The 1990 Topps Traded baseball card set was a special release by Topps following the conclusion of the 1989 MLB season. With 198 total cards, the Traded set featured current stars, rookie cards, and memorable moments from the previous season. While not quite as iconic as the flagship Topps release, the 1990 Traded cards contained several highly sought after cards that have stood the test of time. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most notable cards from this underrated vintage release.

One of the true gems from the 1990 Topps Traded set is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Widely considered one of the best rookie cards of all time, Griffey’s Traded RC captured him in a Mariners uniform after being called up late in the 1989 season. Even back in 1990, it was obvious “The Kid” had superstar potential and this card is still a must-have for any serious baseball card collector. PSA 10 examples currently sell for well over $1000. Griffey would go on to have a Hall of Fame career and his rookie card endures as one of the iconic cards from the junk wax era.

Another highly valuable rookie card from the 1990 Traded set is the Frank Thomas issue. Like Griffey, Thomas burst onto the scene in 1989 and his Traded rookie card portrays him as one of the game’s emerging power hitters. “The Big Hurt” would go on to have a monster career hitting over 500 home runs and the condition sensitive Thomas RC remains a big ticket item for White Sox collectors. High grade Thomas rookies can reach $400-500. The card captures a future all-time great early in a career that cemented his Hall of Fame status.

For collectors looking for iconic stars of the late 80s/early 90s, the 1990 Traded set delivered with cards like the Nolan Ryan, Wade Boggs, and Ozzie Smith issues. At this point deep into their careers, each of these future Hall of Famers were still producing at an elite level. The Ryan card in particular stands out, showing the ageless wonder firing a pitch for the Rangers at 43 years old. He would pitch until he was 46, making this one of the last vintage cards featuring the legendary hurler still in playing form. These star cards remain popular with collectors today.

One of the biggest storylines from the 1989 season was the earthquake-interrupted World Series between the Bay Area rivals, the Oakland A’s and San Francisco Giants. The 1990 Topps Traded set captured the drama of that Fall Classic with a memorable “Earthquake” card showing the two teams lined up along the baselines as the Loma Prieta quake hit in the bottom of the 3rd inning of Game 3. This one-of-a-kind moment is frozen in time on a card that is a must-have for collectors of either franchise as well as anyone who remembers the dramatic Series.

While star rookies and future Hall of Famers get most of the attention, sets like the 1990 Topps Traded also provided opportunities to commemorate unique career milestones. The Nolan Ryan 5000th Strikeout card honors “The Ryan Express” reaching the unprecedented plateau in 1989. The Don Sutton career strikeouts leader card acknowledges the righty passing Walter Johnson on the all-time K list. And the Rickey Henderson stolen base king card enshrines “Rickey” stealing his 939th base to break Lou Brock’s longstanding record. These special milestone moments are fan favorites from the set.

In addition to star rookies and milestone cards, the 1990 Topps Traded set also included a number of popular traded veterans like the Orel Hershiser Dodgers to Indians card showing “Bulldog” in his new uniform after being dealt that offseason. The Nolan Ryan Angels to Rangers card portrays “The Ryan Express” beginning his second stint in Texas. And the Darryl Strawberry Mets to Dodgers card captures “Straw” after his blockbuster winter trade. For team collectors, these traded player issues provide a fun snapshot from a particular season.

While production numbers were enormous for 1990 Topps cards overall, the Traded set had a much lower print run which has kept individual cards somewhat scarcer over the decades. In top grades, the star rookie cards and one-of-a-kind memorable moments can still command four-figure prices. For fans of the late 80s/early 90s era, the 1990 Topps Traded release provides an affordable way to collect iconic players and moments from that time in baseball history. The mix of stars, rookies, and unique one-year cards make it one of the more interesting vintage sets from the junk wax era.

While overshadowed by the flagship Topps release, the 1990 Topps Traded baseball card set deserves recognition among vintage collectors. With a perfect storm of star rookies, Hall of Famers, milestones and one-of-a-kind moments, it managed to stand out despite the enormous card production of its time. Key cards like the Griffey and Thomas rookies as well as the Earthquake card will always be widely sought after pieces from the set. For anyone looking to build their collection of stars from the late 80s/early 90s or who has a fondness for that era of the game, the 1990 Topps Traded is worth exploring.