The 1991 Upper Deck Baseball card set was the third MLB card release from the innovative Upper Deck company. Like the two previous sets from 1989 and 1990, the 1991 Upper Deck set revolutionized the baseball card industry with its premium quality, creative designs, and focus on young stars. Containing 792 total cards in the base set, the 1991 Upper Deck offering retailed for around $2.50 per pack which was significantly more than competitors Topps and Donruss. Collectors eagerly spent the premium prices due to the supieror product Upper Deck was providing compared to other companies at the time.
Something that set Upper Deck apart from the beginning was their commitment to using ultra-premium materials in their baseball cards. While competitors used thinner stock card stock, Upper Deck opted for a thicker and higher quality cardstock that had a smooth glossy finish. The cards simply felt superior in the hand compared to other brands. In addition, Upper Deck pioneered the use of foil signatures and lettering on select cards that really made certain pieces stand out in a collection. These production values helped Upper Deck baseball cards maintain a high resale value for collectors even after being opened which drove demand.
In terms of base design for the 1991 Upper Deck set, the front of each card showed a full body action shot of the player in their uniform. All photos were high quality crisp images that popped on the card. Upper Deck worked with top sports photographers to capture the best action shots available. The team logo and players name were represented clearly in bold lettering at the bottom. Switching it up from the 1990 design, the card number was moved to the top left corner for 1991. On the reverse, each card contained career statistics and a brief bio of the player. Upper Deck also included Fun Facts, Hobbies, and Nicknames of players to learn more about them off the field.
Some of the biggest rookie cards in the 1991 Upper Deck set included Moises Alou, Albert Belle, Chuck Knoblauch, Fred McGriff, Tim Raines, David Justice, and Bip Roberts. While they may not have been superstars yet, keen collectors knew to snap these cards up as investments for the future. In particular, the Moises Alou and Albert Belle rookies from 1991 Upper Deck have held their value extremely well over the decades. Both players went on to have outstanding MLB careers after debuting in the majors in 1991. For the average collector at the time, finding any of these young star’s first Upper Deck cards in packs was a major thrill.
Beyond rookies, the 1991 Upper Deck set paid tribute to baseball greats like Nolan Ryan, Ozzie Smith, George Brett, Mike Schmidt, and Tony Gwynn who were all in the latter stages of their impressive careers. Legend cards showed these superstars performing notable achievements, stats, or milestone moments from their playing days. Pulling a legend card from a pack in 1991 was a true excitement as it paid homage to players who had established themselves among the all-time greatest. The level of photography, authentographs, and storytelling of the legend cards set a new standard that remains an inspiration today.
Perhaps the most coveted part of the entire 1991 Upper Deck base set were the franchise feat inserts. There were 30 franchise feat cards in total across the set that highlighted amazing single-game, single-season, or career records and stats set by MLB clubs and individual players. Examples include Nolan Ryan’s record 5,714 career strikeouts, Kirby Puckett setting the Twins single season hit record in 1991, and the California Angels 1993 record 24-game win streak. These franchise feat inserts featured true one-of-a-kind original artwork along with all-new photography, design, and additional stats/facts. Many consider them the most creatively designed and premium cards in the entire release.
In addition to the expansive 792 card base set, Upper Deck also included special parallel and serially numbered inserts to chase. The popular hologram parallel cards showed a holographic effect through the card fronts. Then there were the ultra-rare serial numbered parallels like the Gold Foil cards limited to 100 copies each. Gold Stamp inserts highlighting achievements were limited even further to only 10 copies numbering making them almost impossible to obtain. Lastly, factory sealed wax boxes of 1991 Upper Deck contained one memorabilia card per case on average of MLB player uniforms, bats, balls, etc. which captivated collectors.
When all was said and done, the 1991 Upper Deck MLB release had set a new precedent for innovative baseball card sets that pushed the industry forward. Thanks to its premium build quality, exciting rookie selection, tribute legends, incredible inserts highlighting records, and tough parallel/numbered Chase cards, the 1991 product line continued Upper Deck’s streak of being the collectors choice versus competitors. Sealed wax boxes have been steadily appreciating in secondary market value ever since as one of the true vintage classics in the hobby. To this day, 1991 Upper Deck still remains many collectors’ favorite and most memorable baseball card set from the early 90s era.
