The 1991 minor league baseball card season featured another great crop of future MLB stars on the edge of superstardom. Cards from companies like Score, ProCards, and Collector’s Choice captured many talents on the verge of breaking out. Looking back 30 years, several sets stand out for showcasing all-time greats before they reached the highest level.
Score was king of the minors for capturing talent early. Their 1991 set had future Hall of Famers like Jim Thome (#207) and Chipper Jones (#289) in the earliest stages. Thome smashed 38 homers in AA ball that year and was a beast waiting to be unleashed. Measuring at a mammoth 6’4″ and 240 pounds even as a teenager, his raw power was evident. Jones also mashed at a .314 clip in high A ball in 1991, giving glimpses of his future as an elite switch hitter. Both players would go on to have storied MLB careers and their rookie cards remain some of the best investments from 30 years ago.
Another can’t-miss star from Score ’91 was Mariano Rivera (#307). Still developing as a starter down in the Florida State League, the soon-to-be “Sandman’s” control was otherworldly even in his early 20s. With just 36 innings pitched, he struck out an astounding 55 batters that season. It was clear his cutter was a pitch unlike anything seen. While not hugely valuable at the time since he was far from the majors, Mo’s card has grown to six-figure status. His greatness and importance to one of the best MLB dynasties of all time has elevated those early Score RC’s.
ProCards also had a star-studded 1991 offering. Dodgers pitcher Orel Hershiser made their set a must-have after his record 59 consecutive scoreless innings in 1988. But two especially strong prospects popped on the ProCards sheets that year. Derek Jeter’s (#101) smooth defensive skills and hitting ability were generating buzz in the Carolina League. Though just a teenager, his combination of power, speed and batting average pointed to a future superstar. The other was Nomar Garciaparra (#83), tearing up the Florida State League in his age 20 season. His prodigious talent was unmistakable, as he batted .344 with 44 extra base hits that year between Daytona and Sarasota. Both would deliver MVP level careers and remain two of the most coveted MLB rookie cards ever.
Beyond Score and ProCards, the Collector’s Choice set from 1991 had several hidden gems that projected stardom. White Sox hurler Wilson Alvarez made their checklist at #220. Though just in A-ball, his control was impeccable – he issued only 11 walks in 132 innings pitched that season! Alvarez would go on to throw a no-hitter for the White Sox in 1991. Another young Sox arm popping was reliever Bobby Thigpen at #178. He racked up an eye-popping 57 saves in 1990 between AAA and the majors, hinting at his future as a premier closer. Blue Jays flamethrower Duane Ward also first appeared on Collector’s Choice at #154 in 1991. He struck out 112 batters in 98 innings between AA and AAA, foreshadowing his dominance as Toronto’s closer from 1991-94.
A dark horse star from ’91 Collector’s Choice was Phillies second baseman Mickey Morandini at #264. Still just 21 years old that season in AAA, he hit .322 with excellent plate discipline. Morandini became a mainstay at 2B for Philadelphia from 1992-2000, delivering terrific defense and consistency at the plate. Though not a huge name, his early minor league card stands out from the set as a nice sleeper pick. Lastly, the 1991 Donruss Cubs card of Mark Grace at #245 showed he was on the cusp of stardom. Grace batted an incredible .365 between AA and AAA that year, signaling his future as an offensive force for Chicago for over a decade.
The 1991 minor league baseball season produced a motherlode of future all-time greats as evident by the classic cardboard produced. Sets like Score, ProCards and Collector’s Choice perfectly encapsulated stars on the verge like Jeter, Garciaparra, Rivera, Thome, Jones and more. Their early minor league rookie cards remain some of the most sought after and valuable in the hobby. For capturing so much talent, 1991 stands as one of the best seasons ever for minor league baseball cards.
