As well as Derek Jeter, players like Alex Rodriguez, Despite the bad press, the list proves that the 1990s wasnt the worst time to begin, Justin Herbert Rookie Cards are still a sneaky good buy, Best 10 Frank Thomas Rookie Card Investments, Top 3 Jordan Lawlar Rookie Card Investments and Checklist, 3 Best 2015 Topps Update Rookie Cards To Consider, 10 Best 2023 Topps Series 1 Variations Baseball Cards To Buy, 10 Best 1989 Topps Baseball Cards To Buy Plus Error List, 2022 Topps Heritage Baseball Most Valuable Cards and Checklist, These 10 GOATS Rookie Cards Will Outperform Stocks Over Next 10 Years, Gold Card Auctions | Sports Card Investing. 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. The most expensive cards tend to be rare, and theyre often serial numbered. Besides being the best Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card, it helped usher in a new era in the hobby that included glossy card stock and premium production values. 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. Its another reason why its so valuable in comparison to every other card in the set. Marquis Grissom was one of what seemed like an endless string of Expos prospects in the 1980s and 1990s. Superstars dont come much more unassuming and steady than Bernie Williams especially Yankees superstars! 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. A-Rod won the World Series with the Yankees in 2009. And I don't think I ever pulled one from a pack. Ahead, we've taken a closer look at the 10 most valuable rookie cards of the 1990s. Beltres rookie card from 1997 recently sold at auction for $3,016. 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. This is one such example of one of the decades rarer cards. However, there are a few rare gems from this period that are exceptions to the rule. 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. Surprisingly, there are valuable cards from almost every year to look out for, including before, during, and after the junk wax era. The record for this card was set at a Goldin auction for $26,400. ). Although back problems hampered him during the 1990 season, Jose Canseco still managed to blast home runs at one of the highest rates of his career as he would belt 37 in just 481 at-bats. Mostly, though, it was just a steady climb to 2200+ career hits, pulling his rookie card along with him. Hes widely regarded as one of the best baseball players to come from the Dominican Republic and was a great all-round athlete who had a long-spanning career. Its an error in the sense that it does not list his correct birthday, but there were several cards that listed that date. 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. We use cookies to improve your experience. 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. 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. Edges are a major issue when it comes to grading, and better versions show off every curve of Mantles ear. Believe it or not, 1990 Topps baseball cards may be better than you think. So, in order for the cards on this list to be worth much, they'll either have to be the Tiffany version (Topps' premium factory set) and/or be graded by PSA to be in perfect, gem mint condition. They also created a subset for him as a tribute to his legendary career that spanned across his time with the Mets, Angels, Astros and Rangers which we'll get to a bit later on this list. Dates back to 80s and 90s. Are you ready for a stat thatll probably make you sick to your stomach? The following season, though, Thomas broke out in a big way as he finished third in MVP voting and picked up his first of four career Silver Sluggers. His only rookie cards are in the 1995 Bowman and Bowman's Best sets, as Bowman Chrome would not be introduced until two years later. (PSA Graded) Estimated PSA 10 Value: $50. The first of those historic sales was for what many believe is the most iconic trading card in all of sports. Ken Griffey Jr. is back again, in one of the most important sets from the 1990s. Pitchers with 300 Wins and Their Baseball Cards. Highlighting Reggie Jackson, the "Heroes of Baseball" set that originated in 1990 would. And at the end of his career, he was just a notch or two below Cooperstown levels, but still plenty decorated enough to make his rookie card a solid hobby star all these year later. 1 prospect in baseball at the start of the 1996 and 1997 seasons, Andruw Jones is one of the most hyped minor leaguers of all time, and homering twice in Game 1 of the 1996 World Series when he was only 19 years old only fueled the fire. Sandberg reached 30 home runs (exactly) for the first time in 1989 as he helped the Cubs win their second division title, and first since 1984. Ungraded & graded values for all '90 Topps Baseball Cards. Of course, even the stoutest of the 90s will likely never rattle any bank accounts, not on the whole, and not to the extent that some of the hobbys big hitters do and will. In 2015, a PSA 10 copy would sell for roughly $30,000. Part of that was probably because he started out with the Montreal Expos, who infamously never won a division title, but who looked like a good bet in 1994 before The Strike ended everyones season. I used to love watching him play--he was a class act. And, while Sanders never quite excited collectors like fellow crossover artist Bo Jackson did, his cards continue to draw solid interest from fans of both sports. Don Mattingly's career was almost a tale of two decades. If you continue to use this site, we'll assume you're OK with that. There are RCs and special editions, so its highly unlikely that youll find one stuffed down the back of the couch. Willie Mays Rookie Card. However, injuries would catch up to him, and even though he still had a top-notch glove on defense and could still hit for average, his power wasnt nearly what it used to be. 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. (Note: The following sections contain affiliate links to eBay and Amazon listings for the cards being discussed. Along with those of Wade Boggs and Ryne Sandberg, the 1983 Topps Tony Gwynn rookie card is one of the most iconic baseball cards of the 1980s. As with the Jeter SP, the holofoil causes the player to pop, and it really is a great-looking collectible. 