Barry Sanders Rookie Card Market Guide

Widely regarded as one of the greatest running backs in history, Barry Sanders led the NFL in rushing yards four times during his legendary career. Although he only played 10 seasons in the league (all of them with the Detroit Lions), and never made it deep into the playoffs, Sanders had a huge impact on the game of football. His elusive style of running combined with his power and speed made him a unique player during his era. As one of the most exciting running backs to ever play in the NFL, Sanders' popularity on and off the field also translated to his football cards as collectors and investors still seek his rookie cards to this day.

Who Is Barry Sanders?

By the time Barry Sanders reached the NFL, he was already a football star. As a running back with the Oklahoma State Cowboys, he enjoyed one of the greatest careers in college football history, which culminated in him winning the Heisman Trophy in 1988.

Sanders was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 1989 and made his professional debut on September 10. He had a stellar rookie season, finishing his first NFL season with a rookie franchise record of 1,470 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, which garnered him the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.

Sanders and the Lions had their winningest season in 1991, with 12 victories and the team’s first postseason win (38–6 against the Dallas Cowboys) since 1957. In 1997, Sanders was honored with both the Offensive Player of the Year and NFL MVP awards. That same year, he became the first running back to record 14 successive games with 100 rushing yards during a single season.

Barry Sanders retired at the height of his athletic powers in 1999, surprising everyone with his decision to retire early. He left the game holding an impressive number of rushing records, and was named to the Pro Bowl in all 10 seasons of his career. Today, he is widely regarded as the greatest player ever to not play in a Super Bowl. He'd finished his career with 15,269 yards and 109 touchdowns, ranking fourth for the most rushing yards in NFL history. After his retirement, Sanders was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

Are Barry Sanders Rookie Cards Valuable?

Barry Sanders rookie cards were released during the infamous “Junk Wax Era,” when sports cards were massively overproduced. Despite this overproduction, however, there are actually only three official rookie cards for Sanders, plus an interesting oddball card.

With so few cards available, prices trend high for these early cards. In particular, Sanders top-valued rookie card, the 1989 Score #257, trends for as much as five figures in top-grade condition.

Investment Potential for Barry Sanders Rookie Cards*

As one of the NFL’s greatest running backs, a Hall of Famer and an extremely popular player during his career, Barry Sanders rookie cards continue to generate huge collector interest. This bodes well for investment potential, especially for rarer examples in top condition.

Top Barry Sanders Rookie Cards

In addition to the three official Barry Sanders rookie cards, there’s an oddball card issued by the Detroit Police Department, a Pro Set Rookie of the Year card and a rare variant produced for a Hawaiian trade show. These are the cards to look for:

• 1989 Score #257
• 1989 Topps Traded #83T
• 1989 Pro Set #494
• 1990 Pro Set #1 Rookie of the Year - Hawaii Trade Show
• 1989 Police Oscar Mayer #11
• 1990 Pro Set #1 Rookie of the Year

Here’s how Barry Sanders rookie cards are trending on price tracking sites like PriceGuide.Cards and SportsCardsPro. Both of these sites are updated daily, so be aware that prices can change.

1989 Score #257 Barry Sanders ($13,221)

Considered to be the top Sanders rookie card in terms of interest and value, this gem shows an attractive portrait headshot of Sanders smiling at the camera, set against a plain silver background bordered in green. There’s a “1989 Rookie” caption at the top and a bold image of a Lions helmet at the lower right.

PriceGuide.Cards shows Ungraded trending at an average price of $28 and a top price of $2,375. Graded trends at an average of $157, with a top price of $13,221 (grades unspecified), which sold in 2017.

At SportsCardsPro, Ungraded trends at $34, Grade 7 at $42, Grade 8 at $51 and Grade 9 at $109. Grade 9.5 trends at $297, and Gem Mint at $1,121.

1989 Topps Traded #83T Barry Sanders ($3,825)

Included in the 1989 Topps Traded Football update package (and the most valuable card in the pack), this collectors’ favorite has a fantastic image of Sanders sitting on the bench, helmet off, watching the game. It’s bordered in white with green and red striping, and features the Topps logo at the upper right.

As an interesting bit of history, this update card was issued later than the Score and Pro Set rookie cards. For some reason, Topps dropped the ball earlier that season when it came to issuing rookie cards for three of football’s greatest future Hall of Famers — Barry Sanders, Deion Sanders and Troy Aikman.

PriceGuide.Cards shows Ungraded trending at an average price of $8 and a top price of $900. Graded trends at an average price of $52 and a top price of $3,825 (grades unspecified).

1989 Pro Set #494 Barry Sanders ($1,350)

As one of the three official rookie cards of Barry Sanders, this one has great collector interest, even though it shows Sanders still in his Oklahoma State uniform. It features an in-game action photo of Sanders running with the ball, framed in a bright orange border accented with white football lines. In the lower right corner, there’s a green “Pro Set Prospect No. 1 Pick” logo.

PriceGuide.Cards shows Ungraded trending at an average price of $5 and a top price of $1,350. Graded trends at an average price of $38 and has a top price of $999 (grades unspecified).

At SportsCardsPro, Ungraded trends at $3, Grade 7 at $10, Grade 8 at $15 and Grade 9 at $25. Grade 9.5 trends at $73, and Gem Mint at $140.

