The 1991 Donruss baseball card set was one of the most iconic and valuable releases from the brand during the junk wax era of the late 1980s and early 1990s. While sets from that time period are generally not as coveted by collectors today due to incredibly high print runs that devalued most individual cards, there are still some highly sought after gems from the ’91 Donruss collection. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most notable cards from that year.
Perhaps the most well-known and valuable card from the 1991 Donruss set is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Griffey was already establishing himself as one of the game’s brightest young stars and most popular players by 1991 in just his second MLB season. His rookie card captured him in the iconic Mariners teal uniform with his beautiful left-handed swing on the front. While print runs on individual cards from this era reached into the millions, Griffey’s star power and Hall of Fame career have kept demand high for this rookie over the decades. Well-centered and graded mint copies often sell for thousands of dollars now, making it one of the few true “hits” still attainable from the junk wax period.
Another huge star that had an excellent rookie card in the 1991 Donruss set was Chipper Jones. Like Griffey, Jones was already showcasing his immense talents very early in his career and fans knew they were watching a future superstar. His smooth left-handed swing is featured on the front of his rookie in the classic Braves script uniform. While not quite as valuable as the Griffey due to lower overall demand, graded mint copies of the Jones rookie still trade hands for hundreds of dollars or more today. He would go on to have a Hall of Fame career spending his whole 20 years in the big leagues with Atlanta.
Two other young sluggers who had promising rookie cards in the ’91 Donruss set were Juan Gonzalez and Moises Alou. Gonzalez was just starting to display the raw power that would make him a two-time AL MVP for Texas. His rookie captures his smooth right-handed swing in Rangers garb. Alou also showed flashes of his hitting ability in his debut season with the Pirates, as seen on his rookie card front. Neither have reached the heights in value as the Griffey or Jones, but graded mint copies can still attract interest from collectors given their solid careers.
Veteran superstars with valuable cards in the 1991 Donruss checklist included Nolan Ryan, Ozzie Smith, and Ryne Sandberg. At age 44, Ryan was still overpowering hitters for the Rangers as the all-time strikeout king. His sharp action photo and Hall of Fame resume make his card a nice pickup. Likewise, Sandberg was in his prime with the Cubs and his sweet left-handed swing is captured on his update issue card. Ozzie Smith remained a defensive wizard for the Cardinals and his backflip image is memorable from his card. All three veterans have durable fanbases that help support values for their ’91 Donruss issues.
Two other stars whose 1991 Donruss cards hold appeal are Kirby Puckett and Cal Ripken Jr. Puckett was in his prime as the heart and soul of those great Twins teams, batting .319 with 23 homers in 1991. His fun action shot in the powder blue Twins uniform is iconic. Meanwhile, Ripken was already breaking the iron man streak record and proved his durability by playing in all 162 games that year for Baltimore. Both players have strong name recognition that adds to collector interest in their ’91 cards even today.
While print runs on individual cards from the 1991 Donruss baseball set were enormous, there are still some true gems to be found. Rookie cards of future Hall of Famers like Ken Griffey Jr. and Chipper Jones will always be in demand. Strong vintage issues of stars like Nolan Ryan, Kirby Puckett, and Cal Ripken Jr. also attract collectors decades later. For those willing to sift through countless commons, the 1991 Donruss checklist still offers chances to uncover valuable and memorable pieces of cardboard from the junk wax era. Graded mint examples of the right cards can still hold solid collector value today.
