The 1990 baseball season saw the debut of many future stars that went on to have outstanding MLB careers. Their rookie cards have become some of the most popular and valuable from the early 90s. While the junk wax era severely depressed baseball card values in the late 80s, certain rookies from 1990 have maintained their popularity due to the accomplishments and fame of the players they feature. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the best rookie cards from the class of 1990.
Perhaps the most notable rookie card from 1990 is that of future Hall of Famer Frank Thomas from Bowman. As the 17th overall pick in the 1989 draft by the Chicago White Sox, Thomas quickly established himself as one of the game’s elite power hitters. In his rookie season of 1990, Thomas hit .301 with 21 home runs and 70 RBIs. This incredible debut made his rookie card extremely sought after. While printing numbers are high due to being from the Bowman set, graded gem mint copies have sold for over $2,000 due to Thomas’s stellar 21-year career that saw him hit .301 with 521 home runs and 1,704 RBIs. He won two MVP awards in 1993 and 1994, finishing in the top 5 eight times during his career. Few rookie cards can match the on-field performance and pop culture cache of “The Big Hurt.”
Another star slugger who debuted in 1990 was Larry Walker from Score. As the Canadian native and former Expo, Walker went on to have a brilliant 17-year career, hitting .313 with 383 home runs and 1,311 RBIs. He was a notorious slow starter, but 1990 saw him hit .293 with 3 home runs in 49 games for Montreal. Walker would go on to have his finest seasons with the Rockies in the late 90s, winning the 1997 NL MVP. High-grade copies of his rookies have sold for over $500. While printing numbers are also quite high for Score issues, Walker’s international stardom and dominant late career peak have kept collectors interested in acquiring this Hall of Fame-worthy rookie.
Two other players whose iconic 1990 rookies have maintained strong valuations are Andy Pettitte from Score and Jeff Bagwell from Fleer. As Yankee teammates on their way to numerous World Series victories, Pettitte and Bagwell debuted against each other in professional baseball, with Pettitte getting the win for Class A Oneonta over Class A Kissimmee, the Astros affiliate where Bagwell played. As a Yankee farmhand in 1990, Pettitte went 5-0 with a 2.19 ERA in nine games before joining New York late that season. He went on to win 256 games over 18 years mostly with the Yankees, winning 5 World Series. His Score rookie is a highly desired piece for any vintage Yankee PC. Likewise, Jeff Bagwell exploded onto the scene in 1990, clubbing 15 homers as a September call-up after dominating in the minors. The 1991 NL Rookie of the Year and 1994 NL MVP, Bagwell bashed 449 career home runs with a .297 batting average. His Fleer rookie remains one of the most iconic cards from the early 90s despite being printed heavily. High grades have hit the $300 range or more due to Bagwell’s superstar career.
Three 1991 rookie phenoms whose MLB debut actually came in 1990 also have valuable cards from that season. These include Chuck Knoblauch from Bowman, Larry Walker from Score, and Jim Abbott from Score. As the 25th overall pick in the 1989 amateur draft by the Twins, Knoblauch made his MLB debut on September 5th, 1990 as a September call-up. In his 42 games that season, he hit .250. Knoblauch went on to become the 1991 AL Rookie of the Year, making his 1990 Bowman a sought-after rookie. The lefty Abbott debuted on September 2nd, 1990 with the California Angels, pitching 6 innings of 3-hit ball against the Kansas City Royals. Despite being born without a right hand, Abbott enjoyed a respectable 9-year MLB career, including a no-hitter in 1993. His distinctive 1990 Score is popular among collectors. And Larry Walker, as noted earlier, first appeared in 1990 with the Expos, going on to have a Hall of Fame caliber career.
Two utility players whose 1990 rookies hold continued value include Chuck Carr of Donruss and Pokey Reese of Score. Though neither had huge careers statistically, they made their mark in different ways. Chuck Carr debuted with the Astros in 1990, playing every position except pitcher and catcher over a decade-long career. His defensive versatility gained him notoriety and makes his Donruss rookie desirable. As for Pokey Reese, his 1990 Score shows him as a 23rd round draft pick by the Reds out of high school in Woodville, Mississippi. Reese became one of the game’s premier defensive shortstops, winning 3 Gold Gloves from 1996-1999 with the Reds and Red Sox. Despite hitting just .245 for his career, Reese’s slick fielding makes his rookie a solid pickup, especially in higher grades. The magnetic personalities of these two players gives their 1990s cards collector interest beyond stats.
The class of 1990 rookie cards is headlined by future Hall of Famers like Frank Thomas and Larry Walker but also contains many other stars, contributors, and distinctive players who made their MLB debuts that year. High quality examples from this era of the hobby will always be in demand due to the talented players they feature and nostalgia many collectors feel for the early 90s baseball card boom. While mass-produced brands saw their values sink during the junk wax era, the right rookies from sets like Bowman, Donruss, Score and Fleer have maintained strong secondary market prices through the decades.
