While many cards from the 90s are effectively worthless, there are a number of solid options that have increased in value rapidly over the past decade. Like wow like comic books have (something I first realized while reading a post from Night Owl Cards). A PSA 10 gem mint condition version of his 1997 Fleer Ultra Platinum card sold at auction for $4,238. Thats a testament to how good he really was. 1997 Bowman Chrome #182 Adrian Beltre Buy on eBay #10. You should do your own due dilligence before spending your money on anything including baseball cards. He didn't appear on his first Topps card until the 1995 Topps Traded set, following his MLB debut. Rookie cards were typically harder to find compared to cards issued later in a players career, which makes them more valuable. But, because of Bonds popularity and legacy, it still holds decent value in top grade. I used to love watching him play--he was a class act. Each card is lenticular. Puckett remains a collector favorite today, earning this card showing the man in his prime a slot on our list. Some of these foil cards are so delicate they may have been damaged when they were first bought and taken out of the packaging. Remarkably, that stat line wasn't good enough to take home the Triple Crown but he did win MVP honors that season. 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 90s. Recommended Reading: National League Baseball West Standings. 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. 100 Most Valuable Baseball Cards: The All-Time Dream List As such, it was never corrected because there wasnt really anything to correct. Top 1990s Baseball Rookie Cards to Collect - The Cardboard Connection 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. The price for a piece of Americas pastime keeps going up. 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. 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 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. 1990 Upper Deck Baseball Memories and Baseball Card Breakdown Somewhat surprisingly, Griffey Jr.'s card is actually worth more than the Frank Thomas rookie (with his name on the front). The following season, though, Thomas broke out in a big way as he finished third in MVP voting and picked up his first of four career Silver Sluggers. Their rarity, combined with their quality (PSA 9+) gives them their value. Olerud took awhile to build a resume that would land him on lists like this, putting up solid, semistar-to-star-level performances year after year. The autographs themselves are found on the chest of each player, signed in black ink, and the background has a blue-green hue. That got his cards perking again after a bit of a lull during the in-between years. $49.00. And, even after the gridiron injury that wrecked his promising future on both fields, Bo still generates plenty of hobby intrigue today. Another rare card with two of the best players to grace the field, this 1994. Everyone wanted Don Mattingly cards when I was a kid. 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. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. David Justice was already 24 years old when the Braves called him up for the second time, in May of 1990. 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. Walker's rookie card received quite a boost in price once he finally received the call to the Hall of Fame. 1994 ALEX RODRIGUEZ ROOKIE CARD GRADED MINT 10 FLEER WAVE OF THE FUTURE 2. Right, but where were his *Detroit* cards? That said, the condition-sensitive nature of the 1994 SP set's foil design makes high-grade versions difficult to find and therefore valuable. Michael Jordan Cards: The Most Expensive of All Time. In this guide, we take a look at the 20 most valuable 1990 Topps baseball cards. It was graded NM 7 by the PSA, which is not as impressive as later cards on this list but still high. 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. 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. 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. I've always liked the look of these cards, and as a kid, I loved ripping packs in search of rookies and star players. 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. 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. The higher the grade, the more valuable a card will be, so were typically looking at PSA 9s and 10s only. To honor President Bush, Topps printed 100 or so of these with a picture of him during his college days in his Yale uniform. He also topped 30 home runs for the first time and joined his father, Bobby Bonds, in the 30-30 club by adding 52 steals. His reputation as a two-sport superstar earned him a place in commercials, video games, and even cartoons. 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. Now that we got that out of the way, let's take a look at the top ten: 1990 Score #697 Bo Jackson Estimated PSA 10 Value: $70 Check Prices On: Amazon This card is arguably one of the most iconic cards of the "junk" era. The next couple seasons were lean, though, as Sammy struggled for playing time, especially after a 1992 trade to the Cubs. And I don't think I ever pulled one from a pack. Beltres rookie card from 1997 recently sold at auction for $3,016. 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 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. 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. 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. Right!? 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. 23,119. That performance was just the beginning, of course, and also the start of a climb for his cards in the hobby. 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. 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. 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. His enduring popularity for a major market team, legendary career, and the fact that it's his only true rookie card have helped make this one of the most valuable raw cards of the 1990s, with ungraded versions regularly topping $100. Theyre also prone to counterfeiting, which is why its better to go for a graded option if possible. The "Topps All-Star Rookie" trophy symbol made this one stand out a bit more from other cards in this set, too. Well, for Topps this was the one, and its still special more than 30 years on. Those who remember the mass hysteria surrounding the Y2K bug saga at the end of 1999 will know what Im talking about. Your email address will not be published. By 1990, Cal Ripken Jr. was starting to take flak for continuing The Streak in spite of slipping performance at the plate. 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. It was futuristic for the time, but Jeters SP RC is a clear cut above the others found on this list. This card was produced in a limited edition of only 24 examples, with this one being #14/24. Guide to Valuable 1990's Sports Cards - The Cardboard Connection 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. While cards are easily available for purchase, the most valuable ones have reached seven-figure territory. The top card in a major debut release, it has a memorable look for a generational talent. He would extend that 0-fer to three years in 1990 before getting off the snide and reigniting his cards in 1991. 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). I mean, wow. 25 Most Valuable 1990 Upper Deck Baseball Cards With 10,886 PSA 9 and 3,857 PSA 10 in circulation, it's not hard to find a high-grade version, but they still sell for a premium as an iconic card of one of the decade's biggest stars. We love the '80s (and '90s) baseball cards: The top 15 sets of the era | Sporting News Astros +400 Dodgers +600 Mets +700 Yankees +700 Braves +900 Padres +1000 Phillies +1200 Blue Jays +1300. The blue and yellow borders on this card matched up perfectly with the Mariners uniforms back then. By entering your email address you agree to receive email versions of the Baseball Card Market Report. The young, toolsy prospect made a decent showing in his new climes, cracking double-digit home runs and stealing 32 bases. He kept racking up All-Star appearances, too, which led to this card. Valuable Baseball Cards 1990's - BaseballLoveClub.com His only rookie cards are in the 1995 Bowman and Bowman's Best sets, as Bowman Chrome would not be introduced until two years later. 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.