A PSA 10 gem mint condition version of his 1997 Fleer Ultra Platinum card sold at auction for $4,238. Baseball cards are among the most popular collectibles in the sports memorabilia market. 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. Its hard to find in good condition, which is why high. Of the 19,386 submitted to PSA to date, only 621 have even received a PSA 9 grade, with a mere 21 coming back with the vaunted PSA 10 gem mint grade. A-Rod won the World Series with the Yankees in 2009. I've always liked the look of these cards, and as a kid, I loved ripping packs in search of rookies and star players. We'll respect your privacy and you can unsubscribe at any time.. Posted by Adam Hughes | Baseball Card Values, Baseball Cards | 4 |. Where had this guy been all our lives? Top 25 Most Valuable Baseball Cards from the 1990's - Rookie Cards Only Price: $600,000 . He also set a personal best for stolen bases (52) while leading the league in slugging percentage (.565) and OPS (.970). Youre likely to find these cards selling in a large price range depending on quality, but a pristine one might fetch up to $2000. His first Topps card didn't come until the 1998 flagship set. 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. His is the last of the key rookie cards in this set. 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. Well, for Topps this was the one, and its still special more than 30 years on. It all solidified Cal as an ironclad collector favorite, and we still love him today. 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. 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. Lower quality cards are currently selling at around $300. That said, the condition-sensitive nature of the 1994 SP set's foil design makes high-grade versions difficult to find and therefore valuable. 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. 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. The most expensive baseball cards of the 1990s were released by Ken Griffey Jr. It seemed like Rickey Henderson showed up on a Record Breaker card just about every year during the 1980s and 1990s. 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. 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. 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. Choosing between this card or number 3 on the list, the Lebron James refractor, I would choose the Lebron card over the Zion. Read our methodology. But, the Toronto Blue Jays did let him tryout and I guess that was good enough for Score to put him in their Traded series. 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. For a time, it was Maas-mania in all facets of baseball, including cards. 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. Upper Deck made this card here in 1999. This Frank Thomas Topps rookie card is very notable for its mistake: the complete absence of Frank Thomass name! Like Barry Bonds and others from the steroid era, Clemens reputation has fallen on hard times in recent years, but his amazing numbers are hard to overlook even if his 1990 Topps doesnt stoke your nostalgia fire. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. 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. Edges are a major issue when it comes to grading, and better versions show off every curve of Mantles ear. A number of steroid sagas have somewhat marred his legacy in recent years, but theres no denying his talent. . However, there are a few rare gems from this period that are exceptions to the rule. 1994 ALEX RODRIGUEZ ROOKIE CARD GRADED MINT 10 FLEER WAVE OF THE FUTURE 2. 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. When he burst onto the scene, his rookie cards were among the hottest sellers in the entire hobby. 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. The dynamic duo had been shut down, something that was unheard of heading into the World Series. So, just how costly are the most sought-after baseball cards? The T210 Old Mill deck is one of the most varied. How Much Should You Invest Annually In Sports Card. 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. In the current market, Jordan cards from 91 are worth anything up to $400. The combination of the two greats and a dual autograph is enough to drive interest, which is why it makes the list. Hiding in commons bins with the rest of his 1986 brethren. 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. The action shot shows Griffey Jr. after a successful swing, and the card immediately catches the eye thanks to the shiny border. Don Mattingly's career was almost a tale of two decades. Naturally, his rookie cards were hot tamales. 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. Pitchers with 300 Wins and Their Baseball Cards. 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. 1992 Fleer Update #U-92 Mike Piazza Buy on eBay The Most Valuable 1990s Baseball Cards: Summary This is one such example of one of the decades rarer cards. It was futuristic for the time, but Jeters SP RC is a clear cut above the others found on this list. Under manager Frank Robinson, the 1990 Baltimore Orioles finished fifth in the AL East with a 76-85 record. 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. A vast improvement over previous Bowman releases, the set has held its value better than most of its contemporaries thanks largely to the fact that it was printed to dealer order, meaning a much lower print run than the rest of the market that year. In 2020 a PSA 10 edition of this card sold for an astonishing $180,000. 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. I used to love watching him play--he was a class act. Of course, those homer numbers were off the charts starting in 1998, when he chased Mark McGwire to Roger Maris single-season record. He primarily played for the Dodgers and Mets and was an All-Star 12 times between 1993 and 2005. 1990 Upper Deck Baseball unleashed one of the biggest baseball card innovations ever autographs. 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 . While cards are easily available for purchase, the most valuable ones have reached seven-figure territory. He made his MLB debut the following year after continuing to rake in the upper levels of the minors and then took the league by storm with one of the best rookie seasons of all time in 1993. This PSA 7.5 NM+ card is currently selling for $5,500 on eBay, so that gives you an idea as to just how expensive these babies can be. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. In 1995, he notched an incredible 52 doubles and 50 home runs, becoming the only player in MLB history to finish the season with 50 or more doubles and home runs in a single season. Most Expensive 1990 Topps card list & price guide. 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. 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. The issue is then corrected before production resumes. In spite of the steroid allegations, Rodriguezs RC was always going to be high on any list of the most valuable 90s cards. This gem mint card sold at auction with 51 bids for $35,087. Though he may not have been MLB's hottest rookie in 1990, he certainly turned into one of the biggest superstars of his era. 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. The impressive home run and RBI tallies would fade, causing Mattingly to be overlooked for any All-Star selections in the 1990s. He was one of my favorite players to watch growing up as the guy could do it all. That performance was just the beginning, of course, and also the start of a climb for his cards in the hobby. The eBay scam sort of stuck, unfortunately, and some folks are still paying a premium for a card thats just a common. In this case, its just a couple hunks of the black links surrounding the name box and not the name itself that are missing. His reputation as a two-sport superstar earned him a place in . The . This was Henderons first Topps base card after he returned to the As in a midseason trade with the Yankees. The only Leaf card to make the list, their 1996 set is one of the best the company ever released. There was no bigger rookie heading into the 1990 season than Ben McDonald. 