While it may not be one of the most popular sets of the era, the 1982 Topps baseball card set packed plenty of star power and two key Hall of Fame rookie cards.
And its dual hockey stick border design is instantly recognizable...
But, you'll remember that by 1982, Topps was no longer the only major company producing baseball cards as both Donruss and Fleer had joined the scene the year prior.
As a result, Topps created this monster 792-card checklist and loaded it with subsets to try and keep collector interest...and collector eyeballs...away from Donruss and Fleer.
While this set may be slightly overlooked in the history of the hobby, it still delivers a great checklist.
And in this guide, I'll run through the 25 most valuable.
Let's jump right in!
1982 Topps #452 Lee Smith Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $2,250
Lee Smith was one of the greatest relief pitchers to ever step on the mound and is currently a distant number three on the all-time saves list with 478 behind Mariano Rivera (652) and Trevor Hoffman (601).
For the longest time it seemed like Smith would not quite garner enough votes to earn a trip to the Hall of Fame.
However, on December 9, 2018 he and Harold Baines were voted in by the Today's Game Era Committe.
Immediately afterward, the price of his 1982 Topps rookie card in PSA 10 condition shot through the roof.
For example, in November, 2018 you could find one in PSA 10 grade for around $100 but after he was voted into the Hall they started selling for north of $600 and continue to climb today.
That just shows you what kind of effect being a Hall of Famer can have on baseball card prices.
1982 Topps #30 Tom Seaver
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $2,000
During the first part of his career, Tom Seaver was absolutely dominant on the mound as he racked up 20-win seasons, Cy Young Awards, ERA Titles and Strikeout Titles like it was nothing.
And he was still very much a respectable pitcher during his time in Cincinnati from 1977 to 1982 as he'd win around 15 games regularly, made two All-Star teams and even finished second in the Cy Young vote for the 1981 season.
It would have been nice to see an action shot of Seaver on his 1982 Topps card but this is still a good-looking card overall.
And the reason it's worth so much in PSA 10 condition?
There are only 7 examples of this card in circulation at the time of this writing that have achieved that grade...so they're very scarce.
1982 Topps #21 Cal Ripken Jr. Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $1,850
Unlike Smith, Cal Ripken's chances at the Hall of Fame were never in doubt.
The 2-time MVP, 19-time All-Star and record holder for most consecutive games played easily goes down in history as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, shortstops to play the game.
From the 1983 season on, he was selected to the All-Star game every year until he retired after the 2001 season.
And, if you look back at his stats for his rookie campaign in the 1982 season, there really was no reason he shouldn't have made the All-Star team that year, too.
At least he was voted Rookie of the Year.
On his 1982 Topps card, Ripken is sandwiched between Bob Bonner and Jeff Schneider as part of the "Future Stars" subset with the Baltimore Orioles.
While this is considered one of his rookie cards, it doesn't command quite the price premium as his 1982 Topps Traded rookie card which can sell for north of $5,000 in top condition.
1982 Topps #610 Rickey Henderson
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $1,050
And finally, we're down to none other than Rickey Henderson, one of the greatest baseball icons of the 1980s and the game's greatest speedster to ever play.
I absolutely love this card as it captures Rickey about to do what he did best: steal a base.
You can almost feel the tension in this card as he's poised and just waiting for the perfect moment to break for second.
The 1982 season saw Henderson set a single-season best for stolen bases as he swiped a ridiculous 130 bases in total.
I know the game is played differently these days but even if it weren't, I'd be stunned if anyone in the future ever meets or bests his 130 stolen bases in a season.
1982 Topps #300 Reggie Jackson
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $1,000
Reggie Jackson was one of the game's greatest power hitters and was known for taking huge rips at the ball on his way to racking up 563 career home runs.
Many times, though, he'd fail to connect on those swings and would up earning himself a spot as the career leader in strikeouts with 2,597.
But, hey, that's the kind of excitement that he brought to the game: you never knew if he were going to bury one over the fence or get sent right back to the dugout.
Pictured as a member of the New York Yankees, Jackson was actually traded to the California Angels for the 1982 season where he'd play for five seasons before heading back to Oakland for one final season.
This card is super tough to find in high grade, hence the huge price tag that might shock you.
1982 Topps #551 Reggie Jackson All-Star
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $1,000
Like his base card, his All-Star card is just as tough to find in PSA 10 condition and also carries a large price tag.
I love both of these cards not so much because it's Reggie Jackson we're talking about, but because of all the 1980's awesomeness on display.
The wrist band, the glasses....and that awesome stache...
You just don't see that kind of stuff in today's game so this card perfectly captures the style of the era and that's the great thing about baseball cards in general.
