The 1990 baseball season saw the debut of many future Hall of Famers and star players. Their rookie cards from that year are some of the most sought after and valuable from the entire junk wax era of the late 1980s and early 1990s. While most cards from this time period are not worth much in today’s market, there are a select few from 1990 that stand out as truly great rookie cards.

One of the most iconic rookie cards from 1990 is that of pitcher Pedro Martinez for the Los Angeles Dodgers. While he struggled early in his career with the Dodgers and was traded after the 1993 season, Martinez would go on to become one of the best pitchers of all time. He won three Cy Young awards over his 18-year career and helped the Boston Red Sox break their long World Series drought in 2004. As one of the most dominant pitchers ever with an electric fastball and changeup, Martinez’s rookie card is a key piece for any baseball card collection. Even in a PSA 10 gem mint condition, it can fetch over $1000 due to his legendary status.

Another truly elite pitcher who debuted in 1990 was Tom Glavine for the Atlanta Braves. Like Martinez, Glavine also went on to have a Hall of Fame career, winning two Cy Young awards of his own to go along with 305 career wins. He was a workhorse for the powerful Braves teams of the 1990s that won the 1995 World Series. Glavine’s rookie card is highly sought after by both Braves fans looking to commemorate the glory years and collectors wanting a piece of his impressive resume. In top condition it can sell for well over $500.

While pitchers tend to have the most valuable rookie cards long term, there were also some huge star position players who broke in during 1990. One of the best was catcher Mike Piazza for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Piazza went on to have a career that will likely land him in Cooperstown one day as arguably the greatest offensive catcher ever. His prodigious power from the catcher position was unmatched. Piazza’s rookie card is iconic from the junk wax era and still holds value due to his legendary 12-year, 427 home run career. Even in low grades, it can sell for over $100.

Another star position player rookie from 1990 was shortstop Barry Larkin for the Cincinnati Reds. Larkin was a cornerstone for the Reds throughout the 1990s, winning the 1995 NL MVP award and helping them reach the 1990 World Series in his first season. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2012 for his 19 year career spent entirely in Cincinnati. Larkin’s defensive wizardry at shortstop combined with his steady offensive production make his rookie card a highly coveted piece, especially for Reds collectors. In top condition it can sell for well over $300.

While the above rookies were all future Hall of Famers, there were also some huge stars from the 1990 rookie class that fell just short of Cooperstown but still had amazing careers. One of those was outfielder Larry Walker for the Montreal Expos. Walker went on to have a career .313 batting average to go along with 383 home runs and won the 1997 NL MVP award as a member of the Colorado Rockies. Unfortunately injuries may have prevented him from playing enough seasons to make the Hall of Fame, but his rookie card remains very popular due to his excellence as a five-tool player. Even well-worn copies can sell for over $50.

Another superstar from 1990 who may be inducted into Cooperstown one day is catcher Javy Lopez. Lopez was a feared power hitter for the Atlanta Braves, belting 358 career home runs including a Braves record 51 bombs in 2003. He provided incredible protection in the lineup for Chipper Jones and Andruw Jones during the Braves’ dominant run in the late 1990s. Lopez’s rookie card is highly sought after by both Braves fans and collectors due to his contributions to the franchise. In top condition it can sell for well over $100.

While the above players were the true elite rookies of 1990, there were also some other notable debuts that year that produced valuable rookie cards depending on condition. Pitchers like Orel Hershiser, Jeff Bagwell, and Moises Alou all had impressive careers and their 1990 Donruss/Score/Fleer/Upper Deck cards can sell for $50+ in top shape. Mark Grace, Gregg Jefferies, and Chuck Knoblauch also had rookie cards that year that hold value in the $20-40 range.

In the end, the 1990 baseball rookie class truly stands out as one of the best ever. It produced numerous Hall of Famers as well as other all-time great players. Their rookie cards remain some of the most iconic and sought after from the junk wax era, even surpassing many of their contemporaries in value. For baseball card collectors looking to commemorate the great players from that time, targeting the rookies of Pedro Martinez, Tom Glavine, Mike Piazza, Barry Larkin, Larry Walker and Javy Lopez would be an excellent start to building an elite vintage collection.