The 1993 Score Select baseball card set marked a turning point in the hobby. It was one of the first high-end insert sets by Score and featured some of the biggest young stars in the game at the time. With only 108 cards in the base set compared to over 700 in the flagship Score brand, these cards carried significantly higher odds of pulling an superstar rookie or star player.

While not as iconic as the 1986 Fleer set due to being a supplemental series rather than the primary retail release, the 1993 Score Select cards still hold tremendous nostalgia and value for collectors today. Prices have risen dramatically in recent years for the top rookies and stars from this short print run. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most valuable and sought after 1993 Score Select baseball cards on the hobby market today.

At the very top of the list is the card considered by many to be the crown jewel of the entire set – the Ken Griffey Jr. SP. Widely regarded as one of if not the greatest player of his generation, Griffey was already well on his way to superstardom by 1993 with consecutive AL Rookie of the Year awards. His SS card carries rare SP designation meaning it was inserted in packs at an even lower frequency than the base parallel.

In pristine mint condition a Griffey Jr. SP can command well over $10,000 today. Even well centered exemplars in PSA 9 or BGS 9.5 grade will fetch thousands. It’s truly one of the iconic rookie cards of the modern era from any brand or year. Many collectors consider pulling this card in a pack back in 1993 as hitting the hobby “lottery.”

Another absolute monster from the set is the Derek Jeter rookie card. Like Griffey, Jeter would go on to have a Hall of Fame career and is still universally beloved among Yankees fans today. As arguably the most famous Yankee of the past few decades, his rookie card carries tremendous pop culture significance beyond just baseball fandom.

In a PSA 10 mint gem case, a Jeter RC from Score Select can reach $6,000-8,000. Even well centered PSA 9’s still sell for over $1,000. As one of the most iconic rookie cards in the hobby from the 1990s, it remains a must-have for any collection.

Rounding out the top three is the Chipper Jones rookie card. As the hometown hero who spent his entire Hall of Fame career with the Atlanta Braves, Chipper became an icon in the city. His dominance at the plate made him one of the most beloved players for Braves fans during their run of division titles in the 1990s.

A PSA 10 Chipper Jones RC will sell in the $3,000-5,000 range today. Even raw near mint copies can sell for well over $1,000. It’s the most valuable and desirable Braves card from the entire set. With Atlanta’s continued success drawing new young fans, interest and prices for this key rookie remain very strong.

After the top three, a few other rookies and young stars start entering the four figure range depending on grade from the 1993 Score Select set. The Jim Thome rookie consistently sells in the $1,000-2,000 range in PSA 9-10 condition. As a prolific home run hitter who would smash 612 big flies over his Hall of Fame career, his RC retains high demand.

The Nomar Garciapara rookie has also gained steam in recent years. A PSA 10 sold for over $2,000 in early 2022 as the former Red Sox star has regained popularity. The Jason Giambi and Mark McGwire rookies can reach $1,500-2,000 in top grades as well, buoyed by their huge home run seasons in the late 1990s steroid era.

Veteran star cards also hold value from this short print set. A Ken Griffey Jr. base card still fetches $300-500 in mint condition. The Frank Thomas “Big Hurt” and Barry Bonds cards consistently sell for $200-300 in top grades as well, as those players remained fan favorites throughout the 1990s.

While overshadowed at the time by the mainstream Score and Upper Deck releases, the 1993 Score Select set has grown tremendously in popularity and valuation over the past few decades. Helped by the Hall of Fame careers and cult followings of stars like Griffey, Jeter, and Chipper Jones, their rookie cards stand tall as some of the most iconic and valuable in the entire hobby. With prices still rising year over year, these inserts have cemented their place among the true blue chip investments in the baseball card market.