Despite being a first-round pick in '95, he did not appear on his first MLB licensed card until 1997 when he was included in the Bowman, Bowman Chrome and Bowman's Best sets. It seemed like Rickey Henderson showed up on a Record Breaker card just about every year during the 1980s and 1990s. As an added disclaimer no copyright infringements were meant to be made in regards to the publishing of the images and cards. 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. David Justice was already 24 years old when the Braves called him up for the second time, in May of 1990. Is this the error card worth so much? Everyone wanted Don Mattingly cards when I was a kid. It was made in a limited set of 50 and this card that sold at a Goldin auction was #50/50. Get my weekly newsletter with the latest hobby updates delivered straight to your inbox! 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. This time hes on his own, but its still a great option even without the help of Mickey Mantle. In 2020 a PSA 10 edition of this card sold for an astonishing $180,000. Read the full disclosure here. Somewhat surprisingly, Griffey Jr.'s card is actually worth more than the Frank Thomas rookie (with his name on the front). One of the most popular players of his era, Vladimir Guerrero was the No. 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. I do have Chipper Jones, Ken Griffey, Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Barry Sanders, Barry Bonds. Things started to look up the next summer, though, as 24-year-old Sosa connected on 33 long balls, the first of 11 straight full seasons (he cracked 25 in strike-shortened 1994) when he hit 30 or more. Drafted in the 62nd round of the 1988 draft as a favor to Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, who was a family friend and the godfather of his younger brother, Mike Piazza went on to become the greatest offensive catcher in MLB history. 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. 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. Autographed Cards Population Totals. 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. GoldCardAuctions is a high-end investment-caliber trading card company and is the definitive source of sports card investing news and analysis. Your email address will not be published. It perfectly illustrates just what made Bo Jackson so special: He didn't appear on his first Topps card until the 1995 Topps Traded set, following his MLB debut. If its something else, it would be interesting to see whats up. 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. Recommended Reading: Baseball Practice Plans For 10 Year Olds. For a time, it was Maas-mania in all facets of baseball, including cards. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, . In 1999 he was still with the Chicago White Sox. The hype surrounding Arizona Diamondbacks slugger Travis Lee and Chicago Cubs phenom Kerry Wood helped drive interest initially, but it's Adrian Beltre who wound up having the most valuable rookie card in a set that also contains first-year cards of Roy Halladay, Aramis Ramirez, Miguel Tejada, Lance Berkman, Eric Chavez, Vernon Wells and many other notable 2000s standouts. Upper Deck made this card here in 1999. The checklist includes rookies of Larry Walker, Sammy Sosa, David Justice and John Olerud, along with a second-year card of Ken Griffey Jr., but the most sought-after card in the set without question is the Frank Thomas rookie card. 1996 Finest Gold Refractor Kobe Bryant #269 PSA 10 $500,000. Michael Jordan Cards: The Most Expensive of All Time. 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. 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. As you can see, it will take them being professionally graded in gem mint condition to be worth much. That said, the condition-sensitive nature of the 1994 SP set's foil design makes high-grade versions difficult to find and therefore valuable. I feel for the investment, the Lebron card is a less risky buy. The card sold for $16,800, featuring Skyboxs iconic layered foil grid backdrop behind Griffey as hes about to transition to a slide. Contact us: contact@baseballloveclub.com, The 30 Most Valuable Baseball Cards From 1990-1994, Top 25 Most Valuable Baseball Cards from the 1990s Rookie Cards Only. Bonds card prices, its seems, like his Hall of Fame candidacy, are victims of his PED taint. It all solidified Cal as an ironclad collector favorite, and we still love him today. On the baseball field, Jackson had a cannon for an arm and a compact, powerful swing, which is on full display on this card. The internet was still in its infancy and not as widely used or trusted as it is today. 1990 Classic card list & price guide. Things were about the same (or worse) for Iron Cal in 1990, and his critics put the blame firmly on The Streak. Its hard to find in good condition, which is why high. In spite of the steroid allegations, Rodriguezs RC was always going to be high on any list of the most valuable 90s cards. We purchase sports cards as an alternative investment to stocks, bonds, and real estate. Alright, lets play ball, 1990 Topps style! Like wow like comic books have (something I first realized while reading a post from Night Owl Cards). 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. Remarkably, that stat line wasn't good enough to take home the Triple Crown but he did win MVP honors that season. 