Player: Fred “Crime dog” McGriff
Set: 1986 Donrus
Card Number: 28 respectively
Why is This Card is a Must Have?: For what ever reason I had thought that there was more than one Fred McGriff rookie card. I was wrong, 1986 Donruss was the only one in all of 1986. The truth is though that Donruss pulled off a coup on this out has he didn’t become a major player in baseball until 1987. At almost 2500 hits and nearly 493 home runs, you would think a card like this would be worth more than $8 (book value). In any other era, it probably would be, but in the over production of the mid 80s, it becomes just another overproduced rookie card. The truth is that McGriff may not be thought of as a Hall of Fame type guy, but you know he is getting in. Not one the first ballot, but at some point they have to let him in. He was popular, and only 7 homers shy of 500. If he isn’t let in, he would have the highest home run total of a plyer not in the Hall of Fame. Of the top 10 most similar players, 4 are in the Hall, 5 are getting in, over the next 5-8 years, only Andres Galarraga won’t get in. So this would become the only rookie card of a future Hall of Famer, he should get to $20.
On a Scale of 1 to 10, How Must Have is This Card?: An 8, he is a high quality guy, who put up high quality numbers, in the best set of 1986. Definitely get this card if you could. You can find this card for about $1.50 on eBay.
Come on man. Fred McGriff is an 8 and Sandberg is a 7?
ahh sports collectible cards, reminds me i should open up my binders of basketball and soccer cards!
I have to agree with acer23 on this one. I wouldn’t think that McGriff is any higher than a 5 or 6.
I disagree, Sandberg never approached the 500 home run club and never had the numbers that McGriff had. I think McGriff gets downgraded a lot for the number of teams he played for, but he was definitely one of the better players of the late 80s and early 90s. Maybe 8 was a tad high, upon reflection I should have given him a 7.
You can’t compare HR numbers at different positions. Sandberg retired as the career leader in HR’s for a second baseman.
Plus, Sandberg has more 300+ AVG years in his 16 than McGriff has in his 19.
McGriff had no MVP, awards (Sandberg 1). McGriff had only 3 silver slugger awards (Sandberg 7). McGriff only 5 All-Star selections (Sandberg 10).
I like McGriff, I’m just saying Sandberg gets an unfair rap from too many fans despite the fact that he is easily one of the top 5 secondbasemen to play the game.