In 1991, Post Cereal released its only series of baseball cards inserted into cereal boxes. The Post Baseball Card series featured 100 total cards highlighting memorable players and moments from that year’s MLB season. While the cards didn’t hold much collector value at the time, today these nearly 30 year old cardboard relics can be worth some money to the right buyers. Let’s take an in-depth look at the 1991 Post Cereal Baseball Card series and what different cards in the set might fetch on the current market.
The 1991 Post cards featured colorful illustrative artwork depicting that season’s star players and key statistics. Ranging in rarity from common to rare inserts, the 100 card checklist included rookie cards, career milestones, team highlights and more. Among the most sought after and valuable 1991 Post cards are rookies of future Hall of Famers like Chipper Jones, Nomar Garciaparra, Troy Glaus and Billy Wagner. In top graded condition, these rookie cards can sell for hundreds of dollars each. Other valuable common players featured included Ken Griffey Jr, Nolan Ryan, Cal Ripken Jr, Tom Glavine and Frank Thomas. Even in low grades, their cards still trade hands for $10-50 online.
Some examples of 1991 Post cereal box card values today include:
Chipper Jones Rookie Card #77 – In PSA 10 Gem Mint grade, Jones’ iconic rookie has sold for over $600. Even in low graded EX-MT condition, it sells for $50-150.
Nomar Garciaparra Rookie Card #89 – Perhaps the second most sought after rookie in the set behind Jones. A PSA 10 has brought almost $400 at auction. EX-MT range from $30-100.
Troy Glaus Rookie Card #94 – His rookie has seen PSA 10 examples reach $250-300. More common EX-MT condition sells for $15-50.
Billy Wagner Rookie Card #100 – Considered the “hit” card being the last in the series. A PSA 10 sold for $450. EX-MT bring $25-100.
Nolan Ryan Career Stats/Photo Card #15 – Featuring a vintage Ryan photo and milestone stats on back. PSA 10 examples have brought over $300. EX-MT go for $15-75.
Cal Ripken Jr Career Stats/Photo Card #16 – Similar to the Ryan card but with Ripken’s photo and numbers. Graded PSA 10 sold for $250. EX-MT available for $10-50.
Some especially rare insert cards have also gained cult status and big value. These include Team Highlight Cards showing MLB clubs celebrating key moments from 1991. A PSA 10 graded Seattle Mariners #83 card highlighting Edgar Martinez’s walk-off HR in the ALCS sold for a stunning $1,000. Other sought after inserts include the Kenny Lofton All-Star Photo #86 (PSA 10 sold for $450) and the Nolan Ryan no-hitter Photo #80 (PSA 10 reached $300). Even in lower grades, rare inserts like these can sell for $50-200 depending on condition.
While most common cards from the 1991 Post Baseball series hold nominal current values of around $1-5, the right key rookies, stars or rare inserts have proven to be serious long term investments. For patient collectors, locating a high grade example of a Chipper, Nomar, Troy Glaus or Billy Wagner rookie or specific Nolan Ryan/Cal Ripken career card could yield a very favorable return decades after pulling them from a box of Froot Loops or Apple Jacks. The colorful artwork and retro nostalgia of the only Post cards also adds to their allure and staying power in the trading card market. For fans of the early 90s MLB stars, 1991 Post Cereal cards remain an affordable commemorative collectible of that exciting season over 30 years later.
While the 1991 Post Baseball Card series didn’t gain much traction upon initially being released in cereal boxes, time has shown they contain numerous keys to the collections of both vintage card collectors and investors. Rookie cards of future Hall of Famers like Chipper Jones and key stars from that era prove the series is filled with long term gems. Even relatively common cards featuring players like Griffey, Thomas and Glavine maintain an affordable nostalgia and value decades later. With the set’s brief printing window also adding to its scarcity factor, 1991 Post cards are a fun specialty slice of sports memorabilia history worth exploring for both new and vintage collectors alike.
