The 1990 Donruss baseball card set was a bountiful year in the hobby, featuring gems like Ken Griffey Jr., Nolan Ryan, and Tom Glavine rookie cards. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the key cards from the set and get a sense of their current value based on eBay sales data.
The crown jewel of the 1990 Donruss set is undoubtedly the Griffey Jr. rookie card. Fresh off his ROY season in 1989, expectations were sky high for the young star centerfielder. His iconic smiling face encapsulated the joy and promise he brought to the game. Not surprisingly, his rookie quickly became one of the most iconic and valuable cards ever issued. In gem mint PSA 10 condition, examples have sold for upwards of $10,000 given his legend status. But more common raw or lower grade copies can still fetch $100-200 based on recent eBay “sold” listings.
Another hugely valuable rookie from 1990 Donruss is pitcher Tom Glavine’s card. The future Hall of Famer went on to win 305 career games and two Cy Young awards. High grade PSA 10 Glavine rookies have sold for $3,000-5,000. Raw or lower graded copies in the PSA 7-9 range can still sell in the $100-300 range. At the time, it was impossible to predict Glavine would develop into an elite, durable lefty ace. But his card proved to be a sound long term investment for astute collectors.
Nolan Ryan’s card was always a coveted piece, but interest went to new heights after he broke yet another record by notching his 6th career no-hitter in 1990 at age 43. He proved age was just a number and continued dominating well into his 40s. As one of the most iconic players ever with spectacular stats and records, Ryan’s 1990 Donruss card carries substantial demand. Mint PSA 10 copies have sold for over $1,000, with raw or lower grade versions still getting $50-150.
Rookies like Sandy Alomar Jr. and Dennis Martinez also had promising rookie seasons in 1990 and their cards retain value as well. A PSA 10 Alomar has sold for around $300-400 in recent years, with raw or lower graded copies in the $25-75 range. Martinez’ also gets about $25-75 for raw versions or $100-250 for high grade PSA 8-10 copies. Though they didn’t achieve the superstar status of Griffey Jr., these players carved out solid big league careers.
Other stars whose 1990 Donruss cards hold value include Hall of Famers Wade Boggs, Cal Ripken Jr., Ozzie Smith, and Tony Gwynn. Boggs and Ripken cards in PSA 10 grade have topped $200 recently, with raw or lower grades in the $10-50 range. Smith and Gwynn PSA 10s have also cracked $200, with most copies selling for $5-25. These surefire HOFers always demand strong collector interest which aids the longevity of their card values.
Looking at 90 Donruss rookies that never panned out, players like Billy Ripken (“F*** Face”), Gregg Jefferies, and Ben McDonald once held promise but didn’t fulfill their early hype. McDonald and Jefferies raw rookie cards can still fetch $5-10 since they were once highly-touted prospects. But Ripken’s infamous “F*** Face” card is a true oddball oddity that has sold for over $1,000 given its cult status as one of the most unusual errors ever produced.
The 1990 Donruss set produced many keys that retain strong collector demand decades later given the success of players like Griffey Jr., Glavine, and others. While the ultra high-grade gems command thousands, there is still value to be found across the board for raw or moderately graded copies. The franchise players, rookies, and oddities all ensure this set remains an intriguing part of baseball card history cherished by investors and fans alike.
