The 1991 Donruss baseball set is most notable for its “The Rookies” subset which featured rookie cards of future Hall of Famers Chuck Knoblauch, Tom Glavine, and David Justice. While not the flagship issue from Donruss that year (that distinction belonged to the main 556 card set), The Rookies subset gained incredible popularity and scarcity over the years due to featuring some of the biggest names to break into the majors during that season.
Released late in the 1990 season to capitalize on the hype around that year’s rookie class, The Rookies subset stood out with its black and white photography and a clean minimalist design. It contained 36 cards total, with two cards per team distributed at random in factory sets and packs alongside the main Donruss release. Some of the more notable rookies included in the subset beyond the headliners of Knoblauch, Glavine, and Justice were Billy Ripken, Steve Avery, Juan Gonzalez, Bobby Munoz, Roberto Hernandez, and Gregg Jefferies.
Chuck Knoblauch had one of the best rookie seasons of anyone featured in the 1991 set. The second baseman for the Minnesota Twins batted .281 with 7 home runs, 58 RBI, and 25 stolen bases, finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting. He would go on to become a 4-time All-Star and help the Yankees win 4 World Series titles in the late 90s. His card from The Rookies set is one of the more valuable from the subset today, routinely fetching over $100 in top-graded Gem Mint condition.
Tom Glavine was a rookie pitcher for the Atlanta Braves who didn’t put up huge stats in his first season but showed promise. He went 11-11 with a 4.56 ERA in 29 starts. Of course, Glavine would develop into a future Hall of Famer, 305-game winner, and 2-time Cy Young award winner. Like Knoblauch, his rookie card holds significant value given his accomplishments. PSA 10 examples can sell for well over $200.
David Justice played his first MLB season with the Atlanta Braves in 1991 as well. He batted .250 with 8 homers and 39 RBI in 87 games primarily as a rookie outfielder and designated hitter. Justice became a two-time All-Star and World Series champion during his career. His rookie card, while not as expensive as Knoblauch or Glavine’s, still typically fetches $50-75 in top condition.
Beyond the headliners, cards of Juan Gonzalez and Billy Ripken also carry collector demand. “Billy Ripken’s F-Bomb” card from the main Donruss set with the profanity written on his bat is one of the most infamous error cards ever produced. Roberto Hernandez had a solid 16 year career as a pitcher and his card can be found for under $10. Gregg Jefferies was once a top prospect but did not live up to expectations – his card is quite affordable. Steve Avery flashed promise in his rookie year for the Braves but injuries derailed his career early on.
In the years since its original release, the scarcity and storyline of The Rookies subset has made it extremely popular with collectors. Many complete ungraded factory sets have sold for well over $1000 due to the high-end rookie cards included. Even relatively common players hold value since it was such a small printed subset. The black and white photography gives the cards a classic, understated look that differs from the brightly colored designs of other contemporary baseball issues. The 1991 Donruss The Rookies subset is considered one of the most iconic rookie card releases of the modern baseball card era due to the star power and future success of Knoblauch, Glavine, and Justice. It remains a highly sought after piece of cardboard for collectors.
