The 1993 Upper Deck baseball card set is one of the most iconic and valuable sets in the history of the hobby. Issued in 1993 by Upper Deck, the set is highly regarded for its sharp photography, innovative design elements, and the star power of players featured on many of the cards. While the set does not have any true “rookie cards” of future Hall of Famers like the 1989 Upper Deck set that introduced cards of Ken Griffey Jr. and Frank Thomas, the 1993 Upper Deck set does feature many stars from the early-to-mid 1990s and contains several valuable short prints and parallel inserts that drive collector demand and card values to this day.
The 1993 Upper Deck set consists of 792 total cards issued in series one and two. The photography and design elements were ahead of its time, with a clean white border surrounding vibrant color photos of players. Statistics, career highlights, and fun facts were included on the reverse. The set also featured innovative parallel and insert sets like UD Choice, UD Metal Universe, and UD Collector’s Choice. While repack boxes and packs of the 1993 Upper Deck set can still be found at card shows and online, sealed wax boxes have become quite scarce and command premium prices when they surface at auction.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the standout cards and players from the 1993 Upper Deck set that hold significant value based on their scarcity and player pedigree:
Ken Griffey Jr. (#1): While not his true rookie card, Griffey’s card from the 1993 set is one of the most iconic in the hobby. With his smooth left-handed swing and effortless style of play, Griffey was already one of the game’s brightest young stars in 1993. PSA 10 examples of his ’93 UD card have sold for over $10,000 in recent years. Even well-centered, sharp copies in PSA 8 or BGS 9 condition can fetch $500-1000.
Frank Thomas (#46): Like Griffey, Thomas’ ’93 UD is not considered his true rookie but it captures “The Big Hurt” in his offensive prime with the White Sox. PSA 10 copies have sold for $3,000-5,000 while PSA 8s trade in the $300-500 range.
Derek Jeter (#97): An early card of the future Yankees captain and first ballot Hall of Famer. PSA 10 Jeter rookies from ’93 UD have topped $10,000. Even lower graded copies in PSA 8 or BGS 9 sell for $1,000-2,000.
Barry Bonds (#149): Captures “Barry” in his early Pirates days before moving to the Giants and transforming into the game’s most feared slugger. PSA 10s have reached $4,000. PSA 8s sell for $400-800.
Greg Maddux (#170): One of the finest pitchers of his generation and a true artist on the mound. PSA 10 Maddux’s from ’93 UD have crossed $3,000 at auction. PSA 8s trade in the $300-500 range.
Tom Glavine (#184): Like Maddux, Glavine was a workhorse, crafty lefty for the Braves dynasty teams. PSA 10s have topped $2,000. PSA 8s sell for $200-400.
Ken Caminiti (#262): Not only is this one of the star third baseman’s early cards, it also features him with the Astros before his World Series win with the Padres. PSA 10s have reached $1,500. PSA 8s trade for $150-300.
In addition to star rookies and early returns of future Hall of Famers, the 1993 Upper Deck set also contained several valuable short prints and parallels that increase rarity and collector demand:
UD Choice Parallel (#1/100 Ken Griffey Jr.): This rare parallel insert featured parallel photo variations of star players on gold-foil embossed cards, limited to only 100 copies each. Near mint UD Choice Griffey parallels have sold for over $5,000.
UD Metal Universe Parallel (#/75 Derek Jeter): This parallel featured players photographed against a metallic silver background, limited to only 75 copies per player. High-grade examples of the rare Jeter parallel have topped $3,000.
UD Collector’s Choice Parallel: This parallel featured alternative action photos on gold-foil embossed cards, with serial numbers from 1-100. High-grade examples of stars like Bonds or Thomas routinely sell for $1,000-2,000.
Black-Border Short Prints: Several key players like Griffey, Thomas, and Bonds had short printed black-border variations that are more difficult to pull from packs. PSA 10 examples can reach $1,000-2,000 for top stars.
While repack boxes and value packs containing assorted 1993 Upper Deck cards remain readily available, sealed wax boxes have understandably become quite scarce and valuable over the past three decades. Unopened 36-pack wax boxes have been known to fetch $5,000-10,000 at major card auctions depending on condition. Sealed 12-pack mini boxes can sell for $1,500-3,000 as well.
The 1993 Upper Deck baseball set remains one of the most iconic and valuable releases in hobby history due to its sharp photography, innovative design elements, and the star power featured on many of the included player cards. Short prints, parallels, and early returns of future Hall of Famers continue to attract serious collector demand and drive card values to this day for this true classic set from the early 1990s. Graded gem mint 10 examples of stars like Griffey, Thomas, Jeter, and Bonds can sell for thousands, while even well-centered copies in grades of 8 or 9 still command substantial premiums in the collector market.
