Top 30 Topps Tiffany Cards
If you collected Topps cards from the mid-1980s through the early part of the ’90s, chances are you have at least one of you favorite star’s Rookie Cards if not a small stack. There’s a good chance you have their other non-Rookies too. And if you don’t now, a few dollars (at the most) would be all it’d probably take to land them today. But now that you’re a little older and maybe want to rekindle or stoke that love for 1980s baseball cards with something a little bit fancier, what do you do? Enter, Topps Tiffany, a premium take on the era’s cards that carry significantly more value.
In a sense, Topps Tiffany cards are like some of the original parallels. Sold only as limited edition factory sets, Tiffany cards are noticeably higher quality than their regular Topps counterparts. For starters, card fronts are glossy. That may be the norm for just about every set today, but it was an upgrade for 1980s Topps baseball cards (as well as a couple of hockey and football sets).
Card backs are a little nicer as well. Typically, Topps cards from the 1980s and through 1991 came with dark backs while Topps Traded sets used bright white card stock. That’s how both the Topps Tiffany and Topps Traded Tiffany backs look.
Besides the differences in quality, Topps Tiffany cards are available in much smaller quantities. For those that are known, print runs generally range from 5,000 to a high of 30,000 in 1987. By today’s standards, that sounds big to be referred to as being “limited edition.” But by 1980s baseball card standards which could reach into the hundreds of thousands (at least), those numbers are tiny.
When it comes to the value of Topps Tiffany cards, there are a couple of factors at play. Of course, the player is the big one. But the broad range when it comes to print runs also comes into play. That’s why some key rookies aren’t all that valuable while some more fringe hobby stars can cost significantly more.
What are the most valuable Topps Tiffany cards? Let’s check them out.
30 Most Valuable Topps Tiffany Cards
Rankings are based on the online Beckett Price Guide and Database. Exact prices are available to subscribers.
1. 1989 Bowman Tiffany Ken Griffey Jr.
2. 1984 Topps Tiffany Don Mattingly #8
3. 1985 Topps Tiffany Mark McGwire #401
4. 1986 Topps Traded Tiffany Barry Bonds #11T
5. 1985 Topps Tiffany Roger Clemens #181
6. 1990 Topps Tiffany Frank Thomas #414
7. 1991 Topps Tiffany Chipper Jones #333
8. 1985 Topps Tiffany Kirby Puckett #536
9. 1986 Topps Tiffany Roger Clemens #661
10. 1991 Topps Tiffany Nolan Ryan #1
11. 1986 Topps Traded Tiffany Bo Jackson #50T
12. 1989 Topps Traded Tiffany Ken Griffey Jr. #41T
13. 1991 Topps Traded Tiffany Jeff Bagwell #4T
14. 1991 Topps Traded Tiffany Ivan Rodriguez #101T
15. 1984 Topps Tiffany Cal Ripken Jr. #490
16. 1991 Topps Tiffany Barry Bonds #570
17. 1991 Topps Tiffany Ken Griffey Jr. #790
18. 1991 Topps Tiffany Mike Modano #348
19. 1984 Topps Tiffany Nolan Ryan #470
20. 1985 Topps Tiffany Nolan Ryan #760
21. 1986 Topps Tiffany Pete Rose #1
22. 1986 Topps Tiffany Nolan Ryan #100
23. 1989 Topps Tiffany Randy Johnson #647
24. 1991 Topps Tiffany Cal Ripken Jr. #150
25. 1991 Topps Tiffany Roger Clemens #530
26. 1984 Topps Traded Tiffany Dwight Gooden #42T
27. 1989 Topps Traded Tiffany Randy Johnson #57T
28. 1990-91 Bowman Tiffany Ed Belfour #7
29. 1989 Bowman Tiffany Barry Bonds #426
30. 1989 Bowman Tiffany John Smoltz #266
Comments? Questions? Contact Ryan Cracknell on Twitter @tradercracks.
Based on this list, it seems that – aside from a few obvious key rookie cards – the Tiffany issues are most sought after by collectors of specific players. That’s not at all surprising. Personally, my Tiffany collection consists of all the Dwight Evans cards and I think maybe a Hartford Whalers team set or two.
What no Greg maddux ?
well they said that year that maddux was a rookie had the most sets released 30,000 I was thinking the same until I read it and it said 87 was the most common so maddux and who palmeiro maybe were the star rookies that year
I have a question maybe somebody can help me with I have a 1989 Topps Tiffany well I believe it’s a Tiffany Ozzie Smith All Star card number 389 Cardinals could somebody tell me what is the difference because I was out to believe this was a Tiffany and somebody is trying to tell me it’s not along with one of my other cards that would be Amazon my 1989 Topps Tiffany Don Mattingly Yankee number 700 now is that a Tiffany somebody’s arguing with me that that is not the Tiffany also so just come somebody please tell me why it would not be thank you for any information you could might give me I will check back here for the answer or if somebody could in box me for the help I also have a huge box of baseball cards in mint condition that early 80s some of the 70s some 90s and I’m not up to going through every single one of them but please if anybody could you answer that question for me would be a big help thank you
@Michelle – Tiffany are much tougher. To the tough, it’s glossy. The difference is noticeable if you have a regular card from the same set. On the back, a Tiffany version will be bright. Regular versions have a darker stock. This article will help: https://www.beckett.com/news/how-to-identify-topps-tiffany-baseball-cards-using-the-star-method/
I have two Frank Thomas #1 Draft Pick #414 two are average yellow backs and on the right lower side it has a, F a small star, a c inside a circle 1990 TOPPS COMPANY,INC
When looking at any sports cards, if baseball doesn’t have a period after the inc. or if it was printed crooked it makes it more valuable. Is it the same for the Football ? The reason for me asking is that I was looking over my signed Tom Brady card and noticed on the back there is no period after the inc ???? Please can someone clear this up for me ? And too, I am so tired of scammers is there a company or anything better on me to sale or sending them in to have the company sale for me, we had been passed down some baseball cards and I really don’t want them to lose value or anything I would love to sell if you could point me in the right direction, please. And thank you for your time!
It really depends on the card and if there are variations with and without. I sometimes see some sellers trying to make a big deal out of something that is not.