The 1990 Score rising star baseball card set was one of the most iconic sets of the late 80s/early 90s. Score’s rising star cards focused on young prospects and recently called up players who were just starting to make a name for themselves in the major leagues. These cards captured players at an early stage in their career when there was still uncertainty about how good they might become. Several players featured in the 1990 Score rising star set went on to have outstanding careers and become true major league stars.
The rising star set was Score’s way of acknowledging and tracking the progress of hot young talents around baseball. It gave collectors a chance to potentially own cards of big future stars very early in the player’s career. While prospect status provided no guarantees, the anticipation of “bust or boom” for these players added interesting drama and intrigue to the hobby. Some of the more notable and valuable rising star cards from the 1990 Score release include Ken Griffey Jr, Gregg Jefferies, Gary Sheffield, David Cone, and Jeff Bagwell. Let’s take a closer look at a few of these players:
Ken Griffey Jr’s 1990 Score rising star card is arguably the most iconic and valuable card in the entire set. Griffey was already one of the game’s most hyped prospects in 1989 when he was called up at age 19 by the Seattle Mariners. His dazzling athleticism, five-tool skills, and famous baseball lineage as the son of Ken Griffey Sr made his prospect status must-follow for collectors. In 1990, he began showing signs he was poised for stardom by hitting .269 with 16 home runs as a 20-year old rookie. Of course, Griffey would go on to have a legendary Hall of Fame career, cementing his 1990 rising star card as one of the best early indicators of future greatness in the hobby. Graded PSA 10 examples have sold for over $20,000 in recent years.
Another huge emerging talent of the late 80s/early 90s was Gregg Jefferies. As a top 5 overall draft pick by the Mets in 1987, Jefferies electrified the minors with pure hitting skills and plate discipline beyond his years. His 1990 Score rising star showed him at age 21 after hitting .329 across AAA and his MLB debut season. Jefferies continued mashing in the majors over the next few years and looked like a potential batting champion. While injuries hampered his career later on, his rising star card is a reminder of the phenom status he carried so early. PSA 10 Jefferies cards have reached over $3,000.
Another member of that heralded Mets farm system was outfielder and 1990 National League Rookie of the Year, Jeff Bagwell. Bagwell’s combination of power and patience made him a clear prospect to watch. His 1990 rising star captures him at age 22 in his first full MLB season where he hit .294 with 15 homers and 69 RBI playing both outfield and first base. Of course, Bagwell would solidify himself as one of baseball’s most consistent sluggers and all-around talents over the next 15 years, elevating his early rising star status. PSA 10 examples routinely sell for $1,000-2,000.
Another major 1990 rising star was Gary Sheffield. After dominating the minors, “Sheff” broke in with the Brewers at age 21 in 1988. His impressive power potential was on display with a .233 average but 14 home runs in just 240 at-bats that season. This put Sheffield firmly on the map as a budding all-star caliber talent. His 1990 rising star shows him at 22 preparing to unleash over 20 homers each season for the next decade. Sheffield cemented a Hall of Fame resume and his rising star card a valuable find for any collection.
David Cone was another burgeoning superstar pitcher highlighted in the 1990 set. After debuting in 1987, Cone emerged as the Mets ace by 1990 when he made the National League All-Star team with a 16-5 record and 2.22 ERA. His rising star card at age 27 hints at the top-of-the-rotation consistency Cone would provide for nearly two decades in the bigs. He continued winning over 200 games between five different franchises. Cone’s effective pitching longevity added lasting appeal to this card.
While injuries derailed some careers of promising 1990 Score rising stars like Bobby Witt and Ben McDonald, the set as a whole proved an excellent early barometer for future impact big leaguers. It introduced collectors to stars-in-the-making even before they dominated top prospect rankings. Almost thirty years later, these cards still excite collectors with the nostalgia of seeing football superstars in their formative pro seasons before massive success. The 1990 Score rising star set exemplified the excitement of following top prospects develop into all-time great major leaguers.
