The era was ended by the baseball players strike of 1994, and the hobby has never truly recovered in terms of national attention. Its hard to find in good condition, which is why high. Frank Thomas was a first-round pick in 1989, but the average collector might have been forgiven for thinking that Topps had their sports mixed up when this card started popping out of packs in 1990. 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. He has an exceptionally rare card from 1991 which is the first to make our list. So, while this 1990 Score card is not a . Has there ever been a bigger revelation in the course of one baseball season than what Cecil Fielder wrought in 1990? All card images courtesy of TCDB, while pricing data is pulled from recent eBay sales as of Thursday morning. That zeal spilled over to the hobby, where we made Junior one of the most popular players in cardboard right off the bat, and his 1990 Topps card has become something of a Junk Wax classic that still delights after all these years. 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. Cal kept plugging, though, even when the Orioles were bad, and even when he himself wasnt great. This is one such example of one of the decades rarer cards. 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. Its another reason why its so valuable in comparison to every other card in the set. Hiding in commons bins with the rest of his 1986 brethren. But rather than the couple of frames a Sportflics card gives. 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. 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) The card is key for three main reasons: Sure, its not George H.W. Within the set were also several different subsets, including: It really is a pretty decent set overall. To other top rated players. 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. Mostly, though, it was just a steady climb to 2200+ career hits, pulling his rookie card along with him. 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. The T210 Old Mill deck is one of the most varied. But, because of Bonds popularity and legacy, it still holds decent value in top grade. 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. Pitchers with 300 Wins and Their Baseball Cards. The 1997 Bowman set was one of the most popular of the late 1990s. 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? The internet was still in its infancy and not as widely used or trusted as it is today. Thats a testament to how good he really was. 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. 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. But how do you know whether it was pack pulled or signed post pull by Griffey? Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? 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. There are a lot of Adrian Beltre cards out there but this one from 97 is for sure the most valuable. He also loves to write about the hobby and has written for Beckett, Topps, SABR and of course, this website. 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. Lower quality cards are currently selling at around $300. He didn't appear on his first Topps card until the 1995 Topps Traded set, following his MLB debut. Robb Report. 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. Card is perfect.. Hmmm where does Thomass name appear? All told, the sparkplug centerfielder pretty much held up his end of the bargain, playing for 17 years and accumulating 2251 hits, 227 home runs, 967 RBI, 429 stolen bases, and 1187 runs scored. However, there are a few rare gems from this period that are exceptions to the rule. It's said that those that made it to the White House were coated with a glossy finish. The card sold for $16,800, featuring Skyboxs iconic layered foil grid backdrop behind Griffey as hes about to transition to a slide. Read our methodology . Another rare card with two of the best players to grace the field, this 1994. I do have Chipper Jones, Ken Griffey, Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Barry Sanders, Barry Bonds. And, voila! It seemed like Rickey Henderson showed up on a Record Breaker card just about every year during the 1980s and 1990s. He is also currently leading in assists above Luka. 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. 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. Most Valuable Baseball Cards from the 1980s Price Guide & Values Baseball cards / By Matt Johnson #25 1986 Donruss Highlights "Highlights in White." Bo Jackson rookie card #43 PSA 10 sold for $360 Shop the 1986 Donruss Bo Jackson rookie card on eBay 1986 Donruss Highlights cards have two versions printed. Over the years since this card was issued, NNOF has become a one-name wonder that lets collectors know right away what youre talking about, sort of like Uribe these days, but with the chops to back it up. We had an avenue toward Smiths first Cards card, and this was it (Topps division). 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. One of the most vivid memories I have about Albert Belle is that my brother caught one of his home run balls during a 1997 White Sox game as we were seated in left field. Prices for 1990 Fleer Baseball Cards 1990 Fleer card list & price guide. 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. Theres something for every budget, and thats only going to be good news for collectors. His is the last of the key rookie cards in this set. The 1997 Skybox E-X2000 Essential Credentials was ahead of its time in many respects, with a small serial number, an iconic image selection, and a luxurious border design. 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. OK, fine, but .., where had his rookie cards been?? 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. 1991 CHIPPER JONES UPPER DECK TOP PROSPECT ROOKIE BASEBALL CARD MLB BRAVES. This Frank Thomas Topps rookie card is very notable for its mistake: the complete absence of Frank Thomass name! Fast forward a year and a half, though, and Thomas was one of the best hitters in baseball, well on his way to becoming the Big Hurt and, ultimately, a Cooperstown denizen. In 1999 he was still with the Chicago White Sox. 