The 1990 Score baseball card set was one of the most highly anticipated releases of the year. Coming off the heels of Ken Griffey Jr.’s rookie card explosion in 1989 Upper Deck, collectors were eager to see who the top rookies and young stars would be featured in Score’s flagship 792 card base set. While it did not have the blockbuster rookie class of 1989, the 1990 Score set delivered several memorable rookie cards and featured many established stars at the height of their careers.
One of the biggest storylines from the 1990 season was the rise of Cecil Fielder with the Detroit Tigers. In only his third MLB season, “Big Daddy” smashed 51 home runs, driving in 132 runs while batting .277. This mammoth breakout performance made Fielder one of the cover athletes for Score alongside Nolan Ryan. His card #1 is one of the most iconic from the entire set, showing Fielder in his intimidating batting stance with his number “11” across the front of his uniform. Fielder’s monstrous 1990 season helped make this one of the most desirable and valuable rookie cards from the year.
Another huge home run hitter that began making his mark in 1990 was Toronto’s Joe Carter. Having two 30+ home run seasons to start his career, Carter blasted 32 long balls with 108 RBIs while batting .261 for the Jays. His card #86 portrays the power-hitting outfielder poised and focused in the batter’s box. Carter would go on to have several more outstanding power seasons and deliver one of the most famous World Series walk-off hits of all-time. His card remains quite collectible as one of the better young sluggers featured in Score that year.
Over in the National League, a pair of up-and-coming slugging third basemen were just starting to captivate fans – Pittsburgh’s Bobby Bonilla and the Cubs’ Ryne Sandberg. Bonilla smashed 25 home runs with 88 RBIs and a .287 average, taking his game to new heights in his age 27 season. His card #233 perfectly captures the smooth, athletic swagger of “Bam-Bam” at the hot corner. Meanwhile, Sandberg had his best season yet with 20 homers, 84 RBIs and a .276 average while adding phenomenal defense and baserunning to his skillset. His card #288 is one of the more aesthetically pleasing from the set, showing “Ryno” charging in on a groundball with determination etched on his face. Both of these franchise cornerstones remains popular with collectors to this day.
While the rookie class may have lacked a true superstar, there were still several noteworthy first-year players featured in the 1990 Score set. Among them was Boston’s Mo Vaughn, just starting to display his mammoth potential at age 23 with 12 homers and 59 RBIs in his debut campaign for the Red Sox. His card #634 is one of the more sought after rookie cards from the set. Cincinnati hard-throwing righty Scott Scudder also made a name for himself, going 8-6 with a 3.66 ERA and 95 strikeouts as a 22-year old. His card #675 remains one of the better rookie pitching cards. And Oakland flamethrower Brian Holman showed glimpses of dominance in his first season, striking out 82 batters over 104.1 innings while going 7-6 for the A’s. His card #694 is among the prize cards for vintage A’s collectors.
Not to be overlooked were rookie cards of Astros catcher Mark Bailey (#599), Expos outfielder Delino DeShields (#617), and Angels outfielder Dave Gallagher (#716). While none would become true superstars, their rookie cards remain sought after by completists of the set nearly 30 years later. Perhaps the most intriguing rookie was Atlanta pitcher Steve Avery, who broke in at just age 20 in 1990. Sporting a full head of long hair at a young age, his card #552 represents one of the earliest glimpses of the hurler who would help lead the Braves resurgence in the 1990s.
Among the true superstars featured at or near the height of their legendary careers were Nolan Ryan on the cover in an Astros uniform, having just tossed his record 6th no-hitter the prior season at age 43. His fun-loving personality really comes through on this card #1. Also, Oakland’s Rickey Henderson stole a career-high 66 bases at age 31 while continuing to vex opposing defenses. His card #71 perfectly captures the look of boundless energy and swagger that made him a one-of-a-kind player. Over in Boston, Wade Boggs was in the midst of his brilliant hitting streak as the model of consistency, bashing out a .331 average right on cue in 1990. His card #152 glows with class.
Meanwhile, Orel Hershiser was coming off back-to-back Cy Young titles for the Dodgers and led the league in victories in 1990 too. At age 32, he was at the absolute pinnacle of his career and his card #277 commands respect. Kirk Gibson was also still producing at a high level for the Dodgers after his legendary 1988 World Series heroics, bashing 25 homers in 1990. His muscular forearms pop on card #294. And in St. Louis, the great catalyst for the team’s success remained catcher Tony Pena, who led all NL backstops in doubles and runs scored. His glove-first image on card #346 exemplified what made him so valuable.
While it may not have had slam dunk rookies like Ken Griffey Jr. or Frank Thomas to drive new hype and interest, the 1990 Score baseball card set provided collectors with career-years images of many established stars and franchise players entering their primes. Rookie cards of future sluggers like Mo Vaughn and underrated gems like Scott Scudder give the set lasting appeal and personality as well. Nearly 30 years later, cards of Cecil Fielder, Joe Carter, Bobby Bonilla and more remain must-haves in any vintage collection due to their memorable subject matter captured at definitive career moments. Even without a true“flagship” rookie, 1990 Score endures as a classic vintage release.