1990 Pro Set #1 Rookie of the Year Barry Sanders - Hawaii Trade Show ($296)

This rare promo card is a variation of the 1990 Pro Set #1 card, and was issued for the Hawaii Trade Show Conference. The front is identical to its Pro Set counterpart, but the back is lacking the iconic image of Sanders hoisting the trophy.

At SportsCardsPro, Ungraded trends at $61, Grade 8 at $60 and Grade 9 at $112. Grade 9.5 trends at $124, and Gem Mint at $296.

PriceGuide.Cards shows Ungraded trending at an average price of $43 and a top price of $240. Graded trends at an average price of $92 and a top price of $200 (grades unspecified).

1989 Lions Police/Oscar Mayer #11 Barry Sanders ($294)

Sponsored by Oscar Mayer and Claussen Pickles, this fun oddball card was issued by the Detroit Police Department as part of a 12-card set. It features a press-conference-style portrait shot of a very young Sanders smiling in front of a microphone. He's dressed in his team's warmup gear and standing against a Lions backdrop. The white border shows logos for the NFL, the Lions, Oscar Mayer and Claussen.

At SportsCardsPro, Ungraded trends at $15, Grade 7 at $22, Grade 8 at $24 and Grade 9 at $58. Grade 9.5 trends at $120, and Gem Mint at $294.

1990 Pro Set #1 Rookie of the Year Barry Sanders ($145)

Although not an official rookie release, this appealing card celebrates Sanders’ selection as Rookie of the Year, and is a desirable addition to any Sanders rookie collection. It features a great action shot of Sanders doing what he did best, running with the ball (presumably for a touchdown).

The card is framed in gold borders at the top and bottom, with the caption “1989 Pro Set Rookie of the Year” at the top in blue and white. As part of its appeal, the back of the card has a fantastic photo of Sanders hoisting the Rookie of the Year trophy.

At SportsCardsPro, Ungraded trends at $2, Grade 8 at $8 and Grade 9 at $9. Grade 9.5 trends at $36, and Gem Mint at $145.

Where Can I Find Barry Sanders Rookie Cards?

You can find Barry Sanders rookie cards at sports card shows, specialty auctions and collectibles retailers. These auction sites are especially popular among sports card collectors:

• eBay
• EBTH
• Goldin
• Sotheby's
• Christie's
• SCP Auctions
• Invaluable
• PWCC
• Memory Lane
• Pristine Auction
• Lelands
• Robert Edward Auctions
• Heritage Auctions

Sports card and memorabilia shows are also a great resource for Barry Sanders rookie cards and other memorabilia. You can find out if a show is coming to your area by checking local newspaper listings, online collector forums and social media pages.

How Are Barry Sanders Rookie Cards Graded?

Perfect 10:>Perfect in every way, with no discernable condition issues or production flaws, even at 10x magnification. All four grading criteria — edges, surfaces, corners, and centers are judged to be flawless.

Gem Mint: Perfect scores in three out of the four criteria, with an unimportant, barely noticeable production flaw or condition issue.

Grade 9.5: Near-Mint condition, typically with just one minor flaw.

Grade 9: Almost Gem Mint, with a minor condition or production flaw.

Grades 8 and below: These cards have noticeable condition and/or production flaws and are graded accordingly. However, even these lesser-grade cards can be quite valuable, especially if they’re rare and popular with collectors.

Raw or Ungraded: Raw cards have just been pulled from their packages and are new to the market. Ungraded cards haven't been through the grading process and may or may not be new to the market.

Sports card appraisers, dealers and collectors calculate values according to three factors: condition, rarity and collector demand. Appraisers can quickly determine condition and rarity, but collector demand can change unexpectedly, so it’s always unpredictable.

When athletes have a bad season, their card prices may plummet; and prices may also decrease when an athlete retires or fades from the limelight. Conversely, if an athlete has a breakout year, or if a retired athlete enjoys a comeback on a popular television show, their card prices may increase.

Record-breaking auction prices and bidding wars can also cause a spike in an athlete’s card prices. Likewise, a rare Gem Mint card from a respected Hall of Famer may sell for significantly less than a lesser-grade, common card from someone who happens to be the celebrity sports figure of the moment.

Because of factors like these, sports card prices can fluctuate. That’s why, if you’re collecting for pleasure, it’s always advisable to concentrate on the athletes and cards that you like, and aim for the best condition you can afford to buy.

Should I Get My Cards Graded?

Certified grading is a great way for you to get your cards professionally authenticated for originality. Additionally, they’ll be assigned a quality rating that’s recognized throughout the sports card industry.

When cards are graded, an experienced appraiser will closely examine each card for originality, condition issues and manufacturing flaws. Once the card is assigned a grade, the information will be permanently registered and stored in an international database for future reference.

Historically, cards that are graded often have higher values and will sell for more than cards that aren’t graded. Because of this, graded cards can also be easier to trade or sell. And by getting your cards graded, you’ll have a collection that’s certified to be authentic, with an established quality rating that will always be recognized by future generations of sports card enthusiasts.

For more information on grading and to find out more about our industry-leading services at Certified Sports Guaranty (CSG), click here.

*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.