The No. He was playing against the Cleveland Naps after the Philadelphia Athletics made an exchange in 1910. Lower-grade cards can sell for around $1000 whilst a higher-grade edition went for $8,655 in 2018. Of the six Kevin Maas Rookies, its the 1990 Upper Deck that resonates most. It was sold at an auction in 1966. As it turned out, 1989 would be the last summer when hed top 20 dingers (23), but fans and collectors still held out hope. It was the first to offer an auto in every pack, with signatures from some of the biggest stars from the time. But as his career progressed and the home runs kept piling up, he turned into one of the most popular players in the league. The impressive home run and RBI tallies would fade, causing Mattingly to be overlooked for any All-Star selections in the 1990s. 1990 Score Baseball Cards: Which Are Most Valuable? This set was a monster and contained a 792 card checklist in total. In 2015, a PSA 10 copy would sell for roughly $30,000. 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. 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. That performance was just the beginning, of course, and also the start of a climb for his cards in the hobby. The normal 1991 Topps is worth a fraction of the price, and youll be able to tell the difference by looking for a see-through gold emblem under the 1st Draft Pick logo on the front of the card. But rather than the couple of frames a Sportflics card gives. Choosing between this card or number 3 on the list, the Lebron James refractor, I would choose the Lebron card over the Zion. He would extend that 0-fer to three years in 1990 before getting off the snide and reigniting his cards in 1991. But Mickey Mantle? It includes a lot of minor players that you may not have heard the name of before. 1992 Fleer Update #U-92 Mike Piazza Buy on eBay The Most Valuable 1990s Baseball Cards: Summary 1. This company was founded in 1988 with headquarters in the US. 1984-85 Star Michael Jordan XRC RC #101 BGS 7.5 Rookie Card | eBay. At his peak, ungraded versions of his 1994 SP rookie card regularly sold for hundreds of dollars, though his eventual PED suspension and subsequent fall from grace took a significant bite out of their value. For all that, Grissom falls short of Cooperstown standards, but his RC is still nothing to sneeze at. A dynamic power-speed threat early in his career, he eventually settled in as more of a middle-of-the-order run producer. 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. 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. The issue is then corrected before production resumes. Baseball cards were mass-produced in high volumes during the 90s so values of cards from this period tend not to peak too high. Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? It's hard to make the claim that any 1990 Fleer baseball cards are really "most valuable" from a monetary standpoint. Nothing huge, though, as its really just a printing mistake. You May Like: Nike Dri Fit Baseball Shirts. He had surpassed Bobby Bonds (35) that April. launch monetization_on $4.99 08/28/2022. Ortiz spent six seasons with the Minnesota Twins before joining the Boston Red Sox in 2003, and he immediately broke out as one of the game's premier run producers. To that point, only 59 of 16,753 that have been graded by PSA have come back with a PSA 10 grade. And, although Murphy struggled in Philly and Colorado before retiring in 1993, hes still a hobby heavyweight all these years later, and this card reflects a solid hunk of 1980s baseball history just as an era was about to end. 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. This Upper Deck card shows Frank Thomas in the motion of striking a ball. 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. Even cards in less-than-perfect condition can go for hundreds, maybe even thousands, and a professionally-rated card is darn-near mythical. Under manager Frank Robinson, the 1990 Baltimore Orioles finished fifth in the AL East with a 76-85 record. Youre likely to find these cards selling in a large price range depending on quality, but a pristine one might fetch up to $2000. That was good enough to win the NL Rookie of the Year award and leave us all wondering where his Topps rookie card was. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 by Old Sports Cards, LLC, Now, this is what Thomas's rookie card is. Like the Griffey card on this list, this may not be the most exciting card in the world. had made good, that we were pretty sure Grissom could live up to his advance billing. 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. Ripken would regroup during the offseason to turn in the finest season of his career, setting multiple personal bests during the 1991 campaign while taking home his second MVP to go along with a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger. Joe Jackson is one of the renowned names. An autograph can instantly increase the value of any card. Most Expensive [1990 Topps] Baseball Cards - SportsCardsPro You could argue he was a better center fielder than others (like Lloyd Waner, for example) who made it to the Hall of Fame, too. 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. Get my weekly newsletter with the latest hobby updates delivered straight to your inbox! 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. 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). 