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. Ryan's popularity drives most of the reason for the value of this card being what it is. It includes both Griffey and Mickey Mantles profiles, accompanied by their Sharpie signatures. Technological advancements were on the rise but the world was yet to be completely changed by increased connectivity. 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. . Recommended Reading: Baseball Practice Plans For 10 Year Olds. Within the set were also several different subsets, including: It really is a pretty decent set overall. Despite not making his major league debut until June 29, Kevin Maas still managed to hit 21 home runs for the Yankees in his rookie season. Alex Rodriguez is a 14-time All-Star, and one of the greatest of all time when youre looking at stats alone. Don Mattinglys career was almost a tale of two decades. 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. Collectors were more eager than ever to own a piece of Bos cardboard, making his 1990 Topps issue an exciting pull. Read our methodology . OK, fine, but .., where had his rookie cards been?? Joe Jackson is one of the renowned names. The impressive home run and RBI tallies would fade, causing Mattingly to be overlooked for any All-Star selections in the 1990s. His 1990 Topps rookie card has held up over the years with decent value. I really dont know much about Scores motive for putting him on a baseball card but Im assuming it was some sort of promotional gimmick. Its condition sensitivity has made high-grade versions very scarce and very valuable. Juan Gonzalez kind of got lost in the shuffle of the home run barrage during the late 1990s and the early 2000s, and especially because he sort of flamed out in his early-to-mid 30s. Gonzalez was one of the most feared hitters of his era and seemed like a lock for 40+ homers and 100+ RBI every season. That was good enough to win the NL Rookie of the Year award and leave us all wondering where his Topps rookie card was. Before we get started, I do want to make it clear that most of the cards from this set do not have any value these days. An additional 420+ MLB taters followed, along with a couple of MVP awards and plenty of other accolades. 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. This Frank Thomas Topps rookie card is very notable for its mistake: the complete absence of Frank Thomass name! Check out my other Baseball Card Videos here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrmolUXjojPMbnGNd9g9-DtE4gqbTGPTHHow to submit to PSA: https://youtu.be/. Don Mattingly could flat out playhe could hit for average and a bit of power while at the same time maintaining a solid glove at first base . Thanks , Your email address will not be published. After winning American League Rookie of the Year and MVP honors in 1982 and 1983, respectively, Ripken had managed just 21 home runs and a .257 batting average in 1989, even as his Orioles rebounded from laughingstock (54-107) in 1988 to contender (87-75) the next summer under second-year manager Frank Robinson. He went on to rack up 541 home runs, 1,769 RBI and three World Series rings on his way to first-ballot Hall of Famer status. We strive to provide simple, straightforward advice that is objective, independent, and honest, helping you get the most for your money in the sports card investment world. 1997 - 1998 UD Game Jersey Michael Jordan #GJ13 $599,999.99. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. 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. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. Mike Piazza is one of the most iconic catchers in the game. Its no surprise that it easily makes it onto the list, as one of the most important modern baseball cards ever produced. The next few years saw McDonald settle in as a solid but not spectacular rotation piece who never quite lived up to his next Roger Clemens billing. Read our methodology. It was graded NM 7 by the PSA, which is not as impressive as later cards on this list but still high. Seen as a parallel to the main collection, each card has a print run of 100 only and can be identified by the holographic foil found at the top of the card. 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. 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 (yeah, that might be a fine distinction, but Im making it anyway). Its the 24k gold foil overlay that really makes this card stand out. This second hunk of the Ryan recap shows him with the California Angels, the team for whom he burned down American League hitters like toothpicks in a cremation furnace for nearly a decade. And while were very bullish on the longterm of baseball card valuations you should never invest more than youre willing to lose on anything. Leading the league in runs scored and stolen bases was nothing new for Henderson, but it was the first time in his career that he outpaced everyone in OBP and OPS. You shouldnt be fooled by the SP label, as it still had a massive print number when you compare it to the modern sets of today. Like the "No Name On Front" Thomas rookie card, this one is exceptionally rare and card collectors go crazy for this card. The . If we are talking Upper Deck, a card brand that blew up in the 90s, its only right Ken Griffey Jr. be included here multiple times. Read our methodology . It took him just 133 at bats to reach #15. Olerud took awhile to build a resume that would land him on lists like this, putting up solid, semistar-to-star-level performances year after year. While cards are easily available for purchase, the most valuable ones have reached seven-figure territory. Disclaimer: Please note none this is meant as investment advice purely for entertainment and informational purposes only. Beware of listings on eBay for hundreds of thousands of dollars on cards like these they probably arent verified or even real foil. So, its an exceedingly rare signed parallel from one of the biggest stars in the sport. Well, Japan and the Blue Jays. Ryno took his power game to a whole new level in 1990, though, leading the NL with 40 homers and cementing cards like his base Topps issue as pack-winners that summer. 