What seemed to start out as a sort of cheap attempted knockoff of the classic 1975 Topps set actually has some character of its own. And I don't think I ever pulled one from a pack. Like the 1990 Donruss,Fleer, Leaf, Score, Bowman and Upper Deck sets, far too many of them were printed and the market is over-saturated with them. As many sets had excessive print runs, (think millions, although nobody knows for sure) the majority of 1990s options are worth little more than the cost of the materials that they were printed on. For his efforts, Canseco earned a trip to his fourth All-Star game and picked up the second Silver Slugger of his career at that point. If theres a Holy Grail of all 1980s baseball cards, the 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. is it. The most valuable cards include rookie cards and cards from Sandbergs year in the Minor League. Its a unique card due to its style it contains an artistic portrait of two baseball legends with autographs and is printed in landscape orientation. You May Like: Red White And Blue Baseball Jersey. And also like Grissom, DeShields managed to put together a fine career that left him short of the Hall of Fame but still popular enough among old-time collectors to keep his rookie card out of the commons bin. Even now, decades after his retirement and years after he fell off the Hall of Fame ballot, Mattingly still carries plenty of weight in the hobby he helped build. Some of these foil cards are so delicate they may have been damaged when they were first bought and taken out of the packaging. Recently a PSA 10 gem mint condition version of his 1997 card sold at auction for $1,591 making it one of the most valuable cards of the 90's. Adrian Beltre (1997 Bowman Chrome International Refractor #182) Beltre's rookie card from 1997 recently sold at auction for $3,016. Much of the attention is due to the fact that Jordans, RC is extremely valuable, while prices of all MJ cards have increased rapidly following the release of. Ungraded & graded values for all '90 Fleer Canadian Baseball Cards. Theres a small UD logo in the top right corner, while the reverse has a guarantee for the signatures. The initial production run containing the error becomes scarce, driving up its value. While currently ranked as the 5th most valuable baseball card, when Trouts 2009 Bowman Chrome Superfractors autographed card serial-numbered 1/1 sold in August 2020, it became the most valuable baseball card in the hobby. His greatness began to show in earnest that summer, though, as he led the Pirates to a division title and won his first National League MVP award. Though the gridiron ultimately proved to be his primary passion and gift (hes in the Pro Football Hall of Fame), Sanders spent enough time on the diamond to rack up plenty of steals and runs over his nine-year career. It's said that those that made it to the White House were coated with a glossy finish. In his first full season back in Oakland after a four-and-a-half-year stint with the Yankees, Rickey Henderson played lights out in 1990, to put it mildly. One gem mint listing on eBay has an asking price of $9,500. However, there are a few rare gems from this period that are exceptions to the rule. This may very well be the most stylish card on the list. Believe it or not, 1990 Topps baseball cards may be better than you think. Well, the 1993 card was printed with a foil layer making it incredibly delicate. Read our methodology. Although Canseco batted just .182 (2-11) with one RBI in the AL Championship versus the Red Sox, the Athletics collectively played well enough to sweep Boston. Smith was already an All-Star closer as the 1990 season dawned, but his biggest seasonal save totals still lay ahead, with the St. Louis Cardinals. Hiding in commons bins with the rest of his 1986 brethren. This card is so odd because Lindros never even actually played professional baseballnot even in the Minors. I wont get into it here, and theres a great article on PWCC that dives deeper that was just written this past June, and offering this nugget: The pack pulled, dual Mantle and Griffey auto is one of the most desirable dual auto pack pulled cards ever. It was the first to offer an auto in every pack, with signatures from some of the biggest stars from the time. The product was only available to hobby dealers and a few select retail outlets, and the result was a smaller print-run than the massively overproduced counterparts of the era. Wax Pack Gods, 100 Most Expensive