Best Greg Maddux baseball cards on a budget

Because of his legendary career, Greg Maddux baseball cards can be expensive. However, for budget collectors, below are 5 of the top Greg Maddux cards for $200 or less in PSA 10 condition.

Greg Maddux is one of the greatest pitchers of all time. With an incredible career pitching resume that few other players can match.

Greg Maddux Baseball Cards collage

Spending most of his storied career with the Atlanta Braves. Maddux amassed an impressive 355 wins, 8th most in MLB history.

He won 4 CY Young awards, was an 8-time All-Star, was an 18-time Gold Glove award winner, and finished his career with an ERA of 3.16.

He also either led the NL or all of baseball in ERA 4 times, wins 3 times, and innings pitched 5 times.

#5 1987 Greg Maddux Topps Traded Baseball Rookie Card #70T

Estimated PSA 10 Value – $85

Estimated PSA 9 Value – $20

1987 Greg Maddux Topps Traded Baseball Rookie Cards #70T

One of the most affordable, available, and popular Greg Maddux rookie cards is the 1987 Topps Traded card.

The front of the card features a wood panel-styled border outlining a photo of Maddux in the immediate aftermath of throwing a pitch in a game.

Sporting a classic 80s mustache and necklace. Maddux’s appearance makes him look more like a journeyman middle reliever than the dominant pitcher he would soon become.

The Cubs team logo is displayed at the top left, the Topps brand name is located at the bottom left, and Maddux’s name is contained at the bottom center/right in white font on a small red strip.

1987 Topps Traded Baseball Rookie Card #70T back of card

The back of the card displays a lemon yellow, dark blue, and white color scheme. Along with his major and minor league stats up to that point.

It also contains a brief tidbit noting that Maddux and his brother Mike, a fellow MLB pitcher, faced each other in a game during the 1986 season.

#4 1987 Greg Maddux Fleer Update Rookie Card #U-68

Estimated PSA 10 Value – $90

Estimated PSA 9 Value – $18.50

1987 Greg Maddux Fleer Update Rookie Card #U-68

Another very affordable rookie card is the 1987 Fleer Update card. Featuring a simple, understated design.

The card contains a mostly blue border, that changes to a light, cream color about halfway down the card’s front, before changing again to blue at the bottom.

The photo pictures Maddux in the aftermath of a pitch on the mound during a home game at Wrigley Field. The top left of the card lists Maddux’s name and position in white font. While the bottom right displays the Cubs team logo.

The bottom left lists the Fleer brand name in white font on a separate blue strip/border underneath the photo itself.

1987 Fleer Update Rookie Card #U-68 back of card

The back of the card contains very little information, lacking a player bio, summary, or fun fact of any kind. Instead, it simply lists Maddux’s major and minor league stats to date along with some general player information.

#3 1987 Fleer Update Glossy Rookie Card #U-68

Estimated PSA 10 Value – $125

Estimated PSA 9 Value – $20

From 1987 to 1989, Fleer produced “glossy” sets of cards to correspond with their regular base sets.

1987 Fleer Update Glossy Rookie Card #U-68

Similar to the Topps Tiffany sets, the only difference in these cards was that they employed a fancier design.

Unlike the Topps Tiffany sets, the Fleer “glossy” sets only differed from the base set with a glossy front. No other differences, such as a shinier cardstock on the card’s back or mini star symbols, characteristics of the Topps Tiffany sets, were ever utilized.

The 1987 Fleer Update Glossy rookie card featuring Greg Maddux is currently very affordable and readily available for collectors. It contains the same basic design as the regular Fleer Update rookie card on this list. But has a glossy finish, as explained previously.

Collectors should note that the price of this card in PSA 10 condition has come down recently. With 4 of the last 5 sales being less than $100 according to sportscardspro.com.

Therefore, this card presents a potentially good investment option for those looking to buy low and sell high. 

#2 1988 Greg Maddux Topps Tiffany Card #361

Estimated PSA 10 Value – $160

Estimated PSA 9 Value – $35

1988 Greg Maddux Topps Tiffany Card #361

Upscaled Topps cards produced from 1984 to 1991. Topps Tiffany sets distinguish themselves from the regular base sets primarily by a glossier finish on the front and a whiter cardstock on the back.

The #361 Topps Tiffany card contains a white border on its front, with a 2nd inner red border surrounding a photo of Maddux throwing a pitch at Fenway Park, with the Big Green Monster in the background.

The Cubs team name is listed in large blue font across the top of the card, while the Topps brand name is listed at the bottom left. Maddux’s name is listed in white font on a diagonal blue strip across the bottom right.

1988 Topps Tiffany Card #361 back of card

The rear of the card displays a striking orange and peach color scheme and contains Maddux’s major and minor league stats. It also notes he was a 2nd round draft pick and recorded his first major league shutout on 7-1-87. 

#1 1987 Donruss “The Rookies” Rookie Card #52

Estimated PSA 10 Value – $165

Estimated PSA 9 Value – $20

1987 Donruss The Rookies Rookie Card #52

The 1987 Donruss “The Rookies” rookie card contains a dark green border on its front. Similar to the Kelly-Green color scheme of the Philadelphia Eagles.

The border outlines a player photo with rounded corners on each side, picturing a uniformed Maddux from the chest up. Minus the mustache in this case, Maddux looks more like a ball boy or a high school athlete posing for a team photo than a professional baseball player.

The top left of the card displays the “Donruss 87” brand and year designation, while “The Rookies” is listed at the bottom right in red, cursive font along with a baseball graphic.

Across the bottom of the player photo is a separate red strip/border that lists Maddux’s name and position in yellow font.

1987 Donruss The Rookies Geg Madux Rookie Cards #52 back of card

The back of the card displays the classic mustard yellow color scheme of Donruss cards from this era. It lists both Maddux’s major and minor league stats and some career highlights. 

Bruno Breen

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