Manufacturer: Topps
Set: 1981 Topps Baseball ➡️
Player Name: Sal Butera
Position/Team: Catcher for Twins
Card #: 243
Card Size: 2-1/2” x 3-1/2”
Card Value Snapshot: Raw/Ungraded: $1 | Grade 10: $155
⬇️ See More Pricing Data Below
Signed as an amateur free agent by the Boston Red Sox in 1972 out of St. John’s University, Sal Butera built a nine-year Major League career (1980–1988) as a reliable, defensive-minded backup catcher and steady clubhouse presence.
Best known for his defensive game management, Butera played for five MLB franchises: the Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers, Montreal Expos, Cincinnati Reds, and Toronto Blue Jays. His legacy extended to the next generation through his son, Drew Butera, making them one of the few father-son catching duos to both win World Series rings.
While never an everyday starter, Butera served as an essential late-inning defensive replacement and game-caller throughout his big-league career.
1987 World Series Champion: Returned to Minnesota during the 1987 season to backup Tim Laudner, earning a World Series ring as part of the Twins’ legendary seven-game victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.
Emergencies on the Mound: Known for his arm strength, Butera pitched two scoreless innings of relief in his MLB career—once for the Montreal Expos in 1985 and once for the Cincinnati Reds in 1986.
Scouting & Front Office Legacy: Following his playing career, Butera spent decades in professional baseball as a scout, major league coach, and video advance scout, notably spending over fifteen years in the Toronto Blue Jays organization.
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Pricing Data For This Rookie Card
Tracking the current market value for the 1981 Topps Sal Butera card #243. Below, find updated pricing data for ungraded (raw) copies, as well as verified PSA graded sales trends collected from secondary marketplaces.
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Raw/Ungraded: $1
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Grade 8: $10
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Grade 9: $20
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Grade 10: $155
Data Updated: September 2026
➡️ See All 1981 Topps Rookie Card Prices
Pricing data includes raw card price & some graded card value estimates.
These values are collated from a variety of resources including recently sold listings, sales averages and a variety of other sports card pricing data sources. Please see full disclaimer on “Terms Page” for more information. (Rookiecardprices.com only shows values for regular base set cards. No prices are shown for errors, parallels, subsets, misprints or other cards unless noted.)
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Did You Know? Midway through the 1987 season, Butera was traded back to the Minnesota Twins. While he did not appear in the postseason games that October, he was part of the organizational depth during a magical summer that culminated in the Twins capturing the 1987 World Series title. He finished his major league playing career following a stint with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1988.
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