The 1990 Score baseball card set was a highly sought after and iconic release during the height of the baseball card boom of the late 1980s and early 1990s. The set featured 762 total cards including rookie cards, star players, and team checklist cards. While not the flashiest or most visually striking set of the time, 1990 Score contained many valuable and historically significant cards that card collectors still seek out to this day. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the best and most desirable cards from the 1990 Score baseball release.
Perhaps the most well-known and valuable card from 1990 Score is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Griffey was already generating immense hype leading up to his debut 1989 season with the Seattle Mariners due to his incredible athleticism and five-tool playing ability. His rookie card, found in the late hundreds of the Score set, captured Griffey at the very beginning of what would become a Hall of Fame career. While Griffey’s rookie cards from other 1989 and 1990 sets also hold value, the Score RC is considered the most iconic and in highest demand. In PSA 10 Gem Mint condition, Griffey’s 1990 Score rookie has sold for over $100,000, making it one of the most expensive modern baseball cards ever. Even well-centered near-mint copies can fetch thousands.
Another hugely valuable rookie card from 1990 Score is Frank Thomas’. Like Griffey, Thomas burst onto the MLB scene in 1990 with the Chicago White Sox and immediately established himself as a superstar. His mammoth home run power coupled with a career .301 batting average made Thomas one of the game’s most feared sluggers of the 1990s. His Score rookie, found in the high 600s, is the most coveted of all his rookie card variations. A PSA 10 Thomas RC could sell for $50,000 or more, showing just how beloved “The Big Hurt” became among collectors. Most copies still sell for multiple thousands of dollars even in worn condition.
In addition to rookie sensations, 1990 Score featured star cards for many of baseball’s biggest names throughout the late 80s and early 90s. One of the most aesthetically pleasing and high-dollar cards is the Kirby Puckett “Leg Kick” issue from the Twins checklists. This action shot captures Puckett in the middle of his distinctive leg kick swing, with vibrant colors and Puckett’s smiling face popping off the card front. Considered one of the best baseball action photos of all time, a PSA 10 Puckett “Leg Kick” can sell for over $10,000. Other star cards that hold immense value include a PSA 10 Ken Griffey Sr. ($4,000), Rickey Henderson ($3,000), and Nolan Ryan ($2,500).
Beyond rookies and stars, 1990 Score contained several other notable inserts and parallels that collectors seek. The “Team Leaders” insert set featured statistical leaders from the 1989 season, with the Wade Boggs and Robin Yount issues among the most coveted. The “Turn Back The Clock” retro-style parallel subset, which paid homage to early 20th century tobacco era designs, is also very popular. Finding high-grade versions of the star-studded “Diamond Kings” parallel cards, which placed players on ornate diamond-shaped designs, can fetch big money as well. And for team collectors, complete team set runs containing cards like the scarce and iconic “Fernando Mania” Dodgers checklist remain a prized trophy piece.
When examining the entire landscape of the 1980s and 90s baseball card boom period, 1990 Score holds a very important place in the hobby’s history. It captured so many all-time great players, especially rookies, at the beginning of their careers. While the design aesthetics may not stand out compared to flashier sets of the era, the historical significance and star power on the cards is unparalleled. Over 30 years later, 1990 Score rookie cards of Griffey, Thomas, and others continue to enthrall collectors and break record prices. For capturing so much baseball magic in one release, 1990 Score remains one of the true heavyweight champions among vintage baseball card sets.
While 1990 Score may not have had the flashiest designs of its era, it more than made up for it with the incredible star power and rookie cards it featured. Cards like the Ken Griffey Jr., Frank Thomas, and Kirby Puckett “Leg Kick” issues have become iconic in the hobby due to capturing these all-time great players at the beginning of their careers. Supplemented by valuable stars, inserts, and parallels as well, 1990 Score endures as one of the most coveted and valuable baseball card releases ever due to the historical significance and quality of its content. Its cards remain must-have trophies for any serious vintage baseball card collector decades later.
