The 1990 Donruss set marked a pivotal year for the iconic baseball card brand. While typical Donruss sets of the late 1980s featured standard gum and wax packs, 1990 saw the introduction of new premium products like Diamond Kings parallels and Elite Series subsets that captured the attention of collectors. Featuring some of the biggest young stars in baseball like Ken Griffey Jr., Frank Thomas, and Roberto Alomar, the 1990 Donruss set helped usher in a modernized era for the hobby. Unsurprisingly, many of the rarest and most desirable cards from this landmark release have fetched enormous sums at auction over the years. Here are some of the priciest 1990 Donruss cards that exemplify the growing collector interest around this release.

Ken Griffey Jr. Diamond Kings #1 – $25,500
The 1990 Diamond Kings parallel insert set was Donruss’s first true attempt at premium cards within the base set. Featuring photo variations and a shiny Diamond Kings logo, they offered collectors higher-end versions of the biggest stars. Unsurprisingly, the #1 Griffey Jr. card has become the crown jewel. Junior was already a massively popular young player in 1990 and his Diamond Kings parallel is considered one of the premier cards from the set. In near-mint to mint condition, a Griffey Diamond Kings can sell for over $25,000, a true record for any 1990 Donruss card. While scarce, no other single from the release brings in bigger money on the current market.

Nolan Ryan Elite Series #13 – $15,000
The Elite Series subset, with its embossed logos and die-cuts, represented Donruss amping up their insert game even more for ’90. Featuring a mix of stars and elders statesmen, the 13-card set had huge collector demand. For obvious reasons, the Nolan Ryan card is the white whale. As one of the all-time greats, still slinging heat at an advanced age for the Rangers, Ryan was a legend. His Elite parallel remains among the most visually striking inserts ever printed and has sold for north of $15,000 when pristine copies surface. Like Griffey’s Diamond Kings, it’s the undisputed most valuable 1990 Donruss card outside the base set.

Frank Thomas #56 – $11,000
No rookie debuted with more fanfare in 1990 than Frank Thomas, and his dominance over the next two decades only solidified his status as one of the true greats. His flagship Donruss rookie pulled huge sums right out of the pack and remains a must-have for White Sox PC collectors worldwide. High-grade copies can sell for over $11,000 today, trailing only Griffey and Ryan among 1990 Donruss cards. Thomas’ marketability and MLB productivity over time make this one primed to retain value for collectors.

Ken Griffey Jr. #68 – $9,500
As the crown jewel regular issue card from the base 1990 Donruss set, Griffey’s flagship rookie pulls in sums matching cards from fabled sets like 1987 Topps and 1989 Upper Deck. While not quite as scarce as the Diamond Kings parallel, PSA 10 copies are still exceedingly rare. When they surface, they cross the auction block for $9,500 or more due to Junior’s unmatched popularity and the set’s significance as the year he debuted. Along with Frank Thomas, this cemented Griffey as the face of the 1990 rookie class.

Roberto Alomar #225 – $8,200
The smooth-fielding second baseman burst onto the scene in 1988 and established himself as a future Hall of Famer by 1990 with the Orioles. His regular issue Donruss card has retained incredible demand and value over the decades since. In PSA 10 condition, it’s one of the most consistently expensive cards from the release. Given Alomar’s iconic switch-hitting skills and longevity in the league, along with the massive popularity of the ’90 Donruss set as a whole, his flagship is a sound long-term collecting asset even at these lofty prices.

Cal Ripken Jr. #296 – $7,500
While not technically a rookie card since Ripken had played parts of three prior seasons, 1990 was his true rookie season according to the five-year rule. Already a two-time All-Star by this point with the Orioles, Ripken’s box presence and ironman legacy catapulted this flagship Donruss issue to the upper echelon of the set. Condition sensitive but highly sought after to this day for Ripken PC collections, a PSA 10 could exceed $7,500 at the right auction. His HOF career and status as one of Baltimore’s most beloved athletes cement this as a blue-chip item.

Sandy Alomar Jr. #364 – $6,400
The younger Alomar brother made his own debut in 1990 and ended up winning six Silver Sluggers and six Gold Gloves over 17 seasons. Naturally, demand for this prized rookie issue remains off the charts among Cleveland faithful and Puerto Rican collectors. With strong on-card photos and eye-popping action shots, it’s a very visually appealing card as well. High grades rarely surface for sale, so when they do PSA 10s can reach north of $6,400 depending on bidding wars. His big league accomplishments kept the card relevant long after its print run ended.

Jose Canseco #380 – $5,800
Canseco was already a two-time All-Star and 40/40 member with the A’s when this was issued but, as his true flagship rookie, it remained an iconic addition to the ’90 Donruss checklist. As one of the original musclemen of his era along with Mark McGwire, Canseco brought excitement and attention to the game during the late ’80s/early ’90s boom period. His card was equally electric – bright photo, loud design. In top condition, it’s a consistent 5 figure earner still sought by vintage Oakland collections three decades later.

Roberto Hernandez #485 – $5,200
One of the final truly great pitchers before scouting and analytics took over the sport, Hernandez anchored rotations for Philly, Montreal, and Cleveland during the ’90s. Known for his massive screwball, “El Pulpo” was already a two-time All-Star and Cy Young runner-up for the Indians in ’90. This flagship issue became a must-have for Tribe PC collectors due to his prominence on some great teams. PSA 10s have crossed for over $5,000 at gold standard auctions, showing its enduring demand.

The 1990 Donruss set laid the foundation for many of the brand’s most successful premium products going forward. Anchored by iconic rookie cards and prospectibles like Griffey Jr., Frank Thomas, and Roberto Alomar, it also featured legends like Nolan Ryan and Cal Ripken Jr. Three decades later, many issues from this seminal release continue to drive huge prices due to the players’ MLB accomplishments, visual design quality, and overall nostalgia surrounding the vintage card era as a whole. For dedicated collectors, choice copies remain sound long-term investments despite already lofty valuations.