Best Don Mattingly Baseball Cards for collectors on a budget

Below are the top 6 Don Mattingly Baseball cards under $300 in PSA 10 condition. They are perfect for budget collectors. 

Don Mattingly had a very good career with the New York Yankees, playing from 1982 to 1995. Effectively bridging the gap from the Bronx is Burning teams to the late-90s dynasty.

Don Mattingly Baseball Cards Collage

Playing from 1982 to 1995, Mattingly was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise mediocre time that saw the Yankees fail to reach the postseason for 13 consecutive seasons.

Although injuries derailed the 2nd half of his career, Mattingly was the best all-around 1st baseman in MLB from 1984 to 1987.

Due to his great popularity among Yankees fans, Mattingly sports cards can carry a hefty price tag in the market. However, in today’s economy, many collectors are looking for less expensive options.

6. 1988 Topps Don Mattingly Baseball Card #300

Estimated PSA 10 Value – $70

Estimated PSA 9 Value – $15

1988 Topps Don Mattingly Baseball Card #300

The #300 Topps card contains one of the simpler and understated frontal designs for Topps baseball cards of the 80s.

The card contains two borders, an outer white border, and an inner purple border that directly outlines the player photo.

The player photo shows a full-body action shot of Mattingly right after hitting a ball during an at-bat. The only other information contained on the card’s front is the Yankees team name listed in large, red bloc font at the top of the card.

The Topps brand name/logo listed at the bottom left, and Mattingly’s name listed on a diagonal yellow banner at the bottom right.

1988 Topps Don Mattingly Baseball Card #300 back of card

The horizontally designed rear of the card lists Mattingly’s major league stats from 1982 to 1987 and a few other player facts and tidbits. 

5. 1987 Topps, Baseball Card #500

Estimated PSA 10 Value – $100

Estimated PSA 9 Value – $17.50

1987 Topps, Baseball Card #500

Although the 1987 Topps set couldn’t match the legendary design of the iconic 1986 set. It still sported a solid design in its own right.

The #500 card employs a large, wood-colored border outlining a picture of Mattingly during an in-game at-bat at Yankee Stadium. The top left of the card’s front displays the Yankees logo, while the Topps brand name/logo is listed at the bottom left.

The center/right of the card’s bottom displays a red banner with Mattingly’s name listed in white font.

1987 Topps, Baseball Card #500 back of card

The rear of the card is designed horizontally and lists his major league stats. It also lists an interesting fact about Mattingly. Namely that his birth date year is different from the year typically listed in most baseball record books of the day. 

4. 1987 Topps Tiffany, Baseball Card #500

Estimated PSA 10 Value – $215

Estimated PSA 9 Value – $30

1987 Topps Tiffany, Baseball Card #500

From 1984 to 1991, Topps offered upgraded versions of the company’s card sets. Cards in these sets had a glossy frontal coating and a whiter cardstock on their back.

Another common identifying factor of these sets included 1 or 2 small stars/asterisks on the back of the card, located at the bottom.

Because of their limited printing and higher quality grade, Topps Tiffany cards almost always generate much higher prices in all conditions, especially PSA 10.

The 1987 Topps Tiffany version of the #500 Don Mattingly card displays both the glossy frontal coating on its front and the whiter cardstock on its rear.

1987 Topps Tiffany, Baseball back of Card #500

Other than these changes, the rest of the card is identical to the base version.

It does not contain the small stars/asterisks on its back that other Topps Tiffany cards sometimes contain. 

3. 1985 Fleer, Don Mattingly Baseball Card #133

Estimated PSA 10 Value – $225

Estimated PSA 9 Value – $45

1985 Fleer, Don Mattingly Baseball Card #133

The 1985 #133 Fleer card featuring Don Mattingly has 3 separate borders on its front.

A gray outer border surrounds the entirety of the card’s front. A 2nd, purple border is displayed directly underneath the gray border. The portion of the purple border located at the top of the card is much wider than the rest of the border. And it contains Mattingly’s name, team, and position in white font near the top of the card.

The Fleer brand name is listed at the bottom right of the card on the purple border as well. A 3rd, white border outlines the player photo of Mattingly waiting for a pitch during an at-bat. The top left of the card displays the Yankees logo, covering parts of the purple border, white border, and player photo.

1985 Fleer, Don Mattingly Baseball Card #133 rear of card

The rear of the card contains his major and minor league stats along with a list of career accomplishments. 

2. 1985 Donruss Baseball Card #295

Estimated PSA 10 Value – $285

Estimated PSA 9 Value – $23.50

1985 Donruss Baseball Card #295

Collectors looking for a great portrait shot of Mattingly will love the 1985 #295 Donruss card. The front of the card pictures Mattingly from the upper chest/shoulders on up.

Sporting a classic 80’s mustache, a’la Rollie Fingers. Along with a gold necklace, and a baseball bat slung over his left shoulder. A very small white border outlines the player photo, while the Donruss ’85 logo is displayed at the top left.

Near the bottom of the card, just above the white border, is a separate blue banner that lists Mattingly’s name and position in yellow font. The bottom right of the card displays the Yankees logo.

The rear of the card is arrayed in a horizontal layout and employs the classic yellow background that Donruss cards from the 80s and 90s are famous for.

1985 Donruss Baseball Card #295 rear of card

It also lists all of Mattingly’s major league stats from 1982 to 1984 and notes many of his impressive accomplishments. 

1. 1986 Don Mattingly Fleer All Stars Baseball Card #1

Estimated PSA 10 Value – $300

Estimated PSA 9 Value – $25

1986 Don Mattingly Fleer All Stars Baseball Card #1

The only non-base card on this list. The #1 Fleer All-Stars card was a part of a selection of 12 cards that honored some of the best players in MLB from the 1985 season.

The Fleer Baseball card displays a very striking design on its front, with a mostly red background and blue border/background covering the bottom of the card. Two yellow stars are listed on the red background, while “Fleer All Star Team” is listed in white font at the top right.

The bottom blue border/background contains Mattingly’s name, team, and position written in yellow font. Along with the American League emblem. The card displays a large photo of Mattingly in his Yankees home white uniform from the chest on up.

1986 Don Mattingly Fleer All Stars Baseball Card #1 Rear of Card

The back of the card contains a very lengthy bio detailing both Mattingly’s career accomplishments and achievements from the 1985 season, a year which saw him win the AL MVP award.

Bruno Breen

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