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. Common as dirt. With *still* less than 300 of these gracing the PSA Population Report as of January 2022, and with Big Hurt firmly enshrined in Cooperstown, its no wonder this card is such a big kahuna among 1990 baseball issues. The back of the card references his hitting ability that he displayed in high school but also makes reference to him being though of as the next Mario Lemieux. I have looked and cannot find the value. 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. 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). To that point, only 59 of 16,753 that have been graded by PSA have come back with a PSA 10 grade. I think it's odd that he was a two-time MVP but only a three-time All-Star. 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. Lebrons career and status in the sport is more established, whereas Zion is newer to the NBA and it has yet to be seen where is career is really going to go. This company was founded in 1988 with headquarters in the US. Beware of listings on eBay for hundreds of thousands of dollars on cards like these they probably arent verified or even real foil. Marquis Grissom was one of what seemed like an endless string of Expos prospects in the 1980s and 1990s. He would extend that 0-fer to three years in 1990 before getting off the snide and reigniting his cards in 1991. It was the first to offer an auto in every pack, with signatures from some of the biggest stars from the time. Most Expensive 1990 Fleer Canadian card list & price guide. . 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. However, if you want to get real serious with Frank Thomas cards, it really doesnt get any better than this rare piece. 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. This set was a monster and contained a 792 card checklist in total. Unlike many of the others on this list, its somewhat underpriced considering the above and could make for a good investment piece. If youve got an old box of cards lying around somewhere, its got to be time to dust it off and take a look to see if theres a 93 Derek Jeter hidden amongst your collection. had made good, that we were pretty sure Grissom could live up to his advance billing. Jeters card is white with silver trim and features an action shot of the player in his Yankees uniform. 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. Even today, though, there is still some mystique to those McDonald RCs that once sat near the top of the hobby mountain. 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. Prices are updated daily based upon 1990 Classic listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. 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. This card is so odd because Lindros never even actually played professional baseballnot even in the Minors. 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. The top card in a major debut release, it has a memorable look for a generational talent. Many of the most valuable 1990 Fleer baseball cards on eBay are standard cards with autographs. 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. 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. An additional 420+ MLB taters followed, along with a couple of MVP awards and plenty of other accolades. That earned Bo his first (and only) All-Star appearance and even some down-ballot MVP votes. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. It includes both Griffey and Mickey Mantles profiles, accompanied by their Sharpie signatures. 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. These cards often sell for $50 to $75, depending on the popularity of the player. 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. 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! 13 Rarest Michael Jordan Cards Ever - Rarest.org . The 90s isnt a bad era for baseball cards, and you can even pick up many complete sets for next to no financial outlay. During the 1990s, Griffey Jr. was one of the hottest stars in the sport and seemed destined to break all kinds of records. Also Check: National League Standings For Baseball. It was all sort of ho-hum greatness until Gwynn kicked things up a gear in his mid-30s, winning four straight crowns from 1994 through 1997 and flirting with .400, especially in that first, strike-shortened season. Willie Mays Rookie Card. Then, at age 29, a blown rotator cuff ended his career. In this case, its just a couple hunks of the black links surrounding the name box and not the name itself that are missing. 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. When he burst onto the scene, his rookie cards were among the hottest sellers in the entire hobby. . But Mickey Mantle? It was graded NM 7 by the PSA, which is not as impressive as later cards on this list but still high. Theres a small UD logo in the top right corner, while the reverse has a guarantee for the signatures. Rookies have a history of booming and busting. Added to that, there are presidential artifact collectors who also drive up the price for it. 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. Autographed Cards Population Totals. ). 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. As such, it was never corrected because there wasnt really anything to correct. Would anyone be interested in buying my Sports Card Collection. Ungraded & graded values for all '90 Topps Baseball Cards. The card features Griffey, Jr. against a green background with a rainbow effect. His 1990 Topps rookie card has held up over the years with decent value. This card is a 1994 insert card or chase card released by Upper Deck in limited editions of 1,000 cards. If you continue to use this site, we'll assume you're OK with that. Check prices on: Bo Jackson was an incredibly popular athlete during the late 80s and early 90s. While most of the team struggled at the plate in the World Series that year, Henderson was one of the lone bright spots as he batted .333 (5-15) with an OBP of .444, an OPS of 1.111, two runs scored, and three stolen bases. The impressive home run and RBI tallies would fade, causing Mattingly to be overlooked for any All-Star selections in the 1990s.