The 1990 Upper Deck baseball card set was truly revolutionary and changed the baseball card industry forever. Produced by the Upper Deck Company, it was the first baseball card set to use modern printing techniques, thicker card stock, and superior photos. The 1990 Upper Deck set paved the way for premium sports cards and increased interest in the hobby. While not quite as coveted as the iconic 1986 and 1987 sets that preceded it, the 1990 Upper Deck release still contained several key rookie cards and short printed parallels that collectors seek to this day. Let’s take a look at some of the top cards from the 1990 Upper Deck set to watch out for.
One of the most famous and high-valued rookie cards from the 1990 Upper Deck set is Ken Griffey Jr. As one of the best players of his generation, Griffey’s rookie is highly collectible. His card is quite scarce in high grades due to the fragile card stock used in 1990 Upper Deck. Receiving a BGS or PSA 10 grade is extremely difficult. Even well-centered, perfectly cut Griffey rookies often grade in the 8 to 9 range. Due to this, mint condition examples can fetch thousands of dollars. Another rookie card that performs well is Chuck Knoblauch, who went on to have success as a second baseman for the Twins and Yankees. His rookie is desirable for Twins and Yankees collectors.
Two short printed parallels collectors look for in the 1990 Upper Deck set are the “Special Edition” and “Image Variation” cards. The Special Editions were released in randomly inserted factory sets at about 1 per case. They have gold stamped lettering on the front and are considered quite rare. Top stars like Griffey, Ripken, and Bonds are highly valuable in Special Edition form. Image Variations were altered photos inserted in place of the standard card image. Again, they are extremely rare occurrences that command premium prices. Frank Thomas and Randy Johnson Image Variations can sell for over $1,000 in top shape due to their scarcity.
There are also several fantastic base rookie cards in the set outside of Griffey. Chipper Jones, who went on to have a Hall of Fame career primarily with the Atlanta Braves, is one of the more valuable 1990 Upper Deck rookies. His smooth, consistent production makes Jones cards a steady riser for Braves PC collectors. Nomar Garciapara also debuted in 1990 Upper Deck as a shortstop prospect in the Chicago White Sox system. Before injuries derailed his career, Nomar was one of the best hitting shortstops of the late 90s for the Red Sox. His rookie remains a mainstay in many Sox collector’s boxes.
Pitching prospects like Billy Wagner, Jason Isringhausen, and David Wells also had their first MLB cards in 1990 Upper Deck as young arms on the rise. Wagner in particular developed into an elite closer with a 100+ MPH fastball later in his career. His rookie is a favorite of Astros and Phillies collectors. Superstar hurlers like Greg Maddux (still with the Cubs in 1990), Tom Glavine, Kevin Brown, and Randy Johnson all had excellent seasons in 1989 that are captured in colorful action shots on their Update Standoutsinsert cards in the 1990 set – key cards for Braves, Dodgers, Rangers collectors.
Surprising slugger Bob Hamelin also made a name for himself with the last place Kansas City Royals in 1990, slugging 20 homers as a rookie. While never maintaining that power production long term, Hamelin’s rookie remains one of the odder yet desirable cards from the set. Mark McGwire blasted 49 homers in 1990 en route to superstardom with the A’s. His Update card pictures him launching a towering home run and is a must for any McGwire PC. And for Yankees collectors, the debut of Bernie Williams and Steve Howe are notable 1990 cards from their dynasty years.
All in all, the 1990 Upper Deck baseball card set introduced collectors and the hobby to a new premium standard. While production numbers were much higher than the classic 80s sets, valuable rookie cards, parallels, and stars from baseball’s golden era make 1990 Upper Deck cards well worth seeking out, especially for team collectors. The combination of amazing photography, card design, and historical content captured in the cards have kept 1990 Upper Deck as a revered release to this day among vintage baseball card enthusiasts. Finding examples in high grades of the rookies, short prints, and stars mentioned would make for prized additions to any collection.
