The 1990 Score baseball card set featured some of the top young talents in Major League Baseball on its “Rising Stars” subset cards. Breaking out rookies and sophomores who were poised to become the future stars of the game, the 1990 Score Rising Stars cards highlighted several players who would go on to have outstanding careers. At a time when the baseball card market was still booming, collectors eagerly sought after these prospects with the hopes that they held the next superstar in their hands. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top names featured in the 1990 Score Rising Stars subset.
One of the biggest stars of that Rising Stars subset would become Barry Bonds. As a 25 year old coming off his fourth MLB season in 1990 with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Bonds had already established himself as an elite outfielder and one of the game’s most feared sluggers. His ’89 campaign saw him hit .230 with 25 home runs and 76 RBI, numbers that pale in comparison to what he would produce later in his hall of fame career. But even at that young age, Bonds displayed breathtaking athleticism in the field and plate discipline few others could match. His powerful left-handed swing was already the stuff of legend. Bonds would go on to have 12 more all-star seasons and win a record 7 MVP awards, cementing his place as one of the greatest players of all-time. For collectors in 1990, acquiring his Rising Stars card meant holding a piece of offensive history in the making.
Many felt Chipper Jones had superstar potential when his 1990 Score RC debuted him as a member of the Atlanta Braves organization. Still just 18 years old at the time, Jones showed prodigious power from both sides of the plate during his time in the minors. After being selected #1 overall in the 1990 MLB Draft, expectations were sky high for the young third baseman out of Ball Ground, Georgia. Chipper would live up to the hype and then some, going on to have a hall of fame career spanning 19 seasons all with the Braves franchise. He’d finish with a .304 average, 468 home runs, and over 1,500 RBI, cementing his status as not just a star, but a true Atlanta icon. His Rising Stars card offered a glimpse into the storied career that lay ahead.
Another slugging third baseman highlighted was Robin Ventura, then a 23 year old with the Chicago White Sox. In his first full season in the bigs in 1989, Ventura clubbed 32 home runs and 109 RBI to finish third in AL Rookie of the Year voting. His powerful left-handed stroke and stellar defensive skills projected him to be a perennial all-star, which he became – receiving five such honors over the next decade. Robin was the complete power package at the hot corner, playing at an all-star level for 15 major league seasons. His 1990 Score RC predicted greatness that was sure to come.
Pitching prospects were also featured, like 21 year old Bobby Witt. The hard-throwing righty had broken into the Texas Rangers rotation in 1989, starting 28 games and posting a respectable 3.73 ERA. With a blazing fastball that hit triple digits on the radar gun, Witt looked like a future ace in the making. He fulfilled that promise to an extent, enjoying three all-star campaigns during the 90s while establishing himself as one of the premier fireballers in baseball. Tragedy would strike in 1999 when Witt’s career was cut short due to elbow injuries, but his Rising Stars card tee’d up collectors for what could have been many more outstanding seasons on the mound.
Outfielders Jerome Walton and Pete Incaviglia also made their cardboard debuts through the 1990 Score RC subset. Walton exploded onto the scene as a 23 year old rookie in 1989, batting an astonishing .316 with 15 HR and 53 RBI over 102 games for the Cubs. His outstanding debut season, which saw him capture NL Rookie of the Year honors, branded Walton as one of the bright young stars to watch. Injuries would plague his career and keep him from achieving his full potential, but his Rising Stars issue hyped his immense promise.
Meanwhile, “Inky” was a 24 year old farmhand in the Texas Rangers system known for mammoth home run blasts in the minors. With prodigious raw power and a burly 6’3″ 230 lbs. frame, Incaviglia teased MLB scouts for years with enormous batting practice moonshots. He finally broke through to the majors in 1990, mashing 12 homers over 67 games. Though he struggled to maintain consistency at the plate, Inky provided many memorable moments with his tape measure shots. His Rising Stars appearance stirred excitement that he could develop into a true slugging force.
Some other notable names found in the 1990 Score RC Rising Stars checklist include Carlos Baerga, Terry Pendleton, Willie McGee, Gregg Olson, and Chuck Finley. Each player brought their unique talents that were just starting to blossom. Baerga emerged as a dynamic offensive second baseman for Cleveland, Pendleton provided consistent all-star caliber production for Atlanta, and pitchers Olson and Finley anchored bullpens and rotations throughout the 1990s.
The 1990 Score baseball card set really shined the spotlight on so many burgeoning young talents that collectors knew would dominate the sport for years to come. From perennial all-stars like Bonds, Jones, and Ventura to talented arms like Witt, the Rising Stars subset delivered on showcasing the future foundation of rosters for over a decade. While injuries and circumstances prevented some from reaching their full potential, most players featured went on to greatly exceeding expectations. For investors at the time, these cards served as a portal into the amazing careers that would unfold. Even today, the 1990 Score Rising Stars continue to hold significant nostalgia and nostalgic value for collectors and fans.