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. If the 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. is the most iconic baseball rookie card of the 1980s, the 1993 SP Derek Jeter holds a similar spot in for the 1990s. In any case, they help to make the 1990 Topps set what it is, and they deserve some of our cardboard love, too. His 1990 Fleer card was no exception and has enough value left in the tank to earn a spot on this list. In addition to anointing him with the first card in their new set to celebrate that unheard-of milestone, Topps also ran the Ryan Express through the next four numbers on their checklist, offering a unique career retrospective. Dates back to 80s and 90s. Rickey led the AL in four major statistical categories beginning with runs scored (119), stolen bases (65), OPS (1.016), and OBP (.439). His reputation as a two-sport superstar earned him a place in . Remarkably, that stat line wasn't good enough to take home the Triple Crown but he did win MVP honors that season. He was one of my favorite players to watch growing up as the guy could do it all. 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. Contact him at [emailprotected]. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Most likely, it was a report discrepancy (or a deliberate misstatement to make him seem like a better prospect). 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. 1990 Frank Thomas Topps NAME ON FRONT ROOKIE RC #414 White Sox PSA 8 NM/MINT. Griffey was one of the most popular players of the era and his cards were always in high demand. This is the holy grail of 1990s baseball cards. We had an avenue toward Smiths first Cards card, and this was it (Topps division). Well, no, actually. After going 40-40 and winning an MVP award in 1988, Jose Canseco found himself injured more often than not in 1989, appearing in just 65 games. 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. Upper Deck made this card here in 1999. He would finish in the top five in Cy Young balloting a total of seven times in his career, and he was undoubtedly one of the elite pitchers of his generation. Many of the most valuable 1990 Fleer baseball cards on eBay are standard cards with autographs. It was made in a limited set of 50 and this card that sold at a Goldin auction was #50/50. Though he may not have been MLB's hottest rookie in 1990, he certainly turned into one of the biggest superstars of his era. There are RCs and special editions, so its highly unlikely that youll find one stuffed down the back of the couch. 2. Lower quality cards are currently selling at around $300. 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. 1996 Finest Gold Refractor Kobe Bryant #269 PSA 10 $500,000. The T210 Old Mill deck is one of the most varied. David Ortiz is one of the greatest hitters of all time and holds the Boston Red Sox record for the most home runs in one season with an impressive 54. Shortcuts: Most Expensive, Cheapest, List by Card # You own: 0 / 833 items 0% Track your collection for free. Most Valuable Baseball Cards from the 1980s Price Guide & Values #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. 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. POP APR REGISTRY SHOP Note. (The same is true for almost every card were about to mention.). (Updated for 2022), Baseball All Time Greats Babe Ruth Card Value, New Balance Mens 4040v5 Turf Baseball Cleats, Fleer Brilliants 24k Gold Ken Griffey Jr. card, New Balance Mens T4040v5 Turf Baseball Shoes. His is the last of the key rookie cards in this set. Surely Upper Deck has a way to account for this, right? 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. Even with that honor under his belt, though, Boogers cards like this 1990 Topps rookie never exploded in popularity or value and offer the chance to own some Cooperstown cardboard on the relative cheap. Prices are updated daily based upon 1990 Classic listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The action shot shows Griffey Jr. after a successful swing, and the card immediately catches the eye thanks to the shiny border. Ungraded & graded values for all '90 Fleer Baseball Cards. How Much Should You Invest Annually In Sports Card. Similar to Bo Jackson, even though Mattinglys career declined at the height of his prime, he was one of the hottest names in the hobby of that era, and collectors still love his cards today. He didn't appear on his first Topps card until the 1995 Topps Traded set, following his MLB debut. The 1990 Topps baseball card set went to great lengths to pay tribute to Nolan Ryan's achievement of surpassing the 5,000 career strikeout mark. That said, the condition-sensitive nature of the 1994 SP set's foil design makes high-grade versions difficult to find and therefore valuable. 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. Marquis Grissom was one of what seemed like an endless string of Expos prospects in the 1980s and 1990s. The young, toolsy prospect made a decent showing in his new climes, cracking double-digit home runs and stealing 32 bases. His rookie care is a must-have in this set and one of the most iconic cards of the 1990s. Both players are shown side by side, wearing caps that help to denote the team they play for. 