The 1991 Topps baseball card set is one of the most coveted issues in the history of the hobby. While it may lack the star power and rookie cards of sets from the late 80s, it features several keys that have become extremely pricey over the past few decades. Let’s take a look at some of the most valuable and sought after 1991 Topps cards on the market today.
Ken Griffey Jr. – Rookie Card (Card #1)
Perhaps the single most iconic and valuable 1991 Topps card is the rookie of future Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. Considered one of the greatest five-tool players of all-time, Griffey was already primed for superstardom after just one full season in the majors in 1990. His rookie card became one of the most hyped and popular cards ever issued. In top mint condition, pristine Griffey Jr. rookies in a PSA 10 Gem Mint grade have sold for over $10,000 in recent years. Even well-centered near mint copies in PSA 8 or 9 condition can fetch $1,000+. The Griffey Jr. rookie remains one of the most sought after modern cards for collectors.
Frank Thomas – Rookie Card (Card #183)
While he may not have the same universal appeal and renown as Griffey, Frank Thomas was equally as dominant on the field during his Hall of Fame career. His rookie card from the 1991 Topps set is one of the premier key rookie cards from the early 90s. Like Griffey, PSA 10 examples of the Frank Thomas rookie have topped $10,000 at auction. Near mint PSA 9 copies often sell in the $2,000+ range. The rarity and importance of the Thomas rookie has made it a highly valuable card, especially for White Sox collectors.
Roberto Alomar – Error Card (Card #456)
One of the standout error and variation cards found in the 1991 Topps set is the short printed Roberto Alomar card. Due to a printing mistake, the Alomar card was missing the right side border. Only a small number are believed to have been printed this way, making it one of the true errors from the junk wax era. High grade PSA 10 copies in this scarce error variation have sold for over $5,000. Even well-centered PSA 9 examples can net over $2,000. For error collectors, the Alomar missing border variation is perhaps the most coveted card and hardest to locate from the entire 1991 Topps set.
Cal Ripken Jr. – Error Card (Card #480)
Like the Alomar error, the Cal Ripken Jr. card from 1991 Topps is also highly desirable due issues encountered during the printing process. On Ripken’s card, the photo is miscut dramatically to the left. The final line of stats on the bottom are also truncated. While not quite as rare as the Alomar, PSA 10 Ripken errors have still cracked the $2,000 price point. In PSA 9, these elusive error Ripken rookies often sell for $1,000+ to discerning Orioles and error collectors. Both the Alomar and Ripken printing glitches are true prizes for those looking for one-of-a-kind cards in the 1991 Topps set.
Sandy Koufax – PSA 10 Gem (Card #503)
One of the true “whales” of the entire 1991 Topps checklist is the pristine Sandy Koufax card in PSA 10 Gem Mint condition. Considered among the rarest hall of famer cards from the junk wax era, a true perfect 10 grade Koufax is incredibly scarce. Prior examples have sold for over $15,000 at public auction when they surface. Even well-centered PSA 9 Koufax copies command into the four-figure range. The mystique and history surrounding the legend of Sandy Koufax has made his 1991 Topps card a true heavyweight and crown jewel in the set.
Nolan Ryan – Record Breakers Subset (Cards #652-654)
Housed in the popular “Record Breakers” insert subset of the 1991 Topps set are three cards commemorating Nolan Ryan’s all-time strikeout records. Card #652 shows Ryan breaking Sandy Koufax’s career strikeout record, #653 has him surpassing 5000 Ks, and #654 portrays him breaking Walter Johnson’s single season strikeout mark. High grade examples of all three cards in this scarce parallel subset are extremely valuable. PSA 10 versions of each Ryan record breaker card have topped $2,000 at auction. Even well-centered PSA 9 copies can reach $1,000 or more for dedicated Nolan Ryan PC holders. For ’90s junk wax collectors, these remain some of the most highly regarded parallels in the massive 1991 Topps roster.
Ken Griffey Jr. – All-Star Card (Card #650)
Wrapping up our rundown of the most expensive 1991 Topps cards is another Griffey, this time from the flagship set’s All-Star subset. Junior’s dramatic action photo of him making a leaping catch graced card #650. Like his rookie above, pristine Griffey All-Star cards in PSA 10 condition have been known to crack $10,000. Most well-centered PSA 9 copies can still fetch $2,000-$3,000 depending on the market. While not quite as equally impressive as his rookie, the Griffey All-Star parallel remains a true crown jewel and highly valuable card within the massive 1991 Topps set after 30 years.
While 1991 Topps may not boast the same star power as the years prior during the peak of the junk wax era, it still features several true heavy-hitting keys after three decades. Cards like the Griffey and Thomas rookies, error Ripken and Alomar, and pristine Koufax remain pillars of the set that can still deliver blockbuster prices to this day for discerning collectors. Those who have managed to maintain or locate true Gem Mint examples of the above cards within the past few years have been richly rewarded. The 1991 Topps checklist may appear bland compared to ’89 and ’90, but it conceals several true modern classics that are still hunted to this day.