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. It includes both Griffey and Mickey Mantles profiles, accompanied by their Sharpie signatures. The Yankees won three World Series to further cement their position as a legendary team and globally recognized brand it was difficult to go almost anywhere in the world without seeing a Yankee hat on someones head. He kept racking up All-Star appearances, too, which led to this card. 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. He is also currently leading in assists above Luka. That decision was one of the worst in baseball history. Its no surprise that it easily makes it onto the list, as one of the most important modern baseball cards ever produced. 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. Only two have achieved a BGS 9.5 grade, and it thoroughly deserves a place among the most valuable 90s options. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. Cards 258. 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. The higher the grade, the more valuable a card will be, so were typically looking at PSA 9s and 10s only. And, even after the gridiron injury that wrecked his promising future on both fields, Bo still generates plenty of hobby intrigue today. Kobe tragically passed away in a helicopter crash in January 2020 leading to the value of his memorabilia skyrocketing. Its the 24k gold foil overlay that really makes this card stand out. 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. 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. Would anyone be interested in buying my Sports Card Collection. 1989 Star Jerome Walton Autographed Card #1 Signed Auto 1990 Donruss RC Error! 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. 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 wasn't nearly what it used to be. A dynamic power-speed threat early in his career, he eventually settled in as more of a middle-of-the-order run producer. Then, at age 29, a blown rotator cuff ended his career. The autographs themselves are found on the chest of each player, signed in black ink, and the background has a blue-green hue. Well start off with a rare card from 1991. Your email address will not be published. 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. He had surpassed Bobby Bonds (35) that April. This card is ungraded, has no autograph of him but is very valuable. 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. 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. He was consistently productive although he did have some seasons here and there shortened by injury. 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. Similar to the Andruw Jones cards in the same set, high-grade versions of the Bowman's Best card command a premium price. This has to be one of the most significant baseball cards of the 1990s, if not all time. Robb Report. 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. 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. Well, first of all, you might see the card with a Ken Griffey Jr. auto only, or a Mantle auto only, and then of course, the dual auto that is basically the greatest combo dual auto to ever grace a baseball card. How much are YOUR cards worth? 1990 Topps #414 Frank Thomas Rookie Card Estimated PSA 10 Value: $175 Check prices on: Amazon Now, this is what Thomas's rookie card is supposed to look like when his full name appears at the bottom of the card. So, its an exceedingly rare signed parallel from one of the biggest stars in the sport. Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? All baseball fans are familiar with the exploits of Derek Jeter hes a legend of the game, but what makes this card so special? His reputation as a two-sport superstar earned him a place in commercials, video games, and even cartoons. Beltres rookie card from 1997 recently sold at auction for $3,016. Unfortunately, the back issues kicked in at the wrong time as he struggled with back spasms throughout the entire postseason. Thats a testament to how good he really was. 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. 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. 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. Shortcuts: Most Expensive, Cheapest, List by Card # You own: 0 / 687 items 0% Track your collection for free. However, if you want to get real serious with Frank Thomas cards, it really doesnt get any better than this rare piece. 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. Unfortunately, the 1990 season would be Jackson's last full season in baseball as a devastating hip injury during a football game in 1991 prevented him from ever playing at his All-Star level again. Gonzalez was one of the most feared hitters of his era and seemed like a lock for 40+ homers and 100+ RBI every season. (The same is true for almost every card were about to mention.). Recommended Reading: Air Force 1 Baseball Cleats, 2022 BaseballLoveCLub.com 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). An additional 420+ MLB taters followed, along with a couple of MVP awards and plenty of other accolades. During the 1990s, Griffey Jr. was one of the hottest stars in the sport and seemed destined to break all kinds of records. to look like when his full name appears at the bottom of the card. Its an error in the sense that it does not list his correct birthday, but there were several cards that listed that date. I mean, wow. Read our methodology . Post contains affiliate links. 13 Rarest Michael Jordan Cards Ever - Rarest.org . 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, it was just the beginning of a Hall of Fame run for Mad Dog, and within a few years, when he was stringing together CYAs for the Braves, we were stockpiling ALL his cards including this nifty color-coordinated Cubbies deal. We purchase sports cards as an alternative investment to stocks, bonds, and real estate. However, things changed in the World Series as they couldnt seem to figure out the Cincinnati Reds pitching and shockingly found themselves on the other end of a sweep. It was futuristic for the time, but Jeters SP RC is a clear cut above the others found on this list. 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. Top 25 Most Valuable Baseball Cards from the 1990's - Rookie Cards Only . Joe Jackson is one of the renowned names. Big Mac batted just .214 with zero home runs and zero RBI, while fellow Bash Brother Jose Canseco didnt fare much better. 1. Continue with Recommended Cookies. POP APR REGISTRY SHOP Note. Their rarity, combined with their quality (PSA 9+) gives them their value. 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. Another rare card with two of the best players to grace the field, this 1994 Upper Deck release features both Ken Griffey Jr. & Mickey Mantle. 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! Alex Rodriguez is a 14-time All-Star, and one of the greatest of all time when youre looking at stats alone. (Note: The following sections contain affiliate links to eBay and Amazon listings for the cards being discussed. 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. Topps cards were relatively error-free throughout the 1980s, so its a bit surprising in retrospect that they uncorked such a doozy to lead off the new decade. 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. 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.