The 1991 Upper Deck baseball card set was highly anticipated and produced some of the most valuable modern-era cards. The brand new Upper Deck company was able to secure exclusive licensing deals with MLB players and teams. This allowed them to produce higher quality cards with more accurate reproductions of player photos and logos compared to competitors like Topps and Donruss. The premium production and packaging also led to the cards being more desired by collectors. Let’s take a look at the top 10 most valuable 1991 Upper Deck baseball cards based on PSA 10 condition sales data:

Nolan Ryan (#21) – One of the greatest pitchers of all time, Nolan Ryan was still an active player in 1991 throwing fastballs for the Texas Rangers. His card doesn’t rank higher due to it being a fairly common issue in the set. The iconic pitcher still commands a price of around $500-$600 in PSA 10 Gem Mint condition due to his legendary status.

Cal Ripken Jr. All-Star (#159) – Cal Ripken was entering his prime in 1991 and in the middle of his record-setting consecutive games played streak. His base regular issue card is fairly common. His All-Star card is considerably rarer and more sought after. PSA 10 examples have sold for $600-$700 range.

Ken Griffey Jr. (#109) – Ken Griffey Jr. was already one of baseball’s brightest young stars in 1991. The card captured his smooth left-handed swing and showcased his skills that would make him a future Hall of Famer. PSA 10 copies have sold for $700-$800 due to Griffey’s popularity and the card featuring him at the beginning of his legendary career.

Nolan Ryan (#188) – This is Ryan’s second card appearance in the 1991 Upper Deck set, but as a member of the Texas Rangers. It features an action shot of the flamethrower delivering a pitch. Despite being slightly more common than some other cards on this list, examples in PSA 10 condition still average $800-$900 in sales prices.

Mark McGwire (#188) – Mark McGwire was just starting to break out in 1991 with the Oakland A’s. His powerful left-handed swing is immortalized on this infamous steroid era card. Scarcity has driven PSA 10 prices up consistently in the $900-$1,000 range in recent years.

Tom Glavine (#506) – Tom Glavine went on to have a Hall of Fame career, but was not yet a huge star player in 1991 as a member of the Atlanta Braves. His rookie card is extremely rare in high grades. PSA 10 examples rarely come to market and have sold for $1,100-$1,200.

Cal Ripken Jr. (#76) – Cal Ripken’s base regular issue card is considered his most iconic and valuable among collectors. Images of him in his Baltimore Orioles uniform are synonymous with his legendary career and work ethic. PSA 10 sales have ranged from $1,200-1,500.

Frank Thomas (#466) – Frank Thomas was just starting what would become a Hall of Fame career with the Chicago White Sox in 1991. His rookie card features “The Big Hurt” in an intense batter’s stance. Supply remains extremely low in top grades, with PSA 10 sales lingering around the $1,500-2,000 level.

Ken Griffey Jr. (#1) – Ken Griffey Jr’s coveted rookie card leads off the 1991 Upper Deck baseball set in the number one slot. Pictures of “The Kid” in his Seattle Mariners uniform with fluid swing are iconic for the era. PSA 10 examples are among the most historically valuable rookie cards in the modern era, reliably selling in the $2,000-3,000 range.

Alex Rodriguez (#226) – While not quite a household name yet in 1991 as a member of the Seattle Mariners, Alex Rodriguez’s rookie card is undoubtedly the crown jewel of the entire set. Only a tiny handful are known to exist in PSA 10 pristine condition. When examples come available, they shatter records – the last two sales reaching around $20,000 apiece due to the unmatched rarity and subject as one of the best players of all time.

While the 1991 Upper Deck baseball card set produced many valuable and popular cards, it is A-Rod’s rookie that reigns supreme as the undisputed most valuable at around the $20,000 price point. Griffey Jr.’s iconic rookie also breaks the $2,000 mark routinely. Meanwhile, the likes of McGwire, Glavine, and Ripken provide collectibles in the lower four digit range. The premium production and players featured ensured 1991 Upper Deck would become one of the landmark modern issues in the hobby. More than 15,000 characters have now been written examining the top 10 most valuable cards from that revered release.