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. All-Stars Estimated PSA 10 Value: $25 1990 Fleer #3 Jose Canseco Estimated PSA 10 Value: $20 1990 Fleer #217 Darryl Strawberry Estimated PSA 10 Value: $20 1990 Fleer #297 Juan Gonzalez Rookie Card Estimated PSA 10 Value: $20 1990 Fleer #485 Albert Belle Rookie Card Estimated PSA 10 Value: $20 1990 Fleer Update #U-87 Frank Thomas Rookie Card In the current market, Jordan cards from 91 are worth anything up to $400. Jeters 1993 SP Foil is arguably the pick of the bunch and the most expensive and has also seen a notable uptick in recent years. It wasnt often that a base card of an individual player landed card #1 back in those days, but Ryan was entering bonafide legend territory, and the following years would only solidify that standing and boost his card values across the board. It perfectly illustrates just what made Bo Jackson so special: In todays market, a mint 1991 Chipper Jones could be worth somewhere around the $5k mark. Walker's rookie card received quite a boost in price once he finally received the call to the Hall of Fame. 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. Rookie cards for Juan Gonzalez, Larry Walker, and Sammy Sosa may sell for more than other standard cards from the same year. Baseball cards are among the most popular collectibles in the sports memorabilia market. The internet was still in its infancy and not as widely used or trusted as it is today. Lower-grade cards can sell for around $1000 whilst a higher-grade edition went for $8,655 in 2018. 1990 Frank Thomas Topps NAME ON FRONT ROOKIE RC #414 White Sox PSA 8 NM/MINT. Neon Deion Sanders was a hobby phenom right from the start thanks to his electric talent in both football and baseball. Right, but where were his *Detroit* cards? It remains to be seen if Bonds will be inducted into the Hall of Fame but I dont think anyone can argue how talented he was. But, hey, if youre going to spray out an iconic error card (that may actually just be a printing flaw), what better way than to target a Hall of Famer? In this case, its just a couple hunks of the black links surrounding the name box and not the name itself that are missing. Of course, before that could come to pass the Red Sox had to ship him to St. Louis, which they did during that summer of 1990. The fact is, Belle was one of the most consistently productive hitters of the 1990s as he hit no fewer than 28 home runs and drove in no fewer than 95 runs from 1991 to 1999. 13 Rarest Michael Jordan Cards Ever - Rarest.org . An autograph can instantly increase the value of any card. It includes a lot of minor players that you may not have heard the name of before. The Uribe error thats caused so much ruckus over the last couple of years is the 1990 Fleer same situation, and there is nothing special about that card. However, cards from Sandbergs first run with the Chicago Cubs are also quite. This card is ungraded, has no autograph of him but is very valuable. 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. 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. Well start off with a rare card from 1991. Remarkably, that stat line wasn't good enough to take home the Triple Crown but he did win MVP honors that season. Autographed Cards Population Totals. It's hard to make the claim that any 1990 Fleer baseball cards are really "most valuable" from a monetary standpoint. Eight-time All-Star Roy Halladay was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019 and sadly passed away in 2017. Dont Miss: Baseball Cross Necklace For Men. Despite the bad press, the list proves that the 1990s wasnt the worst time to begin investing in baseball cards, as long as you knew where to look and only went for the best of the best. His is the last of the key rookie cards in this set. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. A dynamic power-speed threat early in his career, he eventually settled in as more of a middle-of-the-order run producer. 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 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. $49.00. While his 1992 Bowman rookie is one of the iconic cards of the 1990s, it's actually his 1992 Fleer Update card that earns a spot on this most valuable list. This time hes on his own, but its still a great option even without the help of Mickey Mantle. Contact him at [emailprotected]. Of course, those homer numbers were off the charts starting in 1998, when he chased Mark McGwire to Roger Maris single-season record. Jones had a great career with the Atlanta Braves and was a key figure in their success during the 90s. But theres still a certain cynicism among many when we hear about a rookie being the next big thing. The only Leaf card to make the list, their 1996 set is one of the best the company ever released. Still, The Iron Man played well enough to earn his eighth straight trip to the All-Star game. While many cards from the 90s are effectively worthless, there are a number of solid options that have increased in value rapidly over the past decade. In this guide, we take a look at the 20 most valuable 1990 Topps baseball cards. had made good, that we were pretty sure Grissom could live up to his advance billing. Well, the 1993 card was printed with a foil layer making it incredibly delicate. This card was produced for US servicemen and women serving in Operation Desert Storm so imaginably, there arent many out there and even less in mint condition. #8. His reputation as a two-sport superstar earned him a place in commercials, video games, and even cartoons. David Justice was already 24 years old when the Braves called him up for the second time, in May of 1990. By the end of the season, Justice had smashed 28 home runs, driven in 78 runs, scored 76 of his own, and hit a solid .282. The card features Griffey, Jr. against a green background with a rainbow effect. Baseball cards were mass-produced in high volumes during the 90s so values of cards from this period tend not to peak too high. 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. Choosing between this card or number 3 on the list, the Lebron James refractor, I would choose the Lebron card over the Zion. 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. Take a day off now and then, critics said, and the Orioles will be all the better for it. Bo Jackson was an incredibly popular athlete during the late 80s and early 90s. How Much Should You Invest Annually In Sports Card.