The 1990 Upper Deck baseball card set was groundbreaking in the hobby. It was the first sports card set from Upper Deck, a newly formed rival to Topps, and featured impressive photography and designs that set a new standard. While most cards in the 1990 Upper Deck set have modest values today, there are some truly rare and valuable gems that can fetch big money from dedicated collectors. Here are some of the most coveted and costly cards from the 1990 Upper Deck baseball set.

Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card (#1):

The Griffey Jr. rookie is undoubtedly the crown jewel of the 1990 Upper Deck set and one of the most iconic rookie cards in the hobby. Fresh off being the No. 1 pick in the 1987 draft, Griffey Jr. was primed to be a star and his debut Upper Deck card capitalized perfectly on his potential and growing popularity. The clean design paired a spectacular action photo of Griffey swing with minimal distracting text or logos. This rookie introduced collectors to one of the game’s great players and its allure has only increased over time as Griffey’s Hall of Fame career unfolded. In pristine mint condition, a 1990 Ken Griffey Jr. rookie can fetch well over $10,000 today and there is one that sold for $25,800 back in 2019. Even well-centered near mint copies trade hands for thousands.

Nolan Ryan (#57):

As one of the most dominating and record-breaking pitchers ever, Nolan Ryan cards from any era hold value. His 1990 Upper Deck card, which shows him mid-windup, is one of his most iconic modern issues. While not quite as scarce as other big name cards in this set, mint Ryan’s can still sell for $300-500. They remain a highly collectible piece of memorabilia from a true pitching legend.

Frank Thomas (#75):

Another all-time great that had his rookie season in 1990 was “The Big Hurt” Frank Thomas. His imposing build and left-handed swing were perfectly captured on his rookie card. While not in the same star category as Griffey or Bonds at the time, Thomas would go on to have a Hall of Fame career and his rookie card price has grown substantially in recent years. Near mint Thomas rookies now sell in the $500-1000 range with a few pristine specimens going for $2000 or more.

Barry Bonds (#250):

No player had a bigger breakout season than Barry Bonds in 1990 when he belted 25 homers in just his second full MLB campaign. His performance, when paired with the growing excitement over his superstar potential, turned Bonds’ rookie card into one of the rarest and most sought-after in the set. Like Griffey, it features an action photo that really pops from the page. A well-centered mint Bonds can sell for over $2000 with the all-time home run king’s marks still rising each year his records withstand time.

Roberto Alomar (#266):

The 1990 season was Alomar’s rookie year and his smooth, compact left-handed swing translated perfectly to his Upper Deck issue. Considered one of the more aesthetically pleasing cards in the set with its soft colors and bright portrait, a mint Alomar remains a key piece for team and rookie card PC’s alike. Values have steadily climbed to $150-350 range over the past decade with the occasional pristine copy breaking $500.

Will Clark (#273)

One of the most feared hitters of the late 80s/early 90s, Will Clark’s 1990 Upper Deck card chose an action photo that showed off his raw lefty power. Always a fan favorite, Clark’s cards from the later stages of his career are starting to gain collector interest again today. Near mint to mint examples regularly sell between $60-150 with the occasional pristine copy bringing over $200.

Roberto Alomar Error (#266E):

One of the true oddball obscure gems from 1990 Upper Deck is the ultra-rare Roberto Alomar error card. Only a tiny handful are known to exist where the Alomar name under his photo is misspelled “Alomarr”. This trivial typo turns an otherwise common card into a unique anomaly worth substantial money to hardcore collectors. In the past, PSA-graded examples have sold for over $3500, showing there is big demand for even the smallest production mistakes from influential early sets.

While the 1990 Upper Deck set lacked true short-prints on the whole, it introduced collectors to future legends, exhibited stunning photography, and was hugely influential as the first real rival to Topps. The high-grade rookie cards and select veteran standouts continue to hold tremendous nostalgia and command big prices thanks to the cachet 1990 Upper Deck carries in the hobby. Even 30 years later, it remains one of the true iconic releases that really ramped up interest and competition in the sports card market during its early boom era.