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. 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. Take a day off now and then, critics said, and the Orioles will be all the better for it. And then there is the photography, which is pretty sharp in some cases. Shortcuts: Most Expensive, Cheapest, List by Card # You own: 0 / 687 items 0% Track your collection for free. That earned Bo his first (and only) All-Star appearance and even some down-ballot MVP votes. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Get my weekly newsletter with the latest hobby updates delivered straight to your inbox! He also won ten straight Silver Slugger awards, cementing his status as one of the greatest offensive catchers in the games history. 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. This set was a monster and contained a 792 card checklist in total. After belting 38 home runs and driving in 108 RBI during the regular season, McGwires power stroke was silent when it mattered most. 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. 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. Is this the error card worth so much? Much of the shine faded in the glare of the various PED scandals, but Joses place in hobby history wont go quietly into the night, and his early-career cards still draw interest today. Disclaimer: Please note none this is meant as investment advice purely for entertainment and informational purposes only. Kobe tragically passed away in a helicopter crash in January 2020 leading to the value of his memorabilia skyrocketing. 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. 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. 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. 10 most valuable basketball card of the 1990s. 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. Gonzalez was one of the most feared hitters of his era and seemed like a lock for 40+ homers and 100+ RBI every season. A number of steroid sagas have somewhat marred his legacy in recent years, but theres no denying his talent. We use cookies to improve your experience. Both players are shown side by side, wearing caps that help to denote the team they play for. Superstars dont come much more unassuming and steady than Bernie Williams especially Yankees superstars! In any case, they help to make the 1990 Topps set what it is, and they deserve some of our cardboard love, too. The blue and yellow borders on this card matched up perfectly with the Mariners uniforms back then. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. 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. 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. 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. Remarkably, that stat line wasn't good enough to take home the Triple Crown but he did win MVP honors that season. This card is so odd because Lindros never even actually played professional baseballnot even in the Minors. 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. 1994 ALEX RODRIGUEZ ROOKIE CARD GRADED MINT 10 FLEER WAVE OF THE FUTURE 2. 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 T210 Old Mill deck is one of the most varied. Those wild borders, for example, arent just colorful they have print dots. When he burst onto the scene, his rookie cards were among the hottest sellers in the entire hobby. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. 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. Currently, listings on eBay value this card around the $2000 mark but they have been known to fetch more than triple that at auction. 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. This Traded entry was their answer, and its still evocative of that magical summer all these years later. 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. While cards are easily available for purchase, the most valuable ones have reached seven-figure territory. Alex Rodriguez is a 14-time All-Star, and one of the greatest of all time when youre looking at stats alone. Ryno took his power game to a whole new level in 1990, though, leading the NL with 40 homers and cementing cards like his base Topps issue as pack-winners that summer. 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. His reputation as a two-sport superstar earned him a place in commercials, video games, and even cartoons. 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!). Baseball cards are among the most popular collectibles in the sports memorabilia market. This Frank Thomas Topps rookie card is very notable for its mistake: the complete absence of Frank Thomass name! Most Expensive 1990 Topps card list & price guide. 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. Is it a Thomas back on a Ripken front, or some other configuration? 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. 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. This is one such example of one of the decades rarer cards. A few important parameters for our list before we get started: The No. He has an exceptionally rare card from 1991 which is the first to make our list. The issue is then corrected before production resumes. 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. The checklist also contains rookie cards of Jeff Kent and Tim Wakefield. 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. Rookie cards for Juan Gonzalez, Larry Walker, and Sammy Sosa may sell for more than other standard cards from the same year. Check out my other Baseball Card Videos here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrmolUXjojPMbnGNd9g9-DtE4gqbTGPTHHow to submit to PSA: https://youtu.be/. Recommended Reading: Baseball Practice Plans For 10 Year Olds. His 1990 Fleer card was no exception and has enough value left in the tank to earn a spot on this list. 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). 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. This has to be one of the most significant baseball cards of the 1990s, if not all time. 