Guide to Barry Bonds Cards: Values and Collectability
Posted on 9/15/2023
Considered one of the greatest hitters of all time, Barry Bonds won the National League MVP Award a record seven times. During his 22-year career, he was a 12-time Silver Slugger Award winner and 14-time All-Star. The left fielder also holds the MLB records for the most career home runs (762) and most single-season home runs (73).
Breakout Rookie Season
Barry Bonds was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1985 and made his highly anticipated MLB debut on May 30, 1986. He finished the year with the best rookie stats in the National League, with 16 home runs, 48 RBIs, 65 walks and 36 stolen bases.
In 1990, Bonds won his first MVP Award with a .301 average, 33 home runs, 114 RBIs and 52 stolen bases. For three consecutive seasons, Bonds helped the Pirates win the National League East division title.
A Giant Shattering Records
In 1993, Bonds signed with the San Francisco Giants. That first year, he hit .336 and led the National League with 46 home runs and 123 RBIs, winning his third MVP Award and two in consecutive seasons. In 1996, he became the first NL player (and second MLB player) to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases within a single season. He also became the MLB’s fourth player to join the 300-300 club (300 career stolen bases and 300 career home runs).
In 1998, Bonds hit his 400th home run, and became the only player in MLB history to record 400 home runs and 400 stolen bases. In 1999, The Sporting News included Bonds in their list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players.
During the 2001 season, Bonds hit an astonishing 73 home runs, setting an MLB record for season home run totals. But Bonds had his greatest season in 2004, hitting .362 with 232 walks and a slugging percentage of .812 (the fourth highest ever). He also had an on-base percentage record averaging .609. This resulted in his fourth consecutive MVP Award, and his seventh MVP overall.
On August 7, 2007, Barry Bonds broke Hank Aaron’s all-time home run record, hitting his 756th career home run off of pitcher Mike Bacsik of the Washington Nationals. Bonds retired in 2009 but allegations of steroid use had long been leveled against him during his career. This is considered a primary reason he hasn’t been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, as of 2023.
Are Barry Bonds Cards Valuable?
Because of the controversies surrounding his career, Barry Bonds hasn’t yet been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Typically, many of the most valuable cards are from Hall of Fame players. However, in Bonds’s case, fans realize why he hasn’t been voted in yet, and opinion remains divided on his eventual Hall of Fame inclusion.
While the steroid scandal has put an asterisk on his records and legacy, Bonds remains popular with fans, and his cards continue to maintain their value, with specific limited editions selling for extremely high prices.
Investment Potential for Barry Bonds Cards
As with most athletes, the most expensive Barry Bonds cards are typically his rookie cards, limited print run cards and autograph issues. If he continues to be popular with collectors, these prices should remain high and could also increase over time. And if Bonds ever makes it to the Hall of Fame, there is a chance that prices for these cards could skyrocket.
Top Barry Bonds Cards
Here’s a look at eight of the most popular Barry Bonds cards, according to collector demand:
- 1987 O-Pee-Chee #320
- 1986 Topps Traded Tiffany #11T
- 1993 Topps Finest Refractor #103
- 1987 Topps Tiffany #320
- 1987 Donruss Opening Day #163 Error Version
- 1987 Fleer Glossy #604
- 1986 Donruss The Rookies #11
- 2017 Topps Gypsy Queen Autograph #GQA-BB
You can track fair market values and current prices for Barry Bonds cards on SportsCardsPro, PriceGuide.Cards, Sports Card Investor and other sites that monitor online card sales and auctions. These sites track the latest prices and update daily, so prices may change on a given day.
1987 O-Pee-Chee #320 Barry Bonds ($52,500)
This Canadian version of Bonds’ 1987 Topps rookie card shows a great shot of the young slugger at bat. The photo is framed in Topps’ classic woodgrain-print borders, with the Pirates logo at the upper left. The O-Pee-Chee issue looks exactly like the Topps version, except the O-Pee-Chee logo is on the front, and the back stats are in French and English.
At PriceGuide.Cards, Ungraded trends at an average price of $55 and a top price of $25,100. Graded trends at an average price of $678 and a top price of $52,500 (grades unspecified).
1986 Topps Traded Tiffany #11T Barry Bonds ($13,000)
This iconic card shows a portrait photo of Bonds with his bat slung over his shoulder, framed in white borders with a huge Pirates banner in gold at the top. This Tiffany version was printed on higher-quality cardstock than the Base version, with an estimated print run of 5,000 copies.
At PriceGuide.Cards, Ungraded trends at an average price of $426 and a top price of $12,000. Graded trends at an average price of $804 and a top price of $13,000 (grades unspecified).
SportsCardsPro shows Ungraded trending at $549, Grade 7 at $474, Grade 8 at $527 and Grade 9 at $875. Grade 9.5 trends at $1,850 and Gem Mint at $5,355.
1993 Topps Finest Refractor #103 Barry Bonds ($6,375)
This spectacular card shows a fun image of Bonds running toward a base, highlighted by a “Baseball’s Finest All-Stars” banner on top, celebrating the season’s All-Star lineup.
At PriceGuide.Cards, Ungraded trends at an average price of $249 and a top price of $1,400. Graded trends at an average price of $717 and a top price of $6,375 (grades unspecified).
1987 Topps Tiffany #320 Barry Bonds ($5,700)
This classic card has the exact same graphics as its O-Pee-Chee Canadian counterpart, except it features the Topps logo on the front, and the back stats are all in English.