Magic The Gathering Cards Sold on eBay in the Last 30 Days, 1989 Upper Deck Baseball Cards 28 Most Valuable Wax Pack Gods. The impressive home run and RBI tallies would fade, causing Mattingly to be overlooked for any All-Star selections in the 1990s. A real parallel foil or border foil card will sell more in the realm of $10,000-$20,000, depending on its condition. Its easy to see why gem mint versions are exceptionally expensive, even if it came out in a year when the hobby supposedly fell apart at the seams. And, while it was light on big-name rookies, 1990 Topps Traded offered up some intriguing veterans-in-new-places cards to take up the slack. Right, but where were his *Detroit* cards? Check prices on: Bo Jackson was an incredibly popular athlete during the late 80s and early 90s. The cheapest Jordan rookie by a significant margin, its a chance for collectors to own a bona fide piece of sporting history, even if the cards are slightly overpriced due to the latest influx of MJ fans and hype around his RC options. Joe Jackson is one of the renowned names. (Note: The following sections contain affiliate links to eBay and Amazon listings for the cards being discussed. One of the most important cards of the post-WWII era, ushering in a new, premium brand into the baseball card aisles and leading off that ground-breaking set with the Rookie Card of. Because of his jaw-dropping performance that year, Bonds earned his first trip to the All-Star game, won his first MVP, and picked up his first Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards. Alex Rodriguez is a 14-time All-Star, and one of the greatest of all time when youre looking at stats alone. Still, The Iron Man played well enough to earn his eighth straight trip to the All-Star game. 1 overall in the 1993 draft, Alex Rodriguez debuted the following year and then set the card market ablaze when he hit .358/.414/.631 with 54 doubles, 36 home runs, 123 RBI and 141 runs scored in his age-20 season to finish runner-up in MVP voting and win the AL batting title. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Many of the most valuable 1990 Fleer baseball cards on eBay are standard cards with autographs. Entdecke Cal Ripken 9 Vintage Kartenlot, 1987 -1992, Topps, Punktzahl All Star Diamond King Neuwertig in groer Auswahl Vergleichen Angebote und Preise Online kaufen bei eBay Kostenlose Lieferung fr viele Artikel! During this period, its estimated that companies were producing three times as many cards as they had previously, fueled by greed and ever-increasing public demand. Cards number 2-5 tell the story of Nolan Ryan's career with the Mets, Angels, Astros and Rangers up to that point in time. Which Was Your Favorite Old-Time Baseball Cards Publica 1987 Topps Baseball Cards 25 Most Valuable R 1978 Topps Baseball Cards The Ultimate Guide, 25) 1990 Topps Sammy Sosa Rookie Card (#692), 24) 1990 Topps Larry Walker Rookie Card (#757), 12) 1990 Topps Bernie Williams Rookie Card (#701), 5) 1990 Topps Rickey Henderson Record Breaker (#7), 4) 1990 Topps Frank Thomas Rookie Card (#414), 6) 1990 Topps Delino Deshields Rookie Card (#224), 5) 1990 Topps Juan Gonzalez Rookie Card (#331), 4) 1990 Topps Ben McDonald Rookie Card (#774), 3) 1990 Topps Marquis Grissom Rookie Card (#714), 2) 1990 Topps Frank Thomas Partial Blackless (#414), 1) 1990 Topps Frank Thomas No Name on Front (#414), 2) 1990 Topps Traded Cecil Fielder (#31T), 1) 1990 Topps Traded David Justice (#48T), 1990 Topps Baseball Cards Complete Your Set U-Pick (#'s 401-600) Nm-Mint, Coast-to-Coast Cardboard: Rocco Constantinos Collecting Story, 1952 Bowman Baseball Cards 12 Most Valuable, 1990 Upper Deck Baseball Cards - The Ultimate Guide - Wax Pack Gods, 1990 Topps Baseball Cards - The Ultimate Collector's Guide, 1957 Topps Baseball Cards 15 Most Valuable, 1967 Topps Baseball Cards 17 Most Valuable, 1959 Topps Baseball Cards 17 Most Valuable, 1961 Topps Baseball Cards 16 Most Valuable, 1986 ProCards Pittsfield Cubs Rafael Palmeiro Left Room for Interpretation Wax Pack Gods, 1998 Upper Deck Final Tribute Captured Eddie Murray in His Second Home Wax Pack Gods, Players with 3000 Hits and 500 Home Runs Wax Pack Gods, Card Traders Near Me: Where to Find Them! While batting .318 with 32 home runs, 104 runs scored, and 109 RBI, Thomas also led the league in walks (138), OBP (.453), and OPS (1.006), helping to launch his reputation as a disciplined and well-rounded hitter. The combination of the two greats and a dual autograph is enough to