The 1990 Donruss baseball card set was one of the most popular releases of the late 1980s and early 1990s. While it didn’t feature any true 1-of-1 rookies like previous years, it did include several young stars who would go on to have Hall of Fame careers. As with any set from the junk wax era, there are very few highly valuable cards. A select few have stood the test of time and remain quite desirable for serious collectors. Here are the 10 most valuable 1990 Donruss baseball cards based on PSA 10 gem mint condition prices:

Ken Griffey Jr. – At just 20 years old in 1990, Griffey Jr. was already one of the game’s brightest young stars with back-to-back AL Rookie of the Year awards. His electric bat, baseball IQ, and outstanding defense in center field left many predicting a sure-fire Hall of Fame career. This base rookie card has steadily increased in value over the years, recently selling for around $150 in PSA 10 mint condition. Griffey would go on to cement his legacy as one of the greats.

Frank Thomas – “The Big Hurt” was coming off his first All-Star and Silver Slugger award season in 1989 when this Donruss card was released. Thomas exemplified the new style of dominant, slugging first basemen and looked poised for stardom. While injuries slowed him some, he would go on to have a Hall of Fame career. His rookie currently sells for around $175 in top grade.

Greg Maddux – Already an effective starter by 1990, Maddux was on the verge of becoming one of history’s greatest pitchers. Over the next decade plus, he would cement his status by winning 4 Cy Young awards and becoming the first pitcher since the 1920s to win at least 15 games for 17 straight seasons. Like many pitching stars of the era, his rookie sells more modestly than position players at $200 PSA 10.

Tom Glavine – Another star pitcher on the cusp of greatness in 1990 was Glavine. He had just begun to establish himself as a frontline starter and would evolve into an ace over the following years. Glavine went on to win 305 career games, 2 Cy Youngs, and help the Braves win the 1995 World Series. This key rookie commands around $225 in top condition.

Craig Biggio – Few players had as long and productive a career as Biggio. By 1990, he was the Astros’ starting second baseman and a budding star at just age 24. Over the next two decades, Biggio amassed over 3,000 hits, 668 doubles, and won four Gold Gloves en route to the Hall of Fame. His rookie stays in the $250 PSA 10 range.

Ken Caminiti – In 1990, Caminiti broke out with his first All-Star season as the Padres’ third baseman. He later supplanted other stars on better teams to earn the 1996 NL MVP award as a member of the dominant Houston Astros. This key rookie for a future inner circle Hall of Famer goes for around $300 PSA 10.

Jeff Bagwell – As a rookie in 1990, Bagwell displayed his incredible bat speed, plate discipline, and natural pop as the Astros’ starting first baseman. He would go on to become the face of the franchise in Houston while cementing his Hall of Fame case with over 400 home runs and 1,500 RBI. Given his Hall status and the Astros fanbase, his 1990 rookie trades for around $350 PSA 10.

Chipper Jones – Even as a rookie, Jones made an impact batting .265 for the Braves and exhibiting his smooth lefty swing. Over the next two decades, he evolved into the finest switch hitter of his generation and one of the best third basemen ever. This key first card for a surefire Hall of Famer regularly sells in the $400 PSA 10 range.

Frank Thomas – In addition to his base card, Thomas also has an extremely rare ‘Traded’ variation that features him in a White Sox uniform despite being dealt from the Sox to the A’s after the 1990 season. Only approximately 50 of these are believed to exist in PSA 10 condition, making it one of the true Holy Grails from the set. Reports indicate several have sold for upwards of $2,000 in recent years.

Barry Bonds – As arguably the greatest hitter of all-time, it’s no surprise Bonds’ early Donruss cards are some of the most valuable from the late 80s and early 90s. In 1990, he belted 25 homers and drove in 100 runs for the Pirates in his age-25 season. His steady improvement foreshadowed an impending era of dominance. Bonds’ 1990 base rookie often fetches $700-800 in top grade, though a recent PSA 10 sale reached an astounding $1,250.

While most 1990 Donruss cards hold little value, there remain a handful of true keys that have stood the test of time due to the legendary careers of players like Bonds, Thomas, Jones, Bagwell, and others. For dedicated collectors, finding high-grade examples of these stars’ formative years remains a worthwhile pursuit. The 1990 Donruss set captured a special vintage that featured both established 80s stars and young talent who were just beginning to blossom.