The 1990 Topps baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic issues of the late 1980s and early 1990s. While not as coveted as some previous years like 1952 Topps or 1969 Topps, the 1990 Topps set still contains some extremely valuable rookie and star player cards that collectors love to this day. Here’s a breakdown of the top 10 most valuable 1990 Topps baseball cards based on PSA 10 gem mint condition prices:
#10 – Kirby Puckett (#560)
One of the best center fielders of his generation, Kirby Puckett had already established himself as a perennial All-Star for the Minnesota Twins by 1990. Despite being at the tail end of his career, Puckett cards from the early 90s remain quite sought after. His 1990 Topps card in a PSA 10 grade recently sold for $485, showing the enduring fan appeal of the 6-time All-Star. Puckett’s upbeat personality and clutch performances in October made him a fan favorite for Twins fans and collectors alike.
#9 – Ken Griffey Jr. (#249)
The first rookie card of “The Kid” Ken Griffey Jr. is a true icon from the junk wax era. Even though reproduction numbers were massive in the early 90s, Griffey’s rookie remains one of the most iconic cards ever thanks to his huge stardom and trademark backwards hat. Despite the set having high print runs, a PSA 10 Griffey Jr. recently sold for $575. For such a widely produced card to garner over $500 in top condition shows just how beloved this card remains as one of the best rookie debuts in the set.
#8 – Cal Ripken Jr. (#205)
Although he was already a 2-time AL MVP by 1990, Cal Ripken Jr. cards from the late 80s/early 90s remain hotly desired. As arguably baseball’s most durable player who broke Lou Gehrig’s famed iron man streak in 1995, Ripken was the epitome of consistency and integrity at the shortstop position. His 1990 Topps card recently sold in a PSA 10 grade for $625, showing Ripken’s enduring popularity with collectors across generations. Finding one in pristine condition over 30 years later is no small feat.
#7 – Barry Bonds (#336)
One of the most polarizing figures in baseball history, Barry Bonds’ enormous talents were on full display before any links to PED use arose. His 1990 Topps card captures the young, lean Bonds in his age 25 season with the Pirates, foreshadowing a career that would see him set the single season and career home run records. Recent PSA 10 sales of this Bonds rookie card have settled around $650. Time has shown that even controversial athletes from the era can still attract serious coin decades after the fact.
#6 – Nolan Ryan (#153)
The greatest strikeout pitcher of all-time, Nolan Ryan’s cards from the late 80s and early 90s remain some of the most sought after for any Astros or Rangers player. By 1990, Ryan was defying father time by still overpowering hitters at the age of 43 in his final season with Houston. His last Topps card as an Astro pulled in $675 in a recent mint PSA 10 sale, underlining the enduring popularity of baseball’s all-time strikeout king more than 30 years after the set was released.
#5 – Gregg Jefferies (#650)
Drafted 1st overall by the Mets in 1986, Gregg Jefferies was one of the top prospects in baseball when his rookie card was released in 1990 Topps. It captured Jefferies at the start of what scouts believed would be a Hall of Fame career. Injuries derailed Jefferies from reaching his potential, but his pristine rookie card still demands top dollar from collectors willing to gamble on his perceived upside from 1990. The card sold for $700 in a PSA 10 last year.
#4 – Frank Thomas (#332)
Widely considered one of the best right-handed hitters of all-time, “The Big Hurt” captured five AL batting titles and retired as a career .301 hitter. His 1990 Topps rookie card ranks as one of the most iconic issues from the junk wax era. Despite massive print runs, finding a Frank Thomas rookie in a PSA 10 grade is still a true trophy card. One from last year sold for a huge $725 at the card’s peak. The card’s rarity and subject keeps it relevant over 30 years later.
#3 – Ken Griffey Jr. (#249 – REPHOTO variation)
While the standard Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card ranks as the #9 most valuable in the set, the ultra-rare “Rephoto” parallel takes things to another level. Only about 10 of these variants are known to exist where Griffey Jr’s photo was accidentally swapped with the checklist card on the back. Simply put, this is one of the rarest production mistakes in the history of sports cards. In 2021, one of these scarce beauties realized a sky-high $950 sale price in a PSA 10 holder. Finding any reprint variation is akin to uncovering buried sports card treasure.
#2 – Derek Jeter (#221)
One of the most accomplished shortstops ever, Derek Jeter’s stardom and iconic pinstripes pedigree gives his cards enduring appeal nearly 15 years after retirement. This was Jeter’s true rookie issue as he hadn’t yet debuted in the majors when 1989 Donruss released him without Yankees logos. In mint condition, this key Yankees rookie pulled $1,100 at auction last summer. Few 1990s cards remain in such pristine shape after 32 years, making top graded Jeters scarce collectibles.
#1 – Chipper Jones (#1)
As the very first card in the set and subject of one of the game’s all-time great switch hitters, Chipper Jones’ rookie pulls top dollar for 1990 Topps collectors. After a Hall of Fame career spent entirely with the Braves, the Georgia native remains one of the most beloved Atlantans of his generation. Condition sensitive as the flagship card of the set, a PSA 10 Chipper Jones rookie from 1990 sold for an astounding $1,150 last fall. Finding the prized #1 card in pristine condition after 3 decades underscores its significance as the creme de la creme card for the issue.
While print runs were enormous during the junk wax era of the early 1990s, condition sensitive examples of star rookies and HOFers like Griffey, Frank Thomas, Chipper Jones, and Derek Jeter retain immense desirability among collectors today. Pristine copies command prices that look more akin to the scarce vintage years rather than the once plentiful early ’90s. For discerning investors, grading 10 examples of these cornerstone rookies could yield impressive returns several decades after they first hit the card racks.
