The 1991 Donruss baseball card set was one of the most highly anticipated releases of the early 1990s sports card boom. At the time, Donruss was arguably the second biggest baseball card manufacturer behind Topps. They produced highly collectible cards each year that appealed to both kids opening packs as well as more serious adult collectors.
The 1991 Donruss set had 396 total cards and featured many of the game’s top young stars who would go on to have Hall of Fame careers. While it didn’t have the same notoriety or collectibility as the iconic 1989 Upper Deck set that helped spark the boom, ’91 Donruss offered collectors a very exciting and desirable product at retail. Several cards from that year have stood the test of time and remain highly valuable in the today’s vintage baseball card market. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most coveted ’91 Donruss cards that still demand high prices from collectors:
Ken Griffey Jr. – Card #1
Griffey was already one of the brightest young stars in baseball in 1991 and his stellar career only continued to ascend after that. His beautiful action shot rookie card leading off the Donruss set became one of the most iconic baseball cards of the early 1990s. In top gem mint condition, the Griffey Jr. rookie has sold for over $10,000 and remains among the most expensive vintage cards on the market. Even well-centered near mint copies still fetch thousands.
Barry Bonds – Card #65
Coming off an NL MVP season in 1990, Bonds was expected to have a Hall of Fame career and his star power was obvious even at a young age. While issues later emerged regarding PED use, Bonds’ talents were undeniable on the field. His ’91 Donruss card shows him in the Pirates’ home pinstripes and is one of the more visually appealing vintage Bonds cards out there. Near mint to mint copies have sold for $1,000+ in recent years.
Tom Glavine – Card # 144
Glavine’s rookie card depicts him in an Atlanta Braves uniform, foreshadowing his massive success with the franchise later in his Hall of Fame career. While not the highest graded rookie, it remains one of the more popular and desirable of the 300+ win lefty’s first cards. Near mint Glavine rookies have crossed the $200-400 price range for enthusiastic collectors.
Greg Maddux – Card #156
Overshadowed at the time by other big rookie pitchers like Glavine and Ben McDonald, Maddux went on to arguably have the best pitching career of his generation. His understated yet poised stance on his ’91 Donruss rookie makes for a classic baseball card image. Even well-centered near mint examples can reach $500+ for this HOF pitcher’s early cardboard.
Cal Ripken Jr. – Card #174
Already a two-time All-Star in 1991, Ripken was nearing the start of his iconic consecutive games played streak at the time of this Donruss issue. His smooth lefty swing captured mid-motion on card #174 became very popular with collectors. Near mint Ripken copies routinely cross the $75-150 range today depending on conditions.
Derek Jeter – Card #385
One of the true “one-hit wonders” produced the explosion of the ’90s sports card market. Not much was known about the rookie shortstop at the time this was printed beyond he was a 1st round Yankees draft pick. Now, Jeter has cemented his Hall of Fame legacy leading one of the most storied franchises. Pristine PSA/BGS 10 graded copies of Jeter’s scarce ’91 Donruss rookie have reached well into the five figures. Even well-centered near mint copies trade hands for $1,000+.
Other notable ’91 Donruss rookie cards include John Smoltz (#121), Chipper Jones (#151), Juan Gonzalez (#248), and Mark McGwire (#367). All command healthy prices today when found in high grades. Andre Dawson (#54), Nolan Ryan (#80), and Ozzie Smith (#135) added star power to the veteran side of the checklist as well in what turned out to be a very memorable Donruss release.
While not as hyped as some other vintage issues of the early 1990s, the 1991 Donruss baseball set remains a favorite among collectors for featuring so many HOF talents at early stages of their careers. Several high-demand rookie cards like Griffey, Bonds, Maddux, Jeter and others led the way in propelling values on this set over the decades since. For both nostalgic appeal and strong future potential appreciation, 1991 Donruss endures as one of the all-time great sports card sets produced.
