The 1995 Donruss baseball card set marked the trading card company’s return to the baseball card market after a four year absence. While not one of the major brands of the time, Donruss released a vintage-style 309 card base set along with various insert sets that captured the players and styles of the mid-1990s. Within that main set lie some of the most valuable rookie and star player cards from the year. Here are the ten 1995 Donruss baseball cards that have held or grown the most value over the past 25+ years:
Pedro Martinez – A dominant starting pitcher for the Montreal Expos at the time, Pedro Martinez’s rookie card in the 1995 Donruss set ranks 10th in value. Martinez would go on to have a Hall of Fame caliber career mostly with the Boston Red Sox. High-grade, well-centered versions of his rookie card in PSA/BGS 10 condition have sold for over $100 in recent years.
John Smoltz – As one of the top closers in baseball with the Atlanta Braves, John Smoltz also started to transition to the starting rotation in 1995. His impressive dual role playing ability makes his rookie fairly scarce and holds its value well. PSA 10 copies sell in the $150 range.
Jason Kendall – The Pittsburgh Pirates catcher made his major league debut in 1995 and his Donruss rookie is one of the more scarce and valuable from the set. Extremely well-centered PSA 10 copies can reach $200. Kendall had a long, solid career and his card remains popular with Pirates collectors.
John Rocker – The flame-throwing Atlanta Braves reliever burst onto the scene in 1995 and stayed in the news for years with his outspoken antics off the field. His rookie card is fairly scarce in top-grades and appeals to Braves and sports memorabilia collectors. PSA 10 versions sell above $225.
Todd Helton – Widely considered the best pure hitter from the 1995 rookie class, Todd Helton dazzled in his debut with the Colorado Rockies. High-grade copies of his excellent on-card rookie in PSA 10 condition have sold for $250 and up. His career batting stats also add to his card’s investment grade status.
Nomar Garciaparra – Emerging as the elite young shortstop for the Boston Red Sox dynasty teams, Nomar Garciaparra roared onto the scene in 1995. His classic sophomore season front photo adds to this card’s appeal. At the top of the hobby’s grading scale, PSA 10 Nomar rookies go for $300-350.
Randy Johnson – Already an established ace with the Montreal Expos, “The Big Unit’s” move to the prestigious Seattle Mariners franchise further increased his star power and popularity as a collector item. Copies in Gem Mint 10 condition through PSA or BGS break the $400 mark.
Chipper Jones – The hometown kid out of Florida made a huge splash as the #1 overall pick of the 1995 draft by the Atlanta Braves. Considered one of the finest “rookie/prospect” cards ever produced, high-grade versions in PSA 10 or BGS Gem Mint 10 eclipse $450.
Derek Jeter – While not technically a true rookie card since Jeter appeared in 12 games in 1995 for the Yankees, his iconic photo and clean on-card design with a circular border resonates strongly with collectors. PSA 10 examples surpass $600 and remain in high demand.
Ken Griffey Jr. – Often regarded as the greatest baseball card of the 1990s, Griffey’s sophomore season “Upper Deck” redesign by Donruss of his familiar reverse negative image cemented his legendary status. PSA 10 specimens have sold for well over $1,000 with extraordinary condition examples achieving over $2,000 with time. Griffey is simply the greatest draw from this fun and traditional looking set.
While not the most renowned vintage release, the 1995 Donruss baseball set illustrated the early careers of several future Hall of Famers and generated popular rookies that remain core parts of collections today. When found in pristine condition, these 10 featured cards especially maintain their relevance and high values. For ’90s card investors and enthusiasts of the players, this fun vintage set continues to deliver affordable stars and memories from baseball’s remarkable renaissance period.
