We'll probably never see a time in the hobby again when Greg Maddux rookie cards seem undervalued.
For years, the hobby didn't seem to fully appreciate his legacy...
Even after his induction into the Hall of Fame in 2014, his Fleer Update and Topps rookies routinely sold for less than $30 in PSA 10 condition.
And then, the Covid-era boom hit...
The values of pretty much every card soared.
However, many of those cards have fallen drastically in recent years while Maddux's rookies have held fairly steady.
So, yes, the Covid-era boom gave his rookies a boost.
But the hobby has finally given Maddux rookies the respect they deserve.
And in this guide, we'll take a detailed look at all of them.
Let's jump right in!
1987 Donruss #36 Greg Maddux Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $275
Many collectors believe that the 1987 Donruss Maddux rookie is his best-looking.
Count me in as one of those believers.
His Fleer Update and Topps Traded rookies hold their own, but the up-close action shot of the future Hall-of-Famer flanked by the infamous '87 Donruss borders is tough to beat.
It also gives collectors the best view of that mustache he sported during his earlier years.
Most baseball fans will remember the Greg Maddux who maintained a clean-cut image and style during the 1990s while racking up Cy Youngs for the Atlanta Braves.
So, this card gives a solid reminder of how he looked during his early days.
After breaking into the hobby in 1981, Donruss and Fleer played second fiddle to Topps as they attempted to chip away at the hobby icon's stranglehold on the market.
To gain ground, Donruss relied on subsets like its iconic "Diamond Kings" series, puzzle-piece inserts, and creative design concepts.
And the '87 Donruss set design was one of its most notable of the 1980s.
The borders, up-close action shot, and the "Rated Rookie" logo all come together to form a great-looking card.
You used to be able to find this card for around $50 or so in a PSA 10 holder even immediately after his Hall-of-Fame induction.
Those days are long gone.
1987 Fleer Update #U68 Greg Maddux Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $80
Like the Topps Traded extension to the flagship Topps set, Fleer had its own version: Fleer Update.
The set allowed Fleer to showcase players who had been traded or called up to the Majors at some point during the 1987 MLB season.
Collectors appreciated it, allowing them to stay as up-to-date as possible with changes around the league.
Clocking in at 132 cards, the set is headlined by, you guessed it, the Greg Maddux rookie card.
Other notable cards include the Fred McGriff rookie and fellow Hall-of-Famers Andre Dawson, Dennis Eckersley, Reggie Jackson and Steve Carlton.
Using the same design as the Fleer flagship set, the card presents a nice action shot of Maddux following through, surrounded by a two-toned blue border.
It's also the only one of his mainstream rookies to depict him in a pinstriped Chicago Cubs home jersey.
And of his mainstream rookies, it's the least valuable, though it still commands a respectable $80 or so in PSA 10 condition.
There is a 1987 Fleer Update Glossy Greg Maddux card, a higher-quality version printed on better cardstock with a glossy finish, but it surprisingly isn't much more valuable at around $100 or so in a PSA 10 holder.
1987 Leaf #36 Greg Maddux Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $1,250
While the Donruss brand focused on the United States market, the Leaf brand was the company's answer for the Canadian market.
If you look at Maddux's 1987 Donruss and Leaf rookies, the fronts are nearly identical, with the logos being the only way to distinguish them.
However, if you flip over his Leaf card, you'll also notice that much of the English text is translated into French.
The Leaf rookie also shows a copyright date of 1987 on the reverse, while his Donruss rookie shows a 1986 copyright date.
However, you really don't even have to look at what's on the reverse to tell the difference.
The logos on the front are good enough.
As for the specifics of this card, it holds the crown of being his most valuable.
If you're going to own a Maddux rookie over the long run, this is the one you want to have.
There were far fewer printed compared to its Donruss counterpart.
And the cardstock is of lower quality.
So, with those two things working against it, finding one in PSA 10 condition can be much more difficult.
And the price reflects it.
1987 Topps Traded #70T Greg Maddux Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $95
When it comes to design, few Topps sets of the 1980s stand out more than their 1987 flagship set.
The woodgrain borders are instantly recognizable.
Not since the 1962 Topps baseball set had the hobby seen anything like it.
Some collectors love the look.
Others cannot stand it.
Personally, I'm a big fan.
Maddux didn't make it into the base set but was instead part of the 132-card Topps Traded checklist.
His rookie is the most desirable in the set, though rookie cards of fellow Hall-of-Famer Fred McGriff and those of Ellis Burks, David Cone, Matt Williams and Benito Santiago have a decent following as well.
As I mentioned in the opener, you used to be able to find this card under $30 on a regular basis.
Even then, I remember how some in the hobby felt it was insultingly undervalued.
Today, the card finally seems to get the respect it deserves.
The Greg Maddux Rookie Card Review
Now that we've gone through the list, here are some of my thoughts on Greg Maddux's rookie cards:
Most Valuable: Maddux's most valuable rookie card is his 1987 Leaf #36, which can be worth over $1,200 in PSA 10 condition.
Least Valuable: Both the 1987 Fleer Update and 1987 Topps Traded rookie cards seem to fluctuate around the $70 - 100 range but the Fleer Update has traditionally been the least valuable.
My Favorite: I would have to say it's a tie between the Donruss and Leaf rookies. The design is basically the same, minus the logos. And the closeup shot of Maddux is tough to beat.
My Least Favorite: I like all of the Maddux rookies but if I had to choose a least favorite, I guess I'd go with the Fleer Update. It has a nice action shot of Maddux, but not quite as good as the on on his Topps rookie. Plus, I always did like those woodgrain borders on '87 Topps.
Greg Maddux's Rookie Season Recap
Greg Maddux may have ended his 23-year MLB career as an 8-time All-Star, with 4 ERA championships, 4 Cy Youngs and 18 Gold Gloves.
But, in 1987, he looked like anything but a future Hall-of-Famer.
The 21-year-old Texas native pitched to a career-worst 5.61 ERA in 30 starts, surrendering 181 hits and striking out 101 in 155.2 innings.
His 1.638 WHIP was also a personal worst, over 43% higher than his eventual career mark.
In the end, it didn't matter all that much.
Fortunately, neither he nor the Chicago Cubs panicked.
By 1988, he was an All-Star and 18-game winner for an underwhelming Cubs team that finished 77-85-1.
It was the first glimpse into one of the most legendary pitching careers in baseball history.