1982 Topps #200 George Brett
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $850
Like his base card, his All-Star card is just as tough to find in PSA 10 condition and also carries a large price tag.
I love both of these cards not so much because it's Reggie Jackson we're talking about, but because of all the 1980's awesomeness on display.
The wrist band, the glasses....and that awesome stache...
You just don't see that kind of stuff in today's game so this card perfectly captures the style of the era and that's the great thing about baseball cards in general.
1982 Topps #90 Nolan Ryan
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $750
This Nolan Ryan card is another fantastic example of Topps capturing the style and vibe of the 1980s.
Just look at that awesome retro Astros jersey in all its striped glory!
Let's be honest, it didn't matter what jersey Ryan wore or what style it was, he was going throw major heat regardless.
Because of his career accomplishments and his overpowering style, Ryan remains one of the game's most popular players to ever play and you'll see his name in just about every set's log of key cards.
1982 Topps #95 Ozzie Smith
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $650
The Padres also had some great retro jerseys during the 1980s but Ozzie really topped things off with those sideburns.
Ozzie was always one of my favorite players to watch as a kid as his acrobatic defensive play left fans in awe time after time as he went on to collect 13 Gold Glove awards.
But, for the 1982 season, Smith would never actually suit up for the Padres as he was traded to St. Louis for another highly-regarded shortstop in Garry Templeton.
At the time, everyone thought the Padres were getting the better end of the deal as Templeton was a much better hitter.
He was even the first player to collect 100 hits from both sides of the plate.
However, once he was in San Diego, Templeton's hitting declined drastically and he'd never bat over .300 again.
On the other hand, Ozzie's bat did nothing but improve and combined with the amazing glove he already had, he'd deliver Hall of Fame-caliber play for years in St. Louis.
1982 Topps #668 Dale Murphy
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $650
The first MVP in Atlanta MLB history was also the heart of the team's playoff team in 13 years.
After six dreadful seasons in seven years, the 1982 Braves rode a revitalized hitting attack to 89 wins and an NL West title.
It was 26-year-old outfielder Dale Murphy who did the lion's share of the work, playing all 162 games and finishing with an NL-best 109 RBIs.
Murphy hit 32 home runs en route to becoming the first Braves player to win MVP since the immortal Hank Aaron did it in Milwaukee back in 1957.
Unwilling to single himself out, Murphy downplayed the magnitude of his accomplishment.
"Most Valuable Player? Well, I haven't felt that way," Murphy said.
The voters felt differently.
The sudden ascent of the Braves to baseball relevancy was enough, and Murphy's Silver Slugger and Gold Glove were icing on the cake.
Even though the Braves got rolled out of the NLCS by the Cardinals in three games, the potency of Murphy's contributions was undeniable.
1982 Topps #780 Pete Rose
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $600
The novelty of Pete Rose in Philadelphia began to wear off in 1982.
After two playoff appearances in a row, the '82 Phillies fell short of the division title, ceding the NL East to the St. Louis Cardinals by three games.
While you can't blame Pete Rose for the Phillies' inability to get over the hump, it didn't help that he wasn't very good.
Months after taking the NL hits record away from Stan "The Man" Musial, the 41-year-old Rose put together the worst overall year of his career thus far.
Rose posted -1.1 WAR for his second negative performance in three years.
It would get worse a year later, but the fact remained that there just wasn't enough in his bat to make up for his poor play at first base.
Rose played all 162 games and made the NL All-Star squad.
Yet, his .271 average was his worst since 1964, and his 94 OPS+ marked the first time in 20 years that he was a below-average hitter.
1982 Topps #400 Johnny Bench
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $500
The Cincinnati Reds did everything they could to work with Johnny Bench's injuries in the early 1980s.
It didn't go very smoothly.
After moving Bench from his catching role to first base for the strike-shortened 1981 MLB season, manager John McNamara moved him to third to start the '82 campaign.
The hope was that the 34-year-old's ailing legs and body would work well with a limited range of movement and no crouching.
Cincinnati could get the most out of Bench's bat without having to worry about prolonged IL stints.
What they got was basically a zero-sum outcome.
Bench posted exactly 0.0 WAR, the only non-positive output of his 16 full seasons as a Big Leaguer.
He slashed .258/.320/.396 on the year with 13 home runs and 38 RBIs in 119 games, good for the only below-average OPS+ (98) he'd ever post.
Bench played one more year, split between the corner infield positions, before retirement.
1982 Topps #435 Robin Yount
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $475
Robin Yount ended the 1982 regular season with an exclamation point.
An AL MVP award followed shortly thereafter.
Yount led the Milwaukee Brewers to the brink of the promised land in Game #162, tied with the Baltimore Orioles for the AL East lead.
