The 1990 Upper Deck Collector’s Choice set was a milestone release that showcased some of the sport’s biggest stars and truly advanced the baseball card hobby. Produced by the upstart brand Upper Deck, which had shaken up the industry with its pioneering 1989 flagship set, Collector’s Choice took card design and production quality to new heights.
Collector’s Choice differed significantly from typical base sets of the time. Rather than featuring every player on each team, it focused exclusively on stars, legends, and the game’s most popular and accomplished performers. The meticulously chosen 144-card checklist was a who’s who of superstar talent from both the past and present. Names like Pete Rose, Carl Yastrzemski, Sandy Koufax, Nolan Ryan, and Don Mattingly populated the set alongside contemporary stars Barry Bonds, Wade Boggs, and Roger Clemens.
Upper Deck spared no expense when it came to Collector’s Choice. The cards boasted a luxurious design with higher-gloss and thicker stock than typical cardboard of the era. Each was emblazoned with elegant gold or silver insignia denoting the player’s position and contained glossy color action photos. Backs provided insightful biographical information and career stats for each depicted star. Quality control was intense, with Upper Deck rigorously checking cards prior to packaging to root out even the slightest imperfections in printing or cutting.
The set was an instant hit and sold out quickly. Demand was through the roof from collectors eager to obtain cards of their favorite legends and modern greats in the lavish new Collector’s Choice format. While plenty of 1980s and early 90s sets held significant stars, none matched the sheer star power packed into the 144-card checklist of Collector’s Choice. It remains one of the most coveted vintage issues in the hobby due to the all-star roster and unparalleled production values for its era.
Several key cards from the 1990 Collector’s Choice set command premium prices to this day in the collector marketplace. Chief among them are the cards of legendary Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax and home run king Hank Aaron. Both were in the midst of strong Hall of Fame candidacies at the time of the set’s release and any well-centered, gem mint examples of their Collector’s Choice issue cards can fetch well into the thousands of dollars today.
Other consistent heavy hitters include the cards of Reds great Pete Rose, Red Sox legend Ted Williams, and Yankees icons Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio. All captured during the pinnacle of their legendary careers, with statistics, records and accomplishments seldom seen before or since. As a result, their Collector’s Choice cards remain enormously coveted by collectors more than three decades later. Prices reflect the immense esteem with which collectors hold the pair.
Somewhat unexpectedly, stars of the day like Barry Bonds and Nolan Ryan have seen their 1990 Collector’s Choice cards gain considerable value over the years as well. Bonds’ issue features him in his early Pirates days before blossoming into the all-time home run king. Meanwhile, Ryan’s depicts him as the active career strikeout and no-hitter leader. Now established as all-time greats themselves, collectibles from their early primes command top dollar.
mint condition Don Mattingly rookie card from 1990 Collector’s Choice can bring over $1,000 alone. As the most valuable player on the Yankees’ last championship teams of the decade, and the owner of six batting titles, his rookie card retains power in the market. Mattingly’s is but one example of how stars on the ascent at the time like Kal Daniels, Gregg Jefferies, and Bryn Smith also hold surprising presence in the collecting world today through their appearances in Collector’s Choice.
While the set no longer sells for cover price, enthusiasts still look high and low for complete sets to this day. Even very nicely centered examples in lower grades still sell briskly online for hundreds of dollars due to the unmatched line-up of talent within. 1990 Upper Deck Collector’s Choice was a release that raised the bar for high-end baseball cards and left an indelible mark on the entire hobby. Its exquisite production and unmatched checklist of superstars make it one of the most iconic and valuable vintage issues in the collecting universe even after more than 30 years.
