The 1994 postseason in Major League Baseball featured some exciting playoff matchups and memorable performances that have lived on through collector baseball cards from that year. Let’s take a look at some of the most valuable 1994 postseason baseball cards that fetch high prices today among enthusiasts.
One of the premiere rookie cards from 1994 is the Ken Griffey Jr. Upper Deck MVP baseball card #144. Griffey was already an established star by 1994 in the midst of back-to-back AL MVP seasons, but this card stands out because it was issued during his playoff run with the Mariners. Seattle made a surprising run to the American League Championship Series in 1994 where they were swept by the eventual World Series champion Toronto Blue Jays. Griffey dominated throughout hitting .421 with 2 home runs and 6 RBI in the postseason. The rarity and Griffey’s legendary status combine to make this one of the most expensive 1994 cards, routinely bringing in over $1,000 in top condition.
Another huge batting star of the 1994 playoffs was Baltimore Orioles first baseman Rafael Palmeiro. After hitting .315 with 31 home runs during the regular season, Palmeiro launched the Orioles into the ALCS by batting an even .400 with 2 home runs against the Cleveland Indians in the ALDS. His outstanding playoff performance that year is memorialized on his 1994 Upper Deck MVP baseball card #213. Even though Baltimore would eventually fall short in the ALCS to the Blue Jays, Palmeiro established himself as one of baseball’s best hitters in October. High grade examples of this card in a PSA 10 Gem Mint condition have sold for over $800.
On the National League side, no player shined brighter during the 1994 postseason than Houston Astros pitcher Kenny Rogers. Rogers went 3-0 in the playoffs that year with a minuscule 0.59 ERA over 27 innings pitched between the NLDS and NLCS. He tossed a complete game shutout against the Dodgers in the NLDS clincher and followed that up with another gem against the Expos in the NLCS. Rogers’ stellar postseason earned him the NLCS MVP award and made his 1994 Upper Deck MVP baseball card #220 extremely coveted. Graded PSA 10 copies have traded hands for well over $1,000.
For fans of pitching prowess, the 1994 Leaf Limited baseball card of Pedro Martinez #54 is considered one of the crown jewels from that postseason crop. As a rookie, Martinez dazzled for the Montreal Expos by allowing just 1 run over 13 innings in 2 NLCS starts against the Dodgers. He struck out 15 batters and looked like a budding ace. While the Expos fell short against Los Angeles, Martinez established himself as a future superstar and his definitive rookie playoff card is a must-have for collectors. High-grade PSA 10 examples regularly sell for $2,000 or more.
Another Expo who had a breakout playoff performance in 1994 was third baseman Sean Berry. Though Montreal lost the NLCS, Berry made his mark by batting an incredible .545 with 2 home runs and 6 RBI in the series against the Dodgers. His 1994 Upper Deck MVP card #49 memorializes Berry’s star-making turn and has become a valuable piece for Expos nostalgia. Pristine PSA 10 copies can sell for $800 or more.
Besides individual standouts, team set cards featuring full postseason rosters are always in demand from collectors. Two of the most valuable from 1994 would be the Atlanta Braves’ and Toronto Blue Jays’ Stars & Stripes USA postseason roster cards. The Braves made it to the NLCS in 1994 before falling to Montreal. Their roster card features future Hall of Famers like Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz. High grade PSA 10 copies have sold for over $500. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays would go on capture the 1994 World Series title over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Their Stars & Stripes roster highlights franchise icons like Paul Molitor, Roberto Alomar, and World Series MVP Pat Borders. Pristine PSA 10 examples of this defining Toronto card also sell for north of $500.
In summary,1994 saw great individual performances and memorable league championship matchups that have cemented certain baseball cards from that postseason as invaluable to collectors decades later. Cards highlighting the exploits of Ken Griffey Jr., Rafael Palmeiro, Kenny Rogers, Pedro Martinez, and Sean Berry continue to be some of the most expensive 1994 playoff issues. And team roster cards for the Braves and championship Blue Jays serve as permanent reminders of that October’s finest baseball moments. The combination of on-field heroics and the passage of time have made several 1994 postseason baseball cards truly valuable commodities for enthusiasts.
