The 1999 Pacific trading card set is considered a favorite among collectors due to the inclusion of star players from the late 1990s as well as the attractive visual design of the cards. The set includes 264 total cards featuring players, managers, and even a memorabilia card. With over two decades having passed since the set was released, many of the cards have increased substantially in value. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top cards from the 1999 Pacific set and what they may be worth to collectors today.
Perhaps the most valuable regular issue card from the set is the Ken Griffey Jr. sticker card, numbered 265/264. Griffey was one of the biggest stars in baseball during the late 90s and his iconic swinging pose made this card extremely popular. In near mint condition, unopened examples of this Griffey sticker card regularly sell for over $200. Another Griffey card that commands a high price is the Gold Medal Award Leaders card, which honors his 10 consecutive Gold Glove awards. Graded mint copies of this parallel card have sold for upwards of $150.
Speaking of parallels, the 1999 Pacific set included several parallel designs that are more scarce than the base cards. The Gold Medal parallels recognize single season leaders or award winners, while Silver & Diamond parallels were randomly inserted. The Silver parallel cards are relatively common but high grade Diamond parallels of star players can be quite valuable. For example, a PSA 10 graded Mike Piazza Diamond parallel recently sold for over $400. The Gold Medal parallels tend to have the best resale value overall though, as they immortalize specific statistical achievements.
In addition to Griffey, other star players whose base cards hold significant value include Alex Rodriguez, Pedro Martinez, Greg Maddux, and Chipper Jones. All were franchise cornerstones of their respective teams during the late 90s. Mint condition ARod and Pedro rookies can sell for $50-75 each, while a PSA 10 Chipper Jones reaches upwards of $150-200 given his Hall of Fame career and strong fan following. Meanwhile, near perfect Greg Maddux cards seem to hold steady around the $100 mark or more depending on parallel design. Condition is extremely important when evaluating the worth of these star player cards.
The chase for rookie cards is always strong among collectors and the 1999 Pacific set features several noteworthy rookie debuts. Perhaps the biggest story is that of Derek Jeter, who exploded onto the scene in 1996 and proceeded to become one of the greatest Yankees of all time. A pristine Jeter rookie still encapsulated in its original grading holder will fetch $400-500 minimum, with PSA/BGS Gem Mint 10s often selling in the $800-1000 range or higher if auction competition is fierce. Other rookies to keep an eye out for include Todd Helton, Garrett Atkins, and Alfonso Soriano, whose cards can reach $50-150 in top condition as well.
Beyond the individual star cards, complete sets are highly sought after by collectors looking to obtain every card from a given year. With nearly 300 total cards, the 1999 Pacific set is quite large and tracking them all down takes dedication. Complete near mint or better condition sets have sold recently in the $800-1200 range depending on centering, corners and edges across all cards. Higher grades bump the value up significantly, with PSA/BGS 9+ complete sets reaching $1500-2000. For collectors it’s a goal to assemble the full vintage set in pristine condition.
The memorabilia cards inserted randomly provide a fun bonus for collectors. The 1999 Pacific set featured a Barry Bonds game-used bat card that is quite scarce. Seeing as Bonds broke the all-time home run record in 2001 and is considered one of the greatest sluggers ever, his relic cards carry considerable weight. Recently a PSA 10 Bonds bat card sold for a stunning $850. Other players featured across various sets in this era included Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and Cal Ripken Jr. High graded versions of their memorabilia cards can reach $150-400 based on the player and specific piece of equipment or jersey swatch used.
The 1999 Pacific baseball card set remains a engaging collection for players of the late 90s era. With iconic talents like Jeter, Griffey, Bonds, and Martinez highlighted among the 264 total cards, interest level stays high many years after initial release. Condition is extremely important, as pristine Mint or Gem Mint examples fetch the strongest returns for dedicated collectors. While the average base cards hold modest value, the inserts, parallels, autographs and memorabilia provide avenues to significantly greater profit potential. Overall it’s an enjoyable set to build or invest in given the star power and visual style from during one of the most popular eras in baseball history.
