Donruss Big baseball cards were a unique large format set released by Donruss in 1989 as the company’s flagship baseball card product. At approximately twice the size of a standard baseball card, Donruss Big cards stood out with their oversized players on a much larger canvas. The set was a creative attempt by Donruss to differentiate their product and make an impression on the baseball card market during an era when competition between card manufacturers was fierce.
Donruss Big cards measured approximately 3.5 inches by 5 inches, giving card designers and photographers more real estate to showcase players and action shots. The front of each card featured a large color photo of a baseball player from that season, usually in action with their team’s uniform. Photos took up almost the entire front of the card aside from a small logo and player information box at the bottom. On the back, stats, career highlights and biographical information filled the expansive space.
At 144 total cards, the Donruss Big set included all major league teams and rosters from that 1989 season. Rookies, stars and veterans from both the American and National Leagues were represented. Popular players featured included Ken Griffey Jr., Nolan Ryan, Ozzie Smith, Wade Boggs and Roger Clemens. Rarer short print and autograph parallel inserts were also included as chase cards for collectors.
While larger in size and photo quality, Donruss Big cards maintained the same basic design elements as a standard Donruss card from that year. The front featured the team logo in the top left corner with the player’s name and position below. Under the photo was the “DONRUSS” wordmark logo and the player’s team and uniform number. On the back, stats were organized in columns with career highlights on the left and biographical info on the right.
The oversized format of Donruss Big cards was both a blessing and a curse. Their novelty made them stand out on the card rack, but their bulky size also made them more difficult and expensive to store and display in traditional baseball card albums. While the enlarged photos allowed for sharper detail and action shots, the cards were not as practical as a standard size for most collectors. This likely limited the overall appeal and collectibility of the Donruss Big set to casual fans and novelty seekers.
For those who did collect and appreciate the Donruss Big cards, the oversized format was a unique way to better showcase the players and action on the diamond. Being approximately twice the size of a normal baseball card, the larger photos really popped and drew the eye. Details like facial expressions, batting stances and pitching motions that may have been lost on a smaller card were more vividly captured. For fans who prioritized the photography, artwork and on-field aspects over compact storage, Donruss Big cards delivered a novel presentation of the players.
When it was released in 1989, the Donruss Big set retailed for $1.49 per pack with 2 cards inside. While not a cheap investment for the time, the price point was reasonable given the significantly increased production costs for printing and cutting such large format cards. The premium packaging and larger card size did not necessarily translate to increased sales or popularity on par with Donruss’ standard baseball offerings that year. Ultimately, the Donruss Big experiment was a one-year novelty that failed to catch on long term.
In the years since, Donruss Big cards have become a somewhat obscure footnote in the history of late 80s/early 90s baseball cards. While the set captured the nostalgia and players from that era at the time, its bulky oversized design has not aged as well as more practical smaller formats. Storage remains an issue and mint condition examples have not achieved the same collectible status as other mainstream sets from 1989 Topps, Fleer, etc. For those who appreciate innovative card design and unique presentation of the players and game, Donruss Big cards still hold a novelty appeal today as a creative one-year experiment.
In summary, Donruss Big baseball cards were an ambitious attempt by the card manufacturer to stand out with their large format photography and design during an era of increased competition. While not as practical or popular long term as standard size cards, their oversized presentation was a novel way to showcase players and the game. For fans who prioritized visuals over compactness, Donruss Big cards delivered enhanced photography in a creative large format. Though ultimately a one-year novelty, they remain an interesting footnote in the history of late 80s/early 90s baseball cards.
