The 1994 Score Select baseball card set introduced an innovative concept of hand-cut, die-cut cards featuring some of the game’s top stars without uniform logos. Limited printing runs and unique designs have made select cards from this product highly sought after by collectors. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most valuable cards from 1994 Score Select and why they have attained such high prices in the secondary market.
The undisputed king of 1994 Score Select is the Ken Griffey Jr. ’94 SP card. Only 156 of these Griffey rookie cards were produced, making it one of the rarest modern baseball cards in existence. Since Griffey was already one of the game’s brightest young stars coming off back-to-back AL MVP awards, demand for his 1994 rookie was through the roof. But the tiny print run meant almost no one could pull this treasure from packs. Over the past few decades, fewer than a dozen ’94 Griffey SP cards have even appeared for sale. The record price paid for one in near-mint condition was a staggering $255,000 in 2016.
Another rookie juggernaut from this set is the Frank Thomas ’94 SP card. With a print run estimated between 500-1000 copies, the rare Thomas rookie is nearly as coveted as Griffey’s. As a two-time AL MVP and perennial All-Star, “The Big Hurt” had an illustrious career that keeps collectors lusting for his ultra-limited first card decades later. One 9-mint copy sold for $75,215 back in 2015. Though slightly more obtainable than Griffey’s, raw Thomas rookies still trade hands for $15,000+ when in pristine condition.
Ken Griffey Jr. SP and Frank Thomas SP aren’t the only 1994 Select cards capable of 5-figure valuations, however. The Chipper Jones rookie from that year is a consistent seller above $10,000 in top shape as well. While not quite as scarce as the previous two stars mentioned, Jones’ accomplished career and rookie status still fuel high prices. Another superstar rookie, Randy Johnson’s ’94 SP has exceeded $6,000 sales due to his Hall of Fame résumé. Even though it isn’t his true “rookie” since he debuted in 1988, collectors recognize Johnson’s emergence as an ace.
One of the rarest pulled variants from 1994 Score Select is the autographed Barry Larkin SP card, limited to around 50 copies. As a future Hall of Famer still in his prime during 1994, the short print Larkin auto attracts avid Reds fans and autograph collectors alike. Creme de la creme examples have topped $15,000 at auction. Even run-of-the-mill autographed rookies from the set like Jeff Bagwell, Moises Alou and Brian McRae routinely sell for $1,000-$3,000 based on perceived signatures and condition.
Beyond the rookie star power, multiple seasoned superstars have extremely valuable SP cards in 1994 Score Select that maintain 4-5 figure valuations. Foremost is the Ken Griffey Jr. SP card without the rookie designation (#33). Since it shares the same scarce print run of around 150 copies as his true rookie, the premium ’94 Griffey insert regularly trades for $10,000+ in pristine condition. Other all-time greats like Cal Ripken Jr., Tony Gwynn, Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine have reached the $3,000 range in top grades as well due to their legends and the set’s small distributions.
Collectors should also note the scarcity of complete 1994 Score Select master sets. While packs were initially opened 27 years ago, very few people managed to obtain all 10 cards across the four serial number variants. As a result, high-grade sets with inserts now command premium List Prices in the $15,000+ area. The set builds were indeed a challenge, so locating all the SPs co-packaged and in top condition is a collector’s dream prized by set completionists.
The innovative 1994 Score Select baseball cards introduced a new paradigm for inserts by restricting print runs to ultra-limited levels. Combined with a who’s who of baseball stars both rookie and established, this has created a perfect storm where select cards have attained astonishing values. As the years pass, some pieces like the Griffey Jr. and Frank Thomas rookies may exceed $100,000 price tags. Even mid-tier pieces could continue appreciating simply due to rarity factors from a print run of under 1,000 copies in many cases. The sets complete storytelling ability also enchants collectors who chase this coveted diamond-in-the-rough product from the 1990s Bull Market era in sports cards. 1994 Score Select remains treasured for redefining scarcity and concentrating star power into a scarce and desirable package 27 years later.
