The 1990 Topps baseball card set was a very popular and iconic release during the height of the baseball card boom of the late 1980s and early 1990s. The set featured 792 total cards and was the 70th series issued by Topps since the company began producing baseball cards in 1956.
Some of the biggest stars and rookies of the late 1980s and early 1990s are featured prominently in the 1990 Topps set. Ken Griffey Jr. is one of the most desired rookie cards from the set after his breakout season with the Seattle Mariners in 1989. Other top rookies included Gary Sheffield, Gregg Olson, and Frank Thomas. Superstar veterans like Nolan Ryan, Wade Boggs, Rickey Henderson, and Ozzie Smith also had some of their best and most popular cards in the 1990 Topps set.
The design and photography of the 1990 Topps cards was considered a step above previous years. The cards featured colorful team logo designs on the borders and many action or headshot photos of the players. The most common parallel set was the gold foil stamped cards, which added extra value and appeal to certain star players. The checklist was also loaded with Hall of Famers like Reggie Jackson, George Brett, and Mike Schmidt in addition to the many active superstars of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The 1990 Topps set also featured some unique subsets that added to its appeal. The “Topps All-Time Fan Favorites” subset honored 25 legendary players no longer active. The “Topps All-Stars” subset highlighted 30 current stars. Other subsets included “Topps Traded” for players traded mid-season, “Topps Debut” for first-year players, and “Topps Closers” focusing on the best relief pitchers. The “Team Leaders” subset was also popular, highlighting statistical leaders for each franchise.
While the 1986 Topps set is considered the most iconic and valuable of the “junk wax” era, the 1990 Topps set maintained strong popularity and demand due to the star power and memorable rookie class. PSA 10 mint condition examples of star rookie cards like Ken Griffey Jr., Frank Thomas, and Gary Sheffield routinely sell for thousands of dollars today. Even common cards of star players can sell for $10-20 each. The overall size of the set at 792 cards also added to its appeal for collectors looking to complete the entire checklist.
The 1990 Topps set was also notable for some controversial or odd photo choices that added character. Nolan Ryan’s card featured an awkward action shot where it looked like he was picking his nose. Ozzie Smith’s card photo made him look angry or annoyed for some reason. And Bo Jackson’s card from when he was still playing both baseball and football led to one of his most iconic and recognizable baseball cards ever. The quirks and characters of some of the photos just added to the nostalgia and charm of the set over the years.
While production numbers were enormous during the junk wax era, the 1990 Topps set maintained strong collector interest and values due to the quality of the designs and photography combined with the star power featured. It was truly one of the greatest sets produced during Topps’ long baseball card run and remains a highly collectible and nostalgic release for fans and collectors to this day. The rookies and stars captured during their early career heights in the late 1980s and early 1990s make the 1990 Topps set one of the most memorable in the hobby’s history.
