The 1990s were a transformative decade for baseball cards. Following a boom period in the late 1980s, the baseball card industry began to consolidate in the 1990s under only a handful of major producers. This decade also featured some of the most iconic rookie cards and short-printed parallels in the modern era. For collectors looking to assemble their collections or make worthwhile investments, here are some of the top 1990s baseball cards to seek out.

1993 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr.: Widely considered one of the most iconic and valuable modern rookie cards ever produced, Griffey’s 1993 Upper Deck rookie is the undisputed crown jewel from the 1990s. With its vivid photography and classic design, this sought-after rookie established Griffey as a true superstar and one of the faces of baseball. PSA 10 Gem Mint copies regularly sell for well over $10,000. Even well-centered near-mint copies still fetch thousands.

1992 Bowman Derek Jeter: Like Griffey’s rookie, Jeter’s debut Bowman issue established him as a future Hall of Famer and hugely popular star. Jeter would go on to have an illustrious career for the New York Yankees capped by 5 World Series titles. High-grade PSA 10 Jeter rookies now sell for over $6,000 but there is huge upside potential given his star power and influence on the game.

1998 Bowman Chrome Refractor Vladimir Guerrero: Guerrero was one of the most exciting and prolific hitters of his generation. His 1998 Bowman Chrome Refractor rookie has become one of the holy grails from the 1990s due to the relative scarcity of the refractors produced that year. High-grade copies sell for $3,000-4,000 today but prices are expected to keep rising as Guerrero’s Hall of Fame case strengthens.

1997 Bowman’s Best Refractor Sammy Sosa: Sosa’s epic home run chase against Mark McGwire in 1998 thrust him into superstardom. His short-printed 1997 Bowman’s Best refractor rookie has long been an elusive chase card for collectors. Even well-centered near-mint copies sell for $2,000-3,000 today due to the card’s scarcity and Sosa’s pivotal role in revitalizing the national interest in baseball during the late 1990s steroid era.

1996 Pinnacle Inside Trax Mike Piazza: Piazza was the best offensive catcher of his generation and arguably of all-time. His formidable career was kickstarted in 1996 when he batted .308 with 35 home runs for the Dodgers. The “Trax” parallel from Pinnacle’s 1996 set features a dazzling 3D hologram effect. High-grade copies routinely sell for $1,500-2,000 among devoted Piazza collectors.

1991 Score Brett Butler: Brett Butler was not a household name, but his 1991 Score rookie card featuring signature artwork by famed illustrator Dick Perez has become enormously popular with collectors. The Perez artwork combined with the card’s scarcity and lack of any other notable rookie issues has made this card skyrocket in value in recent years. Even well-centered copies now sell for $1,000-1,500.

1997 Topps Chrome Refractor Mark McGwire: McGwire’s mammoth 70-homer season in 1998 completely captivated the nation and shattered records. His 1997 Topps Chrome refractor rookie card was short-printed and achieved near-mythical status as one of the rarest and most coveted parallels from the 1990s. Pristine PSA 10 copies now eclipse the $3,000 mark.

1998 Ultra Juan Gonzalez: Despite huge offensive numbers that won him two MVP awards, Gonzalez never achieved the same icon status as some peers. His 1998 Ultra Golden Refractors are tremendously scarce, however. Just a few dozen are believed produced. Near-mint examples now sell for $2,000-2,500 with more upside as Gonzalez’s career numbers are appreciated.

1992 Stadium Club Pedro Martinez: Martinez emerged as one of the most dominant starting pitchers ever from the late 1990s onward. His main rookie card is the elegantly designed 1992 Stadium Club issue which features a prime action shot. High-grade copies routinely sell for $1,000-1,500 among Pedro collectors.

1999 Upper Deck Adrien Gonzalez: Gonzalez had a stellar 17-year MLB career and was one of the best offensive first basemen of his era. His sole true rookie card is the scarce 1999 Upper Deck issue which is coveted by both Padres and Dodgers fans. Pristine PSA 10 examples now trade for $800-1,000.

The 1990s birthed so many future Hall of Fame talents who went on to star for decades. With the continued appreciation of stars from that era amid growing collector interest, virtually all the top rookie cards profiled here have sizable long-term appreciation potential. For collectors, selectively acquiring pristine graded copies of these iconic or rare 1990s issues represents a sound strategy.