When it comes to valuable vintage baseball cards, few brands are more iconic than Donruss. Since the company first started producing cards in 1981, Donruss has featured some of the game’s biggest stars and released many memorable rookie cards. As with any collectible, certain Donruss cards have increased tremendously in value over the years due to factors like the player’s career accomplishments, the card’s scarcity and condition.
Some of the most coveted and expensive Donruss baseball cards ever produced feature Hall of Famers and elite talents from the 1980s. One of the true holy grails is the 1985 Donruss Roger Clemens rookie card. Clemens went on to win seven Cy Young Awards and cement his status as one of the greatest pitchers in MLB history. His exciting rookie season made his 1985 Donruss RC hugely popular. In pristine mint condition, it can fetch over $20,000 today. Another highly valuable 1980s Donruss rookie is the Kirby Puckett from 1984. As a beloved longtime member of the Minnesota Twins who led them to two World Series titles, Puckett developed a huge fanbase. His rookie card has sold for as much as $12,000 in top condition.
Speaking of championship-winning Twins, the 1987 Donruss Kent Hrbek rookie card is recognized as one of the key cards from that year’s set. Hrbek was a four-time All-Star and batting champion who played a pivotal role on Minnesota’s 1987 and 1991 World Series winning teams. Combined with the popularity of the players-only strike that year, his rookie card now changes hands for $4,000-5,000 PSA 10 Gem Mint. Another key rookie from ’87 Donruss is the Tom Glavine card, which has traded for up to $7,000 in pristine condition. Glavine went on to rack up 305 career wins and two Cy Young Awards as one of the best lefties of his generation for the Atlanta Braves.
While the 1980s rookies often command top dollar, some 1990sDonruss cards can also hold tremendous value. The 1993 SP Derek Jeter rookie PSA 10 is consistently among the highest selling vintage baseball cards, with auctions reaching as high as $250,000-300,000 in recent years. Considered the finest baseball card ever produced by many collectors, the attractiveness is amplified by Jeter’s status as a New York Yankees icon and surefire Hall of Famer. Another highly valuable 1990s Donruss rookie is the chipper Jones from 1993. As the longtime star third baseman of the Atlanta Braves who led them to a World Series title, Jones’ career accomplishments make his rookie card extremely sought after. PSA 10 examples has sold for $20,000+.
While rookies understandably take the spotlight, some major stars from Donruss sets throughout the 1980s and 90s whose Hall of Fame careers have elevated certain cards to stratospheric prices as well. A perfect example is the iconic 1987 Donruss Mark McGwire rookie card. Though not technically a rookie since he played in 1984 and 1985, McGwire’s record-setting 1987 campaign where he launched 49 home runs and his subsequent monster 70 and 73 HR seasons soon after made this one of the most storied cards in the hobby. Pristine PSA 10 versions now exchange hands for as much as $75,000 amid McGwire’s ubiquitous place in baseball history.
Likewise, stellar Donruss cards of Barry Bonds from the 1990s have attained staggering values. Considered by many as the greatest hitter of all time, Bonds’ dominant run with the San Francisco Giants makes any card from that era highly collectible – especially in top condition. A highlight is his 1994 Donruss Preferred Gold #21 parallel (of only 21 made). In 2009, one example graded mint 9 by PSA sold for an astounding $25,100. Other 1990s Donruss Bonds gems priced in the thousands include his 1992 “Master Collector” parallel (#1 of 50) and 1996 All-Star MVP parallel (1 of 15).
While 1980s-90s stars drive the greatest values presently, some modern Donruss hits are starting to gain traction as well. The 2009 Mike Trout rookie PSA 10 recently triggered a bidding war to a world record price for a baseball card at auction, selling for $3.84 million. As Trout continues building his case as one of the game’s GOAT at only 30 years old, this landmark card’s price will likely keep ascending. Speaking of young superstars, 2015 Kris Bryant and 2017 Cody Bellinger rookie doubles in BGS 9.5+ condition trade in the $3,000+ range already among hardcore PC collectors.
While the full scope of a player’s career and their performance must be accounted for, certain attractively preserved vintage Donruss cards from stars with resumes cemented in Cooperstown have achieved valuations among the loftiest in the entire collecting world. Ranging from the 1980s to modern issues, Donruss cards will remain icons for collectors due to the brand’s memorable designs and role in cementing memorable rookies throughout MLB history.
