The 1990 Donruss baseball card set is considered a classic among collectors and one of the most sought after issues from the late 80s/early 90s. While not quite as iconic as the 1987 or 1989 Topps sets, the 1990 Donruss offering featured a variety of attractive designs and included several chase rookie cards that have stood the test of time. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most valuable cards collectors search for from the 1990 Donruss baseball release.
Heading the list of valuable 1990 Donruss cards is none other than the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Widely considered one of if not the greatest baseball cards of all time, Griffey’s iconic rookie card from Donruss continues to captivate collectors decades after its original printing. With its brilliant front image of a young Griffey swinging the bat and “The Natural” nickname stamped across the bottom, this card set the standard for modern baseball card design.
In top gem mint condition, pristine copies of Griffey’s rookie now command figures well into the thousands of dollars, with Nine grades bringing $4,000-6,000 easily. Even well-centered copies in the 8-9 range will fetch $1,000-2,000. The card’s popularity is a testament to Griffey’s Hall of Fame career and status as one of the game’s all-time fan favorite players. Securing even a low grade Griffey rookie is a prized addition for any collection.
Another highly sought-after rookie from the 1990 Donruss set belongs to Philadelphia Phillies’ pitcher Curt Schilling. Like Griffey, Schilling went on to have a stellar MLB career compiling over 300 wins and winning World Series titles with two different franchises. In mint condition his rookie card sells for $600-900, with lower graded copies in the $300-500 range. Also note that Schilling’s card has an “SP” specialty parallel printing that is much rarer – gem mint examples of the SP FVFetch over $2,000.
In addition to rookies, star veterans from the 1990 season hold value as well. Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Joe Carter, who would infamously hit a World Series walk-off home run just a few years later, has a card that reaches $80-120 in top condition. Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Terry Mulholland, another reliable hurler from the late 80s/early 90s, has a $50-80 card. And Chicago Cubs slugger Andre Dawson, fresh off back-to-back NL MVP campaigns, can sell for $60-100 in pristine shape.
Beyond flagship rookies and stars, collectors seek out valuable 1990 Donruss variations and parallels. The “Photo Variation” subset featured alternate photos for several players. The Frank Thomas Photo Var sells robustly for its rarity, commanding $150-250 in top gem mint grade. The “Studio Sessions” parallel set contains pose and headshot variations that are popular among vintage collectors. High graded copies of the Scott Sanderson Studio Sessions parallel can reach $75-150 based on condition and eye appeal.
There are also a number of short print cards in the 1990 Donruss set with relatively low published print runs. Dodgers pitcher Ramon Martinez has an short print card that reaches the $40-75 range. Other sought short prints include Darren Daulton ($30-50), Jack Morris ($25-40), and Bob Welch ($20-30) – all graded gem mint of course.
While it doesn’t garner the same modern attention as flagship ’87 and ’89 Topps sets, the 1990 Donruss baseball card issue remains an iconic piece of the late 80s/early 90s collecting landscape. Anchored by legendary rookie cards of Griffey and Schilling, the set provides a true glimpse of that baseball era through its amazing photography and design elements. With a variety of star athletes, valuable variations, and short prints to uncover – 1990 Donruss keeps collectors searching to this day for its highly coveted gems.
