Kmart Superstars Baseball Cards were a series of baseball cards produced and sold exclusively at Kmart stores from 1990 to 1994. While not as prestigious as flagship brands like Topps or Fleer, these cards featured many of the biggest stars in the game at the time and had decent production quality. As a result, many of the cards from the series still hold value for collectors today, especially for notable players from that era. Let’s take a deeper look at the Kmart Superstars set and evaluate what various cards from the series may be worth in today’s market.
The Kmart Superstars set debuted in 1990 with 132 cards in the base set. Some of the biggest names included were Nolan Ryan, Roger Clemens, Kirby Puckett, Roberto Alomar, and Ken Griffey Jr. The designs were fairly basic but featured full color player photos on the front with stats and career highlights on the back. Inserts in the 1990 set included Star Rookies cards which honored players like Craig Biggio and Sandy Alomar Jr. Rated Rookies were also included highlighting players like Todd Van Poppel. In terms of value, some key 1990 Kmart Superstars cards include:
Nolan Ryan (#1): In top graded condition this card can fetch $50-75 given Ryan’s legend status.
Ken Griffey Jr (#27): A Star Rookie card of Jr. in near mint condition would sell for $30-50 currently.
Roberto Alomar (#59): As one of the best players of the 1990s, a gem mint Alomar fetches $25-35.
Star Rookies Inserts: Raw copies of Biggio or Sandy Alomar Jr go for $10-15, slabbed grades bring $20-30.
The 1991 Kmart Superstars set increased slightly to 140 cards. Notable inclusions were Tom Glavine, Gregg Maddux, Cal Ripken Jr, and Mark McGwire. The designs carried over from the previous year. Key chase cards from 1991 include:
Cal Ripken Jr (#13): In gems his card sells in the $30-50 range due to his Iron Man status.
Mark McGwire (#43): A near mint McGwire reaches $15-25 before his steroid era.
Star Rookies Frank Thomas: One of the best hitters of the 90s, his Star Rookie sells for $15-25.
Star Rookies Jeff Bagwell: The underrated Bagwell also fetches $15-20 for his rookie.
Kmart Superstars really ramped up production and insert sets in 1992. The base set ballooned to 198 cards and added parallel variations like Red Ink and Gold Foil. Star Rookies cards were still included and Traded sets honored deals like Eric Davis joining the Reds. Notable 1992 standouts include:
Barry Bonds (#25): Even raw his card reaches $20 in the midst of his record breaking run.
Traded Barry Bonds: As a Pirate, slabbed gems sell for $50-75 given his rarity.
Star Rookies Jim Thome: One of the best power hitters ever, grades bring $30-50 for his rookie.
Star Rookies Billy Ripken “F*** Face”: The legendary error card reaches $75-100 in top condition.
In 1993 Kmart Superstars kept improving the set size and parallels. The base set totaled 198 cards again and added Grey Ink parallel variations. Notable rookies included Derek Jeter, Mike Piazza, and Curt Schilling. Key 1993 cards to look out for include:
Derek Jeter (#109): Even in played condition his star rookie sells in the $15-25 range.
Mike Piazza (#138): His early Star Rookie readily fetches $20-30 prices.
Curt Schilling (#176): One of the games’ great pitches, his rookie sells for $10-15 raw.
Grey Ink Parallel Derek Jeter: Slabbed gem copies can reach $50-75 due to their rarity.
The 1994 Kmart Superstars set was the last in the original run, though the brand would briefly be revived later. Rated Rookies inserts debuted to highlight up and coming talent. Notable rookies included Nomar Garciaparra, Jason Giambi, and Todd Helton. Key 1994 standouts include:
Ken Griffey Jr (#1S): As his collection declines, slabbed gems reach $100-150 for his final Kmart issue.
Nomar Garciaparra (#49): His star rookie in high grades brings $30-50 prices still.
Rated Rookies Javier Lopez: Slabbed gold copies of this rare insert exceed $100.
Rated Rookies Jason Giambi: Near mint examples sell for $15-25 of the power hitter.
While not the most well known baseball card brand, Kmart Superstars produced for five years and included many all-time great players. Unique parallels and rookie highlights make key cards quite valuable, especially for certified top grades. With stars from Cal Ripken Jr to Derek Jeter featured, taking a closer look at these affordable 90s issues could unearth some hidden treasures for savvy collectors. Overall the set has proven its lasting place in the broader sports card market.
