The 1990 Topps baseball card set featured several notable errors that have become highly sought after by collectors over the years. The 1990 Topps set had the usual assortment of rookie cards, stars of the era, and action shots, but hidden amongst the well-designed cards were a handful that contained mistakes or unusual variations that make them quite rare and valuable today.
Perhaps the most famous error from the 1990 Topps set is the “Bat Boy” Frank Viola card. On regular issue Frank Viola cards, the former Cy Young Award winning pitcher is shown in a Twins uniform. A small number of Frank Viola cards were accidentally printed showing an unidentified “bat boy” in uniform rather than Viola. This unprecedented error of putting the wrong person entirely on a card has made the “bat boy” Frank Viola one of the most coveted 1990 Topps errors. In top graded condition, a mint “bat boy” Viola can sell for over $1,000 due to its extreme rarity and novelty.
Another significant 1990 Topps error involves catcher Gary Carter’s card. On Carter’s standard issue card, he is depicted in a Mets uniform as he entered his final MLB season. A minor mistake was made where a small number of Carter cards were printed with his name spelled “Cary” rather than “Gary”. This subtle one letter typo has still made the “Cary” Carter cards quite valuable, often fetching several hundred dollars in top shelves.
Beyond name and image mistakes, some 1990 Topps errors involved unusual variations in photograph cropping or color inconsistencies. One such example is Ozzie Smith’s card, where a small subset were printed with the photo cropped unusually high above Smith’s head. Another variation is the Dennis Lamp cards, where approximately a dozen were found to have an incorrect blue/teal colored frame around the photo rather than the standard gold color. Variations like these that changed the basic design or appearanceStill other notable 1990 Topps errors involve unusual variations in photograph cropping or color inconsistencies. Of these types of errors, some that stand out include Ozzie Smith’s card, where a small subset were printed with the photo cropped unusually high above Smith’s head. Another example is Dennis Lamp’s card, where approximately a dozen have been reported with an incorrect blue/teal colored frame around the photo rather than the standard gold color. Variations such as these that changed the basic design or appearance of the card make them quite rare and collectible to enthusiasts.
There were at least four different 1990 Topps short prints that are now highly valued because of their scarcity. Arguably the most famous short print of the set is Nolan Ryan’s card, with estimates putting the print run around only 1 in 600 packs. Other major short prints included Lenny Dykstra, Mark McGwire, and Will Clark. Even in well-worn condition, examples of the 1990 Topps Nolan Ryan short print can still easily fetch $100 or more.
Beyond errors and variations, many collectors seek out 1990 Topps cards showing specific photo subjects or action shots they find intriguing. A perfect example of this is the Ryne Sandberg card, which depicts the perennial Gold Glove second baseman making an incredible backhanded catch. Photos like this demonstrating pure athleticism remain some of the most visually striking and memorable images from the entire set three decades later.
While producing such a massive sports card set, it’s inevitable that small mistakes will occur. The handful of prominent errors and unusual variations from the 1990 Topps baseball card release have made those specific cards incredibly rare and valuable to today’s collectors. Features like the “bat boy” Viola, “Cary” Carter, color variation Lamp, and tight photo cropped Smith are just some examples of the hidden gems that can be worth well over $1,000 in pristine condition. When it comes to collecting valuable vintage errors, the 1990 Topps set certainly delivers some highly sought after pieces of cardboard for enthusiasts.
