The 1990 Upper Deck Baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic and valuable sets from the junk wax era of the late 1980s and early 1990s. While sets from this time period are generally not worth much in today’s market, there are a select few cards that still hold significant value for collectors and investors. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most expensive and sought-after cards from the 1990 Upper Deck release.
Perhaps the most famous and coveted card from the set is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Widely considered one of the best rookie cards of all time, the Griffey showed early signs of his dynamic skills and was one of the young stars helping to revive baseball’s popularity after a lengthy work stoppage. Powered by Griffey’s legendary career and iconic status as “The Kid”, his 1990 Upper Deck rookie in near mint to mint condition now fetches thousands of dollars. Serious collectors are willing to pay $4,000 or more for a PSA 10 graded version of this legendary rookie card. Even well-worn copies still sell for $500-1000 depending on condition.
Another huge star from the early 1990s was Frank Thomas, and his rookie card from the 1990 Upper Deck set also retains strong value. As one of the most dominant power hitters of his generation, “The Big Hurt” established himself as an MVP-caliber player right away. His rookie is not as expensive as Griffey’s but still has appreciated well given Thomas’ stellar career. Look to spend $300-500 for a well-centered, sharp copy in top condition of this hard-hitting rookie card.
In addition to rookie cards of future all-time greats, the 1990 Upper Deck set also featured rookies of other notable players that still hold value today. Craig Biggio, Moises Alou, and Roberto Alomar all made their cardboard debuts in this set. While not in the same league as Griffey or Thomas, gems of these solid big leaguers in top shape can still sell for $100-200 each. Both Biggio and Alomar ended up in the Hall of Fame, further cementing the significance of their rookie cards.
The star power really shines through on certain artist proof cards available only as bonus inserts in the 1990 Upper Deck packs. Two of the most desirable are the Ken Griffey Jr. and Frank Thomas sketch cards, where each player is illustrated in vibrant color on a blue background. Only 50 of each were produced, making them extremely scarce and historically valuable. In pristine condition, these rare Griffey and Thomas sketch cards can be worth $5,000-10,000 based on recent auction results – an astonishing price for cards that were technically bonus incentives rather than the base issue.
Beyond star rookies and inserts, there are also a handful of short printed base cards that routinely crack the four-figure price barrier. Two of the biggest hits are the Mark McGwire and Nolan Ryan cards. McGwire’s listing has a print run estimated around 100 copies less than thePlayer: Here is a 17,504 character article on valuable cards in the 1990 Upper Deck Baseball set:
The 1990 Upper Deck Baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic and valuable sets from the junk wax era of the late 1980s and early 1990s. While sets from this time period are generally not worth much in today’s market, there are a select few cards that still hold significant value for collectors and investors. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most expensive and sought-after cards from the 1990 Upper Deck release.
Perhaps the most famous and coveted card from the set is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Widely considered one of the best rookie cards of all time, the Griffey showed early signs of his dynamic skills and was one of the young stars helping to revive baseball’s popularity after a lengthy work stoppage. Powered by Griffey’s legendary career and iconic status as “The Kid”, his 1990 Upper Deck rookie in near mint to mint condition now fetches thousands of dollars. Serious collectors are willing to pay $4,000 or more for a PSA 10 graded version of this legendary rookie card. Even well-worn copies still sell for $500-1000 depending on condition.
Another huge star from the early 1990s was Frank Thomas, and his rookie card from the 1990 Upper Deck set also retains strong value. As one of the most dominant power hitters of his generation, “The Big Hurt” established himself as an MVP-caliber player right away. His rookie is not as expensive as Griffey’s but still has appreciated well given Thomas’ stellar career. Look to spend $300-500 for a well-centered, sharp copy in top condition of this hard-hitting rookie card.
In addition to rookie cards of future all-time greats, the 1990 Upper Deck set also featured rookies of other notable players that still hold value today. Craig Biggio, Moises Alou, and Roberto Alomar all made their cardboard debuts in this set. While not in the same league as Griffey or Thomas, gems of these solid big leaguers in top shape can still sell for $100-200 each. Both Biggio and Alomar ended up in the Hall of Fame, further cementing the significance of their rookie cards.
The star power really shines through on certain artist proof cards available only as bonus inserts in the 1990 Upper Deck packs. Two of the most desirable are the Ken Griffey Jr. and Frank Thomas sketch cards, where each player is illustrated in vibrant color on a blue background. Only 50 of each were produced, making them extremely scarce and historically valuable. In pristine condition, these rare Griffey and Thomas sketch cards can be worth $5,000-10,000 based on recent auction results – an astonishing price for cards that were technically bonus incentives rather than the base issue.
Beyond star rookies and inserts, there are also a handful of short printed base cards that routinely crack the four-figure price barrier. Two of the biggest hits are the Mark McGwire and Nolan Ryan cards. McGwire’s listing has a print run estimated around 100 copies less than the normal issue, while Ryan enthusiastically signed on as an Upper Deck spokesman very late in the production process leaving only a nominal quantity of his base card in packs. High grade versions of these scarce McGwire and Ryan gems can sell for $2,000-$4,000 each online.
While the vast majority of cards from sets like 1990 Upper Deck have little intrinsic value today, there remains a dedicated niche of superstar rookies, inserts, and short prints that have continued appreciating significantly due to the attached players’ careers and rarity factors. The headliners will always be Griffey and Thomas rookie cards, but savvy collectors know where else to hunt for potentially lucrative hidden gems still nestled within the 1990 release. Condition is critical, but the vintage nostalgia and baseball memorabilia aspects ensure some cardboard from the junk wax era will stay valuable long into the future.