drive interest, which is why it makes the list. He didn't appear on his first Topps card until the 1995 Topps Traded set, following his MLB debut. The green background makes any flaws or cornering issues easier to detect, which is why finding a mint condition copy of this card is difficult. T210 Old Mill Joe Jackson The T210 Old Mill deck is one of the most varied. The checklist also contains rookie cards of Jeff Kent and Tim Wakefield. This card sold for $1,910 in 1966. In fact, its so sensitive to chipping and wear that a combination of the design and packaging caused many copies to grade less than PSA Mint 9, even when pulled straight from the pack. The card companies came calling, and collectors were happy to scoop up rookie cards of the young slugger in 1990, especially when he bashed 29 long balls at Triple-A Oklahoma City that summer before connecting on four more in just 25 games for the Rangers in September. 1992 Bowman #302 Mariano Rivera Buy on eBay #9. Upper Deck released its super-premium SP product line during the same year that Topps (Finest) and Fleer (Flair) unveiled their own high-end set, but SP is the only one that contains a rookie card of New York Yankees superstar Derek Jeter. I mean, wow. Joe Jackson is one of the renowned names. Read the full disclosure here. On the card itself, Jordan is pictured during batting practice with the, The 1993 SP Jeter is one of the best cards from the 1990s, produced on a foil background that can be ruined by the faintest touch. The 1990 Leaf set is one of the iconic releases of the Junk Wax Era, produced by Donruss as a premium product to compete with Upper Deck. Ahead, we've taken a closer look at the 10 most valuable rookie cards of the 1990s. Rookies have a history of booming and busting. 1990: The 20 Most Valuable Ken Griffey Jr Baseball Cards! The action shot features a young Jeter primed to make a catch, with the player superimposed over the holofoil. This company was founded in 1988 with headquarters in the US. It would take a few years for Sammy Sosa's career to heat up so I don't recall this card being too hyped at the time. Though he may not have been MLB's hottest rookie in 1990, he certainly turned into one of the biggest superstars of his era. Beltre is viewedas a likely first-ballot Hall of Famer when he is eligible for the first time in 2024, andthis is a card that still has some room to grow in value. He was consistently productive although he did have some seasons here and there shortened by injury. Its another reason why its so valuable in comparison to every other card in the set. Somewhat surprisingly, Griffey Jr.'s card is actually worth more than the Frank Thomas rookie (with his name on the front). At 36, Gary Carters best days were behind him in 1990, but he still put up a solid season at the plate for the Giants that summer. Those wild borders, for example, arent just colorful they have print dots. Common as dirt. It all solidified Cal as an ironclad collector favorite, and we still love him today. A rundown of the most expensive 1990 Fleer Baseball cards sold on eBay in February 2023.See the most recent eBay top sellers of 1990 Fleer Baseball cards her. In 16 seasons, he hit .318/.379/.553 for a 140 OPS+ with 449 home runs, 1,496 RBI and 59.5 WAR, and he earned Hall of Fame induction in 2018. Its difficult to find a more important autographed duo card in the history of baseball, featuring two players who tore up the record books during their respective careers. $39.20. Neon Deion Sanders was a hobby phenom right from the start thanks to his electric talent in both football and baseball. So, while this 1990 Score card is not a . After all, the Orioles had selected the big righthander with the first overall pick in the 1989 Draft, then brought him up after just two games in the minors. Unfortunately, injuries really bogged him down in the 2000s but he still managed to put up monster career numbers. The Fleer Brilliants 24k Gold Ken Griffey Jr. card received a grade of EX 5 by the PSA, making it only one of two examples of this card to get that high. Derek Jeter is one of the most decorated players in the modern era, with 14 All-Star appearances and five World Series wins in a 20-year MLB career spent with the New York Yankees. As such, it was never corrected because there wasnt really anything to correct. The New York Yankees signed 20-year-old Mariano Rivera out of Panama on Feb. 17, 1990, and he allowed just 17 hits and one earned run with 58 strikeouts in 52 