The 1995 Bowman baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic releases of the 1990s. While it lacked the star power of some previous years, the 1995 Bowman set featured several young stars who would go on to have great careers. It also had a classic design that has stood the test of time. Let’s take a closer look at some of the best and most valuable cards from the 1995 Bowman release.
Derek Jeter Rookie Card (#340)
Arguably the most famous and desirable card from the 1995 Bowman set is the Derek Jeter rookie card. As the shortstop for the New York Yankees, Jeter would go on to have a Hall of Fame career that included 5 World Series titles. His rookie card featured him in a Yankees uniform for the first time. While it held little value in the mid-90s, the Jeter rookie has since skyrocketed in price due to his legendary career and status as a modern icon in baseball. High grade PSA 10 examples of the Jeter rookie now sell for over $100,000, making it one of the most valuable baseball cards ever printed. Even well-centered PSA 9 copies trade hands for thousands. The Derek Jeter rookie is truly the crown jewel of the 1995 Bowman set.
Chipper Jones Rookie Card (#479)
Another star player who debuted in the 1995 Bowman set was Hall of Famer Chipper Jones. As the #1 overall draft pick by the Atlanta Braves in 1990, Jones had great expectations and ultimately lived up to the hype over his 19 year career, winning the 1999 NL MVP award. His rookie card featured him as a member of the Durham Bulls, the Braves’ AAA affiliate at the time. High grade Chipper Jones rookies in PSA 10 condition have sold for over $10,000 in recent years. Even well-centered PSA 9 copies can fetch $1,000-$2,000 due to Jones’ career achievements and the Braves’ strong fanbase in Atlanta. The Chipper Jones rookie remains one of the most popular cards from the 1995 Bowman set.
Nomar Garciaparra Rookie Card (#567)
Another highly coveted rookie from 1995 Bowman is Nomar Garciaparra of the Boston Red Sox. Garciaparra was an immediate star after debuting in 1996, winning the AL Rookie of the Year and batting title. He went on to make several All-Star teams and hit over .300 for several seasons. While injuries derailed his career prematurely, Nomar was beloved in Boston for helping to turn around the franchise. His rookie card featured him as a member of the Red Sox’ AA affiliate, the Trenton Thunder. High grade Nomar rookies remain quite valuable, with a PSA 10 example selling for over $2,000. Even well-centered PSA 9 copies can reach the $300-500 range due to his popularity in New England. The Nomar Garciaparra rookie is an important piece of Red Sox history from the mid-1990s.
Tom Glavine (#1)
Another star pitcher featured prominently in the 1995 Bowman set was Tom Glavine, who was already an established ace with the Atlanta Braves. Glavine would go on to win 305 career games and 2 Cy Young Awards over a storied 22-year career. His main card in the 1995 Bowman set has him featured as the #1 overall selection, an appropriate placement for the face of the Braves franchise at the time. High grade Glavine cards remain quite valuable for Braves collectors, with a PSA 10 example selling for around $400 in recent years. Even PSA 9 copies can reach $100 due to Glavine’s career success and strong fanbase in Atlanta. He was truly one of the most dominant pitchers of the 1990s.
Ken Griffey Jr. (#1)
While Ken Griffey Jr. was already a star by 1995, his main card in that year’s Bowman set remains a highly coveted piece. Featuring him as the #1 overall pick by the Seattle Mariners in the 1987 draft, this card commemorated Griffey’s great rookie year of 1989 and rise to stardom with the Mariners. Of course, Griffey would go on to have one of the best careers of all time, winning 10 Gold Gloves and hitting over 600 home runs. High grade copies of his 1995 Bowman #1 card remain quite valuable, with a PSA 10 example selling for over $500 in recent years. Even well-centered PSA 9 copies can reach $150 due to Griffey’s iconic status from his Mariners playing days. It’s a great card to represent the career of “The Kid”.
Other Notable Stars
While the above cards stand out, there were several other young stars featured in the 1995 Bowman set that went on to have great MLB careers:
Carlos Beltran Rookie (#477)
Kerry Wood Rookie (#607)
Todd Helton Rookie (#463)
Vladimir Guerrero Rookie (#409)
Derek Lowe Rookie (#577)
Jason Giambi Rookie (#547)
Mike Piazza (#1)
While it may have lacked A-list stars at the time of release, the 1995 Bowman baseball set proved to be a goldmine of future Hall of Famers and all-time great players. Anchored by the Derek Jeter and Chipper Jones rookies, it remains one of the most iconic and valuable vintage releases from the 1990s. The classic design has also stood the test of time. For collectors, owning a high grade example of any of the above mentioned stars from the 1995 Bowman set makes for a great addition to any vintage baseball card collection.
