The 1995 Select baseball card set was one of the most popular releases of the mid-1990s and contained some of the era’s most valuable rookie cards. While not quite as iconic as the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle or Mantle’s more modern rookie in 1951 Topps, the 1995 Select set launched the careers of franchise players who would go on to garner Hall of Fame consideration. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the key rookies and rare inserts that make 1995 Select such a coveted set among collectors over 25 years later.
Perhaps the most sought after card in the entire set is the ultra-rare Select Chairman’s Club insert of Cubs rookie sensation Kerry Wood. Only 10 of these 1/1 patches were produced featuring an embroidered patch from Wood’s jersey. Despite Wood’s career being cut short due to injuries, his dominant 20 strikeout performance as a rookie remains one of baseball’s most impressive debuts of all-time. In mint condition, a PSA 10 graded Chairman’s Club Wood has sold for over $25,000 at auction, with most copies fetching at least $10,000. For the extremely dedicated Cubs collector, this remains the ultimate piece from the 1995 season.
Staying in Chicago, the Bill Wussler signature rookie card of White Sox pitcher James Baldwin is also an incredibly scarce pull. Wussler was a pioneering authentication expert who affixed unique serial numbered authentication stickers to a select few cards within the 1995 set release. Only 100 Wussler authenticated Baldwin rookies were produced, with most still in collectors’ hands. High grade PSA 9 or 10 examples with intact authentication have sold for $2,000-3,000 at auction. The extreme scarcity makes any Baldwin Wussler one of the most valuable 1995 Select cards available.
Shifting to the American League East, the Derek Jeter rookie is always a hot commodity but the Select rookie doubles as one of the finest Jeter rookie designs across all card brands. Featuring brilliant photography and rendering of the poised shortstop, PSA 10 graded Jeters crack the $1,000 threshold with some even fetching over $2,000. Very few from the ’95 Select ever achieve the coveted pristine 10 grade, so mint Jeter rookies remain highly investment worthy 25 years after the masterful debut campaign.
Another career sure to reach the Hall is that of Chipper Jones, and his rookie card is iconic from the 1995 Select set. As one of the absolute centerpieces of the 1990s Atlanta Braves dynasty, tens of thousands of Jones rookie cards were produced but finding a true gem in near mint to mint condition becomes exceedingly rare. PSA 9 copies trade hands for $400-600 depending on the market, with a perfect 10 achieving well over $1,000. Though not quite the rarest short print like the Chairman’s Club, the Chipper rookie retains incredible value as one of the defining cards of his legendary career.
1995 Select also immortalized the rookie seasons of franchising building shortstops Nomar Garciaparra and Derek Jeter as well as slugger Carlos Delgado. While produced in much higher quantities than the anomaly patches and autographs, pristine PSA 10 graded versions of these cornerstone rookies can still elicit prices of $150-300 depending on the player pedigree. Garciaparra and Jeter consistently hold top dollar for their respective franchises, with Delgado also maintaining strong recognition among Toronto Blue Jays fans and collectors. All 3 provided incredible early returns on the 1995 rookie investments fans initially made.
Beyond the star rookies, 1995 Select also featured innovative inserts like the embossed 3D Threads parallels and dazzling refractors/refractors. Drawing from the insert craze of the mid-90s, these parallel and serial numbered short prints created another layer of rarity beyond the base cards. Threads parallels number to only 100 copies each and refractors/refractors were ratioed at roughly 1:6 packs. With the added layers of scarcity, pristine top graded examples of insert parallel rookie cards can escalate values tremendously compared to a base rookie. For example, a PSA 10 3D Threads Chipper Jones rookie sold for over $3,000 on the secondary market in 2020. The added scarcity premiums keep 1995 Select inserts highly relevant for today’s investors.
Despite being released over 25 years ago, the 1995 Select MLB card set remains iconic for launching the careers of future Hall of Famers like Chipper Jones, Derek Jeter, and Nomar Garciaparra. Through landmark rookie cards, rare serial numbered inserts, and innovative patch parallels, 1995 Select created investment worthy collectors items. While produced in the millions as a whole, finding intact gems of the superstar rookies and scarcer inserts in pristine condition becomes increasingly difficult. This forces a natural scarcity that commands premium prices even a quarter century later. For historians of the sport and investors alike, 1995 Select endures as a bedrock release that immortalized some of baseball’s modern greats.