innings in his pro debut at the rookie ball level later that year. Bonds card prices, its seems, like his Hall of Fame candidacy, are victims of his PED taint. As an All-Star card, the back of this one shows his AS stats: But some of the cards printed in early runs purported to show his recent major league performance: Its scarce enough, at least in Junk Wax terms, to land a pretty cherry spot on this list. Ryan's popularity drives most of the reason for the value of this card being what it is. Beware of listings on eBay for hundreds of thousands of dollars on cards like these they probably arent verified or even real foil. 1984-85 Star Michael Jordan XRC RC #101 BGS 7.5 Rookie Card | eBay. Chipper Jones won a World Series and made eight All-Star appearances for the Atlanta Braves in a storied career. Things were about the same (or worse) for Iron Cal in 1990, and his critics put the blame firmly on The Streak. Not surprisingly, Thomas 1991 breakout (.318, 32 home runs, 109 RBI, 104 runs) sent us all scrambling to find his 1990 rookie cards, and theyve been hobby royalty ever since. (The same is true for almost every card were about to mention.). Check prices on: Amazon. Trending: Best Luka Doncic Rookie Cards | Best Joe Burrow Rookie Cards | Top Tom Brady Rookie Cards | Justin Herbert Rookie Cards are still a sneaky good buy. Even if you werent born at the time, youve probably watched The Last Dance and know something about Michael Jordans hiatus from the Chicago Bulls in the early 90s. Aside from the emblem and the potential for a few battle scars, its a fairly simple card that features Jones with a bat slung over his shoulders, with a couple of trees in the background. Griffey was one of the most popular players of the era and his cards were always in high demand. Only three other players hit more home runs than Albert Belles 351 dingers during the 1990s: Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and Ken Griffey Jr. We know that two of those guys had a lot of help from PEDs. Back from a starring role in Japan, Fielder had us all shaking our heads as he crushed 51 home runs for the Detroit Tigers, the first 50-homer season in the bigs since George Foster went deep 52 times for the Reds in 1977. Due to poor sales of the. Jones had a great career with the Atlanta Braves and was a key figure in their success during the 90s. Baseball cards are among the most popular collectibles in the sports memorabilia market. With Walter Johnson years in his rearview, Nolan Ryan sailed past 5000 strikeouts in 1989, on his way to baseball immortality. As well as Derek Jeter, players like Alex Rodriguez, Greg Maddux, Roger Clemens, and Sammy Sosa also signed cards in the Signature Series Extended Autographs Century Marks set. Their rarity, combined with their quality (PSA 9+) gives them their value. His 1990 Fleer card was no exception and has enough value left in the tank to earn a spot on this list. The price for a piece of Americas pastime keeps going up. Add to that the fact that the 20-card "Premiere Prospects" subset that Jeter is included in has a foil design that shows any and all imperfections, and it's virtually impossible to find a gem mint version of the card. Heres a list of seven of the most valuable baseball cards from the 1990s, with info about each one, including an explanation as to why theyre so expensive. #1: 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle An SGC 9.5 Example Sold in August 2022 for $12,600,000 Dimensions: 2-5/8" x 3-3/4" The most important post-war card in the hobby, price movements of the 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle baseball card are often seen as an indicator of the health of the sports card market overall. The 1993 SP Jeter is one of the best cards from the 1990s, produced on a foil background that can be ruined by the faintest touch. Not surprisingly, Henderson picked up the AL MVP award that year. The only Rodriguez card to make the list, his 1994 SP is one of the flimsiest modern-era rookies in the hobby and is ridiculously hard to find in mint condition, just like the other SP Foil listed above. This time hes on his own, but its still a great option even without the help of Mickey Mantle. In truth, MJ wasnt particularly good at baseball, but his RC is still worth adding to your personal collection if and when prices begin to slow down. His first Topps card didn't come until the 1998 flagship set. That said, the condition-sensitive nature of the 1994 SP set's foil design makes high-grade versions difficult to find and therefore valuable. