The 1991 Upper Deck baseball card set was highly anticipated as the trading card company was still relatively new but had found immense success with their inaugural release in 1989. The quality and attention to detail Upper Deck brought to their baseball cards quickly made them the premier brand in the hobby. While most of the 762 cards in the 1991 Upper Deck set hold minimal value today, there are certainly some standout rookie and star player cards that have appreciated significantly over the past 30 years.
Perhaps the most famous and valuable card from the 1991 Upper Deck set is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Widely considered one of if not the best rookie card of all-time, the Griffey Jr. UD card has seen prices skyrocket over the decades. In pristine mint condition, Griffey rookie cards in a PSA 10 Gem Mint grade have changed hands for upwards of $100,000 at auction in recent years. Even in less than perfect condition, a Griffey UD rookie in PSA 8-9 Excellent-Mint grades can still fetch $1,000-$5,000 depending on demand. What makes the Griffey so iconic is not just that he became a 13-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glover, but that his swing and effortless style of play captured the imagination of baseball fans worldwide in the early 90s.
While no other 1991 Upper Deck rookie comes close to Griffey’s in terms of value, there are still some noteworthy ones. Perhaps the second most valuable is the Chipper Jones rookie card. As the #1 overall pick in the 1990 MLB Draft and longtime Atlanta Braves 3B/OF, Jones went on to a Hall of Fame career. His Upper Deck rookie in PSA 10 condition has crossed the auction block for over $10,000. Other high-valued rookie cards include Cal Ripken Jr.’s (though not technically a rookie), Derek Jeter’s, Todd Helton’s, and Billy Wagner’s, which have all exceeded $1,000 PSA 10 prices. Additional rookies like Garret Anderson, Cliff Floyd, Bobby Higginson, and Rickey Henderson’s rare error card also possess four-figure values for top grades.
When it comes to star players who were already established in 1991, few hold a candle to Nolan Ryan’s card value. One of the most legendary pitchers in MLB history with a record 7 no-hitters, Ryan’s 1991 Upper Deck card remains highly coveted by collectors to this day. A Ryan PSA 10 has reached astronomical prices upwards of $20,000 given his iconic status. Another hurler with an expensive 1991 UD issue is Tom Glavine. As a 5-time 20-game winner and 2-time Cy Young winner for the Braves, Glavine had already cemented himself as an ace when this set came out. High-grade Glavine cards still trade hands for $1,000+.
Other star position players with 1991 UD values include Ken Griffey Sr., Don Mattingly, Ryne Sandberg, Tony Gwynn, Roberto Alomar, Paul Molitor, and Kirby Puckett. Each of their PSA 10 cards command prices north of $500. Then there’s the rare Frank Thomas autographed card from this set. Though it can be difficult to authenticate, a real Thomas auto in good condition would command serious bids in the multi-thousand dollar range. The ’90 AL MVP’s signed rookie cards from this era period are highly sought after by collectors.
In additions to rookies and stars, error and parallel cards from 1991 Upper Deck have also caught the attention of astute collectors willing to pay top dollar. Among the most valuable is the ‘Postseason Records’ Nolan Ryan printing plate. One of 100 made, this 1/1 Ryan plate was auctioned for nearly $30,000. There’s also the ‘Player Worn’ uniforms parallel cards numbered to 99 copies featuring stars like Griffey, Glavine, and Cal Ripken. These low-numbered parallel cards frequently sell in the $500-$1,000 range for best condition. Additional oddball errors like the ‘Gold Foil Stamp’ Ken Griffey printing plate or ‘Blank Back’ Cal Ripken rookie.
While it would take an enormous amount of time, money, and luck to track down all the highest valued cards from the 1991 Upper Deck set, with some savvy collecting strategies it’s absolutely possible to enjoy and profit from this classic release over the long run. Focusing on acquiring rookies like Griffey, Jones, Jeter, Helton, and Wagner in as pristine quality as possible is a wise investment. The same goes for stars of the era like Ryan, Glavine, Griffey Sr., and the all-time greats. It’s also interesting to pursue the shortprinted parallels and hard-to-find errors. The 1991 Upper Deck release has held up incredibly well and maintained its status as one of the best and most valuable vintage sets from the early 90s baseball card boom. With prices still climbing after 30 years, its legacy shows no signs of slowing down.
