The 1995 Topps Finest baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic and desirable releases from the premium card era of the early 1990s. With its elegant design featuring vibrant player portraits on a textured patterned background, Topps Finest stands out as a true work of baseball card art. While now over 25 years old, many of the singles and high-grade sets from this 289-card production continue to hold significant collector value.
Issued towards the end of Ken Griffey Jr.’s back-to-back AL MVP award winning seasons, his beautifully crafted Finest RC from 1995 is one of the most coveted rookie cards in the modern era. PSA 10 Gem Mint examples in particular pull in big money, routinely bringing $1,000+ even after all these years. Other top young stars like Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Craig Biggio, and Jeff Bagwell also remain highly sought after with their 1995 Finest rookie issues.
Veteran superstars of the day like Kirby Puckett, Tony Gwynn, Cal Ripken Jr., and Frank Thomas can also still command 3-figure prices in Top Grades. But there are also plenty of affordable player options to be found throughout the set at lower condition levels too. A PSA 8 or BGS 9 Johnny Damon rookie, for example, often sells in the $20-40 range.
Finest had added importance for collectors in 1995 as it was the only flagship Topps product to feature an actual photo of each player rather than an artist drawn rendition. The portraits truly capture the essence and flair of the 90s MLB superstars. In some cases, the Finest photo is considered the best or definitive image of certain players from that era.
The oversized “traded” size cards at 5.5×8 inches were cutting edge for their time. But the jumbo dimensions also made them prone to centering issues during production. As a result, specimens that grade PSA/BGS 10 are considerably rarer across the set compared to some other similar era releases. This scarcity factor has kept mint Finest singles highly prized.
Because Topps produced Finest as a true high-end premium set rather than a mass produced box product, availability was always somewhat limited in stores and hobby shops during the mid-1990s. As a result, many of the cards were sent directly to collectors through Topps fulfillment orders. This collector-direct distribution path helped preserve condition over the years for untouched Original packs, boxes, and partially completed sets that still surface today.
Autographs and memorabilia relic cards also made their debut in Finest that year, further enhancing desirability. The Todd Van Poppel auto, for instance, has grown in esteem and typically sells in the $75-150 range nowadays. Finest 1995 also contained “Turn Back The Clock” retro-style reprints of stars from the 1950s-1970s like Mickey Mantle and Nolan Ryan which remain popular short prints to this day.
While the condition sensitive oversized dimensions mean finding high grade gems is difficult, the set’s classic look and subject matter full of all-time greats ensure 1995 Finest will remain a collection cornerstone for vintage cardboard connoisseurs. Prices have held fairly steady in recent years with the strongest examples still bringing mid-range 3 figure values for the superstars. But there are also many affordable options for collectors on a budget to enjoy pieces from this premier release as valuable nostalgia reminders of the golden 90s era of baseball card history.
