The 1990 baseball season saw notable players like Nolan Ryan, George Brett and Ryne Sandberg in their later careers while young stars like Ken Griffey Jr., Frank Thomas and Roberto Alomar began to emerge. The baseball card market during that time period featured some memorable rookie cards and players entering their prime that have held valuable to this day. Let’s take a deeper look at some 1990 baseball cards that could still be worth something for collectors.
One of the most well-known and valuable 1990 baseball cards is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card from Upper Deck. Griffey was one of the most exciting young players to enter the league in decades and his rookie card captured the beginning of what became a surefire Hall of Fame career. In near mint to mint condition, Griffey’s 1990 Upper Deck rookie card in a PSA 10 gem mint condition could fetch over $10,000 today. Even well-centered copies in PSA 8 or 9 excellent-mint condition range from $200-$500. The card resonated with collectors due to Griffey’s dynamic abilities and youthful charisma that made him a superstar.
Another prime rookie card from 1990 is Frank Thomas’ entry from Fleer. As “The Big Hurt” went on to have one of the best right-handed power hitting careers of all-time, his rookie card has grown in value as well. In a PSA 10 mint condition, Thomas’ rookie card has sold for over $3000 and graded PSA 8 or 9 copies still range between $100-$300. The Hall of Famer’s impressive stats and five-time AL MVP award winning ways made this an especially sought after rookie to have in a collection.
Roberto Alomar’s rookie from Fleer is also an extremely valuable card for 1990. Alomar made his debut at a young age and went on to a brilliant career that gained him entry into Cooperstown. His defensive prowess at second base paired with a consistent offensive game made Alomar a fan favorite. A PSA 10 gem mint Alomar rookie card can be worth $800-1500. Well-centered near mint to mint copies in PSA 8 or 9 condition still hold value of around $100-250.
Pitching legends Nolan Ryan and Tom Seaver were both in the later stages of their careers in 1990 but still had extremely prominent baseball cards. Ryan’s card from Upper Deck showcases him as a Los Angeles Angel at the time. In pristine PSA 10 condition, it can demand up to $1000 due to Ryan’s status as a living legend and 27 seasons spent throwing heat. Even well-centered PSA 8 and 9 examples can sell for $50-200. Tom Seaver’s Fleer card from the same year holds similar but slightly lesser value levels as one of the all-time great hurlers.
The 1990 Bowman set had some valuable rookie cards as well. For Toronto Blue Jays fans, the Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter rookie cards from Bowman are worth noting. In gem mint PSA 10 condition, the Alomar is around a $150-200 card while the Carter can reach $100. Edged but well-centered PSA 8 copies still sell in the $30-50 range usually. The Bowman brand added extra cachet to already desirable rookie cards for those two eventual World Series heroes.
Two other future Hall of Famers had noteworthy rookie cards in 1990 releases. Craig Biggio’s rookie is from Topps and Don Mattingly had his final rookie card appearance from Topps Traded. A PSA 10 Biggio tops out around $350-400 as one of the premier collectors’ items from the year. Mattingly’s card holds slightly less luster at $150-200 PSA 10 due to it coming late in a storied career, but both remain six-figure cards in pristine condition for die-hard collectors.
For baseball investors, 1990 Upper Deck Frank Thomas, Ken Griffey Jr., and Roberto Alomar rookies in top graded gem mint quality have sustained high prices relative to when they were pulled from packs. They hold recognizable names that continue to captivate collectors. Other certified mint condition cards showing the tail-end primes of legends like Nolan Ryan and Tom Seaver from the year have proven reliable retains of value as well. Overall, 1990 had some cards that stamped all-time great careers in their early stages worth retaining if in top preserved quality nearly 30 years later.
In summarizing whether any 1990 baseball cards could still potentially be worth something, the short answer is yes – especially for the rookies of future Hall of Famers and stars like Griffey, Thomas, Alomar, Biggio and Mattingly when graded and preserved in pristine mint condition. Flagship releases from Topps, Upper Deck and Bowman during that season captured some immortal talents at the start of brilliant journeys. More common vintage cards from that year in well-kept shape of then-active stars can still appeal to collectors too. But as with any vintage collection, condition is paramount, so valuable gems are more often than not found in top certified holder like PSA or BGS. Overall the 1990 season had several iconic rookie cards that memorably launched eras and maintain value as a result.
