The 1991 Donruss baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic releases from the junk wax era of the late 1980s and early 1990s. While most cards from sets during this time period are not worth much today, there are a few standout rookie cards and star players from the 1991 Donruss set that have retained or grown in value over the past 30 years.
One of the most notable rookies from the 1991 Donruss set is pitcher Tom Glavine’s card. Glavine went on to have a Hall of Fame career pitching mostly for the Atlanta Braves, winning 305 games and two Cy Young awards over 22 seasons in the majors. In pristine mint condition, Glavine’s rookie card can fetch prices upwards of $500 or more. Even well-centered near mint copies in the 8-9 range sell for $100-200. Glavine’s success and popularity has kept his rookie card as one of the most valuable from the 1991 Donruss set.
Another star rookie from 1991 Donruss is pitcher Greg Maddux. Like Glavine, Maddux also had a storied Hall of Fame career mostly with the Braves, winning 355 games and four Cy Young awards. Maddux’s card is considered the key rookie from the 1991 Donruss set. A PSA 10 gem mint copy has sold for over $3,000, with most PSA 9s in the $500-1000 range and PSA 8s around $200-300 depending on centering and condition. Even in worn condition the Maddux rookie remains sought after and valuable for collectors.
In addition to Glavine and Maddux, the 1991 Donruss set featured several other notable rookies that have retained value. Shortstop Barry Larkin’s rookie is one such card. The 12-time All Star and 1995 NL MVP went on to be inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2012. A PSA 10 gem mint Larkin rookie has sold for over $1,000, with most PSA 9 copies around $300-500. The card remains one of the more popular and valuable options for collectors looking to add a Hall of Famer’s first card to their collection.
Another Hall of Famer with a valuable rookie in the 1991 Donruss set is third baseman Chipper Jones. The career Atlanta Brave was elected to Cooperstown in 2018. High grade PSA 10 Jones rookies have sold in excess of $2,000. Even well-centered PSA 9 copies still fetch $500-1000. The combination of his prolific career and status as a Braves icon have made the Chipper Jones rookie a highly sought after piece for team and player collectors.
While the rookies tend to garner the most attention, there are also several star veterans from the 1991 Donruss set whose cards retain value as well. For example, cards featuring Boston Red Sox left fielder and lifetime .340 hitter Wade Boggs regularly sell in the $50-100 range even in lower grades. Future Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett’s cards as a member of the World Series champion 1991 Minnesota Twins also sell well, with his common card trading hands for $30-50.
Pitchers Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens also have valuable cards from their 1991 campaigns. Ryan’s card from his final season with the Texas Rangers can sell for $50-100 depending on condition. Clemens’ card from his Cy Young and MVP season with the Boston Red Sox also trades for similar prices. Both Ryan and Clemens are considered among the greatest pitchers ever, keeping collector interest high in their 1991 Donruss cards despite the overproduction of the era.
While most 1991 Donruss base cards are relatively inexpensive, there are also a few short print and parallel cards that carry premiums. The Dennis Martinez “Black Gold” parallel (#BG29), limited to only 50 copies, has sold for over $1,000 in high grades. The “Gold” parallel of Kirby Puckett (#G99) is also extremely rare, with only a handful known to exist. It would easily bring $5,000+ if one were to surface in a recognized third-party grading holder like PSA or BGS.
While most 1991 Donruss cards are quite common, there remain several valuable gems that have retained or grown in collector interest and price. Rookie cards of Hall of Famers like Glavine, Maddux, Larkin and Chipper Jones continue to be strong sellers. The set also featured the final cards of legends like Nolan Ryan and stars of the era like Kirby Puckett and Roger Clemens. For dedicated player collectors, a high grade example of one of these key cards can make for an important addition. Three decades after its original release, the 1991 Donruss set still produces some of the most sought after and valuable vintage baseball cards available.
