The 1992 Score baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic and valuable sets from the early 1990s. While there are certainly some common cards that hold little value, there are also several standout rookie and star player cards from 1992 Score that have increased significantly in value over the past few decades. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top valuable 1992 Score baseball cards that are worth owning:
Perhaps the most coveted and valuable card from the 1992 Score set is the Chipper Jones rookie card. As the #1 overall pick in the 1990 MLB Draft and longtime star for the Atlanta Braves, Chipper Jones went on to have a Hall of Fame career. His rookie card, with a photo of him batting from the left side, holds icon status among collectors. In near mint to mint condition, Chipper Jones’ 1992 Score rookie card can fetch hundreds, and sometimes even over $1,000, depending on factors like centering and corners. Obviously the higher the card grade, the more valuable it becomes.
Another highly sought after rookie card is Fernando Tatis Jr. Tatis Jr. made an immediate impact for the St. Louis Cardinals in his rookie season of 1992 and went on to have a very solid career at shortstop in the major leagues. Like the Chipper Jones, his 1992 Score RC has gained a legendary status of its own among collectors. Tatis Jr. rookie cards in excellent condition can sell for $300-600. Again, the better the centering and corners, the more dollars a Tatis Jr. rookie card will command on the current market. The card also held increased demand when his son Fernando Tatis Jr. began starring for the San Diego Padres in recent seasons.
One of the biggest stars of the 1992 season was Pittsburgh Pirates star Barry Bonds. In his 7th MLB campaign, Bonds smashed 34 home runs and stole 39 bases en route to winning the National League MVP award. His dominant ’92 campaign is captured on his 1992 Score card, which features a nice action photo of him in the batter’s box. Bonds cards from this period tend to hold value very well due to his all-time great career stats. His ’92 Score card in near mint or better condition can be worth $50-150, with some absolutely pristine examples fetching upwards of $200-300.
Rookie cards are great, but star prospects can also create buzz before even debuting in the bigs. Such was the case with 1992 Score cards featuring Derek Jeter and Nomar Garciaparra. Though they didn’t have rookie cards in Score until 1996 Tops and 1997 Finest respectively, their prospect cards from 1992 have gained traction in recent years. High grade Jeter and Nomar prospect cards have been selling in the $75-150 range. With both going on to have Hall of Fame careers, their 1992 Score prospects can only continue increasing in value long term.
Lastly, collector interest in vintage cards has boosted demand for star players of the era like Ken Griffey Jr, Frank Thomas, Cal Ripken Jr, Greg Maddux, and Tom Glavine. While common copies of their ’92 Score cards hold less value, high grade examples are worth pursuing. Near mint or better Griffey Jr, Thomas, and Ripken Jr cards can go for $25-75 depending on the player. For Maddux and Glavine, $10-30 is a typical range. Factor in that these were all in their primes in 1992, and their cards maintain demand.
While many 1992 Score cards have little monetary value, key rookie and star player cards from the set have increased greatly in value due to the careers of Chipper Jones, Tatis Jr., Barry Bonds, plus prospect buzz cards like Jeter and Garciaparra. Add in solid price action for vintage stars of the era like Griffey Jr, Rippen, Maddux- and you can see how the 1992 Score set deserves attention from collectors. Doing research and knowing the top valuable cards is key to determining which ones from the set are worth holding onto long term.
