1993 Donruss Baseball Cards Price Guide
The 1993 Donruss Baseball set was released in 1993 as the flagship baseball card issue from Donruss. The base set contains 528 cards with team-colored borders and poses unique to Donruss. While not the most visually striking set of the early 1990s, 1993 Donruss remains a fan favorite and valuable issue for collectors due to the stars and rookie cards included. This complete guide will provide details on valuations, parallels, and key rookies to know from the 1993 Donruss Baseball card set.
Base Card Values (RC = Rookie Card)
The base cards range in value from just a few cents for common players to over $100 for the true star rookie and veteran superstar cards. Below are some benchmark valuations:
Commons (players past their prime): Under $1
Solid veterans: $1-5
Stars: $5-25
Frank Thomas RC: $30-50
Derek Jeter RC: $75-100
Ken Griffey Jr.: $15-25
Barry Bonds: $10-20
Rookie RCs under $5
Hall of Famer vintage cards: $10-50
Parallels and Special Inserts
Chrome Refractors (1:90 packs): Griffey ($50), Bonds ($25)
Factory Seals (1:288 packs): Thomas ($75), Jeter ($150)
Red Foil Parallels (1:432 packs): Griffey ($30), Bonds ($20)
Rainbow Foils (1:1,000 packs): Extremely rare, Thomas ($500+)
Team Colors Inserts: Common, $1-5 each
Golden Moments Inserts: Higher-end parallels, $10-25
Key Rookie Cards
Frank Thomas, White Sox 1B: Thomas went on to have a Hall of Fame career and his Donruss RC remains one of the most iconic and valuable from the early 1990s.
Derek Jeter, Yankees SS: Perhaps the most famous rookie card of the set. Captured Jeter at the beginning of his legendary Yankees career.
Jason Kendall, Pirates C: Solid multi-time All-Star catcher career. RC valued around $5-10.
Bobby Higginson, Tigers OF: Serviceable outfield career but his RC is only worth around $1-3 due to lack of stardom.
Darren Daulton, Phillies C: Local Philadelphia favorite but mainly known for 1993 World Series win. RC around $3-5.
Autograph/Memorabilia Cards
1993 Donruss had several short print autographed parallel sets including “Diamond Kings” and “Signature Artists”.
Frank Thomas auto from either set commands $150-250 given his superstar status.
Lesser known players would be $20-75 depending on player signed.
Memorabilia cards inserted in some factory sealed packs include Jersey cards, bat knob cards, and more. Ken Griffey Jr. jersey card around $75-150.
variations or errors that make 1993 Donruss an intriguing set for collectors pursuing oddball parallels. This includes test prints, color variations, miscuts, and more. Most common variations are only worth a premium to specialized collectors but rare errors could gain significant value over time.
Condition and Grading
Condition is extremely important when evaluating the value of any vintage baseball card, including 1993 Donruss. Even basic commons can gain substantial value with higher grades from services like PSA or BGS. Top rookie cards could be worth:
PSA 8 Derek Jeter RC: $125-175
PSA 9 Frank Thomas RC: $150-225
BGS 9.5 Ken Griffey Jr.: $100-150
Gem mint 10s would cost thousands apiece for the true star cards. Always carefully consider condition when buying or selling to get a realistic value. Heavily played cards lose 90% or more of PSA 8+ market prices.
In Summary
Packer fresh or grade worthy copies of 1993 Donruss cards for stars like Frank Thomas, Derek Jeter, Ken Griffey Jr. and more carry strong nostalgia and financial appeal for players and investors alike decades later. Beyond the base set, interesting parallels and short print autographs give collectors optionality to pursue their PC interests. Condition holds immense importance to the long term value picture, so buy the shiniest example you can afford when picking up classic cards from the early 90s baseball boom.
