The 1990 Upper Deck baseball card #697 featuring MLB superstar Rickey Henderson is one of the most iconic and valuable baseball cards from the early 1990s Upper Deck era. Rickey Henderson, also known as “Rickey” was an American professional baseball outfielder who played in Major League Baseball from 1979 to 2003. He holds or shares several major league records, including the most career stolen bases (1,406), the single-season stolen base record of 130 in 1982, the career runs scored record with 2,295 runs, and the single-season runs scored record with 139 in 1990. Henderson was known for his electric speed and base stealing prowess throughout his 25-year MLB career spent mostly with the Oakland A’s and New York Yankees.
The 1990 Upper Deck #697 card captures Henderson at the peak of his abilities and coming off one of the best seasons of his career in 1989. In that season, Henderson batted .311 with 33 home runs and 77 RBI’s for the A’s while stealing 66 bases. The 1989 season set Henderson up for an incredible 1990 campaign where he would break the single-season record for runs scored with 139 while batting .325 with 28 homers and 61 stolen bases for Oakland. The 1990 Upper Deck #697 card was issued during this peak period of Henderson’s career making it one of the most sought after Rickey Henderson rookie or early career cards.
Upper Deck’s inaugural baseball card release in 1989 changed the collectibles industry forever by introducing advanced anti-counterfeiting technology and higher print quality compared to the cards produced by Topps in previous decades. The 1990 set continued Upper Deck’s trend of showcase sharp photography and colorful modern designs that made the cards true works of art. The photo on the 1990 #697 Rickey Henderson card shows him in an Oakland A’s uniform from waist up with his helmet under his left arm as he stares confidently at the camera. The blue and gold color scheme of the A’s uniform pops against the white bordered background of the card. Henderson’s statistics and career highlights to that point are also prominently listed on the back of the card for fans and collectors.
The combination of Henderson’s all-time great playing career, the card capturing him at his absolute peak, and it being from the hugely popular inaugural years of Upper Deck baseball cards have made the 1990 #697 one of the most desired Rickey Henderson rookie or early career cards. In Near Mint to Mint condition, ungraded examples of the 1990 Upper Deck #697 Rickey Henderson have sold for well over $1,000 dating back to the late 1990s. Even in well-worn Excellent or Good condition, this Henderson rookie card still garners several hundred dollars due to the player featured and the vast Upper Deck collecting community.
Graded and encapsulated examples of the 1990 Upper Deck #697 Rickey Henderson in high grades of Mint 9 to Gem Mint 10 can sell for astronomical prices today reflecting Henderson’s legendary career and status as one of the true icons of the sport. In 2015, a PSA Gem Mint 10 graded copy of the 1990 #697 sold for a staggering $11,970 on eBay after a bidding war. Other high graded examples regularly sell for $3,000-$8,000 depending on condition. Even lesser grades of Near Mint 8 to Excellent 8 still command well over $1,000 for this epic Henderson rookie card issued during his record-breaking 1990 campaign and by the hugely popular Upper Deck brand in their early years revolutionizing the sportscard industry.
The combination of Henderson’s Hall of Fame playing career, the 1990 season captured, and prominence of the card issue year have cemented the 1990 Upper Deck #697 as one of the definitive Rickey Henderson rookie cards. While he had previous baseball cards produced by the Fleer and Donruss brands starting in 1981, the 1990 Upper Deck stands out as Henderson’s true “flagship” rookie often featured as the key card in prestigious Henderson rookie card collections. Add in the unprecedented popularity and collectibility of the Upper Deck brand in the early 1990s and it’s easy to see why the #697 can sell for thousands to tens of thousands of dollars today in pristine condition depending on economic factors and demand in the rare vintage baseball card market.
Whether you’re an avid Rickey Henderson collector seeking the best example of his early career or simply appreciating one of the most iconic baseball cards from the 1990s Upper Deck era, the 1990 #697 stands out. It captures Henderson at the absolute peak of his abilities during one of his finest offensive seasons ever. Combined with the massive popularity and enduring legacy of the Upper Deck brand, values of this classic Henderson rookie card have stood the test of time and continued appreciating since its original issuance over 30 years ago. The 1990 Upper Deck #697 Rickey Henderson is truly one of the most desired vintage sports cards for collectors of the 1980s and 90s era.