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, . I have looked and cannot find the value. You might also enjoy our Ultimate Guide treatment of 1990 Topps baseball cards, right here. In todays market, a mint 1991 Chipper Jones could be worth somewhere around the $5k mark. Like the "No Name On Front" Thomas rookie card, this one is exceptionally rare and card collectors go crazy for this card. This card from 1992, showing Piazza in a crowded catchers stance, is worth a fair amount of money within collectors circles, often going between $200 and $300. Still, that doesn't mean 1990 Fleer cards have no value. That decision was one of the worst in baseball history. It was futuristic for the time, but Jeters SP RC is a clear cut above the others found on this list. How much are YOUR cards worth? His 1991 Topps Desert Shield was given the designation as it was a gift for US troops who were serving during Operation Desert Storm. After all, the strapping young lad looked more like a linebacker than a first baseman, and we didnt have the sort of 24-7 access to baseball information and images back in those pre-internet days. It turns out there was. As well as rarity due to the small release, (estimated to be between 6,000 and 7,500), the majority had to get to an active war zone and back before being encased by the likes of PSA. After the initial production run, someone may detect the error and pull the card from the line. And then there are some pretty interesting subjects, from draft picks to error cards to scads of Nolan Ryans. In spite of the steroid allegations, Rodriguezs RC was always going to be high on any list of the most valuable 90s cards. It took him just 133 at bats to reach #15. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. Today, even after the great slugger downfall of the 2010s, Sosas rookie cards maintain enough hobby swagger to appear on lists like this one. In 1999 he was still with the Chicago White Sox. Mattingly was coming off a mild rebound year in 1989 after injuries sapped his power (18 home runs) in 1988, but things got even worse in 1990 as the Yankees superstar was limited to just 102 appearances. It was a blistering campaign that launched the young superstars career into the stratosphere. Post contains affiliate links. This is the holy grail of 1990s baseball cards. The "Topps All-Star Rookie" trophy symbol made this one stand out a bit more from other cards in this set, too. 1990 Score Ken Griffey, Jr. (#560) If there is one great player from the 1990s and 2000s who seems to have sidestepped any suspicion of PED usage, it's the inimitable Ken Griffey, Jr. And, from the time Junior appeared on card #1 in the inaugural Upper Deck issue in 1989, he has been been hobby royalty. His other rookie cards are in the 1997 Bowman and 1997 Bowman's Best sets, while his first Topps card was in the 1998 flagship set where he's pictured alongside fellow third base prospect Aaron Boone. The fact that there are only two of them has helped increase demand, with the 1995 Bowman and 1995 Bowman's Best sets containing his only rookies. Mostly, though, it was just a steady climb to 2200+ career hits, pulling his rookie card along with him. If there are any issue please contact me through the contact page located on this site and I can have the images removed if needed. The Investment Case for the 1989-1990 Hoops Michael Jordan #200 Basketball Card. The on-card autograph is located at the base and was filled out using black ink. In 1994-95, baseball was rocked by a player strike which massively ate into the season resulting in a blow to the games public image. There are tons of Nolan Ryan collectors so demand is still decent for this card. When he burst onto the scene, his rookie cards were among the hottest sellers in the entire hobby. Serial numbered to just 99, its extremely fragile, while the shiny border is especially susceptible to chips and will highlight any blemishes. Sammy Sosa entered 1990 with designs on a starting job for the first time in his big league career, thanks to a midseason trade in 1989 from the Rangers to the White Sox. Naturally, his rookie cards were hot tamales. Topps continued their Ryan celebration here by showing him with the Houston Astros, who had made the future Hall of Famer the first baseball player to earn $1 million+ when they signed him as a free agent prior to the 1980 season. Due to the availability of baseball cards from 1990 