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. His 1990 Fleer card was no exception and has enough value left in the tank to earn a spot on this list. 1997 Bowman Chrome #182 Adrian Beltre Buy on eBay #10. And then there is the photography, which is pretty sharp in some cases. Each card is lenticular. Clean-looking raw versions regularly sell for over $1,000 on eBay, with buyers hoping to strike gold by getting it graded. By 1990, Cal Ripken Jr. was starting to take flak for continuing The Streak in spite of slipping performance at the plate. Ryan's popularity drives most of the reason for the value of this card being what it is. With Walter Johnson years in his rearview, Nolan Ryan sailed past 5000 strikeouts in 1989, on his way to baseball immortality. Usually, collectors will have a strong opinion one way or the other about 1990 Topps baseball cards: Either they love them or they hate them And it has everything to do with the multi-colored design. 1990: The 20 Most Valuable Ken Griffey Jr Baseball Cards! It took him just 133 at bats to reach #15. It's said that those that made it to the White House were coated with a glossy finish. Constantly nipping at their heels were the Atlanta Braves who performed consistently well over the decade despite winning only one World Series title (they lost on a heart-breaking four occasions). Like Marquis Grissom, Delino DeShields was one of a new crop of Expos prospects who promised to bring diamond success to Montreal in the 1990s. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. And he also gave us the chance to see him on a Giants card, a reality Topps helped facilitate that fall in their Traded set. Is it a Thomas back on a Ripken front, or some other configuration? Robb Report. Theyre also prone to counterfeiting, which is why its better to go for a graded option if possible. Though he may not have been MLB's hottest rookie in 1990, he certainly turned into one of the biggest superstars of his era. 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. Disclaimer: Please note none this is meant as investment advice purely for entertainment and informational purposes only. 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. Of the six Kevin Maas Rookies, its the 1990 Upper Deck that resonates most. Card is perfect.. Hmmm where does Thomass name appear? 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. Today, even after the great slugger downfall of the 2010s, Sosas rookie cards maintain enough hobby swagger to appear on lists like this one. Well, Japan and the Blue Jays. You May Like: Nike Dri Fit Baseball Shirts. Gonzalez was one of the most feared hitters of his era and seemed like a lock for 40+ homers and 100+ RBI every season. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, . 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. Now, if that last sentence up there and that Donruss rookie card look a bit. 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. Our list of the most valuable 90s baseball cards has a few surprising names, as well as a host of legends from the sport. Big Mac batted just .214 with zero home runs and zero RBI, while fellow Bash Brother Jose Canseco didnt fare much better. Choosing between this card or number 3 on the list, the Lebron James refractor, I would choose the Lebron card over the Zion. 17 overall pick in the 1995 draft, Roy Halladay debuted in 1998 and pitched well in a swingman role the following year, but he was shelled to the tune of a 10.64 ERA in 67.2 innings in 2000. Because of his accomplishment the year before of eclipsing the 5,000 strikeout mark, Topps placed him as the first card in their 1990 set. And I don't think I ever pulled one from a pack. Sure, its not George H.W. I think it was a great way to salute Ryan and these cards remain one of my favorite subsets of all-time from any set. 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. And, in case youre wondering, Rickey wasnt quite done by the time he retired, he had 81 leadoff dingers, way in front of runners-up Alfonso Soriano (54) and Craig Biggio (53). Top 25 Most Valuable Baseball Cards from the 1990's - Rookie Cards Only Price: $600,000 . Coming in the number 1 spot for the most Valuable 1990s basketball cards is the Kobe Bryant Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems card. Right, but where were his *Detroit* cards? Check prices on: Bo Jackson was an incredibly popular athlete during the late 80s and early 90s. This is the holy grail of 1990s baseball cards. I've always liked the look of these cards, and as a kid, I loved ripping packs in search of rookies and star players. Despite such controversy, the 90s produced some fantastic highs and quality players which would affect the baseball card market in the long term. And, after a brief September call-up, there was at least a chance Juan Gonzalez would be doing his mashing in the bigs in 1990. 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. The former president was presented with one hundred copies of his very own baseball card from his days as captain at Yale in 1990 by Topps. The action shot features a young Jeter primed to make a catch, with the player superimposed over the holofoil. A few important parameters for our list before we get started: The No. McDonald logged ten more minor league appearances in 1990 before going 8-5 with a stingy 2.43 ERA with the big club to finish third in AL Rookie of the Year balloting. He was consistently productive although he did have some seasons here and there shortened by injury. Also Check: National League Standings For Baseball. 