Henderson Rookie Appraisal

1980 Topps Rickey Henderson Rookie Card #482

This is a 1980 Topps Rickey Henderson rookie baseball card, widely considered one of the most iconic cards of the modern era. The card features a classic action shot of the legendary base stealer in his signature crouched lead-off stance, wearing the Oakland Athletics' green and gold uniform. Physical characteristics include a standard 2.5 by 3.5-inch cardboard construction with a white border. The design contains a green and red 'double ribbon' border along the left and bottom edges, with Henderson's facsimile signature printed in the lower half of the photography area. The 'Topps' brand logo is visible in the lower right corner of the image box. Visible condition issues noted in this specimen include moderate corner wear, particularly on the bottom right and top left corners which show signs of rounding or fraying. There is a slight centering issue with a heavier right-side border consistently seen in this 1980 production year. The card surfaces appear to have some minor edge chipping and there is a faint shadow or stain visible across the center photo field, which may affect the overall grade. As a rookie card for the 'Man of Steal,' its significance is paramount in the sports memorabilia market, reflecting the high craftsmanship of the early 1980s offset lithography era.