1982 Topps Dave Stewart Rookie Card #549
Dave Stewart · Topps · Rookie Card (RC)
Player
Dave Stewart
Set
1982 Topps Baseball
Year
1982
Card #
#549
Condition Grade
PSA 6 (EX-MT). The centering is noticeably heavy toward the left and top (approx 35/65). Corners show slight fuzziness. Edges appear decent through the penny sleeve. Surface is obscured by glare but the white borders look clean.
Category
Rookie Card (RC)
Manufacturer
Topps
Demand Level
Moderate-Low. Highly collectible for Oakland A's and LA Dodgers team collectors, but high supply in the market keeps prices low for mid-grade copies.
Valuation
Raw (Ungraded) Value
$1.00 - $3.00
Graded Value
PSA 5: $5-8, PSA 6: $10-15, PSA 7: $20-25 (Note: Value rarely exceeds the cost of grading in this condition).
Comparable Sales
Recent eBay sales for raw copies range from $0.99 to $5.00 depending on condition. PSA 9 copies sell for $60; PSA 10 copies reach over $500, but this specific card does not meet the centering requirements for those high grades.
Description
This is the official 1982 Topps rookie card for three-time World Series champion Dave Stewart. The card features a dual-image design characteristic of the '82 set: a main action shot of Stewart delivering a pitch for the Dodgers and a circular portrait in the lower left corner showing his face. The Topps logo is prominent in the upper right, with 'Dave Stewart - Pitcher - Dodgers' listed in the bottom right corner over a green banner.
Key Features
Official Rookie Card for 'Smoke' Dave Stewart, 1989 World Series MVP and 3x All-Star/Champion. Part of the iconic 1982 Topps 'hockey stick' border design era.
Authenticity Indicators
High confidence authentic. This is a common card not typically counterfeited. Indicators include the correct coarse 'brown' cardstock on the reverse (not visible but standard for '82), the distinct 'dot matrix' print pattern on the Dodgers green banner, and the specific blue-on-white line weight of the inner borders.
Flaws to Note
Significant centering issues — the card is shifted toward the top-left, making the right and bottom borders much thicker. Visible softness on the top-left edge. Some minor print dots may be present in the white border areas.
Selling Guide
Where to Sell
eBay (as a Buy It Now) or COMC. Also suitable for 'Rookie Card' bins at local card shows.
Selling Tips
Due to the centering and lower expected grade, selling this as a 'raw' card is better than grading it. Use keywords like 'Dave Stewart RC', '1982 Topps Rookie', and 'Vintage Dodgers'. Shipping in a plain white envelope (PWE) for costs around $1-2 is recommended to keep the total price attractive for buyers.