most valuable baseball cards 1990s most valuable baseball cards 1990s

Of the six Kevin Maas Rookies, its the 1990 Upper Deck that resonates most. As shocking as it may seem, yes, this version of the 1990 Topps Frank Thomas rookie card can be worth some serious money. 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. The record for the most expensive baseball card has changed twice in the last month. Bush money, but its still a decent payout for a 90s baseball card! 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. This gem mint card sold at auction with 51 bids for $35,087. Despite the disappointing turn of events in his career, collectors of that era still love Jackson and have built quite the following for his cards these days. 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. Everyone wanted Don Mattingly cards when I was a kid. 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. That earned Bo his first (and only) All-Star appearance and even some down-ballot MVP votes. Of course, those homer numbers were off the charts starting in 1998, when he chased Mark McGwire to Roger Maris single-season record. 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. This Frank Thomas Topps rookie card is very notable for its mistake: the complete absence of Frank Thomass name! 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. His rookie care is a must-have in this set and one of the most iconic cards of the 1990s. Superstars dont come much more unassuming and steady than Bernie Williams especially Yankees superstars! Check out my other Baseball Card Videos here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrmolUXjojPMbnGNd9g9-DtE4gqbTGPTHHow to submit to PSA: https://youtu.be/. Baseball cards are among the most popular collectibles in the sports memorabilia market. Many thought there were no limits to where his first cards might go. 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. 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 Soaring Stars #6 Ken Griffey, Jr. card is one of the few 1990 baseball cards valued at more than a few hundred dollars. In truth, MJ wasnt particularly good at baseball, but his RC is still worth adding to your personal collection if and when prices begin to slow down. 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. 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. But rather than the couple of frames a Sportflics card gives. 1997 Topps Screenplays Baseball is another product from the mid-1990s to experiment with using motion. Disclaimer: Please note none this is meant as investment advice purely for entertainment and informational purposes only. Joe Jackson is one of the renowned names. But as his career progressed and the home runs kept piling up, he turned into one of the most popular players in the league. Don Mattinglys career was almost a tale of two decades. Just in case that came to pass, Donruss was ready, anointing the young lefty swinger as a Rated Rookie in their bloody 1990 set . You May Like: Best Walk Up Songs Baseball. But theres still a certain cynicism among many when we hear about a rookie being the next big thing. Unfortunately, it didnt quite work out and it wasnt long before he was back crushing the NBA. 1 1992 Bowman Trevor Hoffman #11 Trevor Hoffman isn't as well-known as the other players on this list, but his #11 Bowman card is still worth a decent bit of money. Ken Griffey Jr. is back again, in one of the most important sets from the 1990s. In the 1990 set, that RB card celebrated Rickeys 40th career leadoff home run late in 1989, which extended his own record. Naturally, his rookie cards were hot tamales. This card is so odd because Lindros never even actually played professional baseballnot even in the Minors. 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. I've always liked the look of these cards, and as a kid, I loved ripping packs in search of rookies and star players. Also Check: National League Standings For Baseball. Its difficult to find a more important autographed duo card in the history of baseball, featuring two players who tore up the record books during their respective careers. The value of this card is always on the up. To other top rated players. This may very well be the most stylish card on the list. The most expensive baseball card in history just sold for $12.6 million. Don Mattingly's career was almost a tale of two decades. This is the holy grail of 1990s baseball cards. Griffey was one of the most popular players of the era and his cards were always in high demand. The most expensive cards tend to be rare, and theyre often serial numbered. 1984-85 Star Michael Jordan XRC RC #101 BGS 7.5 Rookie Card | eBay. But these cards are still fun all these years later, and they might just surprise you, if you give them a chance. While cards are easily available for purchase, the most valuable ones have reached seven-figure territory. Theyre also prone to counterfeiting, which is why its better to go for a graded option if possible. Rookie cards were typically harder to find compared to cards issued later in a players career, which makes them more valuable. 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. Still, collectors were excited enough by Joses upside to keep his cards on the hot list (and the Cold List, for veteran Beckett readers). That performance was just the beginning, of course, and also the start of a climb for his cards in the hobby. Predictably, his cards skyrocketed like one of his Wrigley Field blasts. By the time collectors started pulling his rookie card, enough of those guys Tim Raines, Andre Dawson, Tim Wallach, etc. But, because of Bonds popularity and legacy, it still holds decent value in top grade. Dont Miss: Baseball Cross Necklace For Men. 