and the crash of the sports cards market in the 1990s, most of the standard cards are worth just a few dollars. After a slow start to his minor league career, he put together a breakout season at High-A in 1991, hitting .277/.344/.540 with 27 doubles, 29 home runs and 80 RBI in 117 games. What would be the value of a Topps Ripken card with Frank THomas name on it by mistake? And he nearly won the batting title with his .325 average, narrowly losing out to George Brett (.329) on the final day of the season. The . We had an avenue toward Smiths first Cards card, and this was it (Topps division). The era was ended by the baseball players strike of 1994, and the hobby has never truly recovered in terms of national attention. While both cards sell for a similar price ungraded, the shiny foil nature of the Bowman's Best card makes it extremely difficult to find them in gem mint condition. To that point, only 59 of 16,753 that have been graded by PSA have come back with a PSA 10 grade. Back in the late 80s and early 90s during their time with the Pirates, he and Bobby Bonilla became known as the Killer Bs as one of the most feared hitting duos in the league. His is the last of the key rookie cards in this set. The card is key for three main reasons: These cards often sell for $50 to $75, depending on the popularity of the player. Shortcuts: Most Expensive, Cheapest, List by Card # You own: 0 / 833 items 0% Track your collection for free. The action shot shows Griffey Jr. after a successful swing, and the card immediately catches the eye thanks to the shiny border. Choosing between this card or number 3 on the list, the Lebron James refractor, I would choose the Lebron card over the Zion. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, . Now that we got that out of the way, let's take a look at the top ten: 1990 Score #697 Bo Jackson Estimated PSA 10 Value: $70 Check Prices On: Amazon This card is arguably one of the most iconic cards of the "junk" era. The eBay scam sort of stuck, unfortunately, and some folks are still paying a premium for a card thats just a common. Remarkably, that stat line wasn't good enough to take home the Triple Crown but he did win MVP honors that season. 1991 Topps Desert Shield #333 Chipper Jones RC ($200) 1993 Stadium Club Murphy Derek Jeter RC ($60) 1991 Wild Card Brett Favre #119 5 Stripe ($40), 10 Stripe ($80), 20 Stripe ($120), 50 Stripe ($250), 100 Stripe ($350), 1000 Stripe ($1,800) This card and others like it are what make it seem like the whole blackless or NNOF phenomenon might just be a printing problem and not an actual design/release error . It was made in a limited set of 50 and this card that sold at a Goldin auction was #50/50. Well, for Topps this was the one, and its still special more than 30 years on. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Well start off with a rare card from 1991. Like wow like comic books have (something I first realized while reading a post from Night Owl Cards). The Most Valuable 1990s Baseball Cards: Summary, As well as rarity due to the small release, (estimated to be between 6,000 and 7,500), the majority had to get to an active war zone and back before being encased by the likes of, (Okay, we said that you wont find any of these cards hidden down the back of the couch, but this is the exception!). On the card itself, Jordan is pictured during batting practice with the White Sox before a home game in 1990. 22) 1990 Topps Roger Clemens (#245) This is about as bland a card as you're likely to find for one of the greatest pitchers of all time, but I guess that was Roger Clemens ' punishment for having not won a Cy Young award for two years running at the time of issue. Kobe tragically passed away in a helicopter crash in January 2020 leading to the value of his memorabilia skyrocketing. Thanks , Your email address will not be published. And part of that goes towards chasing Kevin Maas Rookie Cards back in the day. However, the following types of cards are likely to hold more value: Error cards are often more valuable when the manufacturer corrects the error. Willie Mays Rookie Card. Entering 1990, Barry Bonds was still mostly potential, flashing consistent tools across the board but never completely wowing in any one area of the game. Edges are a major issue when it comes to grading, and better versions show off every curve of Mantles ear. To honor President Bush, Topps printed 100 or so of these with a picture of him during his college days in his Yale uniform.