At PriceGuide.Cards, Ungraded trends at an average price of $62 and a top price of $2,975. Graded trends at an average price of $194 and a top price of $5,700 (grades unspecified).
SportsCardsPro shows Ungraded trending at $28, Grade 7 at $33, Grade 8 at $49 and Grade 9 at $140. Grade 9.5 trends at $388 and Gem Mint at $1,104.
1987 Donruss Opening Day #163 Barry Bonds – Error Version ($5,400)
This highly collectible card is one of the greatest error cards of all time. Although it’s supposed to be a Barry Bonds card and shows his name and stats, it features a photo of Pirates second baseman Johnny Ray instead. Once the error was caught, the card was reissued; but a few of these error cards made it to market, to the great delight of collectors.
SportsCardsPro shows Ungraded trending at an average of $680, Grade 8 at $1,035, Grade 9 at $1,336 and Grade 9.5 at $5,400.
1987 Fleer Glossy #604 Barry Bonds ($2,000)
This Fleer issue shows a portrait close-up of Bonds, framed by a vivid blue and white border. The print run is estimated to be around 100,000 for this glossy premium card.
At PriceGuide.Cards, Ungraded trends at an average price of $35 and a top price of $698. Graded trends at an average price of $96 and a top price of $2,000 (grades unspecified).
SportsCardsPro shows Ungraded trending at $7, Grade 7 at $8, Grade 8 at $12 and Grade 9 at $24. Grade 9.5 trends at $273 and Gem Mint at $372.
1986 Donruss The Rookies #11 Barry Bonds ($1,363)
One of the most popular Bonds rookie cards, this Donruss favorite shows a close-up portrait shot of Bonds facing the camera with a determined look on his face. It’s bordered in dark teal and black striping, and features “The Rookies” at the lower left.
At PriceGuide.Cards, Ungraded trends at an average price of $14 and a top price of $1,363. Graded trends at an average price of $57 and a top price of $567 (grades unspecified).
SportsCardsPro shows Ungraded trending at $6.50, Grade 7 at $7, Grade 8 at $12 and Grade 9 at $23. Grade 9.5 trends at $80 and Gem Mint at $133.
2017 Topps Gypsy Queen Autograph #GQA-BB ($1,300)
Bonds made a reappearance in the baseball card market in 2016 with the Topps Five Star series. A year later, this card appeared in the Topps Gypsy Queen series. It features an image of Bonds following through with a swing at the plate, framed in an attractive scrollwork design in maroon and sepia tones.
At PriceGuide.Cards, Ungraded trends at an average price of $335 and a top price of $1,300. Graded trends at an average price of $384 and a top price of $700 (grades unspecified).
SportsCardsPro also shows Ungraded trending at $120.
Where Can I Find Barry Bonds Cards?
You can find Barry Bonds cards at memorabilia retailers, sports specialty stores, online auction sites and sports collectibles shows. Here are some of the most popular auction sites online:
Sports memorabilia shows have a vast array of sports cards and collectibles for sale. To find out about shows coming to your area, you can check local newspaper listings, Facebook and sports collector forums.
How Are Barry Bonds Cards Graded?
All sports cards are graded according to a numeric system that’s accepted by dealers and appraisers everywhere. This system is based on scores ranging from Ungraded to Pristine 10. Here’s how it works:
Pristine 10: Gem mint, Perfect 10 scores on all four grading criteria: centering, corners, edges and surface. Even when viewed under 10x magnification, this card is absolutely perfect.
Gem Mint 10: Perfect across three of the criteria, with a very slight issue on the fourth that keeps it from being pristine.
Grade 9.5: Nearly Mint, with an unimportant minor flaw.
Grade 9: Close to mint, but with a minor production flaw or minor wear.
Grades 8 and below: Production flaws or condition issues, which vary in severity according to the grade. The lesser the grade, the lower the market value of the card might be.
Raw: Newly removed from its original package.
Ungraded: Not graded
Sports card values and selling prices depend on three factors: rarity, condition and customer demand. Rarity and condition are easily assessed according to industry standards, but collector demand can fluctuate unexpectedly.
Collector interest can cause lower-grade cards from a popular athlete to skyrocket, while a rare, Pristine 10 card from a lesser-known athlete may stagnate on the market. And if a player has a breakout rookie season but ends up becoming a draft bust, their card prices may plummet.
Auction prices can also impact market values, and a bidding war on a particular card can spark collector interest in other cards from that athlete as well. Ultimately, if sports cards are your hobby and not your profession, the best thing you can do is collect the cards you really love and buy the highest-grade cards you can afford.
Should I Get My Cards Graded?
Grading can help confirm the authenticity of your cards, and it can also establish a recognized quality level for your collection.
When cards are graded, a certified appraiser assesses each one for condition and originality and rates them according to the universal grading system. The information is then recorded in an international database for posterity.
Graded cards are often easier to sell than Ungraded ones, and they can even sell for higher prices. With grading, professionals will authenticate your cards and give them a quality rating that will be recognized by future generations. For further information on CGC Cards’ 10-point Grading Scale and to find out more about our industry-leading services, visit CGCcards.com.
*Any mention of "investment potential" is for entertainment only and should not be construed as investment advice. The Certified Collectibles Group does not provide investment advice and is not liable for any buy, sell or trade decisions made by any parties.
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