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. Ryan found his final baseball home with the Texas Rangers in 1989, and Topps captures him with his new team on this card, fittingly showing him doffing his cap after recording his 5000th strikeout. Only 373 of the 3,125 submitted to PSA have come back with a PSA 10 grade. Trae Young is currently in 2021 leading the 2018 class with most career points at 3,549, right above Luka Doncic and Colin Sexton. Theres a small UD logo in the top right corner, while the reverse has a guarantee for the signatures. All card images courtesy of TCDB, while pricing data is pulled from recent eBay sales as of Thursday morning. A dynamic power-speed threat early in his career, he eventually settled in as more of a middle-of-the-order run producer. Post contains affiliate links. 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. Prices for 1990 Fleer Baseball Cards 1990 Fleer card list & price guide. 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. 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. And, voila! It was the first to offer an auto in every pack, with signatures from some of the biggest stars from the time. It's hard to make the claim that any 1990 Fleer baseball cards are really "most valuable" from a monetary standpoint. 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. The card is key for three main reasons: A PSA 10 gem mint condition version of his 1997 Fleer Ultra Platinum card sold at auction for $4,238. Heres our rundown of the most valuable baseball cards from 1990-2000. 1993 Derek Jeter Classic Best Gold Greensboro Hornets #115 Gem Mint 10 Rookie. An autograph can instantly increase the value of any card. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Like every other Topps Traded set in the 1980s and early 1990s, this one was a special treat to collectors one last shot of new baseball cards for the year as we headed into winter. Marquis Grissom was one of what seemed like an endless string of Expos prospects in the 1980s and 1990s. If its something else, it would be interesting to see whats up. That was old for a prospect, and he hadnt exactly torn up the minors, either. And then there are some pretty interesting subjects, from draft picks to error cards to scads of Nolan Ryans. (PSA Graded) Estimated PSA 10 Value: $50. The Most Valuable 1990s Baseball Cards: Summary, 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, (Okay, we said that you wont find any of these cards hidden down the back of the couch, but this is the exception!). Prices are updated daily based upon 1990 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. 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. Robb Report. 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. Highlighting Reggie Jackson, the "Heroes of Baseball" set that originated in 1990 would. 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. In this case, its just a couple hunks of the black links surrounding the name box and not the name itself that are missing. Its condition sensitivity has made high-grade versions very scarce and very valuable. Its a novel card and extremely rare so it has a decent value. He is also currently leading in assists above Luka. 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. It was the first to offer an auto in every pack, with signatures from some of the biggest stars from the time. 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. 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. 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. But, Belle wasnt exactly known for playing cleanly either, although he was more known for using corked bats instead of PEDs. It took awhile for fans, and especially collectors, to warm up to Larry Walker and his talents. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. 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. Alex Rodriguez is a 14-time All-Star, and one of the greatest of all time when youre looking at stats alone. Now, if that last sentence up there and that Donruss rookie card look a bit. By 1990, Cal Ripken Jr. was starting to take flak for continuing The Streak in spite of slipping performance at the plate. 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. And for those of us who grew up collecting these as kids, they'll always have a huge nostalgic factor to them despite not having the most monetary value. Its hard to find in good condition, which is why high PSA grades are so expensive. Happy investing! Well, for Topps this was the one, and its still special more than 30 years on. His 1990 Topps rookie card has held up over the years with decent value. 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. So, just how costly are the most sought-after baseball cards? After the initial production run, someone may detect the error and pull the card from the line. 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. 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. 1. As you can see, it will take them being professionally graded in gem mint condition to be worth much. 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. Although Canseco batted just .182 (2-11) with one RBI in the AL Championship versus the Red Sox, the Athletics collectively played well enough to sweep Boston. 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 internet was still in its infancy and not as widely used or trusted as it is today. 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. Estimated PSA 10 Value: $50. I think it's odd that he was a two-time MVP but only a three-time All-Star. 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. Take a day off now and then, critics said, and the Orioles will be all the better for it. 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. An example that Beckett graded a 10 sold on Goldin for $57,600, giving it the top spot in this athletes card series. Some of these foil cards are so delicate they may have been damaged when they were first bought and taken out of the packaging. Ryan's popularity drives most of the reason for the value of this card being what it is. And, even though Juan Gone will never make the Hall of Fame, hell also never completely lose his collector base. Serial numbered to just 99, its extremely fragile, while the shiny border is especially susceptible to chips and will highlight any blemishes. He also set a personal best for stolen bases (52) while leading the league in slugging percentage (.565) and OPS (.970). Dimensions: 1-1/2 x 2-5/8. 