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. As it turned out, 1989 would be the last summer when hed top 20 dingers (23), but fans and collectors still held out hope. 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 higher the grade, the more valuable a card will be, so were typically looking at PSA 9s and 10s only. Rookie cards for Juan Gonzalez, Larry Walker, and Sammy Sosa may sell for more than other standard cards from the same year. 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. As with the Jeter SP, the holofoil causes the player to pop, and it really is a great-looking collectible. 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. Due to poor sales of the previous Fleer Update sets, the print run was slashed for the 1992 release, making it one of the few hard-to-find sets of the Junk Wax Era. Baseball cards were mass-produced in high volumes during the 90s so values of cards from this period tend not to peak too high. 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. Griffey Jr. can be found on hundreds of different cards, but few can match his 97 Skybox price-wise. But rather than the couple of frames a Sportflics card gives. Despite hitting .322/.390/.511 with 34 doubles, 18 home runs and 93 RBI at Single-A in 1996, only the Fleer company had the foresight to put David Ortiz in its 1997 products, meaning the 1997 Fleer and premium 1997 Ultra sets contain the only two rookie cards of one of the marquee players of his generation. Lower quality cards are currently selling at around $300. (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. The Oakland Athletics were the hottest team in baseball in 1990 as theyd go on to finish 103-59 in the regular season and swept the Red Sox 4-0 in the AL Championship Series. Many of the most valuable 1990 Fleer baseball cards on eBay are standard cards with autographs. 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. An autograph can instantly increase the value of any card. Well, the 1993 card was printed with a foil layer making it incredibly delicate. A rundown of the Most Expensive eBay Sales 1990DonrussErrorCards sold on eBay from October through December of 2021.Full list with links to e. 1990Donruss Baseball Cards Population Professional Sports Authenticator 1990Donruss Baseball Cards Population Professional Sports Authenticator 1990Donruss. Collectors were more eager than ever to own a piece of Bos cardboard, making his 1990 Topps issue an exciting pull. Stats via Baseball Reference. If its the former, its a wrong back and might have a small premium over a regular Ripken for collectors of one or both of the players. 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. Two years later, he was an All-Star for the first time, and the year after that he won his first of two Cy Young awards. The T210 Old Mill deck is one of the most varied. It took awhile for fans, and especially collectors, to warm up to Larry Walker and his talents. 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. 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. 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. By the time this card was issued, Cal Ripken was starting to draw heavy flak for his slipping performance at the plate. So, while this 1990 Score card is not a . It was futuristic for the time, but Jeters SP RC is a clear cut above the others found on this list. The impressive home run and RBI tallies would fade, causing Mattingly to be overlooked for any All-Star selections in the 1990s. That means the card needs to be basically flawless. There is also more demand for rookie cards due to the perceived value. Rookies have a history of booming and busting. Its the 24k gold foil overlay that really makes this card stand out. $49.00. Unfortunately, injuries really bogged him down in the 2000s but he still managed to put up monster career numbers. 1994 ALEX RODRIGUEZ ROOKIE CARD GRADED MINT 10 FLEER WAVE OF THE FUTURE 2. He had surpassed Bobby Bonds (35) that April. With six straight All-Star appearances and one MVP during the 1980s, Mattingly seemed to be on a clear path towards the Hall of Fame. And, even among the overproduced cards from the first year in a decade noted for, well, overproduction, 1990 Fleer baseball cards seem especially plentiful. Maddux turned in his second big season for the Cubs in 1989, with his 19-12, 2.95 ERA helping the northsiders to a division title. Hed never get a World Series ring but during the mid to late 80s, he was one of the sports best players and his cards were on fire in the hobby as a result. 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. Ungraded & graded values for all '90 Topps Baseball Cards. 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. This card is so odd because Lindros never even actually played professional baseballnot even in the Minors. 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. Cal kept plugging, though, even when the Orioles were bad, and even when he himself wasnt great. Take a day off now and then, critics said, and the Orioles will be all the better for it. 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.