A win would send the Brewers to a second consecutive October after going 0-for-12 to start their franchise history.
Not content with simply getting the Brew Crew there, Yount crushed two home runs in Game #162 to pace the team in a 10-2 rout.
Milwaukee was in the playoffs again and would eventually win its first pennant.
They have Yount to thank for all of it. (Or at least a lot of it.).
The 26-year-old shortstop led all MLB players in WAR (10.5), hits (210), doubles (46), slugging percentage (.578), OPS (.957), OPS+ (166), and more.
He also won the only Gold Glove of his career and added a second Silver Slugger to his collection.
1982 Topps #650 Carl Yastrzemski
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $475
For a guy who had his rookie card debut in the 1960 Topps set, it's impressive that Yaz played long enough to be featured in this set as well.
Even more impressive, his 1982 Topps issue wasn't his last card as he also made it into the 1983 Topps set.
Although his best days were clearly behind him, he still played well enough to earn a trip to the 1982 All-Star game.
Here we see Yaz staring off into the distance almost as if he's thinking back on his career...or maybe he's just watching a teammate take batting practice.
1982 Topps #5 Nolan Ryan Highlight
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $350
1982 Topps #100 Mike Schmidt
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $350
The Philadelphia Phillies locked Mike Schmidt down before the 1982 season on a six-year, $7.2 million deal.
The pact all but guaranteed that Schmidt would start and finish his career in front of the MVP faithful.
Schmidt's last big contract was a feel-good moment for a Phillies team ready to reload two years removed from a World Series title.
However, the extension wouldn't necessarily pay immediate dividends.
It's not that Schmidt was bad in 1982.
It's impossible to write off the 32-year-old third baseman's Gold Glove or NL bests in walks (107), on-base percentage (.403), slugging (.547), and OPS+ (161).
And 35 home runs and 87 RBIs are nothing to discredit.
The Phillies stumbled miserably out of the gate, though, losing 14 of their first 20.
It coincided with Schmidt's rib injury, which gnawed at him for over a month.
Philadelphia streaked back into the division race, but was unable to make up full ground, finishing second to the Cardinals, three games out.
1982 Topps #101 Mike Schmidt In Action
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $350
1982 Topps #390 Eddie Murray
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $350
Eddie Murray and the Baltimore Orioles were decisively dismissed from the 1982 pennant race with a 10-2 season-ending loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.
The defeat snapped a four-game winning streak and inched the Brewers across the finish line as AL East champs.
Murray reached base twice in defeat, but went home with the O's to face the long offseason ahead.
Although the highs would get incredibly high one year later, it was still a gut punch.
It was also a rude ending to one of the best seasons of Murray's Hall-of-Fame career.
The 26-year-old first baseman took several steps forward in '82, both on offense and defense. Murray's .940 OPS was the high of his Hall-of-Fame career, as were his 32 home runs.
Murray was also incredibly reliable at first, earning his first-ever Gold Glove with an AL-best .997 fielding percentage.
If eventual MVP Robin Yount and the Brewers hadn't trounced them in the finale, who's to say Steady Eddie wouldn't have been an award-winner?
1982 Topps #510 Fernando Valenzuela
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $350
In 1982, the peak of Fernandomania started to crumble a bit in a mess of infighting and hard feelings.
After storming onto the scene during the strike-shortened 1981 MLB season, Los Angeles Dodgers hurler Fernando Valenzuela was determined to cash in.
Valenzuela made just $10,000 more than the minimum salary in year one, and told his agent to go get what a Cy Young winner and NL Rookie-of-the-Year deserved.
The contract negotiations dragged out, and Valenzuela dug his foot in the sand.
He told reporters that he planned on sitting out Spring Training if the Dodgers didn't extend him a seven-figure deal.
Fans started to grumble as things escalated, only quieting down when Valenzuela signed on for significantly less ($350,000).
Most Dodgers fans remained behind Valenzuela.
His 19 wins, 2.87 ERA, and third-place Cy Young finish in 1982 sure helped.
However, the cultural impact of Valenzuela's electric debut was fading nonetheless.
1982 Topps #164 Stolen Base Leaders
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $275
1982 Topps #195 Paul Molitor
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $250
Paul Molitor's 1982 season started with an awkward transition to third base after a one-season cameo in center field.
"Last year they told me I was the center fielder of the future," Molitor quipped. "If Rollie Fingers retires in a few years, maybe I'll be the relief pitcher of the future."
Jokes aside, Molitor played some of the best baseball of his career in his debut year at the hot corner.
Serving as the table-setter for the beloved Harvey's Wallbangers, Molitor slashed .302/.366/.450 with 19 home runs, 71 RBIs, and an MLB-best 136 runs.
