The 1991 Topps baseball card set is considered a classic among collectors and one of the most iconic releases from the late 1980s-early 1990s era. Sporting familiar designs and featuring some of the game’s biggest stars from that time, 1991 Topps cards remain a popular choice for grading with Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA). Here is an in-depth look at 1991 Topps and what collectors can expect when submitting these cards to PSA for authentication and evaluation.
Released in March 1991, the 1991 Topps baseball card set contains 792 total cards featuring players, managers, umpires and various inserts. Some of the standout rookie cards include Pat Listach, Roberto Alomar, David Justice, and Rick Ankiel. Superstar cards include Nolan Ryan’s final season card, Kirby Puckett in a Twins uniform, and Ken Griffey Jr. in his early Cincinnati Reds years. Iconic players like Wade Boggs, Ozzie Smith, Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr. also received premium card placements within the set.
In terms of design and production quality, 1991 Topps cards utilized a consistent and classic “ball-on-bat” logo design along with team color borders that collectors had grown accustomed to throughout the 1980s. Unlike some previous decade’s offerings from Topps, the 1991 printing and centering of most cards came out well with minimal defects from the manufacturer. As a result, high-grade specimens of stars, rookies and especially Griffey Jr. cards have become highly sought after by collectors looking to submit to PSA.
When sending 1991 Topps cards to PSA for slabbing, there are several factors that will influence final assigned grades:
Centering – Proper centering front-to-back and left-to-right is crucial for high scores. Even the slightest deviation can drop a card from a 9 or 10 grade. 1991 Topps cards were produced at a time when centering was still an issue on occasion.
Corners – Look for sharp, unfrayed corners without bends or dings that would subtract from aesthetic appeal. Corners often saw wear from packs and showcase books over the decades.
Edges – Clean, straight edges without nicks, chips or fraying are ideal. The thin cardstock used by Topps in 1991 is more prone to edge wear over time.
Surface – No scratches, flecks, abrasions or flaws detracting from visual quality. These cardboard surfaces show Fingerprints and other handling marks more easily than modern plastic cards.
Eye Appeal – All other factors culminate into an overall sense that the card looks aesthetically pleasing on display. High grades require near-flawlessness.
PSA is very consistent and meticulous in their card grading process, employing lighting tables and magnification to identify even subtle defects. Submitters can expect fair and accurate assigned numbers, along with sturdy plastic slabs for protection and authenticity verification. However, PSA is also very discerning – a 10 grade from them truly signifies perfection, so a PSA 9 may still be considered an excellent specimen of a 1991 Topps card.
Common submissions to PSA from this set include stars and short-print chase cards like the Ken Griffey Jr., Cal Ripken Jr., Nolan Ryan, Kirby Puckett and Ozzie Smith “blue back” variations. Rookie cards for Roberto Alomar, David Justice and Rick Ankiel in high grades can net submitters top dollar as well. Insert cards such as “Diamond Kings”, “Diamond Anniversary” parallels and box-toppers have also seen increased demand in the PSA marketplace.
If carefully preserved in sleeves and toploaders since originally packed from wax, high-number 1991 Topps cards could theoretically still grade PSA 8s or above depending on qualities like centering and edges. But most realistically end up in the PSA 6 to 7 range after 30 years of potential storage and play wear. Slight flaws will also limit cards to PSA 5 or below. regardless, slabbing with PSA still adds value and authentication to an iconic release from the company’s early years.
As collectors continue appreciating 1980s/early 90s designs and rookie star cards, the 1991 Topps set remains highly collectible – especially in pristine, PSA-graded form. For discerning investors and enthusiasts, this classic baseball offering continues to shine as a prized slabbing candidate and sound long-term holding. Careful submitters can earn strong returns by locating and preserving the true gem specimens that PSA may reward with their highly coveted 9 or 10 designations.
