The 1991 Upper Deck baseball card set is considered one of the most valuable releases from the baseball card boom of the late 1980s and early 1990s. While it may lack the iconic rookie cards and star rookies of sets like 1988 or 1989 Fleer, there are still plenty of valuable and desirable cards from the 1991 Upper Deck set that collectors covet and are willing to pay top dollar for in near-mint or mint condition. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the key 1991 Upper Deck cards that can bring in good money for collectors.
One of the most valuable and sought-after cards from the 1991 Upper Deck set is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Griffey was already considered a can’t-miss superstar prospect heading into his rookie season of 1989 with the Seattle Mariners and didn’t disappoint, winning rookie of the year honors that season. His muscular swing and effortless grace in center field quickly made him a fan favorite. While Griffey had already appeared in packs the previous two years, his official rookie card debut was in 1991 Upper Deck. In pristine mint condition, Griffey’s rookie now fetches well over $1000 and could even approach the $2000-3000 range depending on demand. Even well-centered near-mint copies can still sell for $500-1000.
Staying with rookie cards, Roberto Alomar’s debut 1991 Upper Deck issue is also very desirable, currently valued at $150-300 in near-mint and $250-500 in mint. Alomar went on to have a Hall of Fame career and was a key member of the Toronto Blue Jays World Series championship teams in the early 1990s. His strong defensive skills at second base and solid hitting made him a perennial all-star. The 1991 Upper Deck Tom Glavine rookie is another popular card, though not as valuable as Griffey or Alomar, fetching $50-100 in top grades. Glavine would go on to anchor rotations for the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets, winning 305 career games and two Cy Young awards.
Moving beyond rookie cards, star and future Hall of Famer cards that remain very collectible and expensive from the 1991 Upper Deck set include Ryne Sandberg ($75-150 NM, $125-250 mint), Cal Ripken Jr. ($50-100 NM, $75-150 mint), Kirby Puckett ($50-100 NM, $75-150 mint), Wade Boggs ($30-75 NM, $50-100 mint), Ozzie Smith ($30-75 NM, $50-100 mint), and Nolan Ryan ($30-75 NM, $50-100 mint). All were superstar players in their prime in 1991 who went on to have all-time great careers and strong fan followings that have maintained high card values over time.
High-numbered stars can still carry good values as well. The Barry Bonds card (#479) in near-mint condition has steadily increased in price over the years given his legendary home run chase seasons and now sells in the $30-75 range. The Dennis Eckersley (#489) is another high-numbered card that performs well at $30-75 NM due to his dominance as a closer in the late 1980s and 1990s. The Cal Ripken Sr. (#490) card is a bit of an oddball find being so high-numbered but still valued at $30-75 NM because it marks the late father of Cal Jr. who had a long coaching career.
Rookies, stars, and Hall of Famers make up the most expensive cards as expected, but there are also certain team and parallel inserts that can bring significant money as well for advanced collectors. The very rare Griffey Jr. Team USA parallel (#79) in pack-fresh mint condition has sold for over $1000. The Roberto Alomar Toronto Blue Jays parallel (#337) has also topped $500 before. Almost any of the 14-card Team USA or team parallel inserts list in the $75-200 range depending on centering and condition when they surface.
In terms of team sets, cards of players on the dominant Athletics’ ” Bash Brothers” era clubs hold steady values. The Mark McGwire (#5) and Jose Canseco (#34) Oakland A’s cards are valued at $30-75 NM and $50-150 mint as icons of that juggernaut A’s team and steroid controversy. The Dennis Eckersley Oakland closer card (#489) is another top Athletics card at $30-75 NM. For National League teams, the Braves cards have steady values led by 1991 NL MVP Terry Pendleton (#111) at $30-75 NM.
When it comes to finding high-value 1991 Upper Deck cards at this point, it will require diligent searching of collection lots and card shows. Definitely focus on the previously highlighted rookie cards, Hall of Famers, stars, and premium inserts if looking to land major key cards still in pristine condition. But also be on the lookout for virtually any other star players from that era still in top grades as values remain strong across the board for this beloved set even in its 30th anniversary year. Just breaking even a complete base set in near-mint can bring $500-1000 given the condition and scarcity of cards after three decades of handling. So there are still money-making opportunities to be found in the 1991 Upper Deck world for wise collectors.
While it may lack some of the ultra-premium rookie cards of other late 1980s/early 1990s sets, the 1991 Upper Deck baseball card release still harbors many valuable cards that are greatly desired by collectors decades later. Rookies of Ken Griffey Jr., Roberto Alomar, and Tom Glavine lead the way, along with venerable stars Cal Ripken Jr., Wade Boggs, and Nolan Ryan. Premium team and parallel inserts also provide hidden gems. It was one of the most successful and influential sports card issues ever that helped trigger baseball card mania and remains a bedrock set for investors. With so many Hall of Famers and all-time greats featured, the 1991 Upper Deck cards are built to appreciate well into the future for savvy collectors.
