The 1991 baseball card season was one of the most memorable and valuable years in the hobby’s history. Not only did it feature some of the biggest player names and accomplishments of that era, but it also marked a time when the baseball card market was booming. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top cards from 1991 and what they are worth today.
One of the most iconic and valuable cards from 1991 is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Griffey was already well on his way to becoming a fan favorite and superstar at such a young age. Upper Deck wisely secured the licensing rights for rookie cards in 1991 and the Griffey rookie is arguably the most flagship rookie card of the entire modern baseball card era. In pristine gem mint condition, examples have sold for over $100,000. Even well-centered near mint copies can sell for $5,000-$10,000. The Griffey rookie remains one of the true Holy Grails for any serious card collector.
Another extremely valuable 1991 rookie is the Chipper Jones card from Fleer. While not as globally recognizable as Griffey, Jones had a hall of fame career primarily with the Atlanta Braves. He was also awarded as the top overall MLB rookie in 1993. High grade Chipper Jones rookies often sell for $2,000-$5,000. Even more worn near complete copies can still hold a couple hundred dollar valuation. The Jones rookie remains highly sought after by Braves fans and collectors focused on the 1990s era.
Perhaps the biggest pitching star of the entire 1991 season was Tom Glavine of the Atlanta Braves. Glavine went 21-11 with a 2.55 ERA while winning both the NL Cy Young Award and starting in the All Star game that year. Not surprisingly, his highly coveted rookie card from Score and Upper Deck is worth significant money today. A near mint Glavine RC will sell in the $500-1000 range depending on the set. His rookie card cemented him as an ace for the decade and gives collectors an excellent investment piece from that memorable 1991 campaign.
Speaking of dominant Braves pitching, John Smoltz also had a star making 1991 season as evidenced by his rookie cards. A pristine Smoltz rookie from Score can reach close to $1000. Even well-loved copies sell for $200+. Like Glavine, Smoltz went on to have a Hall of Fame career largely with the Braves cementing his rookie cards from 1991 as classics. They make for affordable investments compared to the likes of Griffey but still hold excellent long term value.
If there was a positional player equivalent to Glavine and Smoltz’s pitching dominance in 1991, it was Terry Pendleton of the Braves. As the NL MVP that season, Pendleton had career years with batting .319 with 20 homers and 100 RBI. His 1991 ToppsTraded card showing his post All Star game MVP honors is understandably coveted sporting a $200-$500 tag even in well-used condition. For Braves superfans and collectors that season was truly encapsulated on cardboard.
While the 1991 Donruss set lacked rookie cards of future stars, it featured powerful imagery and creative parallels that fueled demand. Ken Griffey Jr. is beautifully depicted on his Donruss card ready to jump for an outfield catch. High grade copies have sold for over $500. Also notably, the Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco “Bash Brothers” dual parallel photo card remains a true showpiece of the steroid era period and fetches thousands.
Frank Thomas’ first ever baseball card came in 1991 Score and captured “The Big Hurt” breaking into the league with 27 home runs and 81 RBI as Rookie of the Year. High grade Thomas rookies sell for $150-$300 depending on condition. The imposing image of Thomas with bat on shoulders ready to do damage gives collectors a unique first card from such a prolific player. Condition sensitive buyers seeking his lengthy HOF career’s beginning will find it here in an affordable vintage rookie card.
While 1991 Upper Deck is perhaps the strongest and most iconic overall set, Fleer also offered collectors an affordable alternative with quality photography and young stars. Juan Gonzalez captured the league’s attention bashing .283 with 28 home runs and 77 RBI in his first full season. Top Fleer rookie cards of “Papillon” can reach $100 for those wanting an early inexpensive taste of the future AL MVP.
The 1991 season and its accompanying baseball cards truly have something incredible for every type of collector. From flagship rookie cards of future Hall of Famers, to amazing individual player accomplishments, to incredible team feats — it all combined to create an legendary year in the hobby. Prices of top 1991 cards have risen significantly with time but finding affordable player cards and parallels from such a storied season is very possible for building a satisfying vintage collection.
