The 1990 Score Rising Stars baseball card set was full of potential future stars just starting their Major League Baseball careers. With 198 cards in the base set, collectors had the opportunity to get cards featuring many players who would go on to have very successful MLB careers. While no one could have predicted exactly which of these young players would become superstars, the 1990 Score Rising Stars set provided a fun glimpse at the future of baseball.
Some of the biggest names included in the 1990 Score Rising Stars set were Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Jeff Nelson, Andy Benes, Roberto Alomar, Craig Biggio, John Smoltz, Todd Van Poppel, Kenny Lofton, Jeff Bagwell, and Moises Alou. All of these players would go on to have outstanding MLB careers including numerous all-star appearances, Silver Slugger awards, Gold Glove awards, and even some would be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. For collectors who obtained cards of these future stars early in their careers, they now own valuable pieces of sports memorabilia.
Greg Maddux’s rookie card from the 1986 Donruss set is one of the most desirable and valuable baseball cards ever produced. His 1990 Score Rising Stars card as a pitcher for the Chicago Cubs also holds significant value since it features him during the early stages of his transition into one of the greatest pitchers in MLB history. Maddux would go on to win 4 Cy Young awards and be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014. His 1990 Score Rising Stars card often sells for well over $100 in top conditioned nowadays.
Tom Glavine appeared in the 1990 Score Rising Stars set during his second season with the Atlanta Braves organization after being drafted straight out of high school in 1984. Like Maddux, Glavine developed into an elite pitcher, winning two Cy Young awards of his own to go along with 305 career wins. He is also a member of the Hall of Fame class of 2014. Glavine’s 1990 Score Rising Stars card earns $50-$75 depending on its grade.
Jeff Nelson debuted with the New York Yankees in 1990 and his relief pitching skills proved valuable over 17 MLB seasons. He was a 3-time All-Star and won a World Series championship with the 1996 Yankees. Despite not being a household name, Nelson’s cards from the late 80s and early 90s hold value since they memorialize the beginning of a lengthy MLB career. His 1990 Score Rising Stars can be found for $15-20.
Andy Benes tossed his first MLB pitch in 1988 with the San Diego Padres and had established himself as a reliable starter by 1990. He went on to play 15 seasons while racking up 154 career victories. Benes’ 1990 Score Rising Stars card sells in the $10-15 range today. Another notable future star from the 1990 set was reliever Roberto Alomar, whose rookie cards are iconic but this particular card offers a chance to own an early card of the future Hall of Famer.
Jeff Bagwell enjoyed a breakout rookie campaign with the Houston Astros in 1991 that earned him the Rookie of the Year award. He was just starting to make his mark in the big leagues in 1990 and collectors who knew he was poised for stardom likely snapped up this Rising Stars issue. Bagwell went on to be one of the game’s most powerful and consistent sluggers throughout the 90s and early 2000s, finishing with a career .297 batting average and 449 home runs. His 1990 card is a fairly valuable piece of his collecting puzzle at $50-75 in high grade.
Another slugger who burst onto the MLB scene in the early 90s was Moises Alou. After showing promise with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1989, Alou’s power was beginning to emerge by 1990 as depicted in this Rising Stars release. He would go on to slug 234 home runs over 17 seasons while batting .303. Alou’s 1990 can be found in the $15-20 range.
Hall of Fame inductee Craig Biggio was just starting his 2nd MLB campaign as a second baseman for the Houston Astros in 1990. While he didn’t become a superstar right away, collectors took notice of his skills and work ethic. Biggio developed into arguably the greatest catcher in Astros history, playing 20 seasons in Houston en route to becoming the 27th member inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. His 1990 Rising Stars card holds solid nostalgia value at $25-35.
More moderately priced stars from the 1990 set include John Smoltz ($8-12), Todd Van Poppel ($5-8), and Kenny Lofton ($10-15). Smoltz began transitioning to the bullpen in 1990 before evolving into a premier starting pitcher and closer. Van Poppel was one of the highest drafted pitchers ever at the time but didn’t pan out as a frontline starter. And Lofton’s incredible speed made him a defensive wizard in center field over 18 seasons.
While certainly not a comprehensive list, the above examples give a sampling of some of the top future stars featured in the 1990 Score Rising Stars base set who went on to very productive MLB careers. For collectors, finding vintage cards of these players from before they achieved superstardom adds nostalgic value. The 1990 Score Rising Stars baseball card set was a fun and sometimes prescient look at the next generation of MLB talent. Many names within its 198-card checklist became household names that baseball fans came to love and admire. Even 30+ years later, it proves an intriguing curio from the hobby’s past.
