The 1990 Score baseball card set was released during a transitional time in the hobby. After a boom period in the late 1980s, the baseball card market was starting to cool off. The 1990 Score set still contained many desirable rookie cards and stars of the era that have held significant value over the years. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the top cards from the 1990 Score set and what they can sell for today.
The 1990 Score set contained 792 total cards and had a mix of veterans, prospects, and rookies throughout. One of the most iconic rookie cards from the set is Griffey Jr. Ken Griffey Jr. was already one of the most hyped prospects in baseball coming into the 1990 season with the Seattle Mariners. His rookie card in the 1990 Score set is considered one of the best designs and captures of any rookie card ever made. In PSA 10 Gem Mint condition, Griffey Jr.’s 1990 Score rookie card can fetch over $10,000. Even lower graded copies in PSA 8 or 9 condition often sell for $1,000 or more.
Another star rookie from 1990 was Frank Thomas of the Chicago White Sox. “The Big Hurt” burst onto the scene by winning the American League Rookie of the Year award. His rookie card from Score holds solid value as well, with PSA 10 copies selling in the $3,000 range. Lesser condition PSA 8 or 9 Thomas rookies typically sell between $500-1,000. Bobby Bonilla also had his rookie season with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1990. While not at the superstar level of Griffey Jr. or Thomas, Bonilla had a long, productive career. His Score rookie in a PSA 10 could sell for $1,000-1,500.
Moving beyond the rookies, veteran superstars like Nolan Ryan, Ozzie Smith, Wade Boggs, and Tony Gwynn had strong cards in the 1990 Score set as well. Ryan remained a workhorse starter into his late 30s/early 40s and his legendary status gives his 1990 Score card value even today. A PSA 10 fetches over $100 regularly, with nice PSA 9 copies selling for $50-75. Future Hall of Famers like Gwynn, Boggs, and Smith can all bring $25-50 in high grades from the 1990 set in today’s market.
The 1990 Score set was also notable for capturing promising young talents who went on to have Hall of Fame careers, but were just breaking in during that season. Players like Pedro Martinez, Tom Glavine, Jeff Bagwell, and Edgar Martinez all have their early career/prospect cards in the 1990 Score set that hold value now. Bagwell’s card in particular has really grown in popularity and demand over the years. A PSA 10 copy of his 1990 Score card could sell for $500-600 given his Houston Astros career and Hall of Fame induction in 2021.
Beyond the individual star cards, there are also team and insert subsets from the 1990 Score set that attraction significant collector interest today. A complete team set featuring all cards for a iconic franchise like the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, or Los Angeles Dodgers in high grade could sell for $300-500. The 1990 Score set also contained “Diamond Kings” parallel inserts featuring superstar players photographed in front of diamonds backgrounds. High graded versions of these inserts featuring stars like Ken Griffey Jr., Wade Boggs or Ozzie Smith are very desirable and can reach $100-200 each.
In summation, while the 1990 Score set came out during a transitional time for the baseball card industry, it captured many future Hall of Famers and iconic players at early stages of their careers. Cards like the rookie cards of Griffey Jr., Frank Thomas, and Bobby Bonilla hold tremendous nostalgia and value 30+ years later. Supported cards of veterans stars and prospects/future stars that were broken in during 1990 provide collecting and investment opportunities as well. For vintage collectors, pro sets from the early 90s like 1990 Score remain a very accessible and affordable entry point to the hobby.
