

Copyright © 2023 SportsCollectorsDaily.com | Web Design by Wickam Groupopens in a new window