The 1994 baseball season marked a pivotal year in the history of Major League Baseball. It was the year that the MLB players’ strike canceled the World Series for the first time since 1904, ending early what many believed could have been another classic playoff and championship battle between emerging young superstars like Jeff Bagwell, Frank Thomas, and Mo Vaughn and established veteran legends like Ken Griffey Jr., Tony Gwynn, and Cal Ripken Jr.

While the abrupt conclusion of the 1994 season on the field was certainly disappointing for fans, it created a burst of new interest in collecting baseball cards from that year as collectors recognized they were chronicling a season that would forever be remembered for the players’ labor dispute. Several key rookies and young stars from 1994 went on to have Hall of Fame careers, making their rookie and early career cards some of the most desirable and valuable from the entire baseball card boom era of the late 80s and early 90s.

Here’s a look at some of the most valuable 1994 baseball cards on the market today according to PSA’s latest Baseball Card Price Guide:

Ken Griffey Jr. Upper Deck SP Baseball Heroes #BHR1 – Only 300 of these short print parallel cards were produced making it one of the true Holy Grails for any Griffey collector. In gem mint PSA 10 condition, this card has sold for over $25,000 at auction.

Ken Griffey Jr. Upper Deck #1 – As the flagship rookie card for arguably the most prolific player of the 1990s, Griffey’s basic Upper Deck rookie in top PSA 10 condition can fetch $4,000-$5,000. Solid PSA 8 or 9 examples still sell for $500-700.

Frank Thomas UD Power Series #48 – Among the toughest Thomas cards to find in high grade is this action photo parallel from Upper Deck’s premium “Power Series” subset. A PSA 10 has sold for over $3,000.

Randy Johnson Fleer Ultra Gold Medallion #G16 – One of the most visually striking parallels from 1994, this Johnson “hit” card is quite rare in top grade and has topped $2,500 in PSA 10 at times.

Greg Maddux Fleer Ultra Gold Medallion #G12 – A Maddux parallel from the same Gold Medallion subset as the Johnson card above, this stellar hitter’s image makes it highly coveted in gem mint condition with a PSA 10 bringing over $2,000.

Jeffrey Hammonds Fleer Ultra #391 – Hammonds enjoyed a strong rookie campaign in 1994 and this is considered his top rookie card. When graded a perfect PSA 10, sales have reached the $1,500 range in recent years for this key Cardinals player issue.

Mo Vaughn Bowman’s Best #127 – Vaughn’s breakout AL MVP season in 1995 certainly bolstered interest in his 1994 rookie cards like this tough Bowman parallel. A pristine PSA 10 example can reach $1,000.

Fernando Tatis Pacific Crown Collection #18 – Perhaps the toughest highly coveted Pacific parallel from 1994, low pop PSA 10 Tatis Crown Collection cards have sold for up to $900.

Derek Jeter Upper Deck SP #141 – One of the true star rookies of 1994, Jeter’s debut in pinstripes made this a hot card. While sheer numbers printed keep prices below $500 typically, a perfect 10 still demands over $400.

Sammy Sosa Score Rookie /Traded #T97 – As Sosa’s early career took off after 1994, interest in his rookie offerings grew. Top graded Sosa Score traded cards now sell in the $300-$400 range as a prized rookie issue.

Larry Walker Score #608 – Walker emerged as a star in 1994 and Scoreprovided a sharp action photo of him. Mint PSA 10 examples reach $250-$300 in demand.

Eric Chavez Bowman’s Best #BB49 – Chavez made his debut in 1994 and this tough parallel shows promise of what was to come. High grade Chavez rookies like this now sell for $200-$250.

While not reaching the astronomical prices of the true superstar 1980s rookies, mint condition copies of the rookie and stellar player cards from 1994 chronicling iconic players like Griffey, Maddux, Johnson and emerging young stars like Jeter, Vaughn and Tatis have proven to be outstanding long term investments. The strike certainly added intrigue and mystique to the 1994 season cards, making them a focal point for collectors even today. With so many Hall of Famers and stars featured, 1994 remains one of the most exciting vintages from the junk wax era.