The 1990 Donruss baseball card set is one of the most iconic and collectible issues in the modern era of the hobby. Like most large printing runs from that time period, there were inevitable mistakes made that lead to valuable error variants finding their way into circulation. Some of the more notable 1990 Donruss error cards include:
Roger Clemens Missing Hand Error: One of the rarest errors from the set is the Roger Clemens card missing his entire right hand. Only a small number are believed to exist without the hand graphics on the photo. The image was noticeably cropped too high on the right side cutting off Clemens entire batting stance. This error jumped the card to a significant premium over the standard issue and high grade copies in mint condition often sell for thousands of dollars.
Ken Griffey Jr. Tipped Photo Error: A mistake in the printing plate led to dozens of Ken Griffey Jr. cards being printed with the photo slightly shifted upward and to the right within the card frame. This revealed empty white space below and to the left of the image. Considered a more common error, graded examples still routinely sell for $100-$200 based on condition due to Griffey’s popularity.
Rickey Henderson Missing Ball Error: A small missing round graphic was noticed on the Rickey Henderson card, leading collectors to speculate it was intended to be a ball but was omitted in error. The round shape is clearly absent from the action shot of Henderson stretching for a base. Only a handful are reported to exist with this variation, making it a fairly rare find.
Nolan Ryan Solar Flare Error: Some Nolan Ryan cards had an odd solar flare-type printing defect directly over Ryan’s face on the photo. The burst of colorful splotches completely obscures his facial features. While seemingly unimportant at first glance, it’s believed only a small number were printed as such, earning error status.
Ozzie Smith Glowing Error: A small percentage of Ozzie Smith cards had an strange glowing or over-exposed area directly around his face, causing it to standout dramatically versus the rest of the image. The vibrant glow gives his features a unique illuminated look that was surely never the intent. Estimates are that less than 50 examples exist.
Mark McGwire Missing Sign Error: Instead of displaying the normal Donruss logo across the bottom front of McGwire’s card, some prints lack the entirety of the logo text. The blank white space where “Donruss” should be clearly signifies a plate error that jumped production. Along with the rarity, it makes an amusing “missing text” variation.
Willie Stargell Missing Knee Error: A small but noticeable production cut-off on the right side of Stargell’s uniform exposed bare naked skin where his knee should be located within the action shot. Just a sliver is missing but enough to clearly designate it as an error versus an intentional crop. Only a small number slipped through with this quirk.
Greg Maddux Torn Nameplate Error: A few Maddux cards had a unusual horizontal crease directly across the front that interrupted both the photo and nameplate text. It looks as if an imperfection in the card stock created a sharp tear when the layers were fused during manufacturing. The torn nameplate is a defining attribute making it an obvious error.
Darryl Strawberry Offset Print Error: Some Strawberry cards had misaligned front graphic layers with the photo significantly above and to the left of where it should align within the standard card frame. The empty white space reveals it was a mistake in the printing process. It stands out dramatically versus a properly centered image.
Cal Ripken Jr. Blank Back Error: Perhaps the most identifiable error from the set is the small grouping of Cal Ripken Jr. cards that were accidentally printed with completely blank white backs instead of the standard Donruss statistical information and design. This glaring omission immediately signifies its error status. Examples in top condition command thousands due to the dramatic error.
While these are some of the headline 1990 Donruss errors that tend to get the most attention, there were certainly others produced as well through the various mistakes that can occur at the manufacturing level. Variables like missing or additional ink splatters, off-center fronts, inconsistent color saturation issues and more defects floating around in the billions of cards created each year. For serious error collectors, hunting the 1990 Donruss set is a challenge to uncover some of these rarer accidental variations that stand out from the norm. Over 30 years later, the errors remain an intriguing niche for enthusiasts to pursue high grade examples with genuine manufacturing defects.
