The 1991 Score baseball card set is one of the most iconic and sought after complete factory sealed sets from the junk wax era of the late 80s and early 90s. With a massive 900 cards included, the 1991 Score set had by far the most cards of any set released that year. Finding a complete factory sealed box or rack pack of this set in near mint to mint condition over 30 years later is an exciting feat for any serious baseball card collector or investor.
Score was the third largest producer of baseball cards during the boom of the late 80s and early 90s, behind only Donruss and Fleer. Known for bold colorful photography and innovative parallel sets and insert cards, Score sets were fan favorites despite being overproduced. The company printed staggering quantities during this time period to try and capture massive market share. This ultimately led to the sports card crash of the mid 90s as the supply vastly exceeded demand.
Not only did the 1991 Score set include a career-high 900 total cards, but it was also notable for being the final set before the MLBPA licensing agreement that took effect in 1992 limited sets to only 792 cards. This created a unique setting where card manufacturers went all out with massive checklist counts and included more and more player items and parallels to try and capture remaining market share before the new licensing rules.
The sheer size of the 1991 Score checklist led to a lot of duplication and lesser known or prospect players receiving cards. Some key things to note about the composition of the set include:
Over 300 rookie cards and prospect type players included that went on to have cup of coffee careers at best.
43 different traded player variations showing players on their new teams from trades in 1990 or early 1991.
68 different manager/coach cards included spread throughout the set in addition to the standard player cards.
198 cards devoted to team checklists, league leader recaps, league milestone stats, retired player highlights and more non-traditional cards.
The base set ran from cards 1-750 and included the standard mix of stars, starters, and prospects across all 26 MLB teams at the time.
Parallels and inserts were included from cards 751-900 that featured subsets like Best Performers, Babe Ruth Award cards, Top Guns, etc.
Given the huge production quantity, mint factories sealed 1991 Score boxes and rack packs can still be sourced today with diligent searching. Loose mint condition cards are also much more readily available on the secondary market compared to other years closer to the 1983-87 ‘golden age’ of production. Finding a complete sealed set has always commanded a premium price given how rare finding one intact has proven to be over the decades.
Graded gem mint 10 examples of a sealed 1991 Score factory set box have recently sold for anywhere from $800-$1500 depending on bids and market forces. Ungraded but brand new sealed boxes in the original factory shrink wrap have brought $500-$800. Sealed 24-pack or 36-pack rack packs tend to run $150-$300 for near pristine examples.
Card conditions matters tremendously when valuing 1991 Score sealed products today. Even minor dings, dents or tears that would still grade mint/near mint significantly devalue a complete sealed set. Collectors are seeking the true time-capsule quality of finding these enormous production quantity sets perfectly preserved after 30+ years in packaging.
smart list of key card items collectors seek when opening an intact 1991 Score set include:
Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card – High-grade copies of this iconic rookie have sold for over $1000 alone in recent years.
-Chipper Jones rookie card – A key Braves rookie that nicely bookends with the Griffey.
-Roger Clemens and Nolan Ryan – Two of the game’s all-time greats both received prominent cards in the base set.
-Sammy Sosa rookie card – Sosa’s breakout star power in the late 90s makes his rookie a desirable chase.
-Frank Thomas rookie card – “The Big Hurt” was already making noise in 1991 Chicago.
-Dennis Martinez perfect game card – Commemorating the only perfecto in Expos/Nationals history.
-Andres Galarraga rookie card – A beloved member of the “Blake Street Bombers” era Rockies.
-Roberto Alomar rookie card – Perhaps the crown jewel of all the high-end rookies in the set.
-Team checklists and leaders – Provides a fun nostalgic snapshot of 1990 MLB.
Grading all 900 individual cards upon opening a sealed 1991 Score box or rack is impractical, but verifying condition of the higher value keys listed above is paramount for collectors chasing true pristine preservation after three decades. Near mint to mint graded 10 examples of the top rookies can resell for hundreds on their own today.
Finding a sealed factory set box of the gargantuan 900 card 1991 Score baseball issue over thirty years since production renders an unmatched time capsule from the sports card boom era. Huge flea market, online auction prices, or private sale values are commanded for the thrill of fully intact sealed preservation at the largest checklist ever released. Condition always dictates final value, but unopened examples provide a true slice of card collecting history.
