Studio 91 Baseball Cards – A Deep Dive into a Unique Vintage Issue
Studio 91 is considered one of the most unique issues in the history of baseball cards. Produced only in 1991 by Studio, Inc., the set showcased unique illustrations of players instead of typical photographs. While the cards did not gain much mainstream popularity upon release, they have developed a strong cult following among collectors in recent decades. Let’s take a deeper look at the Studio 91 issue, including details on production, card design, player roster, and valuation of some of the more desirable cards from the set.
Background and Production
Studio, Inc. was a small creative agency based in Evanston, Illinois that specialized in illustration and graphic design work. In 1991, the company’s president had the idea to produce a unique baseball card set that utilized illustrations instead of photos on the front of each card. A roster of 125 players was assembled featuring stars of the day along with some notable players from baseball history. Each card was then assigned to a different artist within Studio, Inc. to hand draw the illustrated portrait from sketch.
The illustrations captured each player’s likeness but in a highly stylized, graphic novel-esque way. Artists were given creative license to interpret each subject through their own artistic lens. The portraits featured exaggerated features and expressions along with stylistic embellishments like hats, jerseys, and backgrounds derived from each player’s on-field identity. Production was very limited, with the entire run of cards fitting into only a few wax boxes when complete. Distribution was also small, primarily sold through hobby shops in Midwest cities near Studio, Inc.’s headquarters.
Card Design and Content
Each Studio 91 card measured approximately 2.5 x 3.5 inches, on heavy stock similar to other contemporary baseball cards. But unlike photo-centric issues of the time, the front of each Studio 91 card showcased a unique hand-drawn illustration of the featured player. Below the portrait was the player’s name and team printed in an embellished typeface. No statistics or other back content were included on the front.
The back of each card contained the standard cardboard design along with the player’s career stats and a brief bio. Stat lines included career batting average, home runs, RBI, along with years played in the majors. Bios summarized each player’s career accomplishments but also included fun anecdotes or nicknames to match the quirky hand-drawn style of the fronts. Gum was also included in wax packs as with traditional card issues.
Notable Players Included
While the 1991 Studio 91 set certainly took creative liberties compared to photo-centric issues, it still featured many iconic players and stars of the era:
Ken Griffey Jr. (Mariners)
Cal Ripken Jr. (Orioles)
Nolan Ryan (Rangers)
Ozzie Smith (Cardinals)
Mike Schmidt (Phillies)
George Brett (Royals)
Wade Boggs (Red Sox)
Tom Seaver (Reds)
Carlton Fisk (White Sox)
Kirby Puckett (Twins)
Some notable legends from baseball history rounded out the set: Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, Stan Musial, and Ted Williams among them. Each received their own unique illustrated treatment on the front of Studio 91 cards.
Valuation and Desirability
When first released in 1991, the Studio 91 set did not gain widespread popularity among collectors. Its unusual illustrated style diverged from traditional cardboard. In subsequent decades the set developed a strong cult following for its creativity and one-of-a-kind visual approach. Today among vintage card collectors, Studio 91 issues are highly sought after and can hold substantial value depending on the player and card condition. Here are estimates for some of the more desirable Studio 91 cards:
Ken Griffey Jr. (mint condition): $200-250
Cal Ripken Jr. (near mint): $150-175
Nolan Ryan (very good): $100-125
Ozzie Smith (good): $75-100
Mike Schmidt (poor): $50-75
Babe Ruth (damaged): $150-200
Honus Wagner: $300-350
As with any vintage issue, higher grade and well-centered Studio 91 cards in top condition can sell for multiples above these estimates. Keys of the set like Griffey, Ripken, and Ryan are always in high demand. Lesser-known players can still hold value depending on the artistic quality and condition of the individual card. Overall the Studio 91 set has developed a reputation among collectors as one of the most visually unique baseball card productions ever made. While a niche cult release upon arriving in 1991, today it endures as a true novelty within the world of vintage cardboard collecting.