The 25-year-old was also the most durable player in the Majors, topping everyone in plate appearances (751).
The Brewers slipped past the Orioles to win the AL East, and Molitor went full-speed into October with a championship in his sights.
He did everything he could to bring it home, hitting .340 for the postseason until St. Louis turned out the lights in Game 7 of the World Series.
1982 Topps #715 Willie Stargell
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $250
Labor Day 1982 remains one of the most emotional days in the Pittsburgh Pirates' franchise history.
Late the day before, 21-year Pirates veteran Willie Stargell hit the tarmac at home.
The next day was "Willie Stargell Day," a celebration of everything he'd done for the city.
However, it was where everything started to really sink in.
"Last night, coming in from the airport, we came through the tunnel, and the city opened up its arms, and I felt at home," Stargell said.
The next day at Three Rivers Stadium, Stargell wiped tears away for 45 minutes as players, coaches, and 38,052 fans serenaded him with love and respect.
At this point, the 42-year-old was relegated to pinch-hitting duty, amassing just 85 plate appearances in 74 games.
It didn't matter that day. Stargell was given the MVP treatment, especially when he notched a late-game pinch-hit single.
He played out the rest of September and ended his career with 475 home runs and over 1,500 RBIs to look back on.
1982 Topps #730 Gary Carter
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $250
The Montreal Expos weren't known for breaking the bank on players.
However, they made a notable exception in extending All-Star catcher Gary Carter before the 1982 season.
Montreal broke the bank for Carter, setting a new record with a seven-year, $14 million deal with incentives tacked on.
"He's a franchise-type player," Expos president John McHale said at the time. "If you can ever justify paying that kind of money, he's one who earns it."
Carter delivered on his end of the bargain in year one, setting multiple career highs and leading all NL position players with 8.6 WAR.
The 28-year-old slashed .293/.381/.510 in 154 games with 29 home runs, 32 doubles, 78 walks, 91 runs, and 97 RBIs.
He was also the Gold Glove glue for a formidable Expos pitching staff that placed second in the Majors in ERA (3.31).
Montreal was unable to make the playoffs, though, and owner Charles Bronfman would express regret for Carter's mega-pact not 12 months later.
1982 Topps #500 Rod Carew
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $200
Before Rod Carew, the California Angels were adrift.
The franchise only had five winning seasons to show for its first 18 years of existence and didn't finish second in the division until 1978.
That runner-up placement, though, was enough for the Angels to take a massive swing in the '78-'79 offseason.
California pulled the trigger on an all-time deal, landing reigning (and seven-time) batting champion Rod Carew for a seeming treasure trove of prospects.
In the end, the trade skews one-sided in the Angels' favor.
California won its first division title in Carew's debut year and won its second in 1982.
Carew hit over .300 in both years, including a .325 average in 1982, which placed third in the AL.
Both trips to the postseason were pivotal to the Angels' health as a franchise.
But both ended with losses in the ALCS. Carew hit .412 in the '79 ALCS, but just .176 in a gutting five-game '82 LCS loss to Milwaukee.
1982 Topps #540 Andre Dawson
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $200
The end of the Montreal Expos didn't come in 1982.
But it was the start of a slow, painful march to the team's departure for Washington, D.C. in the mid-2000s.
The Expos looked like a perennial contender coming into the '82 campaign.
They had a star-studded pitching staff and four All-Stars in the starting lineup: catcher Gary Carter, first baseman Al Oliver, left fielder Tim Raines, and center fielder Andre Dawson.
The latter, Dawson, was coming off an NL MVP runner-up in the 1981 strike season.
He followed it up quite admirably, slashing .301/.343/.498 with 23 home runs, 39 stolen bases, 107 runs, and his third straight Gold Glove.
Montreal wasn't able to capitalize on the now two-time All-Star's all-around performance, falling to third in the division at 86-76.
It wasn't just a disappointing playoff miss.
The Expos would never again make a postseason.
1982 Topps Baseball Cards In Review
While the 1982 Topps baseball card set may not ever be known as the company's best-looking in terms of design, it did pack a lot of star power and two Hall of Fame rookie cards.
It was also the first Topps set to feature a monster 792-card checklist.
You can't help but think Topps was trying to produce as many cards as possible to keep collectors interested and to try and keep Donruss and Fleer, who had joined the scene in 1981, at bay.
Overall, it's a decent set.
Within it, there were also several different subsets, including:
- 1981 Highlights
- League Leaders
- Team Leaders
- All-Stars
- Future Stars
- In Action
For those collectors on the lookout for great Hall of Famers of the era or just a large checklist to complete, this set has it all.