Introduction
The 1993 Upper Deck baseball card set was one of the most highly anticipated baseball card releases of the 1990s. Coming off the massive success of the 1992 Upper Deck rookie card of phenom Ken Griffey Jr., collectors and investors were eager to see what the innovative card company had in store for 1993. This price guide will provide an in-depth overview of the most valuable and desirable cards from the 1993 Upper Deck set as well as estimated current market values.
Key Facts About the 1993 Upper Deck Set
The set consisted of 762 total cards
The design featured player photographs on a white bordered backdrop with team logos
Ken Griffey Jr. was featured prominently again after his megastar 1989 and 1990 Donruss rookie cards
Serial numbered cards and parallel inserts added to the excitement and chase appeal
Manufactured solely by Upper Deck, it was the only officially licensed baseball card set that year
Production was much higher compared to 1992 Upper Deck due to immense popularity and demand
Still considered one of the most aesthetically pleasing baseball card designs ever
Top 25 Most Valuable Cards from the 1993 Upper Deck Set
Cal Ripken Jr. #125 – Barring any defects, this Ripken rookie fetches $15-20.
John Smoltz #401 – One of the more coveted rookie cards from 1993. Estimate $17-22 range.
Billy Ripken “F*** Face” #676 – The infamous error card still draws interest at $18-25 due to rarity.
Moises Alou #73 – Solid rookie that can sell for $20-25.
Jeff Bagwell #143 – Bagwell in an Expos uniform. Commands $22-28.
Tim Salmon #296 – Eye-catching rookie card in the $23-30 range.
Albert Belle #213 – Powerful slugger in Indians uni. $25-35 value.
Chuck Knoblauch #404 – Sought after Twins rookie around $28-35 normally.
Pedro Martinez #498 – Future Hall of Famer as an Expo rookie at $30-40.
Frank Thomas #477 – “Big Hurt” in his early Sox days around $32-42 value.
Devon White #599 – Popular rookie of the Angels CF at $35-45 estimate.
Darren Daulton #211 – Philadelphia Phillies stud catcher goes for $38-48 typically.
Fred McGriff #191 – Hall of Fame bound “Crime Dog” for $40-50 estimate.
Omar Vizquel #581 – Defensive wizard rookie around $42-52 in current condition.
Ken Griffey Jr. #1 – Even the base Jr. card holds steady at $45-58 on average.
Craig Biggio #543 – Houston Astros star 2B man around $48-62 depending on grade.
Mike Piazza #481 – Rookie of future Mets icon in Dodgers uni at $52-68 range.
Barry Bonds #176 – Pre-steroids Pirates version cherished at $58-72 mark.
Tom Glavine #354 – Atlanta Braves ace rookie valued around $60-78 normally.
Greg Maddux #434 -Dominant righty rookie for Cubs estimated $65-85.
Juan Gonzalez #609 – Powerful rookie RF for Rangers $68-88 average.
Jeff Kent #639 – RAW rookie 2B sticks around $72-92 level.
Jim Thome #549 – Hall of Fame inductee rookie $78-98 range usually.
Ken Griffey Jr. #89 – Ultra-rare error-free 1989 UD reprint $95-120 high point.
Ken Griffey Jr. #574 – Extremely difficult ‘NNOF’ serial numbered parallel $150-200 top card.
Other Key Inserts and Parallels
While the base set cards make up the bulk of the 1993 Upper Deck value, there are several coveted insert and parallel cards that greatly increase the collective worth of the set:
‘Star Rookies’ parallel – All-star rookies on photo negative-like design. Very scarce. $100-400 range.
‘Certified Authentic Memorabilia’ inserts – Numerous game-worn jersey and autographed pieces. Prices vary wildly based on player and swatch size. Values from $50-$3,000+.
‘Triumvirate’ parallel – Super short print of Jr., Maddux, Thomas. About a dozen or less known to exist. Auction values around $1,500-$3,000.
‘Ultra’ parallel – Extremely rare additional photo variation parallel. A couple PSA 10 Mint copies verified. $2,500-$5,000+ area for elite examples.
‘NNOF’ serial numbered parallel – Very tough pull checklist cards. Junior versions are especially valuable. $100-$500 range usually.
‘Gold’ serial numbered variation – Quite scarce golden tinted parallels of top stars. $200-$1,000+ depending on player and condition.
In Closing
The 1993 Upper Deck baseball card set reigns as one of the crown jewels from the entire sportscard boom of the late 80s and early 90s. Headlined by superstars like Ken Griffey Jr., Frank Thomas, Greg Maddux, and many others in their rookie season, it features some of the most aesthetically pleasing and historically important baseball cards ever made. While production numbers were far higher than 1992 Upper Deck, mint condition copies of stars from this set still hold tremendous value, especially rookies, serial numbered inserts, and parallel cards. Whether you are an avid collector, investor, or fan of the era, 1993 Upper Deck remains a seminal release that is highly recommended to own within any complete vintage collection.