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. Theres a small UD logo in the top right corner, while the reverse has a guarantee for the signatures. Happy investing! The card features Kobe in a yellow Lakers jersey passing the ball with one hand. Both of his rookies eclipsed $100 raw following his Hall of Fame announcement, but it's the Ultra version that sells for slightly higher in high-grade condition. 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. 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. Required fields are marked *, Chipper Jones (1991 Toppers Desert Shield RC #333), Ken Griffey Jr. (1993 Finest Refractor #110), Ken Griffey Jr. & Mickey Mantle (1994 Upper Deck #MM1), Roy Halladay (1997 Bowman Chrome International Refractor #212), Adrian Beltre (1997 Bowman Chrome International Refractor #182), David Ortiz (1997 Fleer Ultra Platinum Medallion #P518). And, even after the gridiron injury that wrecked his promising future on both fields, Bo still generates plenty of hobby intrigue today. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. His other high . $39.20. Coming in the number 1 spot for the most Valuable 1990s basketball cards is the Kobe Bryant Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems card. 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. Griffey Jr. is casually jogging across a leaf-green background like the legend that he is. All-Stars Estimated PSA 10 Value: $25 1990 Fleer #3 Jose Canseco Estimated PSA 10 Value: $20 1990 Fleer #217 Darryl Strawberry Estimated PSA 10 Value: $20 1990 Fleer #297 Juan Gonzalez Rookie Card Estimated PSA 10 Value: $20 1990 Fleer #485 Albert Belle Rookie Card Estimated PSA 10 Value: $20 1990 Fleer Update #U-87 Frank Thomas Rookie Card Top 25 Most Valuable Baseball Cards from the 1990's - Rookie Cards Only . The man needed to take a day off now and then, they said, and forget about chasing Lou Gehrigs record for consecutive games played. launch monetization_on $4.99 08/28/2022. Prices are updated daily based upon 1990 Classic listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. Are you ready for a stat thatll probably make you sick to your stomach? 1991 CHIPPER JONES UPPER DECK TOP PROSPECT ROOKIE BASEBALL CARD MLB BRAVES. Some of these foil cards are so delicate they may have been damaged when they were first bought and taken out of the packaging. I think it's odd that he was a two-time MVP but only a three-time All-Star. As an added disclaimer no copyright infringements were meant to be made in regards to the publishing of the images and cards. 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. It's hard to make the claim that any 1990 Fleer baseball cards are really "most valuable" from a monetary standpoint. It wasnt often that a base card of an individual player landed card #1 back in those days, but Ryan was entering bonafide legend territory, and the following years would only solidify that standing and boost his card values across the board. 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. All baseball fans are familiar with the exploits of Derek Jeter hes a legend of the game, but what makes this card so special? Mostly, though, it was just a steady climb to 2200+ career hits, pulling his rookie card along with him. It was the first to offer an auto in every pack, with signatures from some of the biggest stars from the time. 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. We all know of his association with the PED controversy. 1. I especially remember that monstrous 1997 season he had with 49 home runs, 143 runs scored, 130 RBI and a .363 batting average. Surprisingly, there are valuable cards from almost every year to look out for, including before, during, and after the junk wax era. The action shot features a young Jeter primed to make a catch, with the player superimposed over the holofoil. There are tons of Nolan Ryan collectors so demand is still decent for this card. I feel for the investment, the Lebron card is a less risky buy. It was a blistering campaign that launched the young superstars career into the stratosphere. 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. Surely Upper Deck has a way to account for this, right? But Mickey Mantle? On the football field, Jackson was one of the game's best backs with a devastating combination of speed and power. Of course, even the stoutest of the 90s will likely never rattle any bank accounts, not on the whole, and not to the extent that some of the hobbys big hitters do and will. 1993 Derek Jeter Classic Best Gold Greensboro Hornets #115 Gem Mint 10 Rookie. Edges are a major issue when it comes to grading, and better versions show off every curve of Mantles ear. The Investment Case for the 1989-1990 Hoops Michael Jordan #200 Basketball Card. I've always liked the look of these cards, and as a kid, I loved ripping packs in search of rookies and star players. In 2015, a PSA 10 copy would sell for roughly $30,000. Where had this guy been all our lives? 1990 Upper Deck Baseball unleashed one of the biggest baseball card innovations ever autographs. 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. Right!? #1: 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle An SGC 9.5 Example Sold in August 2022 for $12,600,000 Dimensions: 2-5/8" x 3-3/4" The most important post-war card in the hobby, price movements of the 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle baseball card are often seen as an indicator of the health of the sports card market overall. The only Leaf card to make the list, their 1996 set is one of the best the company ever released. $59.95. That said, the condition-sensitive nature of the 1994 SP set's foil design makes high-grade versions difficult to find and therefore valuable. Its a novel card and extremely rare so it has a decent value. It includes a lot of minor players that you may not have heard the name of before. However, the 1990 Fleer Soaring Stars #6 card in near-mint condition may sell for closer to $50. Gwynn won a batting title in 1989, giving him four heading into his 30s and a new decade. Everyone wanted Don Mattingly cards when I was a kid. Its another reason why its so valuable in comparison to every other card in the set. But rather than the couple of frames a Sportflics card gives.