The Worst Baseball Cards of All Time

A countdown of the most cringe-worthy, awful baseball cards ever produced. From bad photoshops to unfortunate player names, these cards will make you laugh, cry, and maybe even vomit.

The Worst baseball cards of All Time: The Top 10

The worst baseball cards of all time are those that are the most unappealing, bizarre, or just plain bad. Often, these cards are produced by companies who are new to the baseball card market and are trying to cash in on the popularity of the hobby. Other times, they are simply the result of poor design choices or bad photography. Whatever the reason, these cards are sure to turn heads for all the wrong reasons.

So, without further ado, here are the 10 worst Baseball Cards of all time:

10. 1973 Topps Dick Allen (#615)
Dick Allen was a terrific hitter, but his 1973 Topps card is not terrific. The photo makes him look like he’s about to punch someone, and the yellow background does nothing to help.

9. 1978 Topps Rich Gossage (#704)
Rich Gossage was one of the best Relief pitchers of all time, but his 1978 Topps card is not one of the best baseball cards of all time. The photo is poorly cropped and makes Gossage look like he doesn’t belong on a baseball card

8. 1979 Topps Rod Carew (#482)
Rod Carew was a Hall of Fame player, but his 1979 Topps card is not a Hall of Fame worthy Baseball Card The photo is oddly cropped and makes Carew look particularly small. Additionally, Carew’s name is misspelled as “Carey” on the front of the card.

7. 1980 Fleer Reggie Jackson (#216)
Reggie Jackson was one of the best power hitters of all time, but his 1980 Fleer card is not one of the best Baseball Cards ever created. The photo is bizarrely cropped so that only half of Jackson’s head is visible, and his bat looks awkwardly placed in front of him. Additionally, Jackson’s name is misspelled as “Reggien” on the back of the card.
6. 1981 Donruss Joe Morgan (#43)
Joe Morgan was a Hall of Fame second baseman, but his 1981 Donruss card is not a Hall of Fame worthy baseball card The photo is strangely cropped so that Morgan appears to have only one arm, and his head looks oddly large in relation to his body. Additionally, Morgan’s name is misspelled as “Morgen” on the back of the card

The Worst baseball cards of All Time: The Bottom 10

While there are many lists of the best baseball cards of all time, this article takes a look at the other end of the spectrum, highlighting the worst baseball cards ever made. These are the cards that are so bad, they’re good. So without further ado, here are the bottom 10 worst baseball cards of all time:

10. 1992 Topps Stadium Club #79 Bobby Bonilla
This card features a photo of Bobby Bonilla that is so poorly done, it looks like a bad Photoshop job. The awkward placement of Bonilla’s head on his body makes this card an instant classic.

9. 2002 Topps #1 Sammy Sosa
The first card in the 2002 Topps Set is of Sammy Sosa and it’s a doozy. In the photo, Sosa is shown wearing a white t-shirt under his Chicago Cubs uniform. This might not seem like a big deal, but it goes against baseball’s long-standing tradition of not wearing anything under your jersey (with the exception of a protective cup). Needless to say, this card was quickly pulled from circulation.

8. 1979 Topps #511 Glenn Burke
Glenn Burke was a MLB player for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1976 to 1978. He was also one of the first openly gay athletes in professional sports That’s why it’s so baffling that his 1979 Topps card features him with his arms crossed in what can only be described as a ‘bro-ish’ pose. The poor Photoshop job on Burke’s face makes this card all the more cringeworthy.

7. 1986 Fleer Update #36 Bill Ripken
This card features Bill Ripken, brother of Cal Ripken Jr., and it is infamous for two reasons: first, because Ripken is shown holding a bat with what appears to be a very phallic knob on the end of it; and secondly, because there is a swear word printed on the knob (it’s censored on the card, but if you look closely you can still see it). Legend has it that Ripken scribbled the word on the bat knob as a prank and Fleer didn’t notice until it was too late. Needless to say, this card was pulled from circulation and became an instant collectors item.

6. 2005 Upper Deck baseball Heroes #213 Jack Morris & Ernie Harwell
Thiscard features two Detroit Tigers legends: pitcher Jack Morris and broadcaster Ernie Harwell. The problem with this card is that it appears to have been digitally altered to make Morris look thinner than he actually is (or maybe he just really let himself go after retirement). In any case, Morris does not look happy about being featured on this card and Harwell doesn’t look much better either. They both look like they would rather be anywhere else but here.

5.. 1989 Upper Deck #580 Ken Griffey Jr./Mariano Rivera RC Error card Hey Rookie! Welcome to The Show!’ These are words that every young player dreams of hearing someday. But for Mariano Rivera they came much too early — courtesy of an error on his 1989 Upper Deck rookie card (which also features Ken Griffey Jr.). On this card, Rivera is shown wearing uniform number 42 — which he wore in spring training that year — instead of his regular season number 47 . As if that wasn’t bad enough ,the photo used on thecard was actually from Spring Training as well , meaning that Rivera looks more like a ball boy than a Major League Baseball player . Ouch . Thankfully ,Rivera went on to have an illustrious career ,and this early hiccup was quickly forgotten . But for collectors ,thiscard will always be remembered as one eyebrow-raising blunder . 4.. 2006 Topps Turkey Red #366 Jose Reyes Errors Card Thiscard features New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes . And while Reyesis undoubtedly talented ,the same cannot be said forTopps’ Graphic designers ,who made some glaring errorsonthiscard . Firstofall ,Reyesis shownwearinga batting helmetthat says ” Mets “on one sideand” Yankees “onthe other . In case you’re unaware ,the MetsandYankees are two rival teams who share acity( New York )andhaveoneofthe most heated rivalriesin allofsports . So havingReyeswearabatting helmet with both team namesonit wouldbe like havingLeBron Jamesweara Celtics jerseyinthe NBA Finals : completely unthinkable ! Adding insultto injury ,The backof Reyescard alsofeaturesan out-of-place Derek Jeter ( anotherYankee )insteadofReyes himself ! It’s safe to saythatTopps reallydroppedthe ballwiththisone . 3.. 2009 Bowman Chrome draft prospects Refractor Card# BCP1 Aroldis Chapman Thiscardfeatures Cubandefector Aroldis Chapman , who made headlinesin 2009 when he signed