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. Chipper Jones won a World Series and made eight All-Star appearances for the Atlanta Braves in a storied career. We purchase sports cards as an alternative investment to stocks, bonds, and real estate. And while were very bullish on the longterm of baseball card valuations you should never invest more than youre willing to lose on anything. That 5000th strikeout that Ryan recorded in 1989 did wonders for his hobby profile, beginning right at the front of the 1990 Topps set. Everyone wanted Don Mattingly cards when I was a kid. Ungraded & graded values for all '90 Topps Baseball Cards. In the end, Walker had the last guffaw, elected to the Hall of Fame in 2020. Needless to say, his 1990 rookie cards sort of got lost in the glare of guys with more hyper surrounding them until he started mashing, that is. This card is so odd because Lindros never even actually played professional baseballnot even in the Minors. The problem is, that the first half of the 1990s was marred by the junk wax era, which is considered to have lasted from 1987 to 1994. 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. And then there are some pretty interesting subjects, from draft picks to error cards to scads of Nolan Ryans. I especially remember that monstrous 1997 season he had with 49 home runs, 143 runs scored, 130 RBI and a .363 batting average. Sports Cards: 10 Most Valuable Baseball Rookie Cards of the 1990s $49.00. I used to love watching him play--he was a class act. Much of the attention is due to the fact that Jordans basketball RC is extremely valuable, while prices of all MJ cards have increased rapidly following the release of The Last Dance. The initial production run containing the error becomes scarce, driving up its value. Common as dirt. The 10 Most Valuable '90s Baseball Cards That Might Be - TheRichest Another rare card with two of the best players to grace the field, this 1994. This was Henderons first Topps base card after he returned to the As in a midseason trade with the Yankees. 25 Most Valuable 1990 Upper Deck Baseball Cards 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? However, the following types of cards are likely to hold more value: Error cards are often more valuable when the manufacturer corrects the error. Though Bernie seldom truly wowed fans, he was always there at the end of the year with 20-30 home runs, 90-100 RBI, solid glove work in center, and, overall, another All-Star-level performance under his belt. 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. The clean design, upscale look, bright photo not to mention the fact we pretty much all had at least one make it one of the most memorable 1990 cards still today, even if it comes with a cautionary tale. I think it's odd that he was a two-time MVP but only a three-time All-Star. 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. Seen as one of the key reasons behind their success, its all the more impressive considering he won his last World Series in 2009, 13 years after his maiden victory. Would anyone be interested in buying my Sports Card Collection. This time hes on his own, but its still a great option even without the help of Mickey Mantle. 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. And it goes back to 1990. Thats a testament to how good he really was. For the first time in his young career, Bonds batted over .300 (.301), drove in more than 100 RBI (114), hit more than 30 home runs (33), and scored more than 100 runs (104). Ryan's popularity drives most of the reason for the value of this card being what it is. (Okay, we said that you wont find any of these cards hidden down the back of the couch, but this is the exception!) Those wild borders, for example, arent just colorful they have print dots. Its hard to find in good condition, which is why high PSA grades are so expensive. 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. That was old for a prospect, and he hadnt exactly torn up the minors, either. And, even among the overproduced cards from the first year in a decade noted for, well, overproduction, 1990 Fleer baseball cards seem especially plentiful. And, even though Juan Gone will never make the Hall of Fame, hell also never completely lose his collector base. But how do you know whether it was pack pulled or signed post pull by Griffey? 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. The next couple seasons were lean, though, as Sammy struggled for playing time, especially after a 1992 trade to the Cubs. Not only did he stay in the lineup, he went on to record maybe his greatest season in 1991, winning his second MVP award in the process and setting a dinner date with history for 1995. Basketball legend Michael Jordans ill-fated attempt to become a baseball star is generally meme-worthy, but his RC from 1991 is still one of the better cards from the decade. Similar to Bo Jackson, even though Mattingly's career declined at the height of his prime, he was one of the hottest names in the hobby of that era, and collectors still love his cards today. Sure, the dudes personality rubbed folks like a porcupine-grained sandpaper, and health issues sank his Hall of Fame hopes, but Belle managed to dominate in the batters box long enough to add some forever value to his rookie cards. The . Juan Gonzalez was already a solid prospect heading into the 1989 season, and his 21 home runs with Double-A Tulsa at just 19 years of age put him on the hobby radar. This one is scarce enough that pics are tough to come by, though PSA has a few on its Auction Prices Realized tool for this set. 