The 1990 Donruss baseball card set is notable for introducing blue parallels of its regular cards. Donruss had introduced parallel sets before in the form of high numbers in 1986 and florescent parallels in 1988. The blue parallels from the 1990 set stand out as one of the more unique parallel sets in the company’s history due to their color differentiation from the base cards.

The blue parallels in the 1990 Donruss set were inserted at a rate of 1 per hobby box on average. This means the blue parallel versions of the regular cards in the set were considerably harder to obtain than their base counterparts. The front of each blue parallel card features the same exact design and photography as the base card but with a royal blue border encircling the image rather than the standard light grey border on the regular versions. The backs of the blue parallels also match the design of the base cards.

The scarcity and eye-catching blue coloring made these parallels quite popular with collectors upon the set’s release. It’s estimated only around 15-20% as many blue parallels were produced compared to the basic cards in the 1990 Donruss set which contained 792 total cards if you include variations and checklists. This rarity amplified the appeal of chasing and collecting the blue parallel versions of stars like Nolan Ryan, Roger Clemens, Ken Griffey Jr. and other top players from that season.

While the 1990 Donruss set overall didn’t reach the stratospheric heights in terms of popularity and demand that the 1987 and 1989 editions did, the presence of these elusive blue parallels gave collectors an exciting new aspect to the release. It added a layer of chase and difficulty to fully completing a set in the parallel form that wasn’t present in previous Donruss checklists. This type of parallel that stands out so distinctly from the base design through color became a collectible subset on its own within the main set.

Because of their scarcity and the appeal of showing off extra rare or variation cards, it’s no surprise that the 1990 Donruss blue parallels have retained strong collector interest and value even decades later. On the secondary market, PSA/BGS graded examples of blue parallel cards for big stars regularly sell for 2-5 times the price of their basic counterparts in similar grades. Even lesser known players seem to double or triple in value simply due to being in blue form.

While condition and centering can swing prices, a PSA 9 graded Ken Griffey Jr. blue parallel from 1990 recently sold for over $800 on eBay. Compare that to a PSA 9 of his basic card which goes for $150-200. A PSA 10 Nolan Ryan blue parallel tops $1500, where a 10 of his base is under $500. So the multiplier effect of obtaining the rare blue variant remains powerful for these cards to this day.

Part of the ongoing allure for collectors too is likely the nostalgia some feel towards the first time they encountered these innovative parallel versions in hobby boxes or packs from 1990 Donruss product. It taps into memories of first experiencing something novel and unique in the collecting world. The excitement of stumbling on a blue parallel amidst the sea of basic cards felt groundbreaking at the time. And that original “wow” factor has fueled lasting collector passion for the 1990 Donruss blues across three decades.

Their differentiation from the standard issue design also makes the blue parallels more visually distinct and interesting for both organized binder pages and also one-off displays and collections. With the electric blue drawing the eye far more than a light grey border would. This strengthens their tangible collecting virtues compared to some parallels that are nearly indistinguishable from the common versions they are inserted with.

While Donruss produced other parallel cards over the years and the concept became more commonplace in later sets from various manufacturers, the 1990 edition blues still rank among the most iconic, collectible and valuable parallel issues ever. Their sparse odds, striking color choice and ties to a storied vintage release in Donruss history cement their legacy over thirty years after shining brightly for the first time amidst a pack break or wax box break. For connoisseurs of oddball and unique vintage cardboard, 1990 Donruss blue parallels stand as true collector favorites.