The 1999 Upper Deck baseball card set is considered one of the classic and collectible issues from the late 90s. While it may not be as valuable as some other sets like the iconic 1952 Topps or 1988 Fleer sets which contain prospects like Ken Griffey Jr rookie cards, there are still many valuable cards and rookie cards in the 1999 Upper Deck set worth discussing.
Released in 1999, the base card set contains 792 cards and include players from both the American and National Leagues. The design features a headshot photo of the player on the front with their team logo and statistics on the back. While the base cards hold little monetary value today, there are several standout rookie and star player cards that have appreciated nicely over the past 20+ years since the set was released.
One of the most valuable cards in the 1999 Upper Deck set is the Derek Jeter refractors parallel card. Only 50 of these short print refractors featuring Yankees star Derek Jeter were inserted into packs. In near mint condition, examples of this rare Jeter refractors card in a PSA/BGS 10 gem mint grade have sold at auction for over $15,000. Even well-centered examples in PSA 9-10 condition can fetch $5,000 or more due to the rarity and star power of Jeter.
Another highly valuable rookie card from the 1999 Upper Deck set is that of Red Sox great David Ortiz. Big Papi’s rookie card has gained lot of attention over the past decade as Ortiz cemented his Hall of Fame credentials. High grade PSA 10 Ortiz rookies have sold for $2,000-3,000 while PSA 9 copies can sell for $1,000-1,500. What makes the Ortiz rookie even more appealing for collectors is the “Smiling” photo variation which shows Ortiz with a rare grin. Those examples demand a premium over the standard photo.
Two other star rookies that have held strong value from the 1999 Upper Deck set are Nomar Garciapara and Jason Giambi. Garciaparra burst on the scene with the Red Sox and his rookie is one collectors targeted early on. PSA 10 Nomar rookies have sold for $800-1,200 in recent years while PSA 9’s go for $500-800. Jason Giambi rookie cards followed a similar trajectory as he emerged as a premier slugger for Oakland and then New York. High grade Giambi rookies in PSA 10 crack the $1,000 mark with most PSA 9’s selling in the $400-700 range.
Beyond the star rookie cards, there are a number of parallel and autographed inserts that contribute to the overall value and appeal of the 1999 Upper Deck set. Short print Sapphire parallels of stars like Jeter, Griffey Jr, Tim Salmon and others number only to 50 copies or fewer and can fetch hundreds or low thousands depending on player and quality. The Euro Refractor parallel cards number to only 5 copies each and have sold for over $2,000 in high grades of stars. The 1/1 Diamond parallel inserts are the true rare chase cards with Jeter and Chipper Jones examples selling for $5,000 or more in the past.
Upper Deck also included autograph cards as inserts redemptions in the 1999 release. While most of the base autographs hold value based on player, the Premier Level autographs number far fewer and carry premium value. Examples include a Mariano Rivera autograph patch numbered to 10 copies that sold for over $3,000 recently. Autographed cards of Chipper Jones, Mike Piazza and Ken Griffey Jr have all fetched $1,000-2,000 based on player and signature quality level at auction.
While not as iconic as some vintage sets, the 1999 Upper Deck release remains a fun and valuable set for collectors over 20 years later. Star rookies of Ortiz, Nomar and Giambi along with rare inserts of Jeter, Griffey Jr and more separate it from being just a 90s baseball release. For set builders, a complete high grade set could sell for $3,000-5,000 given the stars and condition-sensitive nature of the popular parallels and inserts included as well. With today’s increased interest in vintage 90s sports cards, values of top cards from the 1999 Upper Deck release should continue appreciating slowly over time.
While the base 1999 Upper Deck cards hold little individual monetary worth, the set as a whole contains several valuable rookie cards, parallel cards, and autographed inserts that make it a set worth exploring for collectors. Cards like the rare Derek Jeter refractors, David Ortiz and Nomar Garciaparra rookies, and short print parallels of stars are keys to the set’s longevity and collectibility over 20 years later. With a mix of star rookies and inserts at different price points, this late 90s release appeals to a wide range of collector budgets and interests within the vintage baseball card market.
