Roger Clemens Rookie Cards

Values depend on set, grade, and condition. See the checklist for recent sales and live listings for each Roger Clemens rookie card.

Rookie year: 1984Flagship RC: 1985 Topps / Donruss / FleerTop recent sale: Top grades of 1984 Fleer Update (XRC) and Tiffany/Glossy command strong premiums.See live listings

Best Roger Clemens Rookie Cards

Topps Rookie Card

1985 · Topps · #181

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Donruss Rated Rookie

1985 · Donruss · #273 · Rated Rookie

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Fleer Rookie Card

1985 · Fleer · #155

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Fleer Update XRC

1984 · Fleer Update · #U-27 · XRC

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Values & Trends

1980s flagship RCs lead liquidity. The 1984 Fleer Update XRC and premium parallels like Topps Tiffany and Fleer Update Glossy often command the highest prices in top grades. Condition drives value—centering, print/surface, and edge wear matter, especially on black/gray borders.

RC vs XRC: 1985 Topps/Donruss/Fleer are RCs; 1984 Fleer Update is an XRC from a factory update set.
Scarcity/premiums: Topps Tiffany and Fleer Update Glossy carry strong premiums over base; Leaf/OPC are desirable variants.
Grade sensitivity: Donruss black borders chip; Fleer gray borders show wear; Topps has frequent centering/print issues.

Buying Guide: How to Pick Roger Clemens Rookie Cards

Flagship base RC: Start with 1985 Topps #181 for liquidity and broad demand.
Brand appeal: 1985 Donruss Rated Rookie #273 is iconic; high grades are tough due to black borders.
Balanced option: 1985 Fleer #155 offers a classic look; check centering and edges.
Premium/XRC: 1984 Fleer Update U‑27 (XRC) and Topps Tiffany/Fleer Update Glossy carry premium scarcity.
Variants: 1985 Leaf #99 (Canadian Donruss) and 1985 O‑Pee‑Chee #181 (Canadian Topps) are desirable alternates.
Condition & grading: Centering, chipping, and surface matter. Target copies with strong eye appeal; grade selectively. Grading guide .

Full Rookie Card Checklist

Card	Year	#	Details	90d Avg RAW	90d Avg PSA 9	90d Avg PSA 10	eBay
Topps Rookie Card Roger Clemens · Topps	1985	181	—	—	—	—	eBay
Donruss Rated Rookie Roger Clemens · Donruss Rated Rookie	1985	273		—	—	—	eBay
Fleer Rookie Card Roger Clemens · Fleer	1985	155	—	—	—	—	eBay
Fleer Update XRC Roger Clemens · Fleer Update XRC	1984	U-27		—	—	—	eBay
Topps Tiffany RC Roger Clemens · Topps Tiffany	1985	181		—	—	—	eBay
Fleer Update Glossy XRC Roger Clemens · Fleer Update Glossy	1984	U-27		—	—	—	eBay
O-Pee-Chee RC Roger Clemens · O-Pee-Chee OPC	1985	181		—	—	—	eBay
Leaf RC Roger Clemens · Leaf Leaf (Canadian Donruss)	1985	99		—	—	—	eBay

True RC, XRC, Tiffany & Glossy

The hobby generally treats 1985 Topps, Donruss, and Fleer as Clemens’ official rookie cards. The 1984 Fleer Update U‑27 is an XRC from a factory update set and often carries a premium in high grade. Topps Tiffany and Fleer Update Glossy are scarcer, premium-stock versions that can outpace base in top grades.

Best Boxes & Sets to Pull Roger Clemens Rookie Cards

Grading & Population

High grades drive premiums, especially on Tiffany/Glossy and the 1984 Fleer Update XRC. Focus on centering, clean surfaces, and minimal chipping on black/gray borders.

Compare graders: PSA vs CGC vs BGS vs SGC
Submission economics: the $80 rule
Authenticity: 60‑second fake slab check

About Roger Clemens

Roger Clemens is an all‑time great pitcher: 7× Cy Young, 2× World Series champion, 354 wins, and 4,672 strikeouts. Debuting in 1984 with Boston, he defined power pitching for two decades across the Red Sox, Blue Jays, Yankees, and Astros. Collector demand centers on his 1985 flagship RCs (Topps/Donruss/Fleer), the 1984 Fleer Update XRC, and premium parallels like Topps Tiffany and Fleer Update Glossy. Market sentiment can be influenced by Hall of Fame debates, but condition and scarcity remain the main drivers of value.

Resources & Related Guides

FAQ

What is Roger Clemens’ true rookie card vs XRC?

His official RCs are 1985 Topps #181, 1985 Donruss #273 (Rated Rookie), and 1985 Fleer #155. The 1984 Fleer Update U‑27 is an XRC from a factory update set and is widely collected with strong premiums in top grades.

Which Roger Clemens rookie card is best?

For liquidity, 1985 Topps #181 is the common starting point. Donruss Rated Rookie is iconic but condition‑sensitive. Fleer offers balance. The 1984 Fleer Update XRC and Topps Tiffany/Fleer Update Glossy are premium options.

Which Clemens rookie card is worth the most?

Top grades of 1984 Fleer Update U‑27 (XRC), 1985 Topps Tiffany #181, and high‑grade 1985 Donruss (due to black border difficulty) tend to lead.

Is 1985 Leaf a rookie card for Clemens?

Yes—it is the Canadian counterpart to Donruss and is commonly collected as a desirable variant. The card number is #99.

What is the difference between 1984 Fleer Update and Fleer Update Glossy?

Glossy is the premium, high‑gloss factory parallel of the same U‑27 card. Base Update is matte/semi‑gloss on standard stock. Both are XRCs with the same numbering, but Glossy was lower volume and is typically scarcer and more valuable at the same grade.

Do Hall of Fame debates affect Clemens’ card values?

Market sentiment can move with news and debates, but long‑term value tends to follow condition scarcity and demand for key issues.

What grade should I target?

Well‑centered copies with clean edges/surfaces. PSA 10s command sizable premiums; PSA 9s can offer value. Consider grading when eye appeal and condition are strong.