The 1991 O-Pee-Chee baseball card set is one of the most iconic and valuable sets from the boom of the 1990s. While it may not be as well known or remembered as the legendary 1989 Upper Deck or 1990 Bowman sets that kicked off skyrocketing interest and prices in the hobby, the ’91 O-Pee-Chee roster featured future Hall of Famers and rising young stars that have stood the test of time. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most valuable and sought after rookie and star player cards from the 1991 O-Pee-Chee baseball set.
Kicking off our list at the top is the legendary Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Widely considered one of if not the most iconic baseball card of all-time, Griffey’s rookie would help usher in a new generation of fans to the hobby. With his effortless sweet swing and impressive athleticism, Griffey was poised to become one of the game’s biggest stars and his rookie card captured that promise and potential perfectly. In pristine mint condition, Griffey’s 1991 O-Pee-Chee rookie will fetch $4,000-$6,000 nowadays. Even well-centred near mint copies can sell for $1,000-2,000. The card stands as not only one of the strongest pieces from the ’91 O-Pee-Chee set, but all of hobby history due to Griffey’s legendary career and brand.
Another dominant rookie from the 1991 set is none other than Vladimir Guerrero. Debuting at just age 20, Guerrero would go on to have a Hall of Fame worthy career, but his rookie captured the raw talent and tools that made him a future star. Like Griffey, Guerrero’s O-Pee-Chee rookie sells in the $1,000-2,000 range for a well centred near mint copy, with pristine mint editions potentially reaching the $3,000-$4,000 threshold. His rookie remains one of the holy grails from the era for Expos fans and collectors pursuing the game’s all-time great hitters.
Rounding out the rookie trio that makes the 1991 O-Pee-Chee one of the most iconic of the era is Frank Thomas. Like Griffey before him, Thomas would enjoy a legendary career and go on to earn induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. His rookie captured the power and promise that would help him hit 521 career home runs and win back-to-back American League MVPs. In top gem mint 10 condition, a PSA-graded Frank Thomas rookie could achieve upwards of $7,000 at auction given his legendary status. More affordable well-centred near mint copies also routinely sell in the $1,000-2,000 range.
Beyond the star-studded rookie class of ’91, the set is also home to valuable veteran stars of the era. Ledger Hamels was in his prime with the Boston Red Sox and his flashy fielding and big bat made him one of the biggest stars in baseball. In top condition his ’91 O-Pee-Chee would sell for around $500-800. Also popular are Torii Hunter and Alex Rodriguez’s prolific rookie seasons captured in their respective 1989 Bowman cards. Hunter and A-Rod rookies from that inaugural Bowman set can reach $1,000-2000 for strong examples to this day.
The 1992 O-Pee-Chee set is also unique in capturing the changing of the guard at shortstop from Cal Ripken Jr. to Derek Jeter. Ripken had just wrapped up a monster MVP and championship season in 1991 where he put together one of the best individual campaigns in baseball history. As such, his ’91 O-Pee-Chee sells for $150-250 routinely. Meanwhile, Jeter was the promising youngster in the Yankees farm system poised to take over as the future in the Bronx. High grade PSA/BGS examples of Jeter’s impressive rookie season stats in his ’91 OPC rookie can sell for $500-1000 given his all-time iconic career.
Beyond the star rookies and veterans, key chase cards that excite collectors include Mariano Rivera’s first major league card, Gold Refractors of stars like Griffey and Thomas that were inserted randomly, and parallel autograph cards which can reach $1,000+ depending on the player. Overall condition and demand are key when valuing any card, but for the all-time legendary rookies and stars featured, the 1991 O-Pee-Chee baseball set stands out as one of the true classics from the junk wax era worth exploring for collectors today. With strong examples of Griffey, Vlad, Frank, and others still eclipsing $1,000+ price tags, the 1991 OPC set remains a prized piece of the golden age of the baseball card industry during the early 1990s boom.