The Worst baseball cards of All Time: The Most Hated Cards

The Worst baseball cards of All Time: The Most Hated Cards

While many people have different opinions on what the worst baseball card is, there are definitely some that stand out above the rest. Here are some of the most hated cards of all time:

1. 1978 Topps Jose Canseco rookie card This card is despised by many because it features a young Jose Canseco with an awkward expression.

2. 1989 Fleer Bill Ripken “error” card: This card features Bill Ripken with a bat in his hand and the words “Fuck Face” written on the knob of the bat. The card was supposed to be edited but somehow made it into production.

3. 1992 Topps Stadium Club Barry Bonds rookie card This card is not necessarily hated for its design but for the fact that it features a very young Barry Bonds with an afro.

4. 1983 Fleer Richard Simmons card: This bizarre card features fitness guru Richard Simmons striking a pose in front of a mirror. It’s definitely one of the more odd cards on this list.

5. 1994 Upper Deck Michael Jordan “retirement” card: This card was released after Michael Jordan announced his first retirement from basketball and features him in a baseball uniform The problem is, he never actually played baseball so many people consider this card to be a huge mistake.

The Worst baseball cards of All Time: The Most Controversial Cards

The Most Controversial Cards:

1. The 1972 Topps Curt Flood Card:

This card was released during the height of the player’s controversy with Major League Baseball The card shows Flood in a batting stance with the batting order of his then-current team, the Washington Senators behind him. In the background is a picture of home plate umpire John Kibler. Above Flood’s head is the text “CURT FLOOD / UNBELIEVABLE”.

2. The 1987 Fleer Bill Ripken Card:

This card was released during a time when Bill Ripken was embroiled in a scandal involving his use of illegal drugs. The card shows Ripken in a batting stance, with the words “BILL RIPKEN / AMERICAN IDOL” above his head. In the background is a picture of home plate umpire Tim McClelland.

3. The 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. Card:

This card was released during a time when Griffey was embroiled in a scandal involving his use of illegal drugs. The card shows Griffey in a batting stance, with the words “Ken Griffey JR / SUPERSTAR” above his head. In the background is a picture of home plate umpire Tim McClelland.

The Worst baseball cards of All Time: The Most Unusual Cards

The Worst baseball cards of All Time: The Most Unusual Cards
While there have been some truly horrific baseball cards released over the years, some of the most unusual cards are actually quite interesting. From cards featuring errors to oddball designs, these are some of the most unique (and sometimes valuable) cards you can find.

The Worst baseball cards of All Time: The Most Ugly Cards

The Most Ugly, Disgusting, and Hideous baseball cards Ever Made

The Worst baseball cards of All Time: The Most Boring Cards

Some baseball cards are so uninspired, they make you wonder why anyone would ever want to collect them. These are the most boring cards of all time.

The Worst Baseball Cards of All Time: The Most Pointless Cards

There are some truly terrible baseball cards out there. From players who never made the big leagues to cards that just don’t make any sense, these are the worst of the worst.

The Most Pointless Cards
Topps once again shows its lack of creativity with this card of Yankees relief pitcher Steve Karsay. Yes, the card is from 2002, but it looks like it was made in the ’80s. And what’s with the random blue background?

The Worst baseball cards of All Time: The Most Ridiculous Cards

The following is a list of some of the most ridiculous baseball cards ever printed. These cards are sure to make you cringe, laugh, or both. From misspelled names to bizarre poses, these cards have it all. So sit back and enjoy some of the worst Baseball Cards of all time.

-Ty Cobb – 1928 DiMaggio Brothers Postcard: This card features Ty Cobb sliding into home plate with his arms and legs in completely unnatural positions. The card also includes a misspelled name, as DiMaggio is spelled “Dimaggio” on the card.

--Babe Ruth – 1934 Goudey Gum Company Card: This card features Babe Ruth with his arms crossed in front of his chest and his eyes closed. The bizarre pose makes it look like he’s about to fall asleep standing up.

-Willie Mays – 1963 Topps Card: This card features Willie Mays running out of a burning building with a child in his arms. The background story on the back of the card explains that Mays was rescuing a child from a burning building, but the ridiculous image on the front of the card makes it one of the worst baseball cards of all time.

--Mickey Mantle – 1952 Topps Card: This card features Mickey Mantle looking like he’s about to swing a bat, but there’s no bat in his hand. The result is an extremely awkward-looking pose that looks more like Mantle is trying to swat a fly than hit a ball.

The Worst baseball cards of All Time: The Most Wasteful Cards

There are a lot of baseball cards out there. Many of them are great, showing off amazing moments in the game’s history and players who became legends. Others… not so much. In this list, we’ll be looking at some of the worst baseball cards of all time, the most wasteful cards ever put into production.