The 1990 Donruss baseball card set was one of the most highly anticipated releases of the late 80s/early 90s baseball card boom. Card collecting was at an all-time high and Donruss was a major player in the industry. The 1990 set featured popular rookie cards, star players, and exciting designs that collectors still seek out to this day. Let’s take a look at some of the most noteworthy cards from the 1990 Donruss checklist.
Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card – Widely considered one of the greatest rookie cards of all time, the 1990 Donruss Ken Griffey Jr. is arguably the most desired card from the set. Griffey was already a phenom by this point in his career and collectors knew they were getting a future Hall of Famer. The electric smile and swing captured on his rookie make it an iconic baseball image. PSA 10 graded versions regularly sell for thousands.
Frank Thomas rookie card – Another future Hall of Famer, Frank Thomas dazzled in his rookie season with the White Sox in 1990. His smooth left-handed swing and consistent production made him a fan favorite. The Donruss rookie is one of the standouts from his collection and remains quite valuable to this day in high grades.
Roberto Alomar rookie card – Alomar enjoyed a dozen All-Star seasons in the majors and finished with a career line of .300/.371/.443. His slick fielding and hitting prowess made him one of the best second basemen ever. The 1990 Donruss introduced collectors to the future Hall of Famer and it remains one of the more iconic cards from the brand’s history.
Barry Bonds rookie card – Bonds may be a controversial figure now but there’s no denying his immense talent and record-breaking production as one of the game’s greatest power hitters ever. The Donruss rookie was collectors’ first look at the young outfielder who was just getting started on an incredible career path. High grade versions are major chase cards for collectors.
Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr. father-son combo – This unique dual photo of Griffey Sr. and Jr. showcases the first father-son tandem to play in the same major league game. Although they played for different teams in 1990, their special bond is captured perfectly on this memorable Donruss card. It’s one of the set’s most iconic images and a must-have for Griffey collectors.
Ryne Sandberg bat/ball/mitt subset – This parallel subset featured close-up action shots of star players known for their skills with the bat, ball or glove. Sandberg’s defensive wizardry at second base made him the obvious choice for the mitt card. The dramatic photography and die-cut shape added visual flair to an already fantastic image of the 10-time Gold Glove winner.
Dennis Eckersley – Eckersley’s dominant changeup made him one of baseball’s premier closers throughout the 1980s and early 90s. As the premier reliever of his era, it’s only fitting he was featured on one of Donruss’ iconic “Eck Express” parallel inserts highlighting his run prevention skills. The close-up headshot remains a classic to this day.
Nolan Ryan Express Leaders subset – Adding to their legend, Donruss chose to feature the Express on this commemorative leaders insert focusing on his unmatched career strikeout record. Seen mowing down another batter, it captures one of the game’s most intimidating and electrifying pitchers in his prime. Highly sought after by Ryan collectors.
Ozzie Smith Wizard of Oz insert – Known as arguably the greatest defensive shortstop of all-time, “The Wizard” was a natural choice for Donruss’ Wizard of Oz parallel insert focusing on fielding excellence. With his smooth glove work and backflips, Smith made the shortstop position an art form. His iconic smile and defensive prowess shine through on this highly coveted parallel card.
Roberto Clemente Leaders subset – Paying tribute to the late Pirates’ great, Donruss issued this leaders insert honoring Clemente’s career hits total at the time of his tragic death in a plane crash on a humanitarian mission on New Year’s Eve 1972. A classy inclusion that immortalizes one of baseball’s finest ambassadors on and off the field.
The 1990 Donruss design featured a clean and crisp look with plenty of vibrant color photos showcasing the players. The parallel inserts, subsets and rookie cornerstones were creative additions that added extra collecting depth. Favorites like the Eck Express, Ozzie Oz and Leader parallels are still fan favorites today. Armed with rookies of future stars like Griffey Jr., Frank Thomas, Roberto Alomar and Barry Bonds, the 1990 Donruss release is a true landmark set in the cardboard collecting hobby. High grades of cards from this checklist remain some the most sought after and valuable from the entire early 90s run.
