The 1991 O-Pee-Chee Premier Baseball card set was a premium high-end release by the O-Pee-Chee division of Topps that featured glossy full color photographs on the fronts of the cards. The set focused on highlighting the biggest stars and best players in Major League Baseball at the time.
Released in 1991, the set included 144 total cards and featured many of the game’s biggest names from that season like Nolan Ryan, Cal Ripken Jr., Kirby Puckett, and Roger Clemens. What made the 1991 O-Pee-Chee Premier set stand out compared to typical baseball cards was the increased photo size and quality printing on heavier stock card stock.
At the time, most mainstream baseball card releases from Topps and Fleer used smaller black and white or color photos on thinner and less durable cardboard. The 1991 O-Pee-Chee Premier cards switched it up with much larger high resolution color photos that really allowed the images to pop. The card stock was also a thicker and higher quality paper/plastic laminate blend that gave the cards a premium superior feel in the hands of collectors.
In addition to the enlarged photography, another key distinguishing aspect of the 1991 O-Pee-Chee Premier set was the inclusion of statistical and career information printed on the back of each card. While basic statistics were not uncommon on the rear of many regular issue baseball cards of the time, the Premier release went into much greater detail.
For example, the back of Nolan Ryan’s card not only listed his 1991 stats to that point but also provided a full career statistical breakdown spanning over two decades in the majors. Additional career highlights and fun facts were also included. This extra layer of stats and info added significant value and appeal for both casual fans and serious statistic-minded collectors.
The card designs themselves also featured some nice aesthetic touches befitting a high-end product. A silver foil O-Pee-Chee Premier logo was prominently displayed on the upper right hand corner front of each card. The team logo and player’s name were placed within a colored banner at the bottom. And the card backs had a classy two-tone color scheme separating the visual elements.
While 144 cards may not seem like a large set by today’s standards, it was actually on the larger side for the early 1990s. The checklist included all of the usual star players you would expect like Ken Griffey Jr., Barry Bonds, Roberto Alomar, and Frank Thomas. It also made room for some less heralded but still notable names who may have otherwise been left out of a smaller set.
Examples include pitchers like Dennis Martinez, John Burkett, and Bill Swift who were quality major leaguers even if not true superstars. Having these depth players included added to the overall completeness and appeal of the 1991 O-Pee-Chee Premier collection. It allowed fans to find cards of their favorite teams and players more easily.
When released in 1991, the O-Pee-Chee Premier cards retailed for around $1-2 per pack or about twice the cost of a typical Topps or Fleer pack of the same year. While expensive for a kid’s allowance at the time, the premium quality and design more than justified the higher price point for adult collectors. Today in the secondary market, a full unopened 1991 O-Pee-Chee Premier factory sealed wax pack can sell for over $100.
Individual mint condition commons from the set trade hands for $1-5 depending on the player while true star rookies and hall of famers can reach $10-50 or more. The rarer parallel and autographed versions fetch prices well into the triple digits. The 1991 O-Pee-Chee Premier Baseball card set endures as one of the most visually appealing and information-rich releases of its era. It represents the pinnacle of what the O-Pee-Chee brand achieved in the early 1990s before later being discontinued.