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. 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. GoldCardAuctions is a high-end investment-caliber trading card company and is the definitive source of sports card investing news and analysis. A number of steroid sagas have somewhat marred his legacy in recent years, but theres no denying his talent. 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. The dynamic duo had been shut down, something that was unheard of heading into the World Series. 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. 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. Now that we got that out of the way, let's take a look at the list: 1990 Upper Deck Heroes Reggie Jackson Autograph Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $750 The 1990 Upper Deck set contained a monstrous 800-card checklist that was distributed in two series: the Low Series (#1-700) and the High Series (#701-800). 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. Most Expensive 1990 Topps card list & price guide. 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. The next couple seasons were lean, though, as Sammy struggled for playing time, especially after a 1992 trade to the Cubs. As it turned out, 1989 would be the last summer when hed top 20 dingers (23), but fans and collectors still held out hope. So there you have it, the ten most valuable 1990 Topps cards. For example, PSA 10 copies of his 1991 Upper Deck were selling for roughly $40 in 2017, but they now go for almost 10 times that amount. Chipper Jones won a World Series and made eight All-Star appearances for the Atlanta Braves in a storied career. 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 . Even today, though, there is still some mystique to those McDonald RCs that once sat near the top of the hobby mountain. Only two have achieved a BGS 9.5 grade, and it thoroughly deserves a place among the most valuable '90s options. I have a jose Uribe 87 donruss,I googled his birthday and it was 1959, but my card says 1960,. Sure, its not George H.W. 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. 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. 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. 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. That said, the condition-sensitive nature of the 1994 SP set's foil design makes high-grade versions difficult to find and therefore valuable. The only Leaf card to make the list, their 1996 set is one of the best the company ever released. Now just imagine how much a pristine-rated card can go for! The combination of the two greats and a dual autograph is enough to drive interest, which is why it makes the list. 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 blue and yellow borders on this card matched up perfectly with the Mariners uniforms back then. 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. 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. Michael Jordan Cards: The Most Expensive of All Time. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. 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. As with the SP cards above, the player is outlined to help him to stand out, going so far as to put him above the border in places. A copy sold for $180,000 in January 2020, while another sold for $166,712.70 in May of the same year. The 1990s were a strange time to be a baseball card collector. 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. In this guide, we take a look at the 20 most valuable 1990 Topps baseball cards. Mike Trout is a generational talent, and his . This Upper Deck card shows Frank Thomas in the motion of striking a ball. He also won ten straight Silver Slugger awards, cementing his status as one of the greatest offensive catchers in the games history. That 5000th strikeout that Ryan recorded in 1989 did wonders for his hobby profile, beginning right at the front of the 1990 Topps set. Upper Deck made this card here in 1999. I especially remember that monstrous 1997 season he had with 49 home runs, 143 runs scored, 130 RBI and a .363 batting average. If theres a Holy Grail of all 1980s baseball cards, the 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. is it. 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. 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. 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. In 1999 he was still with the Chicago White Sox. 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. Cards 258. 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. He was one of my favorite players to watch growing up as the guy could do it all. Right!? Bernie Williams was an extremely productive player during the mid to late 1990's. He kept racking up All-Star appearances, too, which led to this card. The GOAT took some time away from basketball to chase his lifelong dream of playing professional baseball. Unfortunately, the back issues kicked in at the wrong time as he struggled with back spasms throughout the entire postseason. 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. 10 most valuable basketball card of the 1990s. 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. This is one such example of one of the decades rarer cards. The higher the grade, the more valuable a card will be, so were typically looking at PSA 9s and 10s only. Well, the 1993 card was printed with a foil layer making it incredibly delicate. 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. On the baseball field, Jackson had a cannon for an arm and a compact, powerful swing, which is on full display on this card. Pitchers with 300 Wins and Their Baseball Cards. (The same is true for almost every card were about to mention.). This card is a 1994 insert card or chase card released by Upper Deck in limited editions of 1,000 cards.