The 1990 Score baseball card set was released at the end of the 1989 season and captured where players and teams stood heading into the 1990 season. It was the 17th annual set released by Score and the company continued to focus on high-quality photography and statistical details found on the back of each card.
Some of the major storylines captured in the 1990 Score set included the Oakland Athletics quest for a second straight World Series title behind the “Bash Brothers” of Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco, who each received star treatment on their cards. The A’s had won the 1989 World Series over the San Francisco Giants and were again a favorite to win it all in 1990. McGwire’s card showed him in his intimidating batting stance ready to launch home runs while Canseco’s card highlighted his monster home run and RBI totals from the previous season.
Another storyline was the rise of young stars like Ken Griffey Jr. of the Seattle Mariners who was emerging as a superstar and fan favorite. Griffey received a stunning photo card of him in mid-swing that captured his beautiful left-handed swing. His stats on the back also revealed how he was beginning to put up huge offensive numbers at just 20 years old. Rookie phenoms like Griffey gave fans of struggling teams like the Mariners hope for the future.
The New York Mets were also hoping to build on a promising 1989 season where they made a late season run but fell just short of the playoffs. Future Hall of Famer Dwight Gooden’s card reflected his dominance as a power pitcher when healthy as his stats detailed how he won 17 games in ’89. Darryl Strawberry was also entering his prime and his card showed why he was one of the game’s most feared sluggers. The Mets hoped Gooden, Strawberry and the rest of their talented roster could lead them back to the postseason.
The Chicago Cubs were another team looking to take the next step after two respectable seasons under new manager Don Zimmer. First baseman Mark Grace was emerging as the Cubs new offensive anchor and his card highlighted his consistency and improvement at the plate in ’89. Pitcher Greg Maddux was also coming into his own as one of the game’s best young hurlers as his card revealed. The Cubs young core gave their fans belief that a playoff berth was on the horizon.
The Detroit Tigers were still considered the alpha dogs in the American League East as the new decade began. Led by incumbent AL MVP and Triple Crown winner Alan Trammell, the Tigers were the class of the AL throughout much of the late 1980s. Trammell’s slick fielding and leadership made him the unquestioned captain of the ballclub as his dominant ’89 season was outlined on his card. Pitchers Jack Morris and Doyle Alexander still anchored a deep rotation while catcher Mickey Tettleton provided thump in the middle of the lineup.
Outside of the favorites, players like slugging first basemen Don Mattingly of the Yankees and Eddie Murray of the Orioles received star treatment as steady veteran presences. Both were relied on by their franchises for offense and dugouts leadership. And rising young hurlers like Sid Fernandez (Mets), Bob Welch (A’s) and Bret Saberhagen (Royals) had cards that predicted they were on the verge of becoming true staff aces.
Rookies like pitcher Kevin Tapani (Twins), slugger Gary Sheffield (Brewers), and outfielder Ellis Burks (Red Sox) also had rookie cards highlighting the next wave of future stars. Burks in particular was seen as a potential young star for the Red Sox as they looked to rebound from two disappointing seasons.
The stunning photography and detailed stats on the back of each 1990 Score baseball card provided a thorough look at where each player and team stood at that pivotal moment in time. It captured all the major storylines and plotlines fans were buzzing about as a new season loomed. Whether following your favorite players or trying to handicap which teams may contend, the 1990 Score set serves as a perfect baseball time capsule from that year.