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. Much of the shine faded in the glare of the various PED scandals, but Joses place in hobby history wont go quietly into the night, and his early-career cards still draw interest today. Recommended Reading: Baseball Practice Plans For 10 Year Olds. So, while this 1990 Score card is not a . The value of this card is always on the up. The card has a large photo of a rookie A-Rod with a bat clasped in both hands, smiling towards the camera. The most expensive baseball card in history just sold for $12.6 million. Within that OBP stat was the remarkable fact that Henderson either walked or hit safely in 125 of the 136 games he played that season. 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. Pitchers with 300 Wins and Their Baseball Cards. 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. As with the Jeter SP, the holofoil causes the player to pop, and it really is a great-looking collectible. So, its an exceedingly rare signed parallel from one of the biggest stars in the sport. Well, Japan and the Blue Jays. 100 Most Valuable Baseball Cards: The All-Time Dream List 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 Even though Griffey finished just third in 1989 American League Rookie of the Year balloting, those 16 home runs and 16 stolen bases he put up, along with stellar defense in center, had us all believing that something special was about to happen in Seattle. 10 Most Valuable Basketball Cards of the 1990s - Antique Mall 1996 Sport Illustrated For Kids Tiger Woods II #536 ($250) Anything Topps Tiffany! You May Like: Baseball Knicker Pants With Piping. In fact, while fellow White Sox rookies Robin Ventura and Scott Radinsky picked up some votes for Rookie of the Year honors in 1990, Thomas didn't receive any at all. 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. Required fields are marked *, Chipper Jones (1991 Toppers Desert Shield RC #333), Ken Griffey Jr. (1993 Finest Refractor #110), Ken Griffey Jr. & Mickey Mantle (1994 Upper Deck #MM1), Roy Halladay (1997 Bowman Chrome International Refractor #212), Adrian Beltre (1997 Bowman Chrome International Refractor #182), David Ortiz (1997 Fleer Ultra Platinum Medallion #P518). The dynamic duo had been shut down, something that was unheard of heading into the World Series. Dont Miss: Baseball Cross Necklace For Men. Frank Thomas is no John Littlefield, after all. 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. And then there is the photography, which is pretty sharp in some cases. While cards are easily available for purchase, the most valuable ones have reached seven-figure territory. He continued to impress at Single-A the following year, and that was enough to earn him a spot on the 1992 Bowman checklist. Somewhat surprisingly, Griffey Jr.'s card is actually worth more than the Frank Thomas rookie (with his name on the front). Unfortunately for Oakland, Canseco was even worse in the World Series, batting 0.083 (1-12) with one home run and two RBI. Still, collectors were excited enough by Joses upside to keep his cards on the hot list (and the Cold List, for veteran Beckett readers). 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. All card images courtesy of TCDB, while pricing data is pulled from recent eBay sales as of Thursday morning. It was a blistering campaign that launched the young superstars career into the stratosphere. Coming in at number 7 is a 2018 Panini Gold Prizm Trae Young Rookie Autograph serial numbered out of just 10 graded a PSA 10. Its no surprise that it easily makes it onto the list, as one of the most important modern baseball cards ever produced. Now, this is what Thomas's rookie card issupposedto look like when his full name appears at the bottom of the card. By the time collectors started pulling his rookie card, enough of those guys Tim Raines, Andre Dawson, Tim Wallach, etc. 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. The Seattle Mariners outfielder was one of the top players in the game during that decade, and his cards are now highly sought after by collectors. And part of that goes towards chasing Kevin Maas Rookie Cards back in the day. Only 373 of the 3,125 submitted to PSA have come back with a PSA 10 grade. Estimated PSA 10 Value: $50. The 1990s were a strange time to be a baseball card collector. It took him just 133 at bats to reach #15. That got his cards perking again after a bit of a lull during the in-between years. Bonds card prices, its seems, like his Hall of Fame candidacy, are victims of his PED taint. Still known as David Arias when his rookie cards were printed, it wasn't until he made his MLB debut late in the 1997 season that he informed the Twins that he preferred David Ortiz. Is it a Thomas back on a Ripken front, or some other configuration? Prices are updated daily based upon 1990 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. His first Topps card didn't come until the 1998 flagship set. There are clues that will help you tell which was an original dual and which was signed by Griffey after the fact, so be sure to check it out. The most expensive Ken Griffey Jr. card is the Mickey Mantle and Ken Griffey Jr. Dual Signed Upper Deck UDA Card. Prices are updated daily based upon 1990 Fleer Canadian listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. There was no bigger rookie heading into the 1990 season than Ben McDonald. Like the "No Name On Front" Thomas rookie card, this one is exceptionally rare and card collectors go crazy for this card. In 2020 a PSA 10 edition of this card sold for an astonishing $180,000. Ungraded & graded values for all '90 Topps Baseball Cards. All baseball fans are familiar with the exploits of Derek Jeter hes a legend of the game, but what makes this card so special?