1984 Topps Don Mattingly Rookie Card #249
Don Mattingly · Topps · Rookie Card (RC)
Player
Don Mattingly
Set
1984 Topps Baseball
Year
1984
Card #
#249
Condition Grade
PSA 8 (NM-MT) - Estimated. Centering appears slightly shifted left-to-right (~55/45 to 60/40), white borders show slight edge wear/rough cuts along the top border, and corners show minor touches of softness typical of vintage Topps cardstock.
Category
Rookie Card (RC)
Manufacturer
Topps
Demand Level
Strong — High volume of liquidity; Don Mattingly remains one of the most popular non-HOF 1980s stars with dedicated franchise collector demand.
Valuation
Raw (Ungraded) Value
$15 - $25
Graded Value
PSA 7: $30 - $45 | PSA 8: $60 - $85 | PSA 9: $220 - $300 | PSA 10: $2,500 - $3,500
Comparable Sales
Raw copies in similar NM condition consistently sell for $15-$25 on eBay. PSA 8 copies average $65-$80, while PSA 9s command around $250-$280 depending on centering precision.
Description
This is the iconic 1984 Topps #249 Don Mattingly Rookie Card featuring the beloved New York Yankees first baseman and 1985 AL MVP, 'Donnie Baseball'. The card showcases the classic 1984 Topps design with a bold top header featuring the 'Yankees' team name, a clear action photograph of Mattingly running the bases in pinstripes, a lower left '1B' position circle, and his name clearly printed along the clean white bottom border.
Key Features
True Rookie Card (RC) of New York Yankees legend Don Mattingly; highly iconic 1980s junk-wax transition era key rookie card; huge nostalgia factor and consistent high market volume among Yankee collectors.
Authenticity Indicators
Authentic vintage cardboard stock, correct 1984 design fonts and color tones, accurate back print setup (green/gray cardboard background). Confidence is High; card is not heavily counterfeited, though reprints exist without original vintage stock texture.
Flaws to Note
Minor corner touching on top edges; slight left-to-right centering bias; minor factory edge roughness along the top black banner section.
Selling Guide
Where to Sell
eBay (Auction or Buy It Now with Best Offer), COMC for raw inventory, or local card shows and Facebook Vintage Baseball Groups.
Selling Tips
Due to grading costs ($20+ per card), submitting this raw card is only financially advisable if you are confident it will achieve a PSA 9 or higher. Sell raw in a penny sleeve and top loader via eBay standard envelope for low-cost shipping.