The 1991 Upper Deck baseball card set is one of the most iconic and valuable sets from the junk wax era of the late 1980s and early 1990s. While most cards from sets of that time period are not worth much today, there are several key 1991 Upper Deck rookie cards and other cards that can still fetch a pretty penny from serious collectors if in good condition. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top 1991 Upper Deck baseball cards that are worth money for collectors today.
Perhaps the most famous and valuable card from the 1991 Upper Deck set is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Widely considered one of the best rookie cards of all time due to Griffey’s iconic status and career, a PSA 10 Gem Mint Griffey Jr. rookie in pristine condition can sell for well over $10,000. Even in lower graded conditions of PSA 8 or PSA 9, this card still commands prices of $1,000-$3,000. The Griffey Jr. rookie was one of the most pulled cards in the 1991 set but strong demand has kept its value sky high over the past few decades.
Another star rookie card worth big money is Roberto Alomar’s 1991 Upper Deck rookie. Alomar went on to a Hall of Fame career and his rookie is the second most valuable card in the set behind Griffey. A PSA 10 Alomar rookie could sell for $4,000-$6,000, with PSA 9s going for $1,500-2,500 still. Like Griffey, Alomar was a short print in the set which has kept collector interest strong. Other star rookie cards that can still have four figure values include Chipper Jones, Terry Mulholland, and Pokey Reese depending on grade.
In addition to rookie cards, there are also several key short print and serially numbered cards from 1991 Upper Deck that hold significant collector value today. One of the most notable is the Nolan Ryan Express Mail jersey card, which was limited to only 50 copies. High graded versions regularly sell for $3,000-$5,000. Another short print star card is the Cal Ripken Jr. “Team MVP” insert, which was limited to only 100 copies. A PSA 10 can sell for over $2,000.
Two other key serially numbered cards are the Frank Thomas “Rookie Ticket” parallel (numbered to 125 copies) and the Juan Gonzalez “Rookie Ticket” (numbered to only 25 copies). Both of these cards featuring all-time great sluggers can reach values of $1,000-$2,000 in top condition. There is also the Ivan Rodriguez “Rookie Ticket Airmail” parallel, which was even more limited at only 10 copies known. Needless to say, a PSA 10 of that card would command an extremely high price.
In addition to rookies and short prints, 1991 Upper Deck also featured several star player cards of established veterans that can still hold value today. This includes cards like the Nolan Ryan (#57) which has sold for over $500 in high grades, as well as the Cal Ripken Jr. (#159) and Kirby Puckett (#199) stars cards which have reached values of $250-$400 in top condition. The Derek Jeter base card (#316) has also gained popularity in recent years with PSA 10s selling in the $200 range.
Condition is absolutely critical when determining the value of 1991 Upper Deck cards today. Even star rookies lose tremendous value grading below a PSA 8. It’s not uncommon to see raw Griffey Jr. or Alomar rookies sell for under $100 if heavily played. Holders should always consider getting valuable cards professionally graded by PSA or BGS to maximize their potential sale price. Storage and prevent damage is also important to preserve condition over the long run.
While most 1991 Upper Deck baseball cards hold little value, there are still plenty that can be worth good money for savvy collectors – especially if kept in pristine mint condition. The star rookie cards of Griffey, Alomar, Jones and others will likely only continue increasing in value as the years go by. Short prints, serially numbered parallels, and select star veteran cards also represent solid long term holds. For those who have kept their childhood collections intact, it may be worth reviewing your 1991 Upper Deck cards to see if you have any valuable gems still waiting to be discovered.
