The 1991 baseball card season marked the beginning of a new era after the historic labor strikes of the late 1980s and early 1990s that threatened to derail the national pastime. While the cards from ‘91 don’t carry the same cachet as the legendary rookie cards of the 1970s, several key rookie cards and rookie season cards emerged that year that collectors look out for to this day. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the most notable 1991 baseball cards collectors should be on the lookout for in their quest to build valuable sets from that generation of players.
One of the standout rookies of the 1991 season was Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Roberto Alomar. Alomar had an electrifying debut season that saw him earn American League Rookie of the Year honors while helping lead the Jays to their first World Series title. Not surprisingly, Alomar’s rookie card from 1991 Fleer is one of the marquee cards to seek out from that year’s sets. In pristine gem mint condition, an Alomar ‘91 Fleer RC can fetch well over $100 raw, with some elite specimens grading PSA 10 commanding prices upwards of $500 or more given his Hall of Fame caliber career.
Elsewhere in the American League, another future Hall of Famer also had his coming out party in 1991 – California Angels outfielder Tim Salmon. While Salmon never achieved the superstardom of other rookies classes, he had a fine 19-year career and his ‘91 Donruss and Topps rookie cards have developed a strong cult following. In topcondition, a PSA 10 Salmon RC can bring in $150-200, showing the enduring popularity of one-franchise players even after they’ve hung up the cleats.
Shifting to the National League, no rookie made a bigger splash in 1991 than Atlanta Braves shortstop Chipper Jones. Jones announced his arrival by batting .318 and winning the NL Rookie of the Year Award, establishing himself as the new face of the Braves franchise. The ‘91 Topps Traded Chipper Jones RC is particularly prized given its scarcity in packs that year. Even well-centered raw examples fetch $50-75, with PSA/BGS 10s bringing in several hundred due to Jones’ first-ballot Hall of Fame induction.
Another budding young star that year was Boston Red Sox slugger Mo Vaughn, who socked 17 home runs in his initial season. The ‘91 Upper Deck Mo Vaughn RC took on greater significance years later when Vaughn exploded for 39 homers and 126 RBI to lead the Red Sox to the 1995 AL East crown. High-grade Vaughn RCs now sell in the $75-100 range, proving that patience with prospects often pays off in the collecting game.
In addition to these future Hall of Famers, the 1991 card class also featured a key rookie season for several other notable players, such as Cubs outfielder Sammy Sosa. While Sosa was still a few seasons removed from his massive power surge, his stellar 31-homer, 109-RBI 1991 campaign with the White Sox first put him on the map. Sosa’s ‘91 Fleer and Score rookie cards remain affordable for most collectors at $15-20 each.
Beyond rookies, 1991 also served as memorable seasons for several established major leaguers. Perhaps none shined brighter than Atlanta Braves third baseman Terry Pendleton, who was coming off back-to-back seasons with 20+ homers and 80+ RBIs. In 1991, Pendleton exploded for a career-year with 31 longballs and numerous other career bests, culminating in NL MVP honors. As a result, his ‘91 Stadium Club insert card jumped in value and now sells in the $50-75 range raw.
Perhaps the biggest star of 1991 though was Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Tom Henke. As the Jays closer, Henke was virtually unhittable down the stretch and throughout their World Series run, racking up 35 saves alongside a microscopic 1.29 ERA. Henke’s dominance that season is best captured in his iconic 1991 Topps Traded refractor #450 card, which is widely considered one of the most desirable inserts from that era. PSA/BGS 10 examples have sold for as much as $800, with even lower graded copies still bringing $150+.
While 1991 may not have the rookie star power of years past, patient collectors are still finding value from the cards produced that year. Keep an eye out for key RCs of Alomar, Jones, Salmon, Vaughn and especially pristine Henke inserts from 1991 – they represent an attainable slice of the junk wax era that can still appreciate nicely with time. With a little searching, collectors can find many of these desirable ‘91s still lurking in collection boxes, garage